Global air freight demand dips for first time since mid-2023

Muscat: Measured in freight tonne kilometers (FTKs), total global demand slipped by 0.1% compared to February 2024, when it had seen a modest 0.4% growth. Meanwhile, available capacity—measured in available cargo tonne kilometers (ATKs)—also edged down by 0.4%, following a 1.1% increase the year before.

Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, attributed the softening of air freight activity to a combination of factors, including Chinese New Year travel patterns, ongoing sea lane disruptions, the e-commerce surge, and rising global trade tensions.