The global air cargo industry is continuing to deepen its commitment to sustainability, with business strategy now taking precedence over regulatory pressure, according to the International Air Cargo Association’s (TIACA) 2026 Air Cargo Sustainability Insights Report.Presented during the TIACA Executive Summit 2026 in Warsaw, Poland, the association’s sixth annual report highlights a significant shift across the sector. Based on responses from airlines, airports, freight forwarders, ground handlers, shippers, manufacturers, technology providers and other industry stakeholders worldwide, the study shows that sustainability is increasingly being driven from within organisations rather than by external obligations.Although overall sustainability pressure has fallen to 53%, its lowest level since 2021, executive commitment remains remarkably strong. The report found that 95% of respondents said sustainability has the backing of their CEO, while 92% confirmed it is considered a strategic priority at executive level. Similarly, 92% believe sustainability is at least as important today as it was a year ago, and 72% have already implemented a formal sustainability strategy.Roos Bakker, Chair of TIACA, said the findings demonstrate an encouraging evolution across the industry.”What is particularly encouraging in this year’s report is that sustainability is no longer being driven solely by external pressures or regulatory requirements,” she said. “Even with lower external pressure, companies continue to demonstrate overwhelming leadership commitment, with sustainability increasingly becoming part of their organisational DNA.”The report also indicates that employees and customers remain powerful drivers of sustainability initiatives, with 60% of respondents identifying each group as a major influence. Meanwhile, regulatory pressure has eased considerably, declining by 19 percentage points over the past two years as reporting requirements have evolved across several major markets.Beyond commitment, organisations are also making sustainability a core element of their operations. Around 73% of respondents now consider sustainability to be embedded within their corporate culture, while 65% integrate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles into their risk management frameworks. Additionally, 70% factor sustainability into procurement decisions, and 79% actively collaborate with industry partners to advance shared environmental objectives.According to TIACA Director General Glyn Hughes, the industry’s sustainability journey has matured well beyond simple compliance.”The findings demonstrate that sustainability in air cargo has evolved beyond compliance and external expectations,” Hughes said. “Companies are still investing in climate adaptation, building resilience and embedding ESG principles into their core business processes.”Climate resilience has also emerged as a growing priority. While environmental performance remains the primary focus for many organisations, 41% of respondents now define sustainability through a broader ESG perspective, representing a notable increase from last year. Another 33% explicitly include resilience within their sustainability strategies.The report further shows that 68% of organisations have already begun incorporating climate adaptation into their business planning through investments in resilient infrastructure, enhanced risk management, business continuity planning and long-term capital allocation.Decarbonisation efforts continue to accelerate across the sector. Some 73% of companies are focusing on improving energy efficiency and 59% are increasing the use of vehicles and equipment. Some 58% of organisations are rolling out fleet modernisation programmes and 55% are investing in sustainable buildings and infrastructure. The adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and other fossil-free energy solutions is also increasing, with 40% of respondents actively involved in deployment – up eight percentage points from 2025. Innovation and workforce development are still key to long term sustainability. Almost all respondents pointed to training, education and digitalization as key priorities, with 98% in support of both. Both innovation and continuous improvement were highlighted by 96%, and 95% stressed the importance of collaboration with business partners. Employee experience and wider industry cooperation were highlighted by 93% of participants.The report also reveals notable regional differences. Organisations headquartered in Asia reported the strongest integration of sustainability into company culture, with 87% stating it forms part of their organisational DNA. This compares with 80% in the Middle East and Africa, 73% in Europe and 44% in the Americas.TIACA concludes that while external sustainability pressures may be moderating, the industry’s internal commitment continues to strengthen. Across the global air cargo sector, sustainability is increasingly being embedded into governance, operational decision-making, investment planning and long-term business strategy, helping build a more resilient, competitive and future-ready industry.
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