+22% rate spike: New data shows Iran conflict impacting global air cargo

The escalation of the Iran conflict is already creating a ripple effect across global air cargo markets.

Middle Eastern carriers play a critical role in the global network, acting as major hubs connecting Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. As disruptions affect their operations and airspace routing, capacity tightens across multiple trade lanes, which is reflected in the latest market data: Europe–Middle East rates are up +22%, Asia–North America +12%, and Europe–Asia +9%, while some markets remain flat or slightly softer as flows rebalance (for example North America–Europe −9% and Asia–Europe −1%).

At the same time, the conflict is pushing oil prices higher, which will inevitably translate into increased fuel surcharges in the coming weeks, adding further pressure to air freight rates worldwide. In this environment, having live market visibility is critical.