Air cargo demand up 18% in January

Air cargo saw a strong start to the year with total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTKs), up 18.4% in January 2024 year-over-year (YoY). International operations were up 19.8%. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), it is the highest annual growth in CTKs since the summer season of 2021. Cargo capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometres, was up 14.6% YoY (18.2% for international operations). IATA said this was “largely related to the growth in belly capacity.” International belly capacity rose 25.8% YoY. “This is a strong start to the year,” said IATA director general Willie Walsh. “In particular,