IATA data shows Africa recorded the fastest increase in air freight capacity globally in August, widening the gap between available space and cargo demand…..
African airlines increased their air cargo capacity by 14 per cent in August 2026 compared with the same month last year, significantly outpacing the 3 per cent growth in cargo demand, according to the International Air Transport Association.
The latest figures put Africa ahead of every other region tracked by IATA for capacity growth during the month, even as the continent recorded a comparatively modest increase in the volume of freight being transported.
IATA’s August air cargo report also showed that global demand continued to expand despite a sharp rise in jet fuel prices, with airlines benefiting from stronger trade activity and improved cargo load factors.
African carriers recorded a 3 per cent year-on-year increase in demand for air cargo in August, while available capacity climbed by 14 per cent.
The disparity means airlines operating in the region added cargo space at a rate more than four times faster than the growth in freight demand.
The performance contrasted with several other major markets.
North American airlines recorded the strongest demand growth at 6.6 per cent, despite a 2.5 per cent decline in capacity.
Latin American and Caribbean carriers saw demand increase by 5.1 per cent, alongside a 3.3 per cent rise in capacity.
Asia-Pacific airlines recorded 4.3 per cent demand growth and a 1.2 per cent increase in capacity.
European carriers grew demand by 4.1 per cent, even as capacity fell 3.5 per cent.
In the Middle East, demand rose by just 1 per cent while capacity increased by 3.3 per cent.
Global air cargo demand rises 4.4%
Worldwide, air cargo demand increased by 4.4 per cent year-on-year in August, measured by cargo tonne-kilometres (CTK).
International cargo demand performed even better, rising 5.3 per cent compared with August 2025.
Available global capacity, however, edged down by 0.1 per cent year-on-year. International capacity recorded a marginal 0.1 per cent increase.
IATA said the combination of stronger demand and improved load factors helped airlines offset part of the pressure from higher fuel costs.
Global trade also continued to expand, rising 6 per cent year-on-year in July. The increase extended the current run of monthly trade growth to 33 consecutive months.
At the same time, jet fuel prices increased 8.3 per cent between July and August and were 79.2 per cent higher than a year earlier.
Manufacturing indicators also pointed to continued expansion. The Global Manufacturing Output Purchasing Managers’ Index rose 0.3 points to 53.0, while the New Export Orders Index increased 1.4 points to 51.4.
IATA sees stronger cargo market ahead
IATA Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist Marie Owens Thomsen said the latest figures showed continued strength in the air freight market despite the pressure from fuel costs.
“Air cargo demand rose 4.4% year-on-year in August with all regions reporting growth even as capacity was trimmed by 0.1%.”
She said higher demand and load factors had helped airlines recover some of the additional cost created by expensive fuel.
Thomsen also noted that air cargo yields increased month-on-month for the first time since April, while global goods trade continued to expand.
According to her, the combination of those developments provided positive indications as airlines approached the year-end peak shipping period.
Africa’s cargo performance remains volatile
August’s capacity surge comes after several sharp swings in the African air cargo market during the year.
In July, African airlines recorded only 1.1 per cent growth in cargo demand, while available capacity increased by 4.1 per cent.
The picture was different in June, when Africa was the only region to record a year-on-year decline in cargo capacity. Available capacity fell 7.1 per cent, despite freight demand increasing by 4.7 per cent.
Demand had risen 13.3 per cent in May, when capacity grew by just 1.3 per cent.
In April, African cargo demand increased by 7.7 per cent despite a 9.4 per cent contraction in capacity.
March also recorded 7 per cent demand growth, while February saw an especially strong 21 per cent increase, supported by a 61.9 per cent jump in traffic along the Africa-Asia trade route.
That trade corridor has since weakened considerably. In August, Africa-Asia cargo demand fell 11.9 per cent year-on-year, marking the third consecutive month of contraction. The route accounted for 1.3 per cent of the industry’s total market share.
Nigeria among markets with room for expansion
Nigeria’s air freight industry could benefit from the broader expansion of cargo activity across Africa, particularly as e-commerce and cross-border trade continue to develop.
Aramex Nigeria Managing Director Faisal Jarmakani previously estimated the country’s air freight logistics market at more than $8 billion.
He identified time-sensitive shipments, exports driven by the Nigerian diaspora and the growth of business-to-business and consumer-to-consumer transactions as important sources of demand.
Lagos remains the country’s principal air cargo hub, with Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano also serving as major cargo gateways.
However, the market continues to face operational challenges, including delays in airport cargo processing, high handling costs, limited integration of technology among regulatory agencies and difficulties with last-mile delivery.
Jarmakani said improvements in the digitisation of airport processes, lower logistics costs and better warehousing infrastructure could enable Nigeria to capture a larger share of the opportunities emerging from the growth of air cargo across Africa.
For the continent as a whole, the August figures present a mixed picture: demand is growing, but African airlines are expanding capacity considerably faster than freight volumes, leaving the region with more available cargo space as the global air freight market heads towards the end-of-year peak season.
