Roland Garros Airport is cementing its role as a regional logistics hub in 2026. Over the first eight months of the year, total cargo volume reached 21,559 tonnes, up 5% year-on-year, according to data published on October 9 by Aéroport lemag. The standout figure: exports jumped 19.1% to 5,529 tonnes — the sharpest gain in the recent cycle.
Local produce drives the rebound
The performance is rooted in the expansion of Réunion's fishing and agricultural sectors. Seafood exports climbed 22%, while pineapple volumes rose 14%. A one-off vanilla transhipment operation from Madagascar also bolstered the figures — underlining Roland Garros's ambitions as a sub-regional freight pivot in the Indian Ocean.
Imports, by contrast, remained nearly flat at +0.8%. The widening gap signals a gradual shift toward higher local value-added and an improving trade balance within the air cargo segment.
Passenger traffic holds steady
Alongside freight, the airport registered a 1% rise in passenger numbers, with over 1.82 million travellers recorded through August. The figure confirms a post-pandemic stabilisation of air travel in Réunion, even as some European routes face capacity pressure.
Why it matters
Air freight is a leading indicator of economic health for an island economy like Réunion, which depends on external trade. Rising export volumes signal a gradual upgrade of local production — fisheries, horticulture, processed goods — and reinforce Roland Garros's positioning as an Indian Ocean logistics platform. For investors and policymakers, the data points to a supply chain increasingly built around local commodities rather than pure imports. With the Région targeting deeper ties with Madagascar, Mauritius and the Comoros by 2030, the August 2026 figures show the momentum is already in motion.
Source: Aéroport lemag, data published 9 October 2026.