Geneva: The International Air Transport Association reported a notable increase in global air cargo demand, with a 5.6% rise year-on-year in January. This growth signals a strong start to 2026 for the air cargo sector.

According to Anadolu Agency, international operations saw an even more substantial increase, with demand rising by 7.2% during the same period. The association also noted an increase in capacity, measured in available cargo ton-kilometers, which grew by 3.6% globally and 5.7% for international operations.

Willie Walsh, director general of the association, commented that carriers in regions such as Africa, the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific region, and Europe reported growth rates exceeding the global average. However, he pointed out that carriers in the Americas experienced aggregate contractions, diverging from the overall positive trend.

Walsh also cautioned that recent hostilities in the Middle East and changing US trade policies could pose challenges to global supply chains in the coming months, potentially impacting the air cargo sector's momentum.