Air Freight
Global air cargo demand rose 6% in May
Global air cargo demand rose 6% year on year in May 2026, according to IATA. International traffic grew even faster, at 6.5%. The figures show that urgent and high-value goods still depend on predictable air-freight capacity.
Why this matters to customers
Demand is increasing while available capacity is growing more slowly. Bookings should therefore be secured early, especially for time-critical spare parts, pharmaceuticals, electronics and e-commerce shipments.
What is happening on key routes
The strongest growth was recorded on Asia–North America, Africa–Asia and Europe–Asia routes. Routes connected with the Middle East remained more volatile, so transit planning should include alternative airports and a time buffer.
Practical takeaway
Forwarders should confirm capacity in advance, check transit restrictions and compare direct and multimodal options. This helps protect delivery times and control costs.
Source: IATA, Air Cargo Demand Up 6.0% in May, 29 June 2026. https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/2026-releases/06-29-air-cargo-demand-up-may/