Air Cargo

An update to new COVID-19 quarantine rules in Hong Kong has prompted Cathay Pacific to halted long-haul freight flights, potentially exacerbating a supply crunch ahead of the Lunar New Year peak.

Toughening Hong Kong’s quarantine requirement for air cargo pilots would severely disrupt airfreight operations during peak air cargo season and ahead of China’s Lunar New Year holiday.

The growth in air freight on the trans-Pacific to move auto parts, footwear, and apparel has been significant this year as US shippers try to circumvent the ocean congestion that is delaying imports from Asia.

An electronic connection between CargoWise and Singapore Airlines is another sign that digital management of bookings and shipment modifications is gaining momentum in the air cargo market.

A structural change in the way airlines serve the international travel market in the future could see smaller planes deployed with reduced belly cargo capacity.

The bottlenecks that have frustrated ocean shippers all year have spread to air cargo, pushing up rates to stratospheric levels and delaying shipments.

A strong third quarter for US airlines is expected to spill over into the last three months as demand continues to fill all available space.

CMA CGM is making a significant investment in its air cargo division, placing its second direct order for new freighter aircraft.

No let-up in US demand, and no easing at congested trans-Pacific ocean gateways, is keeping pressure on the capacity challenged air cargo market and pushing rates to levels never seen before.

Maersk’s acquisition of Senator and its securing of new and leased aircraft allows the carrier to add controlled air freight capacity for customers, in line with its expanded integrated logistics strategy.

The lifting of a trans-Atlantic travel ban on non-US citizens from Nov. 8 comes at a time of peak demand, but is unlikely to address severe space constraints on the busy trade lane.

International air freight and last-mile delivery saw the fastest revenue growth in the transportation sector last year, while industrial transportation suffered.

IATA has moved to standardize the handling procedures of lithium batteries as rising global demand raises concerns over misdeclarations or incorrectly handled shipments.

The cost of missing online shopping or Christmas deadlines is mounting for air cargo shippers forced out of the congested ocean markets.

Global air cargo volumes in August and September were up just 1 percent compared to the same months in 2019, but the shortage of capacity has shippers fighting to secure capacity ahead of holiday season.

The two widebody freighters ordered by CMA CGM Air Cargo will expand its direct access to air freight space, most likely in the tightly constrained trade lanes out of Asia.

Worsening port and inland logistics bottlenecks are driving shippers from ocean into the air, increasing rates and kickstarting an early air freight peak season.

Digitalization of the industry is more than just an IT project, and needs greater corporate buy-in from executives in corner offices on the top floor all the way down to workers on the ground, according to Webcargo.

Air freight spot rates out of Shanghai shot up this week to the highest they've been this year as the capacity-slashing COVID-19 disruption across China’s major airports hit prices.

Instead of chartering air freight capacity, Geodis has leased its own branded freighter that will be integrated into the forwarder’s global schedule.

There is little clarity in Shanghai airport’s evolving COVID-19 lockdown situation, with forwarders in China asked not to deliver export cargo to the terminals and airlines suspending inbound shipments.

Air freight rates on the trans-Pacific, although at elevated levels, have been reasonably stable through the summer months, but measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in China are now pushing rates skyward.

Shippers eager to move computer components, semiconductor chips, and auto production parts are eating up super-heavy air capacity even as demand for traditional OOG cargo improves.

Measures by China to curb the spread of COVID-19 are leading to growing disruptions to air cargo at the country’s important export gateways.

The acquisition of parcel consolidator Access Worldwide by startup cross-border shipping platform Passport is likely targeted at cost-conscious shippers needing to fulfill small package orders.

Demand for air freight was flying high in the first half, supported by major economies rebounding from COVID-19 recessions and supply chain disruptions that show no signs of easing.

Air cargo’s competitiveness over ocean has been boosted by the heavily disrupted container shipping market that has held ocean rates at extremely elevated levels for months.

Air freight is increasingly being called in to replenish urgent retail stocks as sustained consumer demand in the US and Europe cleans out inventories.

South China port delays are expected to last for months, pushing shippers into the air in greater numbers for an early peak season where they will be met by tight space and soaring rate levels.

Lifting the travel ban between Europe and the US was a topic high on the agenda during Thursday’s meeting between the US president and UK prime minister, but spreading COVID-19 infections in Europe mean there is little chance of a rapid resumption of flights.

The US air cargo import supply chain has been unable to handle a huge increase in demand this year, prompting forwarders to seek out alternative entry points to avoid the bottlenecks.

Air cargo peak surcharges are increasing on the Asia-US trade as business-to-business (B2B) parcel shippers opt for quicker delivery times to replenish inventories.

A reopening US economy continues to fuel demand for imports, driving up air cargo rates on trades out of Asia with little regard for what is traditionally the slow season.

The strain of an overextended air cargo market is being felt across the supply chain, but with so much belly capacity out of service, there is little sign of the pressure easing any time soon.

The digitalization of air freight is gathering pace with Turkish Airlines, the latest carrier to embrace real-time booking.

The removal of quarantine rules for fully vaccinated Hong Kong-based air freight crew is a relief for airlines like Cathay Pacific, which estimates the operational constraints caused by the regulation has added more than $100 million to its monthly costs in Q1.

Rising confidence in the US and European manufacturing sectors and continuing growth in e-commerce is generating strong and sustained demand for air cargo.

Disruption to ocean markets from the almost week-long blockage of the Suez Canal has pushed up demand for air cargo out of Asia.

Strong demand for e-commerce, high-tech products, automotive parts, and fashion on trades out of Asia continues to quickly fill all available capacity, propping up air cargo rates.

Air cargo industry experts told the TPM21 conference the belly space that normally makes up more than half of all available freight capacity will likely remain sidelined as airlines continue to struggle with uncertain passenger demand.