IATA reported that global air cargo demand rose 3.9% year on year in July 2026, while capacity increased 1.7%, as all regions posted growth. The industry group’s latest monthly data showed the strongest gains in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, which together accounted for more than 90% of the overall increase.
North American carriers led regional growth with a 4.8% rise in demand, followed by Europe at 4.4% and Asia-Pacific at 4.1%. Latin American and Caribbean carriers also expanded by 4.1%, while Middle Eastern airlines posted 1.7% growth and African carriers recorded the weakest performance at 1.1%.
The global cargo load factor stood at 46.0% in July, reflecting demand growth that continued to outpace capacity expansion. IATA’s commentary pointed to a shift in market mix, with dedicated freighter operators gaining share while bellyhold traffic on passenger aircraft declined.