Air cargo traffic rises 5.5% in November

Holiday peak season demand buoyed air cargo traffic in November 2025, which recorded the second-largest year-over-year increase of the year. November’s air cargo traffic , measured in cargo tonne kilometers (CTK), rose 5.5% YoY, and traffic on international lanes was up 6.9% YoY, according to data released today by IATA. November tied with July for the second-highest YoY air cargo traffic increase at 5.5%, coming in just behind April’s 5.8% increase. Capacity, measured in available CTKs, rose 4.7% YoY and rose 6.5% YoY for international operations. November air cargo traffic was “boosted by shippers prioritizing timely delivery in the lead-up to the year-end holiday season,” IATA Director General Willie Walsh said in IATA’s release. “The strong end for 2025 bodes well for the air cargo industry as it enters the new year .” External factors The release highlighted these operating environment factors: Global goods trade grew 2% YoY in October, the latest data available. Air cargo traffic in October grew 4.1% YoY. Global jet fuel prices in November rose 5.9% YoY despite crude prices falling 14.5% YoY. This is the third month of jet fuel prices increasing YoY, after September ended a fourteen-month streak of YoY declines. IATA attributes November’s increase to refinery disruptions, European Union restrictions on Russian-derived products and limited spare refining capacity. The monthly average spot price for U.S. Gulf Coast jet fuel in November was $2.26 per gallon , according to the Energy Information Administration. November’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for global manufacturing output was 51.2, the fourth consecutive month in which it was above 50. A PMI above 50 indicates growth and one below 50 indicates contraction. The PMI for new export orders remained in negative territory for the eighth consecutive month despite rising 1.6 points to 49.9. [caption id="attachment_57294152" align="aligncenter" width="1326"] (Courtesy/IATA)[/caption] Regional performance African carriers saw the strongest YoY traffic growth of any region for the fourth month in a row. Meanwhile, Latin American and North American carriers continued to see decreased YoY performance, for the third consecutive month for Latin America and the fourth for North America. By region YoY: African carrier traffic grew 15.6% and capacity grew 18.1%; Asia-Pacific carrier traffic grew 10.3% and capacity grew 8.4%; Middle Eastern carrier traffic grew 7.4% and capacity grew 11%; European carrier traffic grew 5.8% and capacity grew 4.1%; North American carrier traffic fell 1.6% and capacity fell 2.3%; and Latin American carrier traffic fell 4.8% and capacity fell 3%. Trade lane performance Air cargo volumes in October increased YoY across most major trade corridors, with intra-Asia performing the strongest. Also, traffic on the Asia-North America trade grew YoY for the first time in six months. “Strong emerging market demand and selective Middle Eastern growth more than made up for softness in the Americas amid ongoing adjustment to the new U.S. tariff regime ,” Walsh said. “Globally, the fourth quarter for air cargo was resilient as strategic rerouting of trade shaped performance across key markets.” By trade lane: Intra-Asia grew 15.8% YoY, the 25th consecutive month of growth; Europe-Asia grew 11.7% YoY, the 33rd consecutive month of growth; Middle East-Asia grew 11.1% YoY, the ninth consecutive month of growth; Africa-Asia rose 9.5% YoY, the fifth consecutive month of growth; Middle East-Europe grew 5.4% YoY, ending three consecutive months of contraction; North America-Europe grew 5% YoY, the 22nd consecutive month of growth; Asia-North America grew 1.8%, ending six consecutive months of contraction; and Intra-Europe fell 4.9% YoY, the fourth consecutive month of contraction. Cargo Facts will present four invaluable events for airfreight professionals in the first half of 2026, starting with Cargo Facts LATAM, on Feb. 10-12. Register for Cargo Facts LATAM by Jan. 9 to take advantage of early-bird pricing. To see the agendas and register for the events, visit CargoFactsEvents.com .

Air cargo traffic rises 5.5% in November

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