As global air cargo hubs face mounting pressure from e-commerce growth, labour shortages, decarbonisation targets and rising operational complexity, airports are entering a new phase of digital transformation. Many are suggesting the easing of demand on the Asia-Europe trade is linked to new European Union rules for e-commerce, while it is also the quieter summer period. Rising e-commerce volume out of Vietnam is being piled on top of sustained and heavy demand for high-tech shipments, with space on freighters in short supply. Airlines will continue to adjust capacity to account for shifts in volume, but the volatility of US trade policy and continued demand growth fueled by the AI boom will make this more difficult. The growth in traffic on intra-Asian routes is a result of ongoing US demand for cloud infrastructure logistics related to the rapid development of AI technology.

• The forwarder gathered momentum through the second quarter, largely driven by the ongoing integration of Schenker business and strong performance from the air freight and contract logistics divisions.
• Prices have more than doubled since the war started, and with fuel comprising almost 30% of operating expenses, the Hong Kong-based carrier has been forced to reduce capacity.
• Saudia Cargo has launched a scheduled freighter route connecting Dhaka, Bangladesh, to Frankfurt, Germany in a bid to cater for pharmaceuticals, textiles, industrial equipment, and e-commerce air cargo demand.
• Fraport announced as official airport partner for Routes World 2026
• Truck-air solutions are also taking off with rising interest from shippers as the Middle East war removes the popular sea-air services via Jebel Ali in the UAE as a viable option.

Explaining why the localisation of airfreight trends matters to shippers, the forwarder explained that the overall picture may not reflect conditions at individual airports or on certain origins. “In both Shanghai and Hong Kong, carriers continue to compete for available volumes to Europe as demand eases and capacity comfortably meets current needs. As these shipments are high-value, time-sensitive, and tied to deployment schedules, airfreight is expected to remain a preferred option for some shipments, even where ocean capacity is available. CH Robinson explained that equipment tied to next-generation AI server platforms is fuelling airfreight demand from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam into the US. With demand on the corridor continuing to outstrip available capacity constrained by the Middle East war, any resumption of hostilities would keep upward pressure on rates.

Mexican cargo airline mas is keen to expand its fleet to keep pace with network growth; however, getting hold of the right aircraft in the market poses a challenge, explains chief executive Robert Van De Weg The UK government must adopt a coordinated, whole-system approach to SAF resourcing and usage across air and other modes of transport. Animal transportation continues to be a staple part of air cargo operations, while end-to-end handling remains complex and highly skilled work. Etihad Cargo has appointed AVIAREPS as its cargo general sales agent (GSA) in Uzbekistan following the recent launch of Etihad Airways’ passenger flights between Abu Dhabi, UAE and Tashkent.

Air India SATS Signs MoU with Spicexpress and Total Solutions to Expand Freighter Operations at NIA

Award-winning journalist Damian has been writing about the freight and logistics industry since 2007 when he joined International Freighting Weekly to cover the shipping sector. “Even modest increases in technology-related exports can influence conditions at individual airports and within specific carrier networks, creating sharper effects than broader economic growth would normally produce. “As demand becomes more concentrated, origin-level conditions may matter more than regional averages when planning airfreight.

The Journal of Commerce’s air cargo news covers the movement of air cargo, including air cargo shipping, air cargo carriers, air freight forwarders, air freight, air shipments, cargo airports and cargo news. The forwarder gathered momentum through the second quarter, largely driven by the ongoing integration of Schenker business and strong performance from the air freight and contract logistics divisions. While the AI equipment boom competes with e-commerce for air freight capacity out of Asia, the fast-growing tech shipments offer better yields and more opportunities for logistics https://launchprogress.org/how-to-expand-your-business-internationally/ providers. Airfreight rates from the Asia Pacific region to Europe were on the rise last week despite volumes coming under pressure due to the new European Union charge for e-commerce shipments.

The parcel giant saw its forwarding and third-party logistics business drop in the fourth quarter due to higher tariffs, and says the weakness will carry over into the first quarter of 2026. Momentum from robust growth on some Asian export trade lanes following the Christmas holidays has now slowed, with forwarders and analysts expecting muted demand over the coming two weeks. The Iran conflict, which began late in the first quarter, had little impact on the forwarder’s first-quarter business, accounting for just a 1.5% decline in ocean freight volumes. With the EU about to follow the US in scrapping duty-free imports of low-value goods, the expanding regulatory clampdown is a turning point in how huge volumes of e-commerce exports from China are monitored. The EU’s customs duty on low-value imported parcels has seen e-commerce air cargo volumes dip, but likely not for long, while artificial intelligence (AI) shipments are rising, although opinions differ on the stability of this market. Saudia Cargo has launched a scheduled freighter route connecting Dhaka, Bangladesh, to Frankfurt, Germany in a bid to cater for pharmaceuticals, textiles, industrial equipment, and e-commerce air cargo demand.

