IATA reports global air cargo demand rises 5.6 percent in January

Global air cargo demand grew 5.6 percent year-on-year in January 2026, according to data released by IATA, with total demand measured in cargo tonne-kilometers rising compared to January 2025 levels.

This makes interesting reading for the U-Freight Group with our strong presence in the expedited international airfreight business.

International operations saw stronger growth of 7.2 percent during the same period. Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers, increased 3.6 percent compared to January 2025, with international operations up 5.7 percent.

Regional performance showed significant variation, with carriers in Africa, Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and Europe all reporting growth above the global average. Carriers in the Americas reported aggregate contractions.

Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, said the demand for air cargo had a robust start to 2026. He noted that evolving US trade policies and the outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East will weigh on global supply chains in coming months.

For more information about the U-Freight Group’s global air freight forwarding and logistics services, or our e-commerce logistics operations, please visit the relevant pages of this website or contact your local office, details of which can be seen here: https://ufreight.com/locations