Air cargo market shows recovery in March despite continued challenges

Air Freight

The global air freight market showed a tentative upturn in March. After a traditionally slow start to the year, volumes are up slightly, especially on routes between Europe, Asia and North America. Within Europe, an increase is visible in urgent shipments of pharmaceutical, high-tech and automotive goods.

According to preliminary data from industry associations such as IATA and WorldACD, global cargo volume is higher than in the same period last year. In particular, express and time-critical shipments are growing faster than the rest of the market. The need for speed and reliability in international chains remains high, especially now that disruptions at sea - such as around the Red Sea - are causing exporters to divert to air freight.

At the same time, fares remain under pressure. The resurgence of passenger flights is creating additional capacity in the belly segment, increasing price competition. CLIVE Data Services reports that global average spot fares are still below March 2024 levels.

Looking ahead, there is cautious optimism. Economic signals such as falling inflation in Europe and a slight increase in industrial demand in Asia point to a possibly more stable second quarter. Still, geopolitical tensions and capacity allocation remain key concerns.

As a logistics service provider, we follow these developments closely. Through flexible planning and timely switching between modes, we ensure that our customers can continue to count on reliable air cargo solutions.