Overview
- IATA’s April 2026 data show global passenger demand fell 3.4 percent year‑on‑year, driven by a roughly 46.6 percent collapse in demand for Middle East carriers that swung the industry into contraction.
- Air cargo demand rose 4.0 percent in April with Asia‑Pacific airlines supplying most of the extra capacity and recording a 10.5 percent increase in cargo tonne‑kilometres.
- Overall cargo capacity measured in ACTK edged down 0.4 percent because Gulf carriers slashed available tonnage by about 22.9 percent, and dedicated freighters carried much of the growth on Europe‑Asia and intra‑Asia lanes.
- Jet fuel prices jumped about 121 percent year‑on‑year in April and IATA said tighter capacity and higher fuel costs pushed dollar cargo yields up roughly 32 percent and are prompting airlines to cut forward schedules.
- The disruption highlights the outsized role of Gulf hubs and the Strait of Hormuz in long‑haul connectivity and signals continued volatility for travelers, freight customers, and carriers while the regional ceasefire remains fragile.