NewKerala.com

Global Air Cargo Demand Soars 5.5% in November Amid Holiday Rush

Global air cargo demand increased by 5.5% year-on-year in November 2025, driven by shippers ensuring timely deliveries for the year-end holiday season. International operations grew even faster at 6.9%, while global capacity rose by 4.7%. Regional performance was mixed, with African and Asia-Pacific carriers seeing double-digit growth, while North American and Latin American demand contracted. The overall market resilience was supported by growing global trade and strategic re-routing amid tariff uncertainties.

Key Points: Air Cargo Demand Rises 5.5% in Nov 2025, IATA Reports

  • 5.5% global demand growth in Nov 2025
  • African airlines led with 15.6% surge
  • North American demand fell 1.6%
  • Strong Asia-Pacific and intra-Asia trade growth
2 min read

Global air cargo demand rises 5.5% YoY in November 2025 amid year-end holiday push

Global air cargo demand grew 5.5% YoY in November 2025, driven by holiday shipping. African and Asia-Pacific carriers led growth, while Americas lagged.

"Air cargo demand grew 5.5%... boosted by shippers prioritizing timely delivery in the lead-up to the year-end holiday season. - Willie Walsh"

New Delhi, January 8

Global air cargo demand maintained strong momentum in November 2025 with a 5.5 per cent increase compared to the previous year. According to a press release from the International Air Transport Association, total demand measured in cargo tonne-kilometers rose as shippers prioritized timely delivery for the year-end holiday season.

International operations specifically saw a higher growth rate of 6.9 per cent. Global capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK), also grew by 4.7 per cent during the same period.

"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. 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," said Willie Walsh, IATA's Director General.

Several economic factors influenced the operating environment during the month. Global goods trade grew by 2 per cent year-on-year in October, while manufacturing sentiment strengthened in November as the Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 51.17.

However, jet fuel prices increased by 5.9 per cent "despite falling crude prices, driven by refinery disruptions". New export orders improved slightly to 49.87 but stayed below the expansion threshold, reflecting caution regarding tariff uncertainties.

Regional performance varied significantly across the globe. African airlines reported the strongest growth with a 15.6 per cent increase in demand, while Asia-Pacific carriers followed with a 10.3 per cent rise.

European and Middle Eastern carriers also saw gains of 5.8 per cent and 7.4 per cent, respectively. In contrast, North American carriers experienced a 1.6 per cent decrease in demand, and Latin American and Caribbean carriers saw a 4.8 per cent decline, representing the weakest performance among all regions.

Trade lane data showed robust activity within Asia, which grew by 15.8 per cent, marking 25 consecutive months of growth. The Europe-Asia route also maintained a long-term growth trend of 33 consecutive months with an 11.7 per cent increase. The North America-Europe corridor grew by 5 per cent.

Conversely, traffic within Europe fell by 4.9 per cent, marking its fourth consecutive month of decline. Despite these regional variations, the overall global market maintained a load factor level of 49.1 per cent.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
The 15.8% growth within Asia for 25 straight months is the real story here. It highlights the shifting center of gravity in global trade. While the numbers are positive, I wish the article gave more insight into India's specific performance. Are our exports via air cargo keeping pace?
A
Aman W
Interesting to see North America's demand fall. The report mentions "adjustment to the new US tariff regime" – this is a crucial point for Indian exporters. We need to diversify our markets further. The strong Africa and Middle East numbers are promising alternatives.
S
Sarah B
The jet fuel price increase despite falling crude is worrying. This cost will eventually be passed on to consumers. As someone who runs a small business importing components, air freight costs are a major part of my budget. Hope the stability continues into 2026.
V
Vikram M
Resilient performance indeed. But a global load factor of 49.1% means planes are still flying half-empty on average. That's a lot of unused capacity. The industry needs to find a better balance between demand growth and efficient capacity management.
K
Kavya N
This data proves how interconnected the world is. The Europe-Asia route growing for 33 months straight! With the push for 'Make in India' and our manufacturing PMI improving, we should aim to be a bigger hub in this network. Time to invest more in our cargo infrastructure. 🇮🇳

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50