Cargo loading process on commercial airplane at airport.
While the rest of the world’s air cargo markets stalled, African airlines soared, posting a 7% year-on-year increase in demand for March 2026. According to the International Air Transport Association, Africa was the only region to record significant growth in a month when global demand fell 4.8%, partly due to the Iran–US conflict. The standout performance came despite a 4.6% decline in African cargo capacity, meaning carriers maximized every available freight space. The Africa–Asia trade lane was the fastest-growing major international route globally, underlining the continent’s rising strategic importance in supply chains. While Africa accounted for just 2.1% of global cargo volume, it outperformed all regions, in sharp contrast to a steep 54.3% decline in demand in the Middle East.
Nairametrics