Total demand for air cargo increased by 2.2% in May 2025 compared to the same month last year, according to recent data. This growth was more pronounced in international operations, which saw a rise of 3.0%. Capacity also experienced an uptick, growing by 2.0% overall and 2.6% for international operations.
Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), commented on the situation: “Air cargo demand globally grew 2.2% in May. That is encouraging news as a 10.7% drop in traffic on the Asia to North America trade lane illustrated the dampening effect of shifting US trade policies."
Despite global manufacturing contraction and pressure from U.S. trade policy changes, air cargo volumes outpaced global goods trade growth significantly over this period.