Global air cargo demand continued to rise in April, following the solid growth seen in March, fueled by front-loading strategies amid shifting global trade policies and some seasonal demand fluctuations.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for April 2025 global air cargo markets showing total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTK), rose by 5.8% compared to April 2024 levels and up 6.5% for international operations.

Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometres (ACTK), increased by 6.3% compared to April 2024 on the back of a 6.9% growth in international operations.

Air cargo outlook “encouraging”

“Air cargo demand grew strongly in April, with volumes up 5.8% year-on-year, building on March’s solid performance. Seasonal demand for fashion and consumer goods, front-loading ahead of US tariff changes, and lower jet fuel prices have combined to boost air cargo,” Willie Walsh, director general of IATA, said.

“With available capacity at record levels and yields improving, the outlook for air cargo is encouraging.”

“While April brought good news, stresses in world trade are no secret. Shifts in trade policy, particularly in the US, are already reshaping demand and export dynamics. Airlines will need to remain flexible as the situation develops over the coming months,” the IATA chief added.

[Source: IATA]

All regions saw year-on-year demand growth in April, led by Latin American carriers, which saw a 10.1% increase in demand growth for air cargo. Capacity increased by 8.5% during the same period.

Asia-Pacific airlines also recorded a 10.0% annual air cargo demand growth, with capacity rising 9.4% year-on-year.

North American carriers saw 4.2% demand growth for air cargo compared to the same period in 2024, as capacity was also up 4.6%.

European carriers saw 2.9% year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in April, and capacity increased 3.3% year-on-year.

African airlines reported a 4.7% annual increase in demand for air cargo last month, and capacity also grew by 9.7% compared to the same period in 2024.

Middle Eastern carriers recorded a  2.3% increase in demand for air cargo in April compared to the same period last year, the slowest among the regions, while capacity increased by 5.5% year-on-year.

[Source: IATA]

IATA said in terms of trade lanes, all international routes experienced growth in April, except for Middle East-Europe, Africa-Asia, and intra-European route.