Air cargo traffic rose 11.2% in February, ahead of Iran war

Air cargo traffic in February showed signs of positive year-over-year growth after slightly dropping in February 2025. The month’s total air cargo traffic, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK), rose 11.2% YoY, while international air cargo traffic grew 11.6% YoY, according to data released today by IATA. [caption id="attachment_57296101" align="aligncenter" width="712"] (Courtesy/IATA)[/caption] Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK), rose 8.5% YoY and 9.8% for international operations. “Even considering the boost from Lunar New Year shipments, the month showed strong growth,” IATA Director General Willie Walsh said in the release. “The outbreak of war in the Middle East, however, makes it difficult to see how full-year performance will unfold.” Walsh acknowledged that the Iran war has led to “sharply rising fuel costs , fuel scarcity… and severe disruption to key cargo hubs in the Gulf,” but he said he expects the industry to remain resilient . External factors IATA highlighted these economic variables in its release: Global goods trade grew 5.2% YoY in January. Jet fuel prices rose 1.2% YoY in February, with a widening Brent crude-jet fuel crack spread signaling continued volatility, elevating oil prices as the war continues. The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) in the manufacturing sector strengthened, with PMI at 53.1, remaining above the expansion threshold. A PMI above 50 indicates growth and one below 50 indicates contraction. New export orders PMI rose to 51.4, the highest since July 2021, indicating improving demand conditions for air cargo. “While air cargo has repeatedly proven its resilience in the face of disruption, an early resolution of the war along with a normalization of fuel supply and costs would be in everybody’s interest,” Walsh said. Regional performance Except for Latin America, operators across all regions saw YOY increases in traffic in February. However, carriers in each region saw YOY capacity growth. By region YoY: African carrier traffic grew 21% and capacity grew 17.3%; Asia-Pacific carrier traffic grew 13.6% and capacity grew 10.1%; Middle Eastern carrier traffic grew 16.5% and capacity grew 13.5%; North American carrier traffic grew 9.4% and capacity grew 5.3%; European carrier traffic grew 6.9% and capacity grew 6.1%; and Latin American carrier traffic fell 0.7% and capacity grew 4.5%. Trade lane performance The trans-Pacific lane had a slight edge over the Europe-Asia corridor in terms of air cargo volumes, with a market share of 23.4%. However, the Africa-Asia trade lane has shown the most improvement in volumes with an increase of 62% YoY. By trade lane: Africa-Asia grew 61.9% YoY, the eighth consecutive month of growth; Middle East-Asia grew 24% YoY, the twelfth month of growth; Europe-Asia: grew 13.1% YoY, the thirty-sixth month of growth; Europe-Middle East grew 9.3% YoY, the second month of growth; Asia-North America grew 9.1% YoY, the first month of growth; Within Asia grew 9.1% YoY, for the twenty-eighth consecutive month of growth; Europe-North America grew 5.7% YoY, for the twenty-fifth consecutive month of growth; and Intra-Europe grew 7.8% YoY, the first month of growth. The inaugural Cargo Facts Routes and Airport Conference will take place April 27-28 in Brussels at the Marriott Hotel Grand Place, along with Cargo Facts EMEA 2026, taking place April 28-30. To see the agendas and register for the events, visit CargoFactsEvents.com .

Air cargo traffic rose 11.2% in February, ahead of Iran war

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