Global air cargo demand increased 3.9% year on year in July 2026, with airlines in Africa recording the weakest regional growth, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

African carriers saw cargo demand rise just 1.1%, while their capacity expanded 4.1% compared with July 2025, leaving capacity growth well ahead of demand.

Worldwide demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTK), grew 3.9%, while available capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometres (ACTK), increased 1.7%. International cargo demand rose 4.7%.

“Air cargo demand grew 3.9% year-on-year in July. While all regions recorded growth, airlines in Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America accounted for more than 90% of the overall increase,” said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist.

She noted that dedicated freighters increased their market share as belly-hold cargo traffic declined, potentially reflecting stronger demand for larger or specialised shipments and the greater operational flexibility offered by freighter aircraft.

Thomsen said the outlook remains broadly positive, supported by manufacturing activity, export orders and global trade, but warned that higher fuel prices, geopolitical tensions and uncertainty surrounding tariffs could pose challenges.

Africa-Asia cargo trade weakens

Despite the overall increase in African airlines’ cargo demand, trade between Africa and Asia deteriorated sharply in July.

The Africa-Asia trade lane contracted 14.7% year on year, marking its second consecutive monthly decline. The route represented 1.3% of global industry market share based on full-year 2025 CTKs.

Other trade corridors linked to the Gulf also recorded significant declines. Cargo traffic between Europe and the Middle East fell 16.1%, while the Middle East-Asia market dropped 14.1%.

In contrast, the Asia-North America corridor expanded 9.2%, extending its growth streak to six consecutive months. Intra-Asian cargo demand increased 6.1%, marking the lane’s 33rd consecutive month of growth.

Fuel prices emerge as a growing concern

Air cargo conditions remained supported by broader economic activity, although rising fuel prices and geopolitical risks could create additional pressure.

Global trade grew 7.5% year on year, while manufacturing activity continued to support cargo demand despite a modest slowdown in June. Export orders also reached their strongest level in three months.

The Global Manufacturing Output Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) declined 0.3 points to 52.7, while the New Export Orders Index climbed to 50.0.

Jet fuel prices, meanwhile, increased 12.2% month on month in July and were 56.9% higher than a year earlier.

North America leads regional growth

North American airlines posted the strongest regional increase in cargo demand, with growth of 4.8% year on year.

European carriers followed with 4.4%, while airlines in the Asia-Pacific and Latin America and Caribbean regions each recorded 4.1% growth.

Middle Eastern carriers reported a 1.7% increase, while African airlines ranked last with 1.1%.

Capacity growth varied considerably across regions. Latin American and Caribbean carriers expanded capacity by 7.0%, followed by African airlines at 4.1%, Middle Eastern carriers at 4.0%, Asia-Pacific carriers at 3.0% and European airlines at 1.3%.

North American carriers were the only regional group to reduce capacity, cutting available cargo capacity by 1.5% year on year.

IATA said the global air cargo outlook remains generally positive, supported by manufacturing, export orders and continued growth in global trade. However, fuel costs, geopolitical tensions and tariff uncertainty remain key risks for the sector.

Source: ZAWYA

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) will operate 66 domestic and international routes under its winter 2026/27 timetable, covering key destinations across Europe, Australia and Asia.

The seasonal schedule will run from October 25, 2026, to March 27, 2027, aligning with Thailand’s peak tourism period.

THAI announced the programme on September 2, 2026, saying it had increased selected services and flight frequencies in response to passenger bookings and travel demand. The airline is also using the winter schedule to strengthen its network connectivity through Bangkok.

The carrier’s winter network will include 15 routes to Europe and Australia, 43 routes across Asia and eight domestic routes.

Source: QCAA

Saudi Arabia’s low-cost airline flyadeal, part of Saudia Group, has expanded its operations in Pakistan with the launch of a new direct route linking Madinah with Karachi.

