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Global Cargo Airlines Industry Data and Analysis
Geopolitical events have significantly impacted the global performance of the cargo airline industry in recent years. The Russia-Ukraine war in 2022 led European carriers to stop flying over Russian airspace, primarily rerouting through Istanbul. This development transformed Istanbul into a central cargo hub for European deliveries, surpassing established centers like Frankfurt. These longer routes have increased operational costs, particularly on flights to Asian markets. The ongoing Red Sea crisis has shifted some traffic from maritime to air cargo solutions. Urgent European shipments now often reach Middle Eastern markets by air more frequently, presenting some airlines with new, albeit shorter-distance, revenue opportunities.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Global Cargo Airlines industry includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released May 2025.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Global Cargo Airlines industry operates under the industry code H4832-GL. Global Cargo Airlines covers companies transporting commercial and private freight via scheduled or unscheduled air routes. This sector also encompasses express freight delivery and air transport integrated with national postal services, but does not include courier service activities. Related terms covered in the Global Cargo Airlines industry include freight, revenue ton miles (rtm), oecd countries and bric nations.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Global Cargo Airlines industry include Scheduled freight, non-perishable goods, Scheduled freight, perishable goods and Charter freight.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Global Cargo Airlines industry include FedEx Corporation, United Parcel Service Inc. and Emirates.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Global Cargo Airlines industry.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Global Cargo Airlines industry.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Global Cargo Airlines industry.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Global Cargo Airlines industry. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Global Cargo Airlines industry. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Global Cargo Airlines industry. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Global Cargo Airlines industry. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Global Cargo Airlines industry.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Global Cargo Airlines industry in 2026?
The market size of the Global Cargo Airlines industry is $155.4bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Global Cargo Airlines industry in 2025?
There are 2,178 businesses in the Global Cargo Airlines industry, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.3 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Global Cargo Airlines industry?
The Global Cargo Airlines industry is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Global Cargo Airlines industry?
The Global Cargo Airlines industry is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Global Cargo Airlines industry grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Global Cargo Airlines industry has been declining at a CAGR of 1.8 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Global Cargo Airlines industry over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Global Cargo Airlines industry is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Global Cargo Airlines industry?
The biggest companies operating in the Global Cargo Airlines industry are FedEx Corporation, United Parcel Service Inc. and Emirates
What does the Global Cargo Airlines industry include?
Scheduled freight, non-perishable goods and Scheduled freight, perishable goods are part of the Global Cargo Airlines industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Global Cargo Airlines industry?
The company holding the most market share in the Global Cargo Airlines industry is FedEx Corporation.
How competitive is the Global Cargo Airlines industry?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Global Cargo Airlines industry.
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