African airlines experienced a 7.7% growth in air cargo demand in April 2026 compared to the same month in 2025, according to data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This performance outpaced the global average of 4% for the same period.
Capacity Constraints
Despite the increase in demand, capacity among African carriers decreased by 9.4% relative to April 2025 operations, IATA noted. The global growth was driven by strong trade flows linked to Asia, even as the operating environment in the region remained complex.
Geopolitical Impact
IATA Director-General Willie Walsh highlighted that severe disruptions at major Gulf hubs due to the Middle East conflict continued to reshape trade routes and constrain capacity on key corridors. He stated that dedicated freighters were carrying much of the growth, helping keep supply chains moving amid trade disruptions.
Walsh expressed concern about the coming months, noting that global trade contracted by 2.1% month-on-month in March after four consecutive months of growth, underscoring the vulnerability of trade momentum to geopolitical shocks. Jet fuel prices surged 121.1% year-on-year in April, alongside a 77.7% increase in crude oil prices.
Nigeria-AfDB Aviation Partnership
In a related development, Nigeria signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with the African Development Bank (AfDB) to support aviation development across Africa. The AfDB also appointed Nigeria's Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, as the African Champion for its newly launched $7 billion Integrated Aviation Transformation Programme for Africa (IATP).
Keyamo signed the agreement on behalf of Nigeria during a dialogue session with AfDB President and Governors in Brazzaville, Congo. During the session, he highlighted opportunities under the bank's aviation programme and unveiled President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda for the sector, including the newly approved Nigeria Aircraft Leasing Company.
The minister noted that Nigeria had taken steps to support the initiative through domestication of the Cape Town Convention, updates to the Irrevocable Deregistration and Export Request Authorisation framework, and reforms in aviation insurance policies. The AfDB President expressed support for the programme and pledged commitment to its implementation in Nigeria and across Africa.
