African airlines have once again outperformed all other global regions in air freight, recording a 15.6% year-on-year (YoY) increase in air cargo demand for November 2025.
According to the latest data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Africa’s growth rate was nearly triple the global average of 5.5%. This marks the fifth consecutive month of double-digit expansion for the continent, solidifying its position as a high-growth corridor in the global aviation industry.
Key Performance Indicators (November 2025)
- Demand (CTK): African carriers saw a 15.6% YoY increase in Cargo Tonne-Kilometres, the strongest rise among all regions.
- Capacity (ACTK): To keep pace with surging demand, airlines on the continent increased their capacity by 18.1% YoY.
- Global Standing: Africa significantly outpaced the Asia-Pacific (up 10.3%) and Europe (up 5.8%), while North America (down 1.6%) and Latin America (down 4.8%) experienced contractions.
Drivers of the African Air Cargo Boom
The resilient end to 2025 for African air freight was largely driven by:
- Robust Trade Lanes: Significant activity on the Africa–Asia trade lane remained a primary engine for growth as economic ties between the two regions deepened.
- Strategic Re-routing: Shippers increasingly shifted to air freight for high-value goods to minimize risks associated with changing global trade patterns and potential tariff hikes.
- Holiday Season Push: Shippers prioritized timely delivery in the lead-up to the year-end festive season, boosting overall volumes.
Industry Outlook for 2026
IATA Director General Willie Walsh noted that the strong performance in the fourth quarter of 2025 bodes well for the industry’s prospects in the new year.
“Air cargo demand was resilient as strategic re-routing of trade shaped performance across key markets,” Walsh stated. He further emphasized that the sustained double-digit growth in Africa reflects a broader trend of aviation resilience on the continent, which has also seen robust growth in passenger traffic.
However, the industry faces headwinds moving into 2026, including a 5.9% rise in jet fuel prices and ongoing manufacturing caution due to global tariff uncertainties.
