air-cargo

Air Cargo Demand Rebounds 4% in April as Asia Trade Powers Growth

Air cargo traffic expanded 4% year-on-year in April following a March decline caused by Middle East hostilities, according to International Air Transport Association data. Capacity contracted 0.4% while load factors improved by 1.8 percentage points.

Asia-Pacific airlines led regional performance with a 10.5% surge in demand, while European carriers posted 6% growth and North American operators achieved 5% increases. Middle East carriers declined 2% year-on-year, reflecting severe disruptions at major Gulf hubs from ongoing conflict. Dedicated freighters drove much of the expansion.

Africa-Asia and Asia-Europe trade lanes showed strongest performance, though Gulf-linked corridors remained constrained. Jet fuel prices rose sharply in April. Global manufacturing sentiment strengthened with purchasing managers' indices remaining above the 50-point expansion threshold, signaling continued demand support despite geopolitical uncertainty and elevated operating costs.