Global air cargo traffic grows 4.1% in October, sets record

The air cargo industry set a record for traffic as it recorded the eighth consecutive month of year-over-year traffic growth in October. October’s air cargo traffic , measured in cargo tonne kilometers (CTK), rose 4.1% YoY, and traffic on international lanes grew 4.8% YoY, according to data released last week by IATA. October saw a record 25.4 billion scheduled CTKs, IATA told Cargo Facts . The previous record had been 24.5 billion scheduled CTKs in July. Capacity, measured in available CTKs, rose 5.1% YoY and rose 6.4% YoY for international operations. The October growth “is especially significant as the air cargo sector enters the peak fourth-quarter shipping season,” IATA Director General Willie Walsh said in the release. External factors The release highlighted these operating environment factors: Global goods trade grew 3% YoY in September, the latest data available. Additionally, global industrial production grew 3.7% YoY in September, the fastest pace since March and the strongest monthly reading since late 2022, according to IATA. Air cargo traffic in September grew 2.9% YoY. Global jet fuel prices in October rose 2.5% YoY despite the price of brent crude oil falling 14.4% YoY. This is the second month of jet fuel prices increasing YoY, after September ended a fourteen-month streak of YoY declines. The monthly average spot price for U.S. Gulf Coast jet fuel in October was $2.15 per gallon , according to the Energy Information Administration. October’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for global manufacturing output was 51.5, the third 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 seventh month, falling 1.3 points to 48.3. These figures reflect “ongoing caution amid tariff uncertainty ,” IATA said for the second consecutive month. [caption id="attachment_57293409" align="aligncenter" width="1324"] (Courtesy/IATA)[/caption] Regional performance African carriers saw the strongest YoY traffic growth of any region for the third month in a row. Meanwhile, Latin American and North American carriers tied for weakest performance. By region YoY: African carrier traffic grew 16.6% and capacity grew 20%; Asia-Pacific carrier traffic grew 8.3% and capacity grew 7.3%; Middle Eastern carrier traffic grew 5.7% and capacity grew 10%; European carrier traffic grew 4.3% and capacity grew 4.3%; Latin American carrier traffic fell 2.7% and capacity grew 2.8%; and North American carrier traffic fell 2.7% and capacity rose 0.1%. Trade lane performance Air cargo volumes in October increased across most major trade corridors, with Europe-Asia performing the strongest. However, traffic on the North America-Asia trade lane continued to contract. “While the Asia-North America trade lane extended its contraction to six months, October saw double-digit or near double-digit growth within Asia, between the Middle East and Europe, and between Europe and Asia,” Walsh said. “This shifting growth pattern shows that air cargo is enabling global supply chains to adapt to the impact of U.S. tariffs .” By trade lane: Europe-Asia grew 11.7% YoY, the 32nd consecutive month of growth; Middle East-Asia grew 11.5% YoY, the eighth consecutive month of growth; Africa-Asia rose 10.9% YoY, the fourth consecutive month of growth; Intra-Asia grew 9% YoY, the 24th consecutive month of growth; North America-Europe grew 2.6% YoY, the 21st consecutive month of growth; Middle East-Europe fell 0.7% YoY, the third consecutive month of contraction; Intra-Europe fell 0.7% YoY, the third consecutive month of contraction; and Asia-North America fell 1.4% YoY, the sixth consecutive month of contraction. Cargo Facts LATAM 2026, the essential event for stakeholders in Latin America, will take place Feb. 10-12 at the Marquis Reforma in Mexico City. Learn more and register by Dec. 26 to take advantage of early-bird pricing. Cargo Facts Asia 2026, the indispensable event for Asia-Pacific stakeholders, will take place March 23-25 at the W Shanghai. Learn more and register by Feb. 6 to take advantage of early-bird pricing. The inaugural Cargo Facts Routes and Airport Conference will take place April 27-28 at the Marriott Al Forsan Abu Dhabi. Learn more and register by March 13 to take advantage of early-bird pricing.

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