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The global air freight markets recorded a decline in traffic volume during the week of May 25 to May 31, 2026. According to the latest weekly figures from WorldACD Market Data, the volume of chargeable weight fell by 9% compared to the previous week. This development is attributed to holidays such as Pentecost, the US Memorial Day, and the Eid al-Adha festival. A similar decline of 8% was observed in the same period last year. Despite the decreased volume, prices increased by 2%, while capacity decreased by 1%.
Regional differences in traffic volume
The declines in traffic volume were noticeable across all regions. The most significant drop was from Africa at 20% and from the Middle East & South Asia (MESA) at 21%. In contrast, the decline from the Asia-Pacific region and Central and South America was only 3%. The Eid al-Adha festival, which lasted four days in Europe, had a significant impact on traffic figures, particularly in the affected regions. The chargeable weight from MESA to Europe fell by 17%, while volumes from Dubai and Bangladesh decreased by 25% and 45%, respectively. Traffic from Europe to MESA and Africa also saw significant declines of 22% and 17%, respectively.
Year-on-year, the volume fell by 3% overall, with North America remaining stable, while Europe, Africa, and MESA recorded double-digit declines. In contrast, the Asia-Pacific region and Central and South America saw slight increases.
Capacity development and price increases
The MESA region was also responsible for a 1% decline in global capacity, marking the second decrease since the onset of the conflict in the Middle East. While capacity from other regions remained stable or decreased by 1%, MESA experienced a decline of 6%. Volumes from the Asia-Pacific region to Europe and the USA fell by 2% and 1%, respectively. Exceptions included China, Vietnam, and Thailand, which recorded increases between 1% and 4%.
Despite the decreased traffic volume, average global air freight prices rose by 2% in week 22 to $3.29 per kg. Price increases from Africa (9%), MESA (4%), and the Asia-Pacific region (1%) offset slight declines from the Americas and Europe. Year-on-year, prices have risen by 35%, with increases from various regions ranging from 11% (Central and South America) to 59% (MESA).
The price development indicates that the MESA region recorded the highest price increases in the first five months of the year, with a rise of 17% compared to the previous year. While prices from the Americas increased only in single digits, they rose by 28% from MESA, 22% from Europe, 20% from Africa, and 14% from the Asia-Pacific region.
