Air Cargo

  • Cargo is being loaded onto an aircraft with two employees standing inside the plane.
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    Courtesy of DHL Express
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    DHL Express rolls out heavyweight air cargo service

    Heavy Weight Express can handle up to 6,000 pounds per shipment and targets shippers in multiple sectors, including automotive manufacturing and pharmaceuticals.

    By • Sept. 15, 2026
  • The brown tails of several UPS cargo planes line the airport tarmac, with a small bronze statue visible in the foreground and an American Airlines hangar in the background.
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    Shaun Lucas/Supply Chain Dive
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    Air cargo rates ease, shippers buy short-term capacity

    Price growth declined for the third consecutive month, continuing a downward trend since a May peak, per Xeneta.

    By • Sept. 11, 2026
  • Shipping containers are stacked at the Port of Los Angeles on February 7, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Explore the Trendline➔
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Top 5 stories from Supply Chain Dive

    Here’s how companies are navigating evolving global trade and tariff policies, rising costs and operational uncertainty across supply chain networks.

    By Supply Chain Dive staff
  • People approach the wreckage of an Amazon aircraft.
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    NTSB Newsroom. (2026). "NTSB investigators examine the wreckage of a Prime Air cargo aircraft." [Photograph]. Retrieved from X.
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    Miami airport sees limited air cargo disruption after Amazon crash

    FedEx, DHL Express flight operations at Miami International Airport are operating as normal after Sunday’s deadly crash, but reduced runway capacity may have a longer impact.

    By • Sept. 8, 2026
  • A DHL aircraft on a tarmac with branded cargo boxes in the forefront
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    Courtesy of DHL
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    Muted air cargo peak season activity signals weaker H2

    Pricing is shifting in shippers' favor, with the global air cargo spot rate down 6% month over month, Xeneta reported.

    By • Aug. 13, 2026
  • A U.S. Postal Service truck backs into a dock at the U.S. Post Office sort center on August 12, 2011 in San Francisco, California.
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    Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    USPS transportation costs climb as it adjusts to UPS contract needs

    The agency's transportation expenses increased year over year in Q3 as it shifted some volume to air cargo handled by UPS.

    By • Aug. 12, 2026
  • An Amazon airplane in flight.
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    Courtesy of Amazon
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    Amazon combines air, ground operations teams

    The organizational change will drive faster decisions and sharper planning for the company's middle-mile transportation network, an executive said.

    By • Aug. 11, 2026
  • People walk past a Michael Kors store on a busy sidewalk during the day.
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    Michael Kors owner says port congestion spurred inventory delays

    Capri Holdings is working to accelerate receipts where possible, turning to air freight and working with freight forwarders to tap faster vessels.

    By • Aug. 10, 2026
  • A B777 freighter being loaded on a tarmac.
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    Courtesy of Emirates SkyCargo
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    3 factors that may shape the air cargo market in H2

    The Iran war continues to drive market volatility while artificial intelligence-related cargo fuels growth on the Transpacific trade lane.

    By • Aug. 3, 2026
  • Two people in yellow high visibility vests stand in front of a freighter aircraft
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    Courtesy of DHL Global Forwarding
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    DHL Global Forwarding expands Transpacific air cargo capacity with new route

    The thrice-weekly Bangkok-Cincinnati service connects manufacturing regions in Southeast Asia to U.S. hubs.

    By • July 15, 2026
  • UPS cargo being loaded or unloaded from an airplane
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    Courtesy of UPS
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    Should the Postal Service reassess its UPS air contract?

    The USPS Office of Inspector General suggested the agency consider if a new deal is the best path forward as it struggles to meet minimum volume requirements.

    By • July 14, 2026
  • Cargo is loaded into the belly of a passenger aircraft
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    Getty Images
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    AI, semiconductors drive June air cargo demand

    Global air freight spot rates were up 38% year over year in June, but the pace of growth is slowing, Xeneta reported.

    By • July 8, 2026
  • A white and purple FedEx Express branded aircraft in the sky
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    Getty Images
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    FedEx to return full MD-11 capacity ahead of peak season

    After grounding its entire MD-11 fleet in November, the carrier began reintroducing the aircraft in May, CEO Raj Subramaniam said.

