China’s Major Airlines Report Continued Air Cargo Growth in April 2026

China’s major airlines have released their April 2026 operating data, showing continued recovery and stable growth across the country’s air cargo sector amid improving global trade demand and expanding cross-border e-commerce activity.

Among the six major carriers, Spring Airlines recorded the strongest growth performance. The airline’s cargo and mail transportation volume increased by 26.8% year-on-year, reaching approximately 90,000 tons in April. Industry observers noted that the increase reflects rising demand for regional and international air freight services.

China Eastern Airlines also posted strong results, with cargo and mail volume rising 19.1% year-on-year to 97,000 tons, supported by recovering international capacity and stable China-Europe freight demand. Meanwhile, China Southern Airlines maintained its position as the country’s largest cargo operator, transporting approximately 160,000 tons during the month.

Air China, Hainan Airlines, and Juneyao Air also achieved steady cargo growth, highlighting continued resilience across China’s aviation logistics market.

Analysts believe demand from cross-border e-commerce, electronics exports, machinery shipments, and global supply chain replenishment continues to support the sector. Although international freight rates remain volatile, overall market sentiment has shown signs of steady improvement entering the second quarter of 2026.