Middle East carriers experienced a significant 14.7% year-on-year increase in air cargo demand for July, driven by ongoing maritime disruptions and the continued growth of e-commerce, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The region’s airlines accounted for 13.5% of global air cargo, maintaining their share from the previous month.

Globally, air cargo demand surged by 13.6% in July, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers. This rise is partly attributed to maritime tensions, including attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, which have led to a 22% decrease in the number of ships passing through the Suez Canal over the past year. Shipping companies have rerouted vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, extending delivery times by an average of 10 days.

IATA Director-General Willie Walsh highlighted the resilience of the air cargo sector, noting, “Air cargo demand hit record highs year-to-date in July, with strong growth across all regions. The industry continues to benefit from booming global trade, e-commerce, and constraints on maritime shipping capacity.”

Middle Eastern carriers also expanded their air cargo capacity by 4.4% in July, with notable growth on the Middle East–Europe trade lane (32.2%) and the Middle East–Asia route (15.9%).

As part of its National Aviation Strategy, Saudi Arabia aims to handle 4.5 million tons of cargo annually by 2030, underscoring the importance of strengthening the aviation sector as the Kingdom diversifies its economy away from oil dependency.

Globally, air cargo capacity rose by 8.3% year-on-year in July, with belly capacity in passenger aircraft showing the slowest growth in 40 months. Meanwhile, freighter capacity saw its highest increase since January.

The report concludes that while air cargo remains competitive, there is growing consideration for slower, lower-cost transport options to ensure supply chain sustainability.