Cathay Pacific Reports 8% Air Cargo Volume Increase in April, Driven by Tech and Pharma

Cathay Pacific's air cargo operations recorded an 8% rise in freight tonnage during April 2026 compared to April 2025. This growth was largely attributed to robust demand within specialized sectors, particularly semiconductors, technology products, and pharmaceuticals. The airline's available freight tonne kilometers (AFTKs), a measure of capacity, also saw a 7% increase over the same period.

This positive performance in April follows a consistent trend, with the total tonnage for the first four months of 2026 showing an 8% increase year-on-year. This indicates sustained strength in key cargo segments for Cathay Pacific.

For freight forwarders and operations managers, this data suggests a stable and potentially growing capacity on Cathay Pacific's network, particularly for high-value and time-sensitive commodities like electronics and pharmaceuticals. While rates are not explicitly mentioned, increased capacity and strong demand in these verticals could lead to competitive pricing or stable rates on relevant lanes. Forwarders should monitor Cathay's capacity deployment and potential rate adjustments, especially for routes serving major tech and pharma hubs.