African Airlines Face Weakest Cargo Demand Growth

In July 2026, African airlines recorded the weakest air cargo demand growth among all regions, with a year-on-year increase of just 1.1%, as reported by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This performance lagged behind the global air cargo demand growth of 3.9%.

The slower demand growth coincided with a 4.1% year-on-year increase in available cargo capacity, which outpaced the demand growth and resulted in a decline of the regional cargo load factor by 1.4 percentage points to 45.8%. While airlines in Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America contributed over 90% to the global demand increase, North American carriers saw the highest growth at 4.8%.

Despite a strong start to 2026, where African airlines had significant demand surges earlier in the year, challenges such as limited air connectivity and high transport costs hindered further growth. IATA noted that enhancing air connectivity could facilitate the movement of high-value goods across Africa, supporting trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).