Global air cargo rates climbed to their highest level in five weeks during the period of March 16 to 22, 2026, reaching $2.84 per kilogram as the Middle East conflict continued to constrain capacity and push freight costs upward across major trade corridors, according to the latest weekly data from WorldACD Market Data.
The figure represents a 7% rise week on week and places current rates 15% above the $2.47 per kilogram recorded during the same period in 2025. It marks a sustained upward trend from the $2.24 per kilogram trough recorded in the week of February 23 to March 1, as the immediate shock of the US-Israel-Iran conflict disrupted Gulf aviation hubs and eliminated significant capacity across Middle East and South Asia (MESA) origin routes.
On a two-week-on-two-week (2Wo2W) basis, worldwide rates rose 3% and chargeable weight increased 5%, suggesting underlying demand remains firm even as the geopolitical environment continues to reshape routing and capacity availability. Year on year, however, global chargeable weight is down 6% and overall capacity has contracted 6%, reflecting the structural disruption the Middle East conflict has introduced into international freight networks.
The most dramatic regional data continues to emerge from the MESA corridor. Rates from that origin region surged 51% on a two-week-on-two-week basis and are 57% above year-ago levels, driven by extreme capacity compression and persistent rerouting that has lengthened flight times and reduced effective payload availability. Chargeable weight from MESA rose 4% against the preceding two weeks, a partial recovery following the near-total collapse of Gulf hub operations in late February, though it remains sharply below pre-war levels.
Europe-origin rates recorded the strongest year-on-year improvement among the major corridors at 25%, with two-week-on-two-week growth of 14%, as shippers rerouting freight away from Middle Eastern connections have increased demand on European transit lanes. Asia Pacific posted an 18% year-on-year rate increase and 7% growth in chargeable weight on an annual comparison, benefiting from continued post-Lunar New Year demand recovery and the redirection of volumes away from Gulf transshipment points.
Africa-origin data shows that the continent’s freight market is holding up under the broader disruption. Rates from African origins are 18% above year-ago levels, making Africa one of the stronger performing origin regions on an annual basis. Capacity on African-origin routes fell 9% year on year and chargeable weight declined 15%, indicating some demand softness or capacity withdrawal, but rate levels suggest the market is repricing effectively in response to tighter conditions.
The week 12 data, covering the five weeks through March 22 and published on March 26, draws on more than 500,000 transactions tracked weekly by WorldACD. The broader trend reflects a market that entered 2026 on solid ground before the February conflict outbreak reshaped pricing, routing, and capacity dynamics across the global airfreight system. With Gulf hubs still operating well below pre-war levels, upward pressure on rates is expected to persist through the near term as shippers, freight forwarders, and carriers continue to adapt.
