Africa-Asia air cargo demand jumps 21 pc in Aug.

Africa-Asia air cargo demand in August 2024 surged by 21%, fuelling a 7.5% rise for African airlines and playing a key role in the global air cargo demand growth of 11.4%, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This strong growth highlights the robust trade flows between the two regions, reflecting a notable shift in global cargo traffic patterns. The IATA report indicated that the rising air cargo demand is largely driven by booming e-commerce, ongoing capacity constraints in maritime shipping, and Africa’s increasing trade with Asia. In addition to rising demand, capacity across international air cargo operations also saw an increase, with a global rise of 6.2% and 11.4% for African airlines, reflecting the region’s expanding ability to handle higher cargo volumes. The growth in belly capacity, particularly from increased passenger traffic, played a role in boosting overall cargo capacity, as per a report.