African airlines record 5.7% fall in air freight demand in February

Ethiopian Airlines. Photo: Logistics Update Africa / Phaata

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that African airlines experienced a 5.7% year-on-year decline in air cargo demand in February 2025.

This is the first decline in demand since mid-2023, while capacity also fell 0.6% year-on-year.

Globally, air freight demand declined slightly by 0.1% in February 2025, with international operations recording a small increase of 0.4%.

The main reason for this decline was the unusual growth in February 2024, when special factors such as a leap year, a surge in cargo traffic during the Lunar New Year, and disruptions on shipping routes due to attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen in the Red Sea boosted air freight demand.

Willie Walsh, IATA Director General, said that escalating trade tensions were a concern for the air cargo industry. He called on governments to prioritize dialogue over imposing tariffs to limit the negative impact.

Despite the decline in cargo demand, African airlines recorded a 6.7% increase in international passenger demand in February 2025 compared to the same period last year, while passenger capacity also increased by 4.0%.

These data show a mixed picture for African airlines, with passenger demand continuing to grow but cargo operations facing challenges. The aviation industry continues to navigate through global economic volatility and shifting trade dynamics.

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Source: Phaata.com (According to FreightNews)

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