Preliminary October 2025 traffic figures released by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) showed international air cargo markets delivered another month of resilient growth, with Asia Pacific carriers reporting a 2.2% year-on-year increase in international air cargo demand, as measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK). Shifting supply chains together with robust e-commerce volumes supported demand. Offered freight capacity expanded by 5.6% year-on-year, mainly on the back of increased belly-hold space, resulting in a 2.0 percentage point decline in the average freight load factor to 59.7%.
Overall, for the year to October, cargo demand rose by 5.4% over the same period, helped by the restocking of inventory ahead of major online sales events.
Looking ahead, broad-based growth in the global economy should underpin continued growth in the cargo markets in the coming months. However, this outlook is moderated by ongoing geopolitical and trade risks, despite relatively stable business confidence. In an increasingly competitive economic environment, Asian carriers remain committed to strengthening financial performance through improved efficiency, without compromising safety excellence or customer care standards, said a release.