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Air Cargo

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. It also tracks air cargo trends, air freight news, shifting of cargo between air and ocean, airports and airfreight delays and congestion.

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The latest Air Cargo News & Analysis

Asian air freight stages US, Europe rate surge in November

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
But rising air cargo rates on the major Asian export trade lanes do not portend a peak season this year with analysts pointing to poor economic conditions exerting strong downward pressure on consumers in the US and Europe.
Air CargoAir Cargo Carriers NewsAir Cargo Forwarder News

‘No vacancy’ signs up on trans-Pacific as e-commerce demand absorbs air cargo capacity

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
A month ago, no one was predicting a peak season for air cargo on the trans-Pacific, but finding space from China to the US has become difficult as e-commerce demand heats up.
Air CargoTrans-PacificAir Cargo Carriers NewsAir Cargo Forwarder News

DSV signs onto $10 billion JV linked to Saudi-backed NEOM port project

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The announcement was made simultaneously with the forwarder releasing its nine-month financial results that reflected softening air and ocean markets, dragging down profitability from last year’s record performance.
ForwardingMaritimeInternational portsAir Cargo

Forwarders facing margin pressure from smaller shipments, shift of air to ocean

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Shipments are getting smaller over time, driven in part by e-commerce growth, but also by a market that is disentangling cargo previously handled through air or ocean consolidation.
Air CargoForwardingAir Cargo Forwarder NewsLogistics Technology News

Air cargo demand out of Asia puts spot rates on upward path, for now

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The last two months have been good for the air cargo market on export trade lanes out of Asia, but there remains considerable uncertainty whether the positive momentum will continue.
Air Cargo

Asian air export rates rose in Q3 as cargo demand stabilized

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Rising airline costs and increasing air cargo demand over the last three months have largely insulated rate levels against a steady and significant increase in available air freight capacity.
Air CargoAir Cargo Carriers NewsAir Cargo Forwarder News

Logistics software helping blur lines between forwarder, shipper processes: WiseTech CEO

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Richard White said in an interview with the Journal of Commerce the logistics industry is stuck in a pattern of tackling small problems instead of viewing international trade as a large, connected system.
Logistics Technology NewsForwardingAir Cargo Forwarder NewsSupply chain

Air cargo facing non-existent demand growth for a ‘few quarters’: Xeneta

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
A widening imbalance between available air freight capacity and demand has dragged global rates to their lowest level since the start of the pandemic, with no signs of volumes improving on key outbound routes from Asia.
Air CargoAir Cargo Carriers NewsAir Cargo Forwarder News

Clark departs Flexport amid differences with founder over strategic shift

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
A difference of opinion over Flexport’s strategic shift toward fulfillment aimed at small businesses has prompted CEO Dave Clark to depart the company only a year after he came aboard.
ForwardingContainer Shipping NewsAir CargoAir Cargo Forwarder NewsSupply chainLogistics Technology News

Market interest ‘should be very high’ in DB Schenker sale: CEO

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The German-based forwarder remains the largest and most attractive takeover target in a cash-rich industry where the main players are all looking for opportunities to consolidate.
MaritimeForwardingTrucking NewsInternational railAir CargoAir Cargo Forwarder NewsSupply chain

Data shows US in midst of extended period of inventory drawdowns: analyst

Jason Miller, associate professor of logistics at Michigan State University, and Journal of Commerce analyst |
Inventory drawdowns and right-sizing will keep Asia-to-US container and air freight volumes soft well into 2024, writes analyst Jason Miller.
Supply chainContainer Shipping NewsAir Cargo

M&A activity in 3PL sector continues as investment firm acquires Ascent

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Two weeks after Forward Air acquired forwarder Omni Logistics, a private investment fund has taken over expedited third-party logistics provider Ascent Global Logistics.
Supply chainSurfaceTrucking NewsTruck brokersAir Cargo Forwarder News

