{
  "id": 4973040,
  "title": "IATA reports 0.2% cargo, 3.9% passenger demand growth",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/iata-reports-0-2-cargo-3-9-passenger-demand-growth-4973040",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-02T00:27:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/iata-reports-0-2-cargo-3-9-passenger-demand-growth/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In July 2026, global air cargo demand grew by 3.9 percent year-on-year, while passenger demand increased by a mere 0.2 percent, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Airlines in Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America contributed to over 90 percent of the overall growth. Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres, rose 3.9 percent compared to July 2025, while international operations saw stronger growth of 4.7 percent. Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometres, also climbed 1.7 percent year-on-year, while international capacity increased 1.8 percent. IATA's Senior Vice President, Sustainability and Chief Economist, Marie Thomsen, stated that despite rising fuel costs and geopolitical uncertainties, the outlook for air cargo remains broadly positive. She noted that dedicated freighters gained market share as belly-hold traffic declined, possibly due to the demand for larger or specialist shipments and the operational flexibility that freighters provide. IATA attributed the global trade growth of 7.5 percent year-on-year to supporting the increase in air cargo demand. However, jet fuel prices surged 12.2 percent month-on-month in July, being 56.9 percent higher than a year earlier. The association reported that global manufacturing activity eased slightly in June but remained supportive of air cargo demand, while export orders reached their highest level in three months. By region, North American carriers experienced the strongest growth in air cargo demand, rising 4.8 percent year-on-year in July, although capacity in the region declined by 1.5 percent. European airlines recorded a 4.4 percent increase in cargo demand, while capacity rose 1.3 percent year-on-year. Asia-Pacific airlines saw a 4.1 percent increase in air cargo demand, with capacity growing 3.0 percent. Middle Eastern carriers recorded a 1.7 percent year-on-year increase in demand, with capacity increasing by 4.0 percent. In Latin America and the Caribbean, airlines recorded a 4.1 percent increase in cargo demand, while capacity climbed by 7.0 percent. African airlines had the weakest regional performance, with cargo demand increasing 1.1 percent year-on-year in July; their capacity, however, rose by 4.1 percent. Global passenger demand for air travel grew by 0.2 percent in July 2026. Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres, increased by 0.2 percent compared to July 2025, while total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres, rose by 0.3 percent. IATA's Thomsen highlighted that despite economic and geopolitical challenges, the peak Northern summer travel season produced a largely positive outcome. She added that while carriers experienced year-on-year collective declines in North America and the Middle East, traffic through Gulf hubs continued its recovery trajectory. However, despite high fuel costs, economic uncertainty, and geopolitical tensions, carriers expressed confidence in demand for the remainder of the year, with a near three percent expansion of seat capacity in September.",
  "summary": "IATA reports global air cargo demand increased 3.9% and passenger demand 0.2% in July, driven by Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America. Read More: https://punchng.com/iata-reports-0-2-cargo-3-9-passenger-demand-growth/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "IATA reports 0.2% cargo, 3.9% passenger demand growth",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/iata-reports-0-2-cargo-3-9-passenger-demand-growth",
        "published": "2026-09-02T00:26:39.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}