Global air cargo demand surges 7.7% in September

Global air cargo demand recorded strong growth in September 2026, rising 7.7% year-on-year, according to data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Demand for international air cargo operations grew even faster, increasing by 8.6% compared with September 2025.

The figures indicate that air cargo demand continued to outpace capacity growth in September 2026, highlighting sustained momentum in the global air freight market.

Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist, said, “Air cargo demand rose 7.7% year-on-year in September, with growth across all regions. Stronger global trade and manufacturing provided a supportive backdrop, while AI-related shipments helped drive another month of double-digit growth across the Pacific. The challenge is cost. Jet fuel prices have more than doubled compared with a year ago, and yields have not kept pace. There is no shortage of goods to ship, but doing that profitably in the face of persistently high fuel prices has become more challenging.”

Several key factors shaped the global air cargo operating environment during the period. Global trade grew by 3.6% year-on-year in August, marking the 42nd consecutive month of annual expansion.

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