Logistics industry tiptoeing toward AI adoption: Freightos research

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Shippers and forwarders recently surveyed by Freightos believe artificial intelligence will reduce headcounts in the logistics industry, even if they have yet to figure out how best to use the still-emerging technology.
Logistics Technology NewsContainer Shipping NewsForwardingAir Cargo Forwarder NewsSupply chain

Falling air cargo rates remain elevated despite supply-demand imbalance

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Spot rates have fallen significantly over the past year, but there is still some way to go before prices are back to 2019 levels.
Air CargoAir Cargo Carriers News

MSC adds Italian airline to expanding air cargo offering

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
AlisCargo will join MSC’s air freight division in early 2024 as the ocean carrier steadily builds out its global air network.
Air CargoContainer linesAir Cargo Carriers News

Shippers in control as summer slump, surplus space cuts air cargo rates

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Air cargo capacity continues to grow through the summer, outpacing weak demand from major destination markets with no sign yet of any turnaround.
Air CargoAir Cargo Carriers NewsAir Cargo Forwarder News

Tough market conditions slow DHL’s H1 profitability

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
A challenging operating environment pulled down revenue and earnings at DHL, but the Germany-based integrator remains in a highly profitable position ahead of an uncertain second half.
Air Cargo Forwarder NewsContainer Shipping NewsLTLLast Mile News

Long-term chartered air freight capacity depressing market: DSV

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Forwarders in 2021 signed long-term air cargo charters to meet rising demand for air freight resulting from an overheated ocean market, and some of those charter deals are still in place despite a widespread demand slowdown.
Air CargoAir Cargo Carriers NewsAir Cargo Forwarder News

Strategic focus on higher-margin business pays off for forwarders

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The decision by DSV and Kuehne + Nagel to protect yields at the expense of volume is allowing the forwarders to move into an uncertain second half in a solidly profitable position.
MaritimeAir CargoContainer Shipping NewsAir Cargo Forwarder News

Major forwarders riding out slow return of traditional freight markets

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The CEOs of DSV and Kuehne + Nagel, shrugging off heavily distorted year-over-year comparisons, described their second-quarter results as “solid” and reflective of the evolving normalization of the air and ocean markets.
ForwardingContainer Shipping NewsAir Cargo Forwarder News

Maersk grows air freight services with opening of Atlanta hub

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
The 123,000-square-foot warehouse will also serve as a forward staging area for the carrier’s South Carolina-based flight operations that link the southeast US to Germany, China and South Korea.
Air CargoAir Cargo Carriers NewsAir Cargo Forwarder News

Visibility product launches show cargo market open to new options

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Three new visibility products — from a hardware provider, a forwarder and a data provider — are evidence of a diverse cargo visibility market that is expanding options for shippers.
Logistics Technology NewsContainer Shipping NewsSurfaceAir CargoSupply chain

'Nasty’ air cargo market puts forwarders under pressure: Xeneta

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Weak demand from key regions in an air freight industry awash with excess capacity is forcing forwarders with block space agreements to fend off aggressive pricing policies by rivals.
Air CargoAir Cargo Carriers NewsAir Cargo Forwarder News

South Korean entities to develop Chicago, New Jersey transloading facilities

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
The locations were chosen based on their proximity to key rail, airport and port facilities, the partners said.
Industrial Real Estate NewsContainer Shipping NewsTrans-PacificAir CargoSupply chain

Maersk’s growing air freight coverage driven by in-house demand

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
There is little demand to be seen in air cargo routes out of Asia, but the aggressive expansion of Maersk Air Cargo connections to the US and Europe points to strong interest from the carrier’s existing customers.
Air CargoAir Cargo Carriers NewsAir Cargo Forwarder News

Regulatory support critical for aviation’s green energy transition: IATA

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The air and ocean shipping sectors have set out their decarbonization agendas, but policy help is urgently required to underpin investment in new fuel technology and production, a global trade group says.
Air CargoContainer Shipping NewsAir Cargo Carriers News

