African air freight demand surges, driving Gulf carrier expansion

African air freight demand is experiencing rapid growth, outperforming global averages. According to IATA data, demand for African carriers rose by 21.0% year-on-year in February 2026, while capacity increased by 17.3%. This surge is driven largely by the Africa-Asia corridor, which saw volumes jump by 61.9% in the same period.

To capture this growing market, Gulf-based carriers are aggressively expanding their logistics footprints. flydubai announced on September 11, 2026, that it will introduce three Boeing 737-800 freighters into service starting October 1, 2026. These aircraft will operate via a lease agreement with SolitAir from Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai.

Other major players are also scaling operations to connect Africa with global markets. Emirates SkyCargo reported transporting 3,820 tonnes per week to and from Africa in early 2025, with plans to expand its cargo fleet to 21 aircraft. Qatar Airways Cargo currently holds 12% of the global market, while Etihad Cargo plans to open six new African destinations, including Lagos, Accra, and Kinshasa, by March 2027.