    By • June 30, 2026
  • A FedEx branded airplane on a runway with a blue sky in the background.
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    Courtesy of FedEx
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    FedEx inks MOU with China-based airline to boost air cargo network

    The partnership with China Southern Air Logistics could make Guangzhou a key connection for U.S. shipments to Southeast Asia, Cirrus Global Advisors founder Derek Lossing said.

    By • June 17, 2026
  • The nose of a Cathay Pacific cargo freighter is open with a cargo handler loading the aircraft.
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    Courtesy of Cathay Pacific
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    Air freight spot rates spike 41% YoY in May, but relief expected soon

    Xeneta reported an April peak to long-term rates while Middle East carrier capacity continues to return, which may ease cost pressures in June.

    By • June 15, 2026
  • The tails of UPS planes are visible at Ontario International Airport.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    UPS invests $50M in automotive, industrial logistics push

    The carrier will launch time-definite services for heavy air freight to and from Mexico and has hired experts in high-priority segments.

    By • May 29, 2026
  • A person drives a forklift in front of a cargo airplane that is being loaded.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Air cargo spot rates surge 30% in April

    Xeneta attributed the spike to supply issues, not jet fuel volatility, despite carrier surcharges.

    By • May 12, 2026
  • A DHL airplane is pulled at Benito Juarez International Airport on December 23, 2020 in Mexico City, Mexico.
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    Hector Vivas via Getty Images
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    DHL CEO flags jet fuel supply constraints in Asia

    While the logistics giant has more fuel certainty at major hubs, the ongoing crunch is raising prices and posing challenges at some Asia-based airports.

    By • May 5, 2026
  • Air cargo gets loaded onto a United Airlines 777 aircraft to support Hawaii wildfire disaster relief
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    Permission granted by United Airlines
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    Air cargo carriers add fuel surcharges driven by Iran war

    United Cargo, Air Canada Cargo and Cathay Cargo are among the airlines implementing fees to buffer the impact of higher jet fuel costs.

    By • April 30, 2026
  • Pallets of baby formula are unloaded from a FedEx cargo plane upon arrival at Dulles International Airport on May 25, 2022 in Dulles, Virginia.
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    Drew Angerer via Getty Images
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    FedEx pilots ratify new labor contract

    Eighty-three percent voted in favor of the agreement, which will raise hourly wages by nearly 40%, after a multiyear negotiations process.

    By • Updated June 9, 2026
  • A "Qatar Cargo" branded aircraft flights through a sky with clouds
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    Courtesy of Qatar Airways Cargo
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    Iran war sways air cargo contract negotiations

    The rising cost of jet fuel pushed rates from Northeast and Southeast Asia to North America up by mid to high double digits, Xeneta reported.

    By • April 7, 2026
  • A Boss by Hugo Boss sign hangs above a store
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    Laurel Deppen/Supply Chain Dive
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    Hugo Boss aims to cut air freight for cost, emissions benefits

    The fashion brand wants air transportation to be an exception in its logistics approach, rather than a regularly used mode of transit.

    By • March 23, 2026
  • A B777 freighter being loaded on a tarmac.
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    Courtesy of Emirates SkyCargo
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    Iran conflict tests 2026 air cargo outlook

    The U.S. air freight market faces vulnerability as some Middle East corridors are critical for pharmaceuticals and retail volumes, Chief Airfreight Officer Niall van de Wouw said.

    By • March 9, 2026
  • A package moves through a six-sided scanning tunnel at FedEx's Secondary 25 facility in Memphis, Tennessee.
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    Courtesy of FedEx
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    FedEx hub chemical spill leads to Postal Service shipping restrictions

    Priority Mail Express services are embargoed until Friday due to the incident, which temporarily closed part of a key FedEx sortation facility.

    By • March 4, 2026
  • Plumes of smoke rise over the skyline following explosions on March 1, 2026 in Tehran, Iran.
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    Majid Saeedi via Getty Images
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    Iran conflict disrupts ocean, air cargo networks

    Carriers enacted temporary suspensions and surcharges following strikes from the U.S. and Israel on the country, which could introduce supply chain volatility.

    By • March 2, 2026
  • A DHL aircraft on a tarmac with branded cargo boxes in the forefront
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    Courtesy of DHL
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    Early Lunar New Year spurs air cargo volume boost

    The metric rose by 7% in January year over year, but the average spot rate declined by 1%, Xeneta reported.

    By • Feb. 17, 2026