The extent of the disruption to air freight schedules is not yet apparent, but the loss of the belly cargo space, even for a short period, comes at a particularly inconvenient time.

The service comes as air freight rates out of Hong Kong have stabilized but are still approximately 20% higher than this time last year, according to the Baltic Air Index.

A flood of duty-free shipments from Asia has upped the ante on brokers having broad knowledge of the upstream supply chains used by their importer clients.

Chinese online marketplaces have hit on a rich vein of business-to-customer volumes, with the current boom in international air freight driven by cross-border e-commerce rather than a recovery of traditional manufacturing.

Peak season has come early to air freight markets and with ocean shipping disrupted and e-commerce filling planes out of Asia, the demand is set to extend through the second half and beyond.

Peak season has come early to air freight markets and with ocean shipping disrupted and e-commerce filling planes out of Asia, the demand is set to extend through the second half and beyond.

Not even the widespread disruption to global aviation from the Microsoft IT outage in mid-July could derail resurgent air freight markets.

Not even the widespread disruption to global aviation from the Microsoft IT outage in mid-July could derail resurgent air freight markets.

Not even the widespread disruption to global aviation from the Microsoft IT outage in mid-July could derail resurgent air freight markets.

More than 70% of air cargo space controlled by Kuehne + Nagel subsidiary Apex has been presold for the third and fourth quarters.

More than 70% of air cargo space controlled by Kuehne + Nagel subsidiary Apex has been presold for the third and fourth quarters.

More than 70% of air cargo space controlled by Kuehne + Nagel subsidiary Apex has been presold for the third and fourth quarters.

Jens Lund believes the supply and demand balance on the major trade lanes is being restored as front-loaded shipments make their way through the supply chain.

Jens Lund believes the supply and demand balance on the major trade lanes is being restored as front-loaded shipments make their way through the supply chain.

Jens Lund believes the supply and demand balance on the major trade lanes is being restored as front-loaded shipments make their way through the supply chain.

Kuehne + Nagel’s Stefan Paul presented a sunny outlook for the rest of the year, saying he expects strengthening air and ocean yields to turn around declines reported across most of the forwarder’s financial metrics in the first half.

Kuehne + Nagel’s Stefan Paul presented a sunny outlook for the rest of the year, saying he expects strengthening air and ocean yields to turn around declines reported across most of the forwarder’s financial metrics in the first half.

Kuehne + Nagel’s Stefan Paul presented a sunny outlook for the rest of the year, saying he expects strengthening air and ocean yields to turn around declines reported across most of the forwarder’s financial metrics in the first half.

The second half of 2024 is not likely to bring rate relief for shippers forced into the air by geopolitical events and trade tensions between the US and China.

The second half of 2024 is not likely to bring rate relief for shippers forced into the air by geopolitical events and trade tensions between the US and China.