Global air cargo volumes surged to nearly 127 million metric tonnes in 2024, marking a 9.9% increase from the previous year and exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 4.1%, according to the 2025 World Airport Traffic Dataset released by Airports Council International (ACI) World.
The data, compiled from over 2,800 airports across more than 185 countries and territories, offers the most detailed insight into global airport performance to date. In the cargo sector, the top 20 busiest cargo airports accounted for a substantial 52.2 million tonnes of freight, representing a 9% rise from 2023 and 10.8% more than in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global supply chains.
ACI World Director General, Luis Felipe de Oliveira, said the rebound reflects “growing global trade momentum, improving supply chain efficiencies, and a return to normalcy in logistics and distribution following pandemic-era disruptions.”
The dataset also includes rankings in passenger traffic and aircraft movements, with global passenger numbers surpassing 9.4 billion in 2024—an 8.4% year-on-year growth and a 2.7% rise over 2019 levels.
This comprehensive snapshot positions air cargo as a strong pillar of aviation recovery and economic resilience, with major hubs around the world continuing to expand capacity and streamline operations to meet growing demand.
Key drivers of growth included:
• Maritime route volatility, which led shippers to seek more reliable and faster alternatives via air.
• E-commerce acceleration, driven by consumer demand for faster fulfillment across borders.
• Falling jet fuel costs, which lowered operating expenses and improved air freight competitiveness.
• Biggest mover: Dubai International (DXB), jumping from 17th to 11th in the rankings.
