Global air cargo demand declined 4.8% in March 2026 compared to the previous year, with cargo tonne-kilometres (CTK) dropping sharply due to disruptions in the Middle East. International operations saw an even steeper fall of 5.5%, according to data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The Middle East region recorded the worst performance, with CTK contracting 54.3% year-on-year and available cargo tonne-kilometres (ACTK) down 52.4%. Escalating conflicts led to airspace closures and flight cancellations at major Gulf hubs including Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi, severely impacting supply chains and freight volumes. IATA Director General Willie Walsh stated that the decline was mostly due to these severe disruptions, compounded by the post-Lunar New Year slowdown.
Capacity overall decreased 4.7% year-on-year, aligning closely with demand, while the global cargo load factor held steady at 47.9%. Dedicated freighters showed resilience, with volumes down only 0.9% as operators rerouted capacity.
Regional results varied widely. African airlines posted the strongest growth at 7.0%, followed by Asia-Pacific carriers at 5.4%. European carriers saw 2.2% demand growth, Latin American and Caribbean airlines 1.8%, while North American carriers experienced a 1.2% decline.
Jet fuel prices surged 106.6% year-on-year to their highest in over 23 years, with Brent crude up 43.1%. Trade lanes like Middle East-Asia contracted 58.6%, contrasting with gains in intra-Asia (7.5%) and Africa-Asia routes. Despite the downturn, global industrial production expanded 3.1% and goods trade rose 8.0% in February, with manufacturing sentiment remaining positive.