Under the theme “Air Transport: Powering Global Connectivity, Economic Development and Resilience in a Dynamic World”, ICAO’s Seventh Worldwide Air Transport Conference (ATConf/7) and will provide a global forum for Member States and key stakeholders to engage in strategic dialogue on the future of international air transport. Air cargo stakeholders will participate and have submitted working papers highlighting the increasing importance of air cargo services in developing national and regional economies, as well as of developing policies and regulations realize the benefits of these services.

Air cargo continues to play a crucial role in driving economic growth by expanding market access and strengthening global trade networks. For this reason, air cargo is an ICAO priority, and we strive to recognize the uniqueness of the air cargo sector across our activities. As a key enabler of commerce, air freight services facilitate seamless and cost-effective transport of goods across vast distances, ensuring businesses can reliably reach international markets. As a trade facilitator, air cargo services increase the global reach of businesses, enabling them to reliably transport products to distant markets in a more cost-effective and quicker way.

The first ICAO Global Air Cargo Summit provided States and other supply chain stakeholders a unique forum and opportunity for a collaborative approach to address the full range of matters represented within ICAO priorities and provide ideas to improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the air cargo operating environment. Having a collaborative and harmonized approach to ensure safety, facilitation, economic regulation of air cargo services and resolving any operational challenges and vulnerability in these domains, will define a practical, efficient and viable future for air cargo operations. The inaugural Summit brought together stakeholders of air cargo services at various levels, including regulators, airlines, freight forwarders, airport operators, academia, and other strategic partners from relevant United Nations agencies. 

Air cargo demand has various drivers that can work in combination to sustain and foster air cargo services around the world. Such drivers include:

• Economic development
• Globalization
• Crisis response

These three areas also benefit from air cargo services, creating a virtuous cycle of benefits:

The Air Cargo Market

Air cargo is an essential pillar of the global supply chain, ensuring the swift movement of goods across continents and supporting industries that depend on just-in-time delivery. Its role was particularly vital in the post-COVID-19 economic recovery, facilitating trade and the distribution of essential goods. The continued expansion of e-commerce further highlighted its significance, enabling the rapid delivery of high-value and time-sensitive products to consumers worldwide. Additionally, air cargo was instrumental in humanitarian response efforts, delivering medical supplies, vaccines, and emergency relief to communities affected by crises, conflicts, and natural disasters.

One of the strengths of air cargo services is their flexibility, which allows operators to transport cargo of virtually any size between any two points quickly and reliably. In an increasingly world, demand for such services continues to grow, supporting international trade and economic development.

Air transport offers distinct advantages in particular for these types of special cargo:

ICAO is committed to air cargo and urges Member States to give due regard to the distinct features of air cargo services when exchanging market access rights in the framework of air service agreements and grant appropriate rights and operational flexibility so as to promote the development of air cargo services, including those enabling e-commerce; (A41, Annex A, par.8).

Air Cargo Trade at a Glance

Air transport carries only a small share of the world’s goods by weight, but a large share of their value. To show what that means for each country, ICAO has built air trade profiles for 48 Member States, using customs and trade statistics for 2025.

In 2025, the 48 States for which detailed data on trade by mode of transport are available exported US$3.1 trillion worth of goods by air, 21 per cent more than in 2024, about three times the growth of their total goods exports (7 per cent). Air imports grew even faster, by 26 per cent, to US$3.3 trillion, while total goods imports rose 8 per cent; electrical equipment and machinery make up half of what arrives by air. These are high-value goods: a kilo exported by air was worth about US$214 on average in 2025, 17 per cent more than in 2024 (US$183), and only products such as electronics, medicines and gold can justify the cost of flying.

Why it matters. These goods are small in weight but central to how economies compete: the electronics, machinery, medicines and precious goods that fly are often the most valuable things a country makes or buys. For many States, access to air cargo capacity is therefore part of their trade competitiveness, not only an aviation matter. Behind these totals, every State has its own story: what it sends by air, where it goes and how fast it is growing. Explore the Air Cargo Trade Profiles to find yours.

Details and sources. Figures cover 48 States: the 27 EU members, the United Kingdom, the 10 ASEAN members, Australia, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Japan, Mexico, South Africa and the United States. For EU members, only trade with countries outside the EU is included. Totals add up each State’s own records, so trade between two profiled States is counted on both sides; they are not world totals.

* Value per kilo is calculated only where air weight is reported, and some States report gross weight (including packaging).

Sources: national customs and statistical offices, Eurostat, ASEANstats and IMF; compiled by ICAO.