Air cargo capacity increases

13 December 2023•Article

Air cargo capacity increases as winter season commences

As air cargo demand strengthened over the last few months, airlines are introducing increased capacity until March 2024

Following continued strengthening of air cargo demand over the last few months, airlines have introduced increased capacity until March 2024. The trans-Atlantic routes especially have seen significant increase in scope by way of more than 6,900 additional widebody flights dedicated to these busy routes alone — a more than 1,100 increase compared to the same season last year. One of the busiest and most important transatlantic routes, London Heathrow (UK) to/from key U.S. destinations, will see nearly half of the increase in flights to meet demand.

Following a recent air cargo peak driven by e-commerce sales in the holiday season, we expect the increase in capacity to stabilize air cargo spot rate pricing, and for these new frequencies to allow us to offer you more space on important routes well into 2024. While increased e-commerce volumes from Hong Kong and China to the US and Europe inflated global air cargo demand by 5% year over year in November, expected weak consumer spending in Q1 2024 and a continuing recovery in belly capacity for certain markets next year, boosted by improving passenger travel, will likely result in more favourable air cargo rates for shippers. However, recent ocean freight concerns that are expected to continue into 2024, will shift focus on increased air cargo transport as a viable alternative to effective supply chain planning.

At Woodland Group, we have built a strong air cargo service through our locations across the US, UK, Europe and beyond to meet demand.

We deliver:

Block / agreed space agreement on direct services
Full control of receiving, screening, consolidating and building in our Woodland facilities across the US and UK
CCSF facilities with multiple screening techniques - K9, Xray and physical.
Non-evasive initial screening of cargo using TSA K9 screening
Daily and twice-weekly consolidations to multiple global destinations
Daily Transatlantic services to UK and EU
OOG, Hazardous and project cargo handling
Both passenger and cargo aircraft options to handle both known and unknown shipper cargo
Online spot pricing available
UK de-consol and clearance capabilities for complete end to end control
Multi shipper buyers consol programmes
Repacking services for air exports
Worldwide import and export airfreight specialists