The International Air Transport Association (IATA) highlights a strong momentum in the sector, driven by global trade, but warns of uncertainties related to the Middle East and fuel costs.
IATA announces an 11.2% increase in global air freight demand in February 2026, measured in freight tonne-kilometers (CTK), while capacity grows by 8.5%. International operations show even stronger growth, at +11.6%.
This performance comes against a backdrop of global trade recovery (+5.2% in January) and improvement in the manufacturing climate, with the PMI index reaching 53.1. Export orders are also increasing, supporting air freight prospects.
Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA, points out that “demand has significantly increased despite the seasonal effect of the Lunar New Year,” while warning that the conflict in the Middle East complicates visibility for the year.
Aviation fuel prices finally increase modestly year-on-year (+1.2%), but the note particularly highlights the volatility of refining margins (Brent-jet fuel spread) and supply tensions, which are more structurally risky factors than just +1.2%.
Regionally, Africa (+21%) and the Middle East (+16.5%) record the highest growth rates, while Latin America lags behind (+0.7%). Asia-Pacific (+13.6%) and North America (+9.4%) also show strong progressions.
