June sees robust air cargo demand as industry shows resilience

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released data indicating a strong performance in global air cargo markets for June 2024. The demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs), rose by 14.1% compared to the same month last year, marking the seventh consecutive month of double-digit growth. Capacity also increased by 8.8% over June 2023.

For the first half of 2024, total demand saw a 13.4% increase compared to H1 2023 and surpassed figures from both 2022 and the record-breaking year of 2021. Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general, commented on the performance: "Air cargo demand surged in June. Strong growth across all regions and major trade lanes combined for a record-breaking first-half performance in terms of CTKs."

Several factors have contributed to this growth, including maritime shipping constraints and a booming e-commerce sector. Despite political and economic challenges and issues like the US customs crackdown on e-commerce deliveries from China, air cargo has maintained its strong trajectory.