IATA data show global air cargo demand rose 7.7% year on year in September, outpacing a 2.7% rise in capacity and lifting the cargo load factor to 47.9%, up 2.2 percentage points. Asia–North America led trade lanes with 17% growth, its eighth straight monthly gain, while Europe–Middle East fell 18%. North American carriers posted the strongest airline result at 11.8%. IATA warned that jet fuel prices were 103.4% higher than a year earlier and yields had not kept pace, making profitable operations harder despite ample shipment volumes.
Global air cargo demand grew 7.7% year on year in September, outpacing capacity growth and lifting the industry’s cargo load factor, according to IATA data reported by www.aircargonews.net.
Demand measured in cargo tonne kilometres (CTK) rose faster than the 2.7% increase in available CTK capacity, pushing the cargo load factor up 2.2 percentage points on the prior year to 47.9%. The association attributed the gain to AI-related shipments moving across the Pacific, while cautioning that airlines face mounting cost pressure.
Trade lanes: Pacific leads, Middle East routes slide
The Asia–North America trade lane posted the strongest growth, up 17% year on year and marking its eighth consecutive month of expansion. Europe–North America rose 9.3%, its fifth straight month of growth.
Intra-Asia traffic increased 10.2%, Asia–Europe was up 6% and Africa–Asia gained 2.6%. In contrast, Europe–Middle East fell 18% and Middle East–Asia slipped 10.2%, which IATA linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East region.
Carriers: North American airlines post strongest gain
North American airlines recorded an 11.8% increase in demand, the largest among carrier groups, followed by Asia Pacific-based carriers at 8.6% and Latin American airlines at 6.7%.
African airlines improved 4.7%, European carriers rose 4.5% and Middle East-based airlines saw demand grow 3.8%. The results tracked the regional trade-lane patterns reported by the association.
Fuel costs more than double year on year
Jet fuel prices rose 17.5% month on month in September and were 103.4% higher than a year earlier, IATA said, as yields failed to keep pace with the cost increase.
Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s senior vice president for sustainability and chief economist, said the demand picture is healthy but profitability is under strain.
“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.”
— Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA senior vice president for sustainability and chief economist
Source: Air Cargo News
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
