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.

The latest Air Cargo News & Analysis

LAX air cargo upgrade delay disappoints stakeholders

Chris Barnett, Special Correspondent |
Stakeholders are disappointed in the multiple-year delay in building new air cargo facilities at Los Angeles International Airport, but will consider interim solutions to meet the challenge of growing volumes.
Air Cargo

LA air cargo expansion shelved

Chris Barnett, Special Correspondent |
The shelving of a new air cargo terminal at Los Angeles International Airport is a blow to forwarders and their cargo owners suffering from delays that the project aimed to relieve.
Air Cargo

Hong Kong shippers alarmed over rising logistics costs

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
Shippers worry “unreasonable” air freight fees, tighter cargo screening regulations, and the region’s dependence on transshipment could cause Hong Kong to cede more cargo to air and sea ports in southern China.
Air Cargo Forwarder NewsMaritime

Air shippers fear costs, delays due to Hong Kong X-ray rule

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
Hong Kong in November will start down the road of X-raying all airfreight shipments, which has users worried about the costs -- in both time and money.
Air Cargo

Hong Kong airport chaos hampers air cargo

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor |
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.
Air CargoAirport News

European airport gateways feel cargo slump

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor |
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.
Air CargoAirport News

Weak air freight, truckload hit Roadrunner’s Q2 line

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor |
Roadrunner Transportation Systems reported revenue and profits were down in the second quarter as it battled weak conditions in the airfreight, truckload, LTL, and intermodal markets.
LTLAir Cargo

Slim summer pickings for air cargo as demand tumbles

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor |
A dismal June capped a poor first half for the global air cargo industry, which has the lean summer months to get through before any seasonal pick-up in demand can be expected.
Air Cargo

Weak economic indicators cloud air cargo outlook

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor |
A steady deterioration of air cargo markets as global trade slows is troubling the industry with little sign of an improvement.
Air Cargo

UPS targets low-cost, e-commerce shippers with deferred delivery

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
UPS is targeting cross-border e-commerce sellers with a deferred-delivery shipping product that would cost less than tighter delivery windows, a sign of integrators wanting to tap into forecast growth in international online sales.
Air Cargo Forwarder News

Kuehne + Nagel: No December rush ahead of IMO 2020

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor |
The world’s biggest ocean freight forwarder does not see why shippers would feel an urgent need to move cargo before the IMO 2020 low-sulfur fuel mandate kicks in on Jan. 1.
MaritimeAir Cargo

Air cargo volume, rates in tailspin

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor |
This year is shaping up to be a tough one for the air cargo business with an unsettled trade environment set to extend the demand slowdown into the third quarter.
Air Cargo

Ilyushin plans new heavy-cargo air freighter

Eugene Gerden, Special Correspondent |
The IL-96 500T will substitute for An-124 deliveries, hobbled by the Crimean annexation.
Air Cargo Carriers News

Air cargo outlook darkens in unsettled market

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor |
The outlook for air cargo is turning negative as carriers face headwinds in the form of trade upheaval and falling demand.
Air Cargo Forwarder NewsAir Cargo Carriers News

Tariff hikes send trans-Pacific air freight rates soaring

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor |
The escalating trade dispute between the US and China is driving keen interest in air freight on the busy trans-Pacific trade routes.
Air Cargo Forwarder News

Pact aims to speed Singapore sea-air connectivity

Keith Wallis, Asia Correspondent |
Singapore-base port operator PSA International has teamed up with SATS, an aviation focused ground handling company, to offer sea-air cargo services in Singapore
Air Cargo

Climate change already pummeling supply chains

Dustin Braden, Shipper Engagement Manager |
The costs of climate change and impacts to business are typically discussed as abstract and distant, but a review of recent history shows those costs are already here, and climbing.
Supply chainMaritimeAir CargoTransport, Trade, and Regulation NewsTrucking NewsRail News

Trump tariff threat leaves US importers few options

Dustin Braden, Shipper Engagement Manager |
US President Donald Trump's decision to hike tariffs on a wide selection of Chinese-made goods took the US trade community by surprise.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsAir Cargo

US-Mexico cargo delays spur new transport approaches

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
As ongoing, rolling delays at the US-Mexico border threaten cross-border manufacturing operations that rely on quick, dependable deliveries, some shippers are taking drastic measures to keep their supply chains running smoothly.
Trucking NewsAir Cargo

Trade tensions drag on air cargo

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor |
Shippers are taking a cautious approach to air cargo as the UK struggles with Brexit and the US considers imposing tariffs on a wider range of European goods.
Air Cargo

New air cargo reality needs new congestion solutions

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor |
It’s going to take more than airport terminal investment to better handle a seismic shift in shipping.
Air Cargo

