Air Cargo

In-depth 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 Journal of Commerce’s air cargo news also tracks air cargo trends, air freight news, shifting of cargo between air and ocean, airports and airfreight delays and congestion.

The latest Air Cargo News & Analysis

DSV books record result for 2022, but warns that bull run for profits is over

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Feb 2, 2023, 9:35 AM EST

Denmark’s DSV collected record profits for 2022, but the forwarder says a return to a more “normal” market has begun.
ForwardingTrans-PacificTrans-AtlanticAsia-EuropeAir cargo forwarding

Early Lunar New Year stalls Asian air cargo recovery

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Feb 1, 2023, 10:29 AM EST

The traditional air cargo market slowdown has been exaggerated by an early start to the Lunar New Year and an unfavorable comparison with last year’s robust peak season.
Air CargoAir cargo carriersAir cargo forwarding

UPS to sharpen focus on ‘smart’ technology in ‘bumpy’ 2023

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Jan 31, 2023, 4:31 PM EST

Technology that connects and automates packages, trucks, and sorting facilities will come to the fore at UPS this year as the largest US logistics provider positions itself for an economic rebound.
SurfaceTruckingAir CargoSupply Chain

Freightos goes public on NASDAQ in first measure of logistics tech value

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Jan 25, 2023, 5:00 PM EST

Freightos’ public listing on the NASDAQ will be the first test of how public investors value one of the more prominent logistics technology companies to emerge over the past decade.
Logistics technologyContainer shippingForwardingAir CargoAir cargo carriersAir cargo forwardingSupply Chain

Forwarding tech providers push into US trucking market

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Dec 21, 2022, 1:53 PM EST

The need for forwarders to tether quoting and tracking in international freight modes to US surface modes has been highlighted by new offerings from ECU Worldwide and Freightos.
TruckingForwardingTruckloadLTLIntermodal providersAir cargo forwardingLogistics technology

Global air freight capacity oversupplied entering 2023

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Dec 20, 2022, 11:59 AM EST

Whereas a shortage of capacity in major trades was the chief issue for air cargo providers over the past two years, the greatest challenge in 2023 will be a lack of demand.
Air cargo carriersAirportsAir cargo forwarding

November air cargo slump extends peak season blues

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Dec 15, 2022, 2:01 PM EST

The weakness in Asia’s air freight export markets continued through the traditionally strong month of November, with little prospect of an end-of-year boost in demand.
Air CargoAir cargo carriers

No seasonal uplift as air cargo market deteriorates further

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Dec 2, 2022, 11:24 AM EST

Dismal November air cargo data has all but assured a weak end to 2022 with no sign of a seasonal uplift in demand or rate levels from an oversupplied market.
Air cargo forwarding

Landside logistics next step in decarbonization drive: Maersk

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Nov 23, 2022, 12:41 PM EST

The expanding platform provided by shippers seeking green transport has allowed Maersk to ramp up its ocean sustainability efforts, with greening landside logistics the next target.
Container linesTrans-PacificAir cargo carriers

New K+N freighter flies into slowing air cargo market

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Nov 23, 2022, 10:53 AM EST

Forwarder Kuehne + Nagel is receiving new freighter capacity as global demand wanes and rate levels tumble through a non-existent peak season.
Air cargo forwarding

Annual air cargo contracts vanish as market weakens

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Nov 18, 2022, 12:41 PM EST

Growing uncertainty over demand levels and falling rates is making longer-term traditional air freight block space agreements unattractive.
Air cargo carriers

Lithium batteries in US postal system raising red flags

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Nov 11, 2022, 11:20 AM EST

Soaring online orders for electronics and mobility devices are flooding the US postal services with undeclared lithium-ion batteries, posing a growing threat to the transport supply chain.
Air cargo forwarding

Air cargo CEOs predict first-quarter recovery in volume

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Nov 9, 2022, 11:50 AM EST

The global air cargo industry is flying into bracing headwinds, but airline CEOs remain largely positive that demand will return early next year.
Air cargo forwardingAirports

Air cargo market braces for turbulent 2023

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Nov 4, 2022, 10:15 AM EDT

There is no sign of an air cargo peak season this year and few signals that 2023 will see any improvement as global economic conditions worsen.
Air CargoAirportsAir cargo forwarding

Demand for heavy-lift air transport outstrips supply

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Oct 31, 2022, 5:42 PM EDT

Sanctions against Russia have sharply reduced available heavy-lift air tonnage even as energy sector demand escalates.
Heavy-haul transportAirports

Air cargo carriers battle worsening supply-demand imbalance

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Oct 19, 2022, 11:07 AM EDT

The world’s long-haul airlines are celebrating a steady return of passenger traffic, but as planes fill with travelers, weakening freight demand means carriers are struggling to fill the surplus cargo capacity below their feet.
Air cargo forwarding

Flight-cutting plan at Amsterdam Schiphol puts freighter slots at risk

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Oct 18, 2022, 10:36 AM EDT

A proposal to significantly reduce annual flights at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is rattling air cargo operators at the airport.
Air cargo forwarding

Maersk expands air cargo offerings with new Chicago facility

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Oct 12, 2022, 4:47 PM EDT

Maersk's new air freight facility in Chicago is building on its fast-growing air cargo offering following the November 2021 acquisition of Senator International and purchase of new freighters for its Maersk Air Cargo division.
Air CargoAirports

Peak season hopes fade for ‘jumpy’ air cargo market

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Oct 7, 2022, 11:09 AM EDT

Demand for air cargo declined through September, and analysts say there is nothing in their data to indicate a pickup in volume out of Asia through the balance of the year.
Air cargo forwardingAirports

Air freight rates tumble as demand weakens, capacity rises

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Sep 30, 2022, 10:29 AM EDT

Spot rates on some air cargo routes out of Asia have fallen below long-term contract levels, mirroring the development in ocean shipping.
Air cargo forwarding