• “Shippers outside of the AI server sector may feel the effects if their freight moves through the same origin airports, uses the same carrier capacity, or ships during the same periods as AI-related cargo,” CH Robinson said.
• New rules on low-value European imports are already changing market behavior, but the full impact on volume has yet to be measured just one month after the elimination of the de minimis exemption.
• China-to-Europe freighter capacity is down nearly 30% from June due to a reduction in e-commerce imports into Europe, shows new data from Rotate.
• After a stint in PR, he went on to work for Containerisation International and Lloyd’s List – where he was editor of container shipping – before joining Air Cargo News in 2015.
• Etihad Cargo has appointed AVIAREPS as its cargo general sales agent (GSA) in Uzbekistan following the recent launch of Etihad Airways’ passenger flights between Abu Dhabi, UAE and Tashkent.

The US company said that traditionally, demand cycles are broad-based as companies move goods for retail inventory replenishment, seasonal product launches, or post-disruption recoveries. Logistics is the glue that binds the global economy together, connecting raw materials to sub assembly manufacturing plants, then… Air Charter Service completes phase one of upgrading its £18 million headquarters Little appetite for peak season charters signals a weaker air cargo market over rest of 2026 Liege Airport‘s EU CBEC 2026 brings ease and movement to e-commerce Fraport announced as official airport partner for Routes World 2026

• Logistics is the glue that binds the global economy together, connecting raw materials to sub assembly manufacturing plants, then…
• Delta and Aeromexico will be able to continue operating their joint venture (JV) following a court ruling that dismisses a US government order to dissolve the JV due to an ongoing disagreement with Mexico over the 2015 U.S. – Mexico Air Transport Agreement.
• Avianca Cargo has independently and in partnership with GOL transported over 100 tons of aid to Colombia to support response and recovery efforts in areas affected by the recent earthquakes in the country.
• Airfreight rates from the Asia Pacific region to Europe were on the rise last week despite volumes coming under pressure due to the new European Union charge for e-commerce shipments.
• Airlines will continue to adjust capacity to account for shifts in volume, but the volatility of US trade policy and continued demand growth fueled by the AI boom will make this more difficult.
• The parcel giant saw its forwarding and third-party logistics business drop in the fourth quarter due to higher tariffs, and says the weakness will carry over into the first quarter of 2026.

The volume of high-tech goods from Asia to North America increased 70% year over year while US imports of e-commerce declined, according to aviation consultancy Aevean. The forwarder joins several other companies in the transport and logistics sector that have also raised their profit guidance following better-than-expected results. The momentum generated by air and ocean demand during the quarter is expected to continue through the second half of the year, the company’s CEO said. The new European Union charge for low-value shipments has “profoundly altered the structure of imports” into Liege Airport. Rhenus has a major ambition to become a top 10 logistics company, and continued geographical growth is helping it realise its goals. The first half of 2026 has proved positive for the Network Aviation Group, with both its GSSA business, Network Airline Services (NAS), and freighter operation, Network Airline Management (NAM), benefiting from market disruption and shifting trade patterns.

Istanbul Airport has become the busiest cargo airport in Europe after picking up extra volumes as a result of the Iran War. Cargo handler Air India SATS (AISATS) has signed two agreements aiming to attract new freighter services to its facility at the recently opened Noida International Airport in northern India. Avianca https://expandsuccess.org/effective-ecommerce-solutions/ Cargo has independently and in partnership with GOL transported over 100 tons of aid to Colombia to support response and recovery efforts in areas affected by the recent earthquakes in the country. Air cargo market conditions are becoming increasingly localised as demand surges from certain origins and verticals while it eases from others, according to freight forwarder CH Robinson. As the airfreight market in North America evolves, the role of San Bernardino International Airport (SBD) in this industry segment continues to climb TAP Air Cargo’s new solution allows customers to monitor their shipments in real time and maintain a detailed record of all events throughout the entire journey, ensuring greater control and security.

DHL Express has seen the weight of shipments it carries increase strongly in the second quarter as underlying market fundamentals drive heavier shipments to the integrator model and the division focuses on industrial customers. China-to-Europe freighter capacity is down nearly 30% from June due to a reduction in e-commerce imports into Europe, shows new data from Rotate. Department of Transportation for outstanding contribution to transportation and aviation. In-depth and knowledgeable coverage of the air cargo market. Oman Air has appointed Nasser Al Sharji as its new Chief Executive Officer.Al Sharji brings more than 25 years of…