Cargo Demand Rises as Global Passenger Traffic Falls in IATA August Data

Stronger goods trade and trimmed cargo capacity helped airlines recoup surging fuel costs and lift cargo yields, while a sharp drop in Middle Eastern travel weakened overall passenger demand.

Overview

IATA’s August 2026 data show global air cargo demand climbed 4.4% year-on-year measured in cargo tonne-kilometres, with available cargo capacity trimmed by 0.1%.
Airlines raised cargo yields month-on-month and saw higher cargo load factors, a response to jet fuel that was roughly 79% higher year-on-year and rose 8.3% in August.
Total global passenger demand fell 0.8% year-on-year in August as Middle Eastern carriers reported about a 14.6% collapse in traffic that reversed recent stabilization.
Excluding the Middle East, passenger demand grew 0.6% year-on-year, and passenger capacity rose 0.3% with an 85.1% load factor that remains high despite the decline in RPKs.
Trade-lane performance was uneven, led by Asia–North America cargo growth of about 13.2%, while Gulf-linked routes and Europe–Middle East corridors continued to show sustained weakness.