MSC takes first step into air cargo market

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Sep 26, 2022, 11:48 AM EDT

Cementing access to controlled air freight capacity is behind MSC’s move to join peers CMA CGM and Maersk in launching an air cargo division.
Air cargo carriers

Seasonality returns to air freight markets after two years of turbulence

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Aug 26, 2022, 11:05 AM EDT

Average air cargo rates on east-west trade lanes have declined significantly since April as demand slows in line with the traditional slack summer season.
Air cargo forwardingAirports

Trans-Atlantic belly cargo capacity to dry up after summer: forwarders

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Jul 13, 2022, 11:32 AM EDT

Peak season has begun for air travel between Europe and North America, but forwarders making use of belly cargo capacity on passenger planes do not expect the below-deck boon to last.
Air cargo forwarding

Demand indicators show air cargo heading into turbulence

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Jul 8, 2022, 12:43 PM EDT

An ongoing shortage of capacity on the main trade lanes out of Asia and growing signs of declining demand are clouding the air cargo outlook for the remainder of the year.
Air cargo forwardingAirports

Belly cargo capacity makes slow return to global air freight

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Jun 21, 2022, 10:24 AM EDT

The air freight industry is seeing a welcome increase in the urgently needed long-haul belly cargo capacity available to the market as international travel starts picking up.
Air cargo forwarding

CMA CGM airline to leverage ocean forwarder network in expansion drive

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Jun 16, 2022, 11:36 AM EDT

CMA CGM Air Cargo will use its parent company’s extensive ocean forwarder network to drive new business as the airline readies for a rapid global expansion under its Air France-KLM partnership.
Air cargo forwarding

Air cargo recovery slowed by China lockdowns, Ukraine invasion

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Jun 8, 2022, 11:31 AM EDT

China’s rolling COVID-19 lockdowns and significant disruption linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have left the global air freight market to face a difficult second half of the year.
Air cargo carriers

Trans-Atlantic air cargo market edges closer to recovery

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Jun 2, 2022, 10:01 AM EDT

Air cargo capacity is flooding back into the trans-Atlantic market via below deck belly space as travel increases and airlines ramp up their summer schedules.
Air cargo forwardingAirportsAir cargo carriers

Freightos turns to public market to fuel next stage of growth

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Jun 1, 2022, 2:58 PM EDT

Logistics software provider Freightos is being taken public on the Nasdaq, a move that will be closely scrutinized by the founders and investors of growth-stage technology providers in the logistics industry.
Logistics technologyAir CargoContainer lines

Swiss joins Cathay, Lufthansa in new air cargo partnership

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | May 31, 2022, 3:32 PM EDT

A drop in air freight volumes on the Hong Kong-Europe trade lane is being caused by a lack of available capacity rather than constraints in demand, something an expanded carrier partnership hopes to address.
Air Cargo

Freightos air freight tool tackles forwarders’ payment headaches

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | May 27, 2022, 12:40 PM EDT

Freightos is targeting the payment space for air forwarders by tying an integrated payment tool between forwarders and cargo airlines to its WebCargo booking and rating software.
Logistics technologyAir Cargo

MSC, Lufthansa bid for ITA opens door to global air freight network

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | May 27, 2022, 11:44 AM EDT

If the offer by MSC and Lufthansa for ITA is successful, it will provide the ocean carrier with access to significant air freight capacity.
Air cargo carriers

CMA CGM bolsters air cargo offering with Air France-KLM partnership

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | May 18, 2022, 12:06 PM EDT

In just 18 months, CMA CGM has gone from providing air cargo as part of its CEVA Logistics suite of services to becoming a major player in the global air freight market.
Air cargo carriers

Congestion on US East Coast keeps air cargo ‘red hot’: DSV

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | May 9, 2022, 12:34 PM EDT

Shippers converting ocean consignments into air freight to avoid port bottlenecks along the US East Coast are filling all available air cargo capacity on the trans-Atlantic trade lane.
Air cargo forwarding

Russia exit proves complex, costly for some transport providers

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | May 5, 2022, 2:50 PM EDT

Winding down operations in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine has come with a hefty price tag, but transport providers are mostly playing down the impact.
Air cargo forwarding

Carriers using digital tools to broaden shipper reach: Freightos

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Apr 20, 2022, 4:00 AM EDT

New research from Freightos finds ocean carriers improved their electronic tools over the past three years and want to move rate and booking activity through their own online channels.
Logistics technologyContainer linesAir Cargo

US importers take to the air to beat East Coast port congestion

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Apr 11, 2022, 11:40 AM EDT

Shippers of time-sensitive goods on the North Europe-North America trade are increasingly being forced into the air as rising congestion on the US East Coast extends vessel delays.
Air cargo carriers

Shanghai airport effectively closed as freight backlog builds amid COVID lockdown

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Mar 31, 2022, 11:31 AM EDT

Bonded trucking services in and out of Shanghai’s Pudong have been suspended and most flights have been canceled, bringing operations at China’s busiest cargo airport to a standstill.
Air cargo forwardingAirportsAir cargo carriers

Ocean, air shipments face weeks of disruption on Shanghai COVID lockdown

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Mar 28, 2022, 3:20 PM EDT

Carriers said while Shanghai’s main container terminals at Yangshan and Waigaoqiao remain open, many depots and warehouses are shut, and trucking is severely curtailed.
International portsAirports

Air cargo vets get funding for freight consolidation startup

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Mar 21, 2022, 9:25 AM EDT

Aircon, a technology provider aiming to bring a software-based co-loader approach to the air freight industry, has been backed by early-stage investors to drive planned aggregation of air cargo.
Logistics technologyAir Cargo