Air cargo traffic falls 4.8% in March amid Iran war

Air cargo traffic fell year over year in March as the industry began to feel the effects of the Iran war. Last month’s air cargo traffic, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers , fell 4.8% YoY, while international cargo levels fell 5.5%, marking the first YoY decline in twelve months. Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers, fell 4.7% YoY, and 6.8% internationally, according to data released today by IATA. The decline in air cargo traffic “was mostly due to severe disruptions at major Gulf hubs due to war in the Middle East,” Willie Walsh, director general of IATA, said in the release. “The timing of the usual post-Lunar New Year slowdown also added to the decline. All eyes are on fuel supply and price, which are expected to test the industry’s resilience in the coming months.” Last month, closed airspace stranded about fifty freighters across the Gulf , including in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman. External factors The IATA report highlighted these economic factors affecting cargo traffic: Global industrial production grew 3.1% YoY in February, marking the thirty-eighth consecutive month of expansion. The global goods trade rose by 8% YoY in February as well. Jet fuel prices spiked last month, up 106.6% YoY, alongside a 43.1% increase in crude oil prices and a 320% surge in refining margins. Global manufacturing sentiment continued to grow in March. The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) stood at 51.4. The PMI for new export orders was 50.1. Both measurements were above 50, indicating positive conditions for air cargo demand. Regional performance YoY traffic growth varied widely by region. Africa saw the most significant growth, up 7% YoY. However, traffic in the Middle East decreased 54.3%. African carrier traffic grew 7% while capacity contracted 4.6%; Asia-Pacific carrier traffic grew 5.4% and capacity increased 5%; European carrier traffic grew 2.2% and capacity increased 4.2%; Latin American carrier traffic increased 1.8% and capacity increased 5.1%; Middle Eastern carrier traffic decreased 54.3% and capacity shrank 52.4%; and North American carrier traffic decreased 1.2% and capacity shrank 1.1%. Trade lane performance Traffic between the Middle East and Asia contracted 58.6% in March, closely followed by routes between Europe and the Middle East, which contracted 57.6%. Meanwhile, traffic on routes between Africa and Asia increased 22.6%, followed by routes from Europe to Asia, which increased 14.2%. Africa-Asia grew 22.6%, the ninth consecutive month of growth; Asia-North America grew 0.8%, the second consecutive month of growth Europe-Asia grew 14.2%, the thirty-seventh consecutive month of growth; Europe-Middle East decreased 57.6%, the first month of contraction after two consecutive months of growth; Europe-North America decreased 3.4%, the first month of contraction after twenty-five consecutive months of growth; Middle East-Asia decreased 58.6%, the first month of contraction after twelve consecutive months of growth; Intra-Asia increased 7.5%, the twenty-ninth consecutive month of growth; and Intra-Europe grew 2.3%, the second consecutive month of growth. Follow Cargo Facts’ daily coverage of Cargo Facts EMEA 2026 .

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