IATA upgrades global airline outlook as recovery gathers momentum

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The airline industry has performed better than expected so far this year, with the International Air Transport Association providing a surprisingly sunny financial outlook for an industry with a forecasted profit margin of just 1.2%.
Air CargoAir Cargo Carriers NewsAir Cargo Forwarder News

Slow demand, rising capacity drags air cargo rates to three-year low

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Air cargo carriers are set for a bleak few months, with high inventory levels and economic issues in destination markets further dampening the traditionally slow summer season.
Air CargoTrans-PacificAsia-EuropeAir Cargo Forwarder News

Asian air cargo rates fall on rising capacity, cooling demand

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
There are few signs of improvement in demand for air freight on major trade lanes out of Asia, while a steady increase in below-deck belly capacity is adding to the downward pressure on rate levels.
Air CargoAir Cargo Carriers NewsAir Cargo Forwarder News

DHL Express plans US physical expansion, including delayed new hub

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
International air express carrier DHL is building out its US footprint to gain greater density and reach in its largest market, its CEO for the Americas says.
Supply chainTrucking NewsAir Cargo Carriers NewsIndustrial Real Estate News

European green fuel regulations place airlines on notice

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
There are concerns that the latest requirement could force the price of sustainable aviation fuel higher, which would be felt in the pockets of airline passengers and cargo shippers.
Air CargoAsia-EuropeAirport NewsAir Cargo Carriers News

UPS preps for flagging volumes with cuts in headcount, sort facilities

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
Package volumes at the largest US package carrier by revenue fell farther than expected in the first quarter, especially in March, thanks to shifts in spending, UPS executives said. 
SurfaceTrucking NewsAir Cargo

‘Normalizing’ ocean, air markets drag down K+N’s Q1 earnings

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The forwarder’s CFO said ocean freight demand in the second quarter was expected to be much the same as Q1, but there were signs that stockpiling by customers in major markets was nearing an end.
MaritimeForwardingAir Cargo

Maersk adds new China-US flights to growing air cargo network

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor |
Maersk’s growing air cargo capacity is being used to plug gaps in connectivity in the carrier’s integrated end-to-end logistics offering.
Air CargoAirport NewsAir Cargo Carriers News

High-flying trans-Atlantic air cargo volume posts March decline

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Steadily increasing volume on trans-Atlantic air freight routes ended in March as demand growth slowed for the first time in two years.
Air CargoTrans-AtlanticAir Cargo Forwarder News

CMA CGM air cargo deal with Air France-KLM takes off

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The 10-year partnership between Air France-KLM and CMA CGM will dramatically expand the available air cargo capacity and global network of the France-based fleet.
Air CargoContainer linesAir Cargo Carriers NewsAir Cargo Forwarder News

Forwarders raked in record revenues in 2022 despite H2 demand collapse

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Historic highs in global freight volumes and rates in the first half of last year helped insulate third-party logistics providers (3PLs) from a market collapse in the second half.
ForwardingContainer Shipping NewsTruck brokersAir Cargo Forwarder News

Forwarders grapple with new freight rate math on tech investments

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Forwarders that experimented with new software during the days of robust freight demand now face a dilemma over what technology produces actual returns on investment as volumes and margin shrink.
Logistics Technology NewsForwardingAir Cargo Forwarder News

German strikes over pay dispute cripple transportation network

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
German unions demanding inflation-busting wage increases walked off the job Monday, bringing the country’s transport system to a halt.
SurfaceForwardingRail NewsInternational railAirport NewsAir Cargo Forwarder NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Air cargo market weakens as capacity floods into service on major trades

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
In addition to long-haul passenger aircraft with significant belly freight capacity coming back into service to capture growing travel business, several airlines are adding freighters to the major trade lanes.
Air CargoAir Cargo Carriers NewsAir Cargo Forwarder News