The International Air Transport Association confirmed that global air cargo demand increased by 3.4pc in 2025 compared with 2024 measured in cargo tonne-kilometres with capacity rising 3.7pc.
Asia-Pacific airlines recorded the strongest regional growth at 8.4pc demand increase while North America experienced the only decline at 1.3pc. December 2025 showed continued momentum with global demand up 4.3pc and capacity up 4.5pc.
Trade lane shifts occurred with Europe-Asia growing 10.3pc and Within Asia 10.0pc while Asia-North America fell 0.8pc due to tariff pressures and removal of the US de minimis exemption. Yields declined 1.5pc year-on-year but remained 37.2pc above 2019 levels. African carriers achieved the highest December demand growth at 10.1pc.
Willie Walsh shared Air cargo delivered a strong performance in 2025, with demand up 3.4pc year-on-year. Global e-commerce strength drove volumes, even as trading relationships with the US faced rising tariffs, the removal of de minimis tariff exemptions, and continuing policy uncertainty. Air cargo rose to the occasion. It adapted quickly to support global businesses and supply chains as they front-loaded product deliveries ahead of tariff impositions and adjusted to rising demand within Asia and between Asia and Europe as US-Asia trade stagnated. Willie Walsh shared that growth in 2026 is expected to moderate slightly to 2.4pc, in line with historical trends.
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