Air cargo saw a strong start to the year with total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTKs), up 18.4% in January 2024 year-over-year (YoY). International operations were up 19.8%. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), it is the highest annual growth in CTKs since the summer season of 2021.
Cargo capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometres, was up 14.6% YoY (18.2% for international operations). IATA said this was ""largely related to the growth in belly capacity."" International belly capacity rose 25.8% YoY.
""This is a strong start to the year,"" said IATA director general Willie Walsh. ""In particular, the booming e-commerce sector is continuing to help air cargo demand to trend above growth in both trade and production since the last quarter of 2023.""
Walsh added: ""The counterweight to this good news is uncertainty over how China’s economic slowdown will unfold.""
Air cargo demand up 18% in January
