Global air cargo demand grew 4.4% year on year in August 2026 while capacity edged down 0.1%, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported from Geneva on September 29, 2026. International demand rose 5.3%. The global cargo load factor, the share of available capacity actually used, rose 2.0 percentage points to 46.0%.
North American carriers posted the strongest performance of any region, with demand up 6.6% on 2.5% less capacity and a load factor of 42.0%, 3.6 points higher than a year earlier. Asia-Pacific airlines grew 4.3% and European carriers 4.1%. By trade lane, Asia–North America recorded the strongest growth at 13.2%, its seventh consecutive month of growth, and Europe–North America grew 4.3%. Gulf-linked corridors remained disrupted by the conflict in the Middle East: Europe–Middle East was down 12.1% and Middle East–Asia down 11.0%.
Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist, said strong demand and higher load factors helped airlines recoup some of what she called exceptionally high fuel costs. Jet fuel prices rose 8.3% month on month in August and were 79.2% higher than a year earlier. “Yields rose month-on-month for the first time since April, while global goods trade growth continues,” she said, describing both as positive signs as the year-end peak season comes into view. Global trade grew 6.0% year on year in July, the 33rd consecutive month of expansion, and the Global Manufacturing Output PMI rose to 53.0 with the New Export Orders Index at 51.4.
What it means for shippers
- Rising yields point to firmer prices. Yield is what airlines earn for the cargo they carry, and its first monthly rise since April suggests the summer easing in rates may be pausing ahead of the peak.
- Space into the US is the tight spot. Asia–North America demand grew 13.2% while North American carriers flew less capacity than a year ago. Book fourth-quarter air freight early.
- Fuel is climbing again. With jet fuel up 8.3% in a month, confirm the fuel surcharge and the validity date on every quote.
- Plan the pickup with the booking. Fuller flights into gateways such as LAX mean fuller cargo terminals. Have the customs release, the pickup arrangements and the delivery address ready before the flight lands, and check free-time and storage terms with your forwarder.
Go Trucking Services handles air freight and LAX CFS pickup and delivery for shippers in Greater Los Angeles — see Air Freight and Drayage, or request a quote on the home page.
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Image: Aeroprints.com, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).
