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Global air cargo demand saw a slight increase in June 2025, according to data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK), rose by 0.8% compared to June 2024. For international operations, the growth was higher at 1.6%. Capacity also increased by 1.7% year-on-year, and by 2.8% for international flights.
Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, commented on the mixed results: “Overall, air cargo demand grew by a modest 0.8% year-on-year in June, but there are very differing stories behind that number for the industry’s major players. Trade tensions saw North American traffic fall by 8.3% and European growth stagnate at 0.8%. But Asia-Pacific bucked the trend to report a 9.0% expansion. Meanwhile disruptions from military conflict in the Middle East saw the region’s cargo traffic fall by 3.2%.”
Walsh also addressed broader trade issues affecting air cargo: “The June air cargo data made it very clear that stability and predictability are essential supports for trade. Emerging clarity on US tariffs allows businesses greater confidence in planning. But we cannot overlook the fact that the ‘deals’ being struck are resulting in significantly higher tariffs on goods imported into the US than we had just a few months ago. The economic damage of these cost barriers to trade remains to be seen. In the meantime, governments should redouble efforts to make trade facilitation simpler, faster, cheaper and more secure with digitalization.”
