Global air cargo demand rises 7.7% in September 2026

Global air cargo demand rose 7.7% year on year in September 2026, and international demand increased 8.6%, according to IATA. Overall capacity grew 2.7%, while international capacity rose 3.3%, meaning demand continued to outpace capacity.

By region, North American airlines saw the strongest demand growth at 11.8%, with capacity up 0.8%. Asia-Pacific demand rose 8.6% and capacity 4.9%; Latin America and the Caribbean posted 6.7% demand growth and 7.6% capacity growth. African carriers recorded 4.7% demand growth as capacity fell 1.2%, European airlines 4.5% demand growth with capacity down 1.6%, and Middle Eastern carriers 3.8% demand growth with capacity up 7%.

Costs remained a pressure point: jet fuel prices rose 17.5% month on month in September and were 103.4% higher than a year earlier. Global trade grew 3.6% year on year in August, the 42nd consecutive month of annual expansion; the Global Manufacturing Output PMI rose to 53.8 and the New Export Orders Index to 51.9, both five-year highs. The Asia–North America trade lane showed the strongest growth, while Europe–Middle East and Middle East–Asia traffic declined.