IATA: Air cargo demand up 3.2 percent in January

On 27 February, IATA released its latest data on global air freight markets, reporting strong growth in demand, which makes interesting reading for the U-Freight Group, with our strong presence in the expedited international airfreight business.

IATA said that total demand for air cargo, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTKs), increased by 3.2% in January 2025 compared to the same month in 2024, with international operations showing a slightly higher growth of 3.6%. 

This marks the 18th consecutive month of growth. Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometres (ACTKs), grew by 6.8% year-on-year (7.3% for international operations). European carriers saw a 1.3% increase in air cargo demand in January, with capacity rising by 3.5% year-on-year.

IATA’s Director General, Mr Willie Walsh, noted that while factors such as trade growth, falling fuel costs, and expanding e-commerce continue to support air cargo, market conditions should be closely monitored. He highlighted concerns about potential tariff-driven trade policies from the new US Administration, which could impact the sector’s outlook.

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