Air cargo demand rises 6 per cent in May despite Middle East disruption

Global air cargo demand rose 6 per cent year-on-year in May, supported by stronger trade and manufacturing activity, although disruption linked to the war in the Middle East continued to weigh heavily on carriers in the region, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTK), increased by 6 per cent compared with May 2025, while international operations rose by 6.5 per cent. Capacity, measured in available cargo...