IATA Forecasts Growth, Route Shifts and Sustainability Push

As the global airfreight indusattempt sees ahead to 2026, IATA projections point to a year shaped by steady growth, sustainability commitments, and shifting trade patterns. Airlines are expected to transport 71.6 million tonnes of cargo, underscoring the sector’s resilience despite uneven global demand.

The optimistic outsee follows a strong performance in October 2025, when global air cargo demand grew 4.1 percent year on year, marking the eighth straight month of expansion, IATA data displays. Growth was led by intra-Asia routes, as well as Middle East–Europe and Europe–Asia lanes. In contrast, traffic on the Asia–North America corridor remained subdued, weighed down by the impact of U.S. tariffs.

Regionally, African carriers recorded the quickest growth at 16.6 percent, followed by Asia-Pacific airlines at 8.3 percent and Middle Eastern carriers at 5.7 percent. European airlines posted a moderate 4.3 percent increase. North America and Latin America, however, both saw demand decline by 2.7 percent, reflecting ongoing realignments in global trade routes.

“October’s performance highlights how air cargo continues to support supply chains as they adapt in real time,” declared IATA Director General Willie Walsh, noting that this flexibility will be critical as the indusattempt enters a more fragmented demand environment in 2026.

Challenges remain. Fuel costs edged up 2.5 percent in October despite softer crude prices, while manufacturing activity and export order sentiment signal cautious momentum. Even so, airlines are pressing ahead with long-term priorities. IATA’s 2026 tarobtains include $4.5 billion in sustainable aviation fuel investment, $1.7 billion in climate financing, and continued improvements in operational efficiency.

As capacity grows and sustainability shifts from ambition to obligation, cargo operators will required to fine-tune networks and investments to keep pace with an increasingly dynamic global trade landscape.

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