Sudan conflict impacts 2.4% YOY of cargo demand

Due to the unrest in Sudan there has been a 2.4 per cent year on year decline in air cargo demand by African airlines states IATA in a new report. The growth on the Africa to Asia trade route slowed significantly in May to 11 per cent from 18.5 per cent in April. However, capacity was up 9.2 per cent year on year in May. “Trading conditions for air cargo continue to be challenging with a 5.2 per cent fall in demand and several economic indicators pointing towards weakness,” said Willie Walsh, Director General, IATA. Global demand fell 5.2 per cent in May 2023 from a year earlier, while capacity rose 14.5 per cent YOY, primarily driven by belly capacity, which increases as demand in the passenger business recovers. IATA stated capacity currently stands at 5.9 per cent above pre-pandemic levels.