The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported that African airlines faced a 5.7% year-on-year (y-o-y) decrease in air cargo demand for February 2025.
This marks the first decline in demand since mid-2023, with capacity also dropping by 0.6% compared with the same period last year.
Globally, air cargo demand saw a marginal decline of 0.1% in February 2025, with international operations showing a slight increase of 0.4%.
The dip in demand is attributed to the extraordinary performance of February 2024, which was boosted by factors such as the leap year, Chinese New Year traffic, and disruptions in sea lanes because of Yemeni-based Houthi rebel attacks on maritime voyages through the Red Sea.
Willie Walsh, IATA director general, commented on the trend, noting that rising trade tensions were a concern for the air cargo sector. He urged governments to prioritise dialogue over tariffs to mitigate further impacts.
Despite the decline in cargo demand, African airlines reported a 6.7% year-on-year increase in international passenger demand for February 2025, alongside a 4.0% rise in capacity.
The data highlights a mixed performance for African carriers, with passenger demand showing resilience while cargo operations face challenges.
The industry continues to navigate global economic uncertainties and fluctuating trade dynamics.
