Regional carriers posted 6.2% growth in air cargo demand driven by Southeast Asian and Indian exports, though load factors dipped
Asia Pacific airlines boosted their air cargo volumes in November as a result of increased export activity from Asian economies.
Carriers in the region recorded a 6.2% year-on-year increase in international air cargo demand, as measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK), according to preliminary November 2025 traffic figures released by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA).
The rise reflected increased export activity from Asian economies, particularly in Southeast Asia and India.
Inventory restocking and increased e-commerce activity heading into the year-end festive season supported air cargo demand.
Offered freight capacity rose by 7.2% year on year, resulting in a marginal 0.6 percentage point decline in the average international freight load factor to 61.9% for the month.
Subhas Menon, AAPA director general, said that "Asian carriers benefitted from strong demand for the timely shipment of goods, consistent with past traffic trends for this time of the year".
He added: "Overall, air cargo demand remained resilient over the year, rising by 5.6% year-on-year for the first eleven months of 2025, as supply chains increasingly shifted towards other economies in Asia.”
Ongoing challenges include "cost pressures from persistent supply chain challenges", but the "decline in oil prices provides some relief", added Menon.
