Boost to air freight from re-stocking cycle has run its course

Lack of inventory re-stocking and a softening of global trade has seen air freight grow at its slowest pace in 22 months, according to the latest figures from IATA. Freight tonne km grew 1.7% in March, year-on-year, and five percentage points below February. Capacity, meanwhile, outpaced demand for the first time in 20 months.

“It’s normal that growth slows at the end of a restocking cycle,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s director general. “That clearly has happened. Looking ahead we remain ...