African airlines recorded the strongest regional air cargo performance in March 2026, with demand increasing by 7.0% year-on-year, while capacity decreased by 4.6% year-on-year.
This was achieved against a weaker global backdrop, where total air cargo demand fell by 4.8% compared to March 2025, and global capacity decreased by 4.7%. IATA attributed the global decline mostly to severe disruptions at major Gulf hubs due to war in the Middle East, as well as the timing of the usual post-Lunar New Year slowdown.
Africa accounted for 2.1% of industry cargo tonne-kilometres in 2025. In March 2026, the region recorded a cargo load factor of 49.6%, with a year-on-year load factor improvement of 5.4 percentage points.
Africa-Asia was the leading growth trade lane in March, recording 22.6% year-on-year growth and marking nine consecutive months of growth. The Africa-Asia lane represented 1.3% of industry cargo tonne-kilometres, based on full-year 2025 CTKs.
While Gulf-linked corridors were severely disrupted by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Africa’s air cargo market continued to show positive momentum. IATA noted that air cargo networks are providing flexibility to support global supply chains as they adjust to geopolitical, tariff and operational strains.
Key Africa Air Cargo Data
Africa regional performance
- Demand: +7.0% year-on-year
- Capacity: -4.6% year-on-year
- Cargo load factor: 49.6%
- Load factor change: +5.4 percentage points
- World share: 2.1%
Africa-Asia trade lane
- Growth: +22.6% year-on-year
- Trend: 9 consecutive months of growth
- Market share: 1.3%
