African airlines recorded 4.7% year-on-year growth in air cargo demand in September 2026, while capacity declined by 1.2%, according to the International Air Transport Association (Iata). The figures came as global air cargo demand rose 7.7%, outpacing capacity growth of 2.7%.
Demand increased across all regions during the month, supported by stronger global trade and manufacturing activity. However, rising jet fuel prices continued to put pressure on airline profitability, with prices more than doubling compared with September 2025.
African air cargo demand grows
African airlines recorded a 4.7% increase in cargo demand in September compared with the same month in 2025. Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometres (ACTK), declined by 1.2%.
On the Africa-Asia trade lane, demand increased by 2.6%. This marked one month of growth, with the route accounting for 1.3% of the industry's total air cargo traffic, based on full-year 2025 cargo tonne-kilometres (CTK).
Regional demand increases across the board
All regions recorded year-on-year growth in air cargo demand in September, although the pace of growth and capacity trends varied.
North American airlines recorded the strongest demand growth, at 11.8%, while capacity increased by 0.8%. Asia-Pacific demand rose by 8.6%, with capacity growing by 4.9%.
Latin American and Caribbean airlines recorded demand growth of 6.7%, alongside a 7.6% increase in capacity. In Europe, demand rose by 4.5%, while capacity declined by 1.6%.
Middle Eastern airlines recorded demand growth of 3.8%, compared with capacity growth of 7.0%. Africa recorded a 4.7% increase in demand, while capacity fell by 1.2%.
Global demand outpaces capacity
Across the global market, air cargo demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTK), increased by 7.7% year on year in September. International demand grew by 8.6%.
Global capacity rose by 2.7%, while international capacity increased by 3.3%.
The broader demand environment was supported by stronger trade and manufacturing activity. Global trade increased by 3.6% year on year in August, marking 42 consecutive months of growth.
Global manufacturing activity also strengthened in August. The Global Manufacturing Output Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose by 0.7 points to 53.8, while the New Export Orders Index increased by 0.5 points to 51.9. Both indices reached their highest levels in five years.
Fuel costs pressure carriers
Despite stronger demand, rising fuel costs are putting pressure on airline profitability. Jet fuel prices increased by 17.5% month-on-month in September and were 103.4% higher than a year earlier.
Marie Owens Thomsen, Iata's senior vice-president of sustainability and chief economist, said: “Air cargo demand rose 7.7% year-on-year in September, with growth across all regions. Stronger global trade and manufacturing provided a supportive backdrop, while AI-related shipments helped drive another month of double-digit growth across the Pacific.
"The challenge is cost. Jet fuel prices have more than doubled compared with a year ago, and yields have not kept pace. There is no shortage of goods to ship, but doing that profitably in the face of persistently high fuel prices has become more challenging.”
Trade lane growth remains uneven
Air cargo demand increased on several major trade lanes in September, although some routes continued to record contractions.
Asia-North America demand rose by 17% year on year, extending its growth streak to eight months. The route accounted for 23.5% of the industry's total air cargo traffic.
Traffic within Asia increased by 10.2%, marking 35 consecutive months of growth, while Europe-North America demand rose by 9.3%, its fifth consecutive month of expansion. Europe-Asia demand increased by 6%, continuing a 43-month growth streak.
The Africa-Asia trade lane recorded growth of 2.6%, marking one month of expansion. It accounted for 1.3% of industry traffic.
By contrast, Europe-Middle East demand declined by 18%, extending its contraction to seven months. Middle East-Asia traffic fell by 10.2%, also marking seven consecutive months of decline.
The trade lane shares are based on full-year 2025 CTKs.
