African airlines recorded a 4.7 per cent year-on-year increase in air cargo demand in September 2026, even as cargo capacity fell by 1.2 per cent, highlighting a widening gap between demand and available capacity.
The figures were contained in the latest report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which showed that global air cargo demand rose by 7.7 per cent during the month, supported by stronger trade and manufacturing activity and shipments linked to artificial intelligence.
However, rising jet fuel prices continued to increase operating costs, threatening airlines’ ability to translate stronger cargo volumes into improved profitability.
While African airlines’ cargo demand grew by 4.7 per cent, their overall cargo capacity declined by 1.2 per cent year-on-year. Globally, capacity expanded by 2.7 per cent.
On international routes, African cargo demand increased by 8.6 per cent, while international capacity grew by 3.3 per cent.
The regional performance varied across the global aviation industry. North American airlines recorded the strongest demand growth at 11.8 per cent, with capacity increasing by 0.8 per cent. Asia-Pacific carriers reported an 8.6 per cent rise in demand and a 4.9 per cent increase in capacity.
European airlines recorded 4.5 per cent demand growth, despite a 1.6 per cent decline in capacity. In the Middle East, demand rose by 3.8 per cent while capacity expanded by 7 per cent. Latin American and Caribbean carriers recorded increases of 6.7 per cent in demand and 7.6 per cent in capacity.
IATA Senior Vice President for Sustainability and Chief Economist, Marie Owens Thomsen, said air cargo demand increased across all regions in September.
“Air cargo demand rose 7.7% year-on-year in September, with growth across all regions,” she said, attributing the performance to stronger global trade and manufacturing, as well as AI-related shipments that supported another month of double-digit growth across the Pacific.
The Asia–North America trade lane remained the strongest-performing major corridor, followed by intra-Asia traffic, Europe–North America and Europe–Asia. Cargo traffic declined on the Europe–Middle East and Middle East–Asia routes.
The improvement in cargo demand came against a sharp rise in fuel costs. According to IATA, jet fuel prices increased by 17.5 per cent month-on-month in September and were 103.4 per cent higher than a year earlier.
The increase adds to pressure on airlines already grappling with operating expenses that have not been matched by equivalent growth in yields.
Broader economic indicators, however, pointed to continued support for cargo activity. Global trade grew by 3.6 per cent year-on-year in August, extending its growth streak to 42 consecutive months.
The global manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index rose by 0.7 points to 53.8, while the New Export Orders Index increased by 0.5 points to 51.9. Both indicators reached their highest levels in five years, signalling improved manufacturing and export conditions.
Nevertheless, IATA noted that airline yields had not kept pace with rising expenses, limiting the benefits of stronger demand.
