Data has been released by the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) for the global air freight markets highlighting a 10.4% growth in the first half of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016. The data, measured in freight tonnes kilometres (FTK) highlighted the strongest performance since the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) in 2010, nearly triple the industry's average growth rate of 3.9% over the last five years.

Freight capacity, measured in available freight tonne kilometres (AFTK), grew by 3.6% in the first half of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016. Air cargo’s strong performance in the first half of 2017 was confirmed by June’s results. Year-on-year demand growth in June increased 11% compared to the same period in 2016. Freight capacity also grew by 5.2% year-on-year in June.

Across the world, all regions experienced positive freight growth in the first half of 2017. Carriers in Asia Pacific and Europe accounted for two-thirds of the increase in demand. In particular, the Asia-Pacific region freight volumes grew 10.1% in June 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 and capacity grew by 7.8%. This contributed to a growth in freight demand of 10.1% in the first half of 2017 compared to the first half of 2016. Demand growth has been strongest, between 13-15% on international routes within Asia as well as between Asia and Europe. Capacity in the region increased 4.8% in the first half of 2017.