Air Cargo Up 12% Since Pre-COVID Thanks to North American Carriers

North American carriers support the growth by making up 7.5% of that 12%.

Pexels Aeroplane Aerospace
Pexels

Global air cargo demand is up 12% since pre-COVID-19 levels, with North American carriers supporting that growth by making up 7.5% of that 12%, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

“Air cargo continues to be the good news story for the air transport sector. Demand is up 12% on pre-crisis levels and yields are solid. Some regions are outperforming the global trend, most notably carriers in North America, the Middle East and Africa. Strong air cargo performance, however, is not universal. The recovery for carriers in the Latin American region, for example, is stalled,” says Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general.   

From the International Air Transport Association:

  • Global demand, measured in cargo ton-kilometers (CTKs), was up 12% compared to April 2019 and 7.8% compared to March 2021.
  • Capacity remains 9.7% below pre-COVID-19 levels (April 2019) due to the ongoing grounding of passenger aircraft.
  • Underlying economic conditions and favorable supply chain dynamics remain supportive for air cargo. For example, global trade rose 4.2% in March. And, competitiveness against sea shipping has improved. 
Latest