African airlines recorded significant efficiency gains in June 2026 by optimizing limited capacity amidst rising demand. While global air cargo capacity grew, African carriers reduced cargo capacity by 7.1 percent year-on-year. This strategic adjustment, coupled with a 4.7 percent increase in demand—largely driven by the Africa-Asia trade corridor—pushed the region’s cargo load factor up by 5.4 percentage points to 48.1 percent. This performance underscores a growing ability within the continent’s aviation sector to maximize yield despite limited fleet availability. Globally, the air freight sector saw an 8.5 percent demand increase, supported by lower jet fuel prices, though IATA warns that geopolitical tensions and trade policy uncertainties remain key challenges for the remainder of the year.