Global air cargo demand rose 5.5% year on year in November, according to the latest data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), marking another month of solid growth as the industry continues to recover on the back of resilient international trade and improving market conditions.
IATA said for the period, total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK), rose by 5.5% compared to November 2024 levels. International operations saw a stronger 6.9% increase.
Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK), increased by 4.7% compared to November 2024 and it was up 6.5% for international operations.
For October, total air cargo demand was up 4.1% year-on-year — marking eight straight months of growth. In September, it expanded by 2.9% year-on-year. In August, it saw an increase of 4.1% and in July, total air cargo demand climbed 5.5% year-on-year. In June, global air cargo demand rose by 0.8% compared to June 2024. In May, it was up 2.2% compared to May 2024.
"Air cargo demand grew 5.5% year-on-year in November 2025, boosted by shippers prioritizing timely delivery in the lead-up to the year-end holiday season. Strong emerging market demand and selective Middle Eastern growth more than made-up for softness in the Americas amid ongoing adjustment to the new US tariff regime," said Willie Walsh, director-general at IATA.
"Globally, the fourth quarter for air cargo was resilient as strategic re-routing of trade shaped performance across key markets. The strong end for 2025 bodes well for the air cargo industry as it enters the new year," he added.
[Source: IATA]
Regional air cargo performance in November showed a mixed picture across global markets.
IATA data showed Asia‑Pacific airlines recorded a 10.3% year‑on‑year increase in demand, supported by an 8.4% rise in capacity. North American carriers posted a 1.6% decline in demand, with capacity down 2.3%. European airlines saw demand grow 5.8% year on year, alongside a 4.1% increase in capacity.
Middle Eastern carriers reported a 7.4% rise in demand, while capacity expanded by 11.0%. In Latin America and the Caribbean, demand fell 4.8% — the weakest regional result — with capacity down 3.0%. African airlines delivered the strongest performance, with demand up 15.6% and capacity increasing by 18.1%.
Increase cargo across major trade lanes
Air freight volumes in November 2025 increased across all major trade corridors, according to IATA data, with several key lanes showing sustained momentum.
The Europe–Asia corridor posted 11.7% year-on-year growth, marking its 33rd consecutive month of expansion and accounting for 20.4% of global market share. Within Asia, volumes rose 15.8%, continuing a 25-month growth streak.
The Middle East–Asia lane grew 11.1% year on year, while Africa–Asia traffic increased 9.5%, both reflecting ongoing regional strength. Transpacific volumes (Asia–North America) edged up 1.8% after one month of growth, while North America–Europe rose 5.0%, extending a 22-month positive trend.
Meanwhile, the Middle East–Europe traffic grew 5.4%, and intra-European volumes declined 4.9%, the only major corridor to post a contraction.
IATA revised its outlook for last year and said it expects a 3.1% year‑over‑year growth in air cargo for 2025 despite earlier forecasts of marginal growth or 0.7% expansion in its June outlook, due to trade tensions and ‘de minimis’ rule changes.
For 2026, IATA said air cargo is set to grow 2.6% in 2026 despite a general trade slowdown.