Tech firms combating US airport congestion

Chris Barnett, Special Correspondent |
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.
Air Cargo Forwarder NewsAirport NewsLogistics Technology News

Forwarders rally response to congested US air hubs

Chris Barnett, Special Correspondent |
The Airforwarders Association’s mission to put an end to congestion at major US airports is already bearing fruit, but forwarders in New York and Boston worry airport efforts won’t address underlying issues.
Air Cargo Forwarder News

Collaboration urged to ease O’Hare cargo delays

Chris Barnett, Special Correspondent |
O'Hare tops New York’s JFK as even more congested, with trucks trying to get their loads in and out of the airport thwarted by vehicular traffic, handling, and operational delays.
Air Cargo Forwarder News

UPS doubles down on Asia-Europe network

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor |
Rising demand on its Asia-Europe express network is seeing UPS make some big investments in infrastructure and aircraft capacity to keep up.
Logistics Technology NewsAir CargoRail NewsInternational rail

Dynamic air cargo pricing gaining traction

Greg Knowler, Europe Editor |
The promise of digitization and real-time pricing is forcing the air freight industry to rethink longstanding booking practices.
Air Cargo Forwarder NewsLogistics Technology News

Trade turmoil, e-commerce lift air cargo

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor |
Speakers at the Cargo Facts EMEA conference in Frankfurt say trade disruptions and booming e-commerce will continue to drive increased global air cargo volume.
Air Cargo Forwarder News

Lack of air cargo surge marks weak trans-Pacific

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor |
After a subdued end to 2018 and trade and with economic hurdles stacking up, there are relatively low expectations for the trans-Pacific air cargo market in 2019.
Air Cargo Forwarder NewsCool Cargo News

Online giants building air cargo capacity

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor |
Gathering e-commerce momentum is revolutionizing global air cargo supply chains.
Air Cargo Carriers News

Low inventories drive emergency air cargo

Greg Knowler, Europe Editor |
Trimming inventory has been made easier as visibility of shipments improves, but it leaves little room for error and even a slight disruption can divert cargo into the air.
Air Cargo

'Slow but steady' Asia air cargo gains ahead after US tariff rush

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor |
Of course, many factors can be involved in an air cargo volume uptrend, but this holiday season trade tension and the threat of higher tariffs certainly is one.
Air Cargo Forwarder NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Peak-season shipments swamp Europe’s smaller airports

Greg Knowler, Europe Editor |
Europe's main hubs are operating at maximum capacity, pushing increasing volume into secondary airports that are not always suitable.
Air Cargo

Brussels’ strategy offers path for congested air cargo hubs

Chris Barnett, Special Correspondent |
Like commercial aviation’s takeoff and landing slot booking system, BRUcloud enables forwarders to reserve guaranteed slot times and designated warehouse dock doors with ground handlers, enabling their truckers to quickly discharge loads or collect shipments.
Air Cargo Forwarder News

Infographic: The value of digital bills of lading

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
Efforts to digitize the bill of lading that must accompany each shipment, whether on an ocean vessel or tractor-trailer, aren’t necessarily new, but they’re gaining ground in an era of e-commerce and tight capacity.
Logistics Technology NewsLTLTrucking NewsMaritimeAir Cargo

E-shopping holidays deliver air cargo peak-season stress

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor |
Three major online buying events — Singles’ Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday are coming — and when they are combined with the evolution of the three into global shopping and shipping events, it means more pressure on air freight pipelines.
Air Cargo Forwarder News

Largest European inland operator warns of waterway crisis

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor |
Executives from Imperial Logistics International participated in a wide-ranging question and answer session concerning the mounting intermodal transport challenges facing shippers and forwarders moving cargo around Europe.
International portsMaritimeRail NewsAir Cargo

China-Europe air cargo rates to edge up through 2019

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor |
<p>“There should be enough space as supply catches up with demand, but it is still possible to have a peak like we did last year [2017],” a spokesman for Freight Investor Service said.</p>
Air Cargo

Asian air carriers ready capacity for tariff-driven US import surge

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor |
“I don’t know if the peak this year will look like last year, but we have about 20 freighters and take a lot of volume in our widebody fleet that we expanded quite a bit, so there are a lot more destinations,” Cathay Pacific CEO Rupert Hogg said. “But going into next year the future is unknown.”
Air Cargo Carriers News

Air cargo slowdown worries build on US-China tariffs

Chris Barnett, Special Correspondent |
The two main regional markets for air freight — Asia Pacific for international shipments and North America for domestic shipments — may be headed toward slower growth, due to the ongoing trade war between their two largest economies, Airports Council International said.
Air Cargo

Global slowdown extends from ocean shipping to air cargo

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor |
The International Air Transport Association said this slowing growth was coming against a backdrop of rising trade protectionism measures, and wider momentum in global trade was weakening.
Air CargoCool Cargo News