The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported an 11.3% increase in global air cargo demand for the year 2024, exceeding the peak record volumes set in 2021.
The full-year demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTK), increased by 12.2% for international operations compared to the previous year.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
The full-year capacity for 2024, calculated in available cargo tonne-kilometres (ACTK), rose by 7.4% from 2023, with international operations experiencing a 9.6% increase.
Full-year yields in 2024 averaged 1.6% lower than the prior year but were 39% higher than the pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Global trade in goods also saw an annual growth of 3.6% in 2024.
IATA anticipates a more moderate growth rate of 5.8% for 2025, aligning with historical trends.
IATA director general Willie Walsh said: “Air cargo was the standout performer in 2024 with airlines moving more air cargo than ever before. Importantly, it was a year of profitable growth.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalData“Demand, up 11.3% year-on-year, was boosted by particularly strong e-commerce and various ocean shipping restrictions.”
Regionally, airlines in Asia-Pacific led with a 14.5% year-on-year increase in demand, the highest among all regions. Capacity in the region increased by 11.3%.
North American carriers, on the other hand, reported the lowest demand growth at 6.6%, with a 3.4% rise in capacity.
European airlines experienced an 11.2% demand growth and a 7.8% increase in capacity. Middle Eastern carriers followed closely with a 13% rise in demand and a 5.5% growth in capacity.
Latin American and African airlines also reported year-on-year demand growths of 12.6% and 8.5%, respectively, with corresponding capacity increases of 7.9% and 13.6%.
Earlier this month, IATA reported an 8.2% rise in global air cargo demand for November 2024.