The airline will operate two flights per week on the new route, deploying Airbus A320neo aircraft equipped with 186 Economy Class seats.

With the addition of Madinah, Karachi is now connected by flyadeal to three Saudi cities, following the airline’s existing services from Jeddah and Riyadh.

The new route also takes flyadeal’s total number of destinations in Pakistan to seven, highlighting the carrier’s continued expansion in the market.

Abdulaziz Bahri, Chief Operating Officer of flyadeal, said the launch demonstrates the airline’s growing commitment to Pakistan, where demand has continued to strengthen across its international network.

Bahri noted that flyadeal began serving Pakistan with two routes last year and has since expanded to seven. He said the rapid growth reflects the strong economic, cultural and people-to-people ties between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, alongside growing demand for the airline’s modern, efficient, friendly and affordable services.

Source: TradeArabia

Etihad Airways and Abu Dhabi-based AI technology company ROX have agreed to explore potential areas of collaboration, with the partnership initially centred on ROX’s Africa Grand Tour S2.

Under the memorandum of understanding, Etihad’s brand will appear on the vehicle used for the overland expedition. The companies will also consider joint content, storytelling and marketing initiatives linked to the tour, creating an opportunity to connect air travel with ground mobility and destination experiences across Africa.

ROX’s Africa Grand Tour S2 is an extended overland expedition across the continent featuring the ROX ADAMAS. The journey is intended to demonstrate the vehicle’s capabilities across a wide range of destinations and driving conditions while generating content around travel, exploration and mobility.

The initiative will serve as an initial platform for Etihad and ROX to explore ways of combining air connectivity, ground transportation and destination experiences through storytelling and content.

The MoU was signed in Abu Dhabi during the inauguration of ROX’s Advanced AI Manufacturing Centre. Beyond the Africa Grand Tour, the agreement provides a broader framework for the two companies to examine potential cooperation in intelligent mobility, technology, lifestyle innovation, future travel experiences and destination-focused mobility.

Etihad Airways CEO Antonoaldo Neves said the Africa Grand Tour offers an opportunity to bring together travel, destinations, mobility and storytelling.

“From Abu Dhabi, Etihad connects people to a growing global network, and we are always interested in new ideas that can enhance how people experience the places they travel to,” Neves said. He added that the MoU would allow both sides to assess potential areas of alignment and the prospects for future collaboration.

Yan Feng, CEO of ROX, said the company was established with the aim of developing intelligent mobility solutions that connect people, technology and destinations.

He described the Africa Grand Tour as a starting point for exploring broader opportunities in intelligent mobility, travel and lifestyle, adding that ROX and Etihad could complement each other by connecting land-based exploration with air travel.

Both companies are headquartered in Abu Dhabi and see potential for their respective technologies, capabilities and brands to work together, beginning with the Africa Grand Tour S2.

Source: WAM

Air Arabia is expanding its services to Thailand by adding a fourth daily non-stop flight between Sharjah and Bangkok, strengthening air connectivity between the UAE and Southeast Asia.

The additional frequency will begin on October 25, 2026, increasing the airline’s Sharjah-Bangkok operations to 28 non-stop flights per week and giving passengers more travel options.

The expanded Bangkok schedule complements Air Arabia’s existing 21 weekly non-stop flights between Sharjah and Phuket, strengthening its presence in two of Thailand’s major destinations.

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, said the increased Bangkok service reflects the importance of Thailand to the airline’s network and growing demand for affordable travel between the UAE and Southeast Asia.

He said increasing Bangkok operations to four daily flights, alongside the existing Phuket service, would give passengers greater flexibility while enhancing Sharjah’s connectivity with Thailand.

With the new frequency, Air Arabia will operate a combined 49 non-stop weekly flights between Sharjah and Bangkok and Phuket, making Thailand one of its key destinations in Southeast Asia.

The expanded schedule will also provide passengers travelling from the UAE with more flexibility when planning direct journeys from Sharjah.

Source: ZAWYA