Airports

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.

The widespread distribution of coronavirus vaccines early next year will compete for limited transport capacity amid peak air cargo season, with the shipments channeled through the same hub airports.

Global demand for medical supplies has not let up, but stricter customs rules are leading to lengthy delays at Chinese hub airports.

The congested hub airports in Europe are struggling with rapid growth in flight traffic and a slot allocation system that was devised a quarter of a century ago.

Thousands of tons of air cargo face shipping delays after Hong Kong closed its airport Monday due to disruptions caused when anti-government protesters stormed both terminals.

There was little to celebrate at Europe’s main air cargo gateways in the first half of the year amid weak freight handling volumes that show no signs of improving.

As US airports, terminal operators, and ground handlers are taking heat for rampant truck congestion and cargo delays, two software firms are looking to bring digitization and automation to airport freight handling operations.