IATA released data for September 2024 global air cargo markets showing continuing strong annual growth in demand.
Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs*), rose by 9.4% compared to September 2023 levels (10.5% for international operations) for a 14th consecutive month of growth.
Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTKs), increased by 6.4% compared to September 2023 (8.1% for international operations). This continued to be largely related to the growth in international belly capacity, which rose 10.3%--extending the trend of double-digit annual capacity growth to 41 consecutive months.
“September performance brought continued good news for air cargo markets. With 9.4% year-on-year growth, cargo volumes continued to mark all-time highs for demand. Yields are also improving, up 11.7% on 2023 and 50% above 2019 levels. All this points to a strong finish for this year. For longer-term trends, the air cargo world will be closely following the outcome of the US election for indications of how US trade policy will evolve,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
Several factors in the operating environment should be noted:
September 2024 (%year-on-year) | World Share *1 | CTK | ACTK | CLF (%-pt) *2 | CLF (level) *3 |
| Total Market | 100% | 9.4% | 6.4% | 1.3% | 45.6% |
| Africa | 2.0% | 1.7% | 13.9% | -4.7% | 39.2% |
| Asia Pacific | 33.3% | 11.7% | 8.5% | 1.4% | 48.5% |
| Europe | 21.4% | 11.7% | 7.5% | 1.9% | 52.5% |
| Latin America | 2.8% | 20.9% | 7.9% | 3.9% | 36.8% |
| Middle East | 13.5% | 10.1% | 2.9% | 3.1% | 47.4% |
| North America | 26.9% | 3.8% | 4.2% | -0.1% | 38.9% |
(*1) % of industry CTKs in 2023 (*2) Year-on-year change in load factor (*3) Load factor level
September Regional Performance
Trade Lane | growth | Notes | share* |
| Asia-North America | +7.6% | 11 consecutive months of growth | 25.0% |
| Europe-Asia | +11.8% | 19 consecutive months of growth | 19.4% |
| North America-Europe | +3.8% | 11 consecutive months of growth | 14.3% |
| Middle East-Asia | +13.9% | 16 consecutive months of growth | 7.2% |
| Within Asia | +13.4% | 11 consecutive months of growth | 6.7% |
| Middle East-Europe | +15.6% | 14 consecutive months of growth | 5.0% |
| Within Europe | +18.0% | 10 consecutive months of growth | 1.9% |
| Africa-Asia | +6.7% | 13 consecutive months of growth | 1.2% |
*Share is based on full-year 2023 CTKs.
Source: https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/2024-releases/2024-10-31-01/
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