The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for January 2026 global air cargo markets showing:

Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK), rose by 5.6% compared to January 2025 levels (+7.2% for international operations). 

Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK), increased by 3.6% compared to January 2025 (+5.7% for international operations). 

Several factors in the operating environment should be noted:

The global goods trade grew by 4.9% year-on-year in December 2025. 

Jet fuel prices decreased by 6.5% year-on-year in January.

Global manufacturing sentiment strengthened in January, with the global Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rising above the 50-point expansion threshold to 51.8, its highest level in over a year and a half. The PMI for new export orders climbed to 49.9, slightly below the growth threshold but the highest in 10 months, reflecting mixed but cautiously optimistic industrial growth.

Trade Lane Growth
Air freight volumes in January 2026 increased across most major trade corridors, with the notable exception of the Asia–North America route area.