Air cargo revenues were up 3% in 2025, according to data from WorldACD. This marks the highest level since the record performances during the COVID-19 pandemic years of 2021 and 2022.
This increase was driven by further growth in chargeable weight to record full-year levels in 2025.
Chargeable weight was up 7% in December 2025. This drove fourth quarter growth, which was up 6% — slightly higher than third quarter's 5% growth and the first half of 2025's 3% increase. Overall, chargeable weight was up 4% in 2025 compared to 2024 — a year that saw record growth of 11%.
“That global 7% year-on-year tonnage increase in December was the highest full-month year-on-year growth of 2025, a fitting climax to what was another extraordinary and turbulent year,” said WorldACD.
This growth was driven by strong increases from Asia Pacific origins, which saw an 11% increase in December, as well as 8% for the full year.
WorldACD's data found that, based on over two million monthly transactions, air cargo average rates in 2025 were down 1% compared to high levels in 2024.