Global air cargo demand has started 2026 on a strong note. According to recent WorldACD data, tonnages in the first full week of January were up 5% year on year, with the strongest growth originating from Middle East & South Asia, followed by Asia‑Pacific and North America.

Recent reporting from Air Cargo Week highlighted increasing regional divergence. Europe enters 2026 under pressure, with manufacturing contraction, softening long‑haul demand, and rising regulatory complexity shaping a more cautious outlook.

In contrast, Asia‑Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa continue to build momentum, supported by e‑commerce flows, pharmaceuticals, perishables, and the expanding role of Middle Eastern hubs in global transshipment.

Air Cargo news in a recent report cited additional analysis from Aevean, which showed operators continuing to pull freighter capacity out of the Trans-Pacific while reinforcing Asia–Europe, Asia–Middle East, and North and South America routes.

In an earlier assessment, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecasted air cargo volumes to grow 2.4% in 2026. It has also warned capacity constraints may intensity. Demand is expected to outpace the availability of aircraft and engines, with the global order backlog now exceeding 17,000 aircraft. That equates with nearly 60% of the active fleet.

IATA noted the years of deferred deliveries and historically high backlogs. “The normalization of the structural mismatch between airline requirements and production capacity is unlikely before 2031-2034 due to irreversible losses on deliveries over the past five years and a record-high order backlog.”

Source: WorldACD, Air Cargo Week, Air Cargo News, IATA