Survival StakesThe fuel shock struck as new data from IATA says Africa’s airlines posted the world’s fastest growth in air cargo in February 2026, with a 21% rise in cargo tonne-kilometres from a year earlier. Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest carrier with a network spanning more than 145 destinations, entered the crisis with the balance-sheet depth to source fuel outside the Gulf, people familiar with its operations said. Kenya Airways, Kenya’s flag carrier, accelerated the deployment of a Boeing 767 freighter to capture rising cargo yields, Air Cargo News reported. ASKY Airlines, a pan-African carrier backed by Ethiopian Airlines that serves 23 countries from its hub in Lomé, Togo, faced fuel costs weakening outlook on several thin regional routes. On the Africa–Asia corridor, where cargo demand expanded 61.9% in February, rate increases outpaced higher fuel costs for carriers with adequate freighter capacity.

Source: Ethiopian News March 30, 2026 15:25 UTC