Africa emerged as the fastest-growing region in global air cargo markets in February 2026, recording a 21.0 percent year-on-year increase in demand, significantly outpacing all other regions, according to the latest data released by the International Air Transport Association. The strong performance highlights the continent’s growing role in global trade flows, with capacity among African airlines also rising by 17.3 percent over the same period.
Globally, air cargo demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK), rose by 11.2 percent compared to February 2025 levels, with international operations slightly higher at 11.6 percent. Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK), increased by 8.5 percent year-on-year, while international capacity grew by 9.8 percent, reflecting continued efforts by airlines to meet rising demand.
According to Willie Walsh, the strong February performance was partly supported by seasonal factors, particularly the movement of goods ahead of the Lunar New Year, but underlying demand remained robust despite emerging global uncertainties. He noted that the outbreak of war in the Middle East towards the end of the month has introduced significant unpredictability into the market outlook, particularly due to rising fuel costs, fuel scarcity in some regions, and disruptions to key cargo hubs in the Gulf. While the air cargo sector has historically demonstrated resilience in the face of shocks, he emphasized that a swift resolution to the conflict, alongside stabilisation of fuel supply and prices, would be critical for sustaining growth through the rest of the year.
Broader economic indicators also supported the positive demand environment. Global goods trade recorded a 5.2 percent year-on-year increase in January, signalling strengthening international commerce. At the same time, jet fuel prices rose by 1.2 percent year-on-year in February, with a widening gap between Brent crude and jet fuel prices underscoring ongoing volatility in refining margins. Meanwhile, global manufacturing sentiment improved, with the Purchasing Managers’ Index rising to 53.1, remaining above the 50-point threshold that signals expansion. The index for new export orders climbed to 51.4, marking its highest level since July 2021 and pointing to sustained momentum in air cargo demand.
Across other regions, performance remained strong but varied in pace. Airlines in Asia-Pacific recorded a 13.6 percent increase in demand, supported by a 10.1 percent rise in capacity, while Middle Eastern carriers posted a 16.5 percent surge in demand alongside a 13.5 percent increase in capacity, despite the emerging geopolitical challenges in the region. North American carriers saw demand grow by 9.4 percent with capacity up 5.3 percent, and European airlines recorded a 6.9 percent increase in demand with capacity rising by 6.1 percent. Latin American and Caribbean carriers experienced the slowest growth, with demand increasing by just 0.7 percent year-on-year, although capacity still expanded by 4.5 percent.
The February figures reinforce the resilience of global air cargo markets and underscore Africa’s rising prominence within the sector. Despite evolving geopolitical and economic pressures, the overall outlook remains cautiously optimistic, with strong trade activity and improving manufacturing conditions continuing to support demand, even as industry stakeholders monitor the impact of external shocks on full-year performance.
