AviTrader sponsorship ad

WorldACD: Air cargo rates are rising from most of the main global regions

Cargo aircraft
Cargo aircraft © Shutterstock

Air cargo rates are rising from most of the main global regions, especially from Asia Pacific and from Middle East & South Asia (MESA), strengthened by the ongoing disruptions to container shipping and elevated demand for cross-border e-commerce shipments.

According to the latest weekly figures and analysis from WorldACD Market Data, the average global rate rose by around 3% in week 12 (18-24 March) to US$2.45 (£1.93), which is within 10% of its elevated level this time last year. Although global tonnages in week 12 were slightly down (2%) compared with the previous week, tonnages for the last two weeks (weeks 11 and 12), combined, are up 1% compared with the previous two weeks (a 2Wo2W comparison), and average rates are up by 6%, 2Wo2W, with capacity up by 2%. 

That 6% increase in rates, 2Wo2W, was mainly driven by rises of 10% from Middle East & South Asia, and 7% from Asia Pacific origin points.

As WorldACD has highlighted in recent weeks, one of the big ongoing stories at the moment is the continuing surge in demand and rates from MESA origin points. With tonnages up 15%, YoY, and capacity up by 6%, it’s the only major origin region to also record YoY increases in average rates, which are up by 29%, YoY, in weeks 11 and 12 combined, as well as increasing by 10% compared with the previous two weeks.

As also recently highlighted, certain Asia-Europe sea-air hubs such as Dubai, Colombo and Bangkok have experienced exceptionally high air cargo demand to Europe since the start of this year, in large part linked to the disruptions to Asia-Europe container shipping caused by the attacks on vessels in the Red Sea.

Fresh analysis this week indicates that Dubai-Europe tonnages remain particularly strong, up by 162% in weeks 11 and 12, combined, compared with their level this time last year, and Bangkok-Europe tonnages remain significantly elevated, up by 46%, YoY in weeks 11 and 12.

Also, Colombo-Europe tonnages were up 22%, year on year (YoY), in weeks 11 and 12. That is similar to week 10 (24%), but only half the level of week 9 (38%) and a quarter of the level the three weeks before (more than 80%). 

Analysis last week by WorldACD also revealed that the recent disruptions to container shipping have contributed to a big surge in average air freight rates from South Asia as a whole, with, currently, average rates from South Asia into Europe up by 66% for the period 1-24 March compared with December 2023, and up by 39% into North America.

Separate analysis by WorldACD suggests that disruption to container shipping to and from the eastern Mediterranean region may have contributed to higher air freight traffic from airports in that region to the MESA region.

Particularly, tonnages from Athens went up year on year markedly since November 2023, starting at 8%, with a peak in February at 73%, and so far for March at 22%. A similar trend was seen for origin Istanbul, starting at 1% in November 2023, to 54% in February, YoY, and so far for March 30%. Into Dubai, traffic went up even stronger from these two origin points, and currently in March by 35% and 102%, respectively.

Share this Article
Thursday October 2, 2025
Joby aircraft in ANA livery flying at EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan © Joby Aviation
ANA Holdings (ANA HD) and Joby Aviation have successfully demonstrated Joby’s electric air taxi at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. The public flight, the first ever at a world expo, featured vertical takeoff, wingborne transition, and smooth vertical landing... Read More »
Thursday October 2, 2025
IAG made a strategic investment in sustainable aviation fuel start-up OXCCU
International Airlines Group (IAG) has joined the £20.75 million ($28 million) Series B funding round for OXCCU, a UK SAF innovator. The round attracted new and existing investors, including Safran Corporate Ventures, Orlen and Aramco Ventures, among other ba... Read More »
Thursday October 2, 2025
Nav-Aids supply Black Hawk ground support testing equipment to U.S. Army
CCC has announced a contract award from the United States Department of Defense (U.S. DoD) for pressure test adapters. The adapters, manufactured by Nav-Aids, will support U.S. Army maintenance crews working on Black Hawk helicopters. These adapters will allow... Read More »
Thursday October 2, 2025
Jimmy Hill
Aviation Technical Services (ATS) has announced a major leadership transition with the appointment of Jimmy Hill as Senior Vice President of Ranger Air Aviation (Ranger Air). He succeeds Rob Hill, who is retiring after more than two decades at the helm, having... Read More »
Thursday October 2, 2025
Nico Neumann, CEO of Deutsche Aircraft and Graham Younger, VP Global Aerospace at Expleo
Expleo, a global provider of engineering, technology and consulting services, has signed a cooperation agreement with Deutsche Aircraft. The partnership will deliver engineering services for the aircraft programme and strengthen Deutsche Aircraft’s supply ch... Read More »
Thursday October 2, 2025
Engine in hangar for maintenance © Shutterstock
AFG Aviation Ireland (AFG), a wholly owned subsidiary of Aircraft Finance Germany, has successfully finalised the purchase of two General Electric engines from GE Aviation Materials (GEAM), part of GE Aerospace. The deal, concluded on September 24, 2025, refle... Read More »
Wednesday October 1, 2025
Braathens International Airways AB (Braathens) has been forced to file for bankruptcy in relation to its Airbus operations after efforts to secure fresh financing failed. The decision, taken by the company’s Board of Directors, was filed at the Stockholm Dis... Read More »
Wednesday October 1, 2025
WLFC
Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) has appointed Pascal Picano as Senior Vice President, Aircraft Leasing & Trading. Effective immediately, Picano will report directly to Chief Executive Officer Austin C. Willis and collaborate closely with Marc Pierp... Read More »
Wednesday October 1, 2025
Beyond Aero
Beyond Aero, a pioneer in hydrogen-electric propulsion for business aviation, has achieved Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL6) for its hydrogen-electric powered aircraft. The milestone has been validated through a full-scale propulsion system test campaign in ... Read More »
Wednesday October 1, 2025
The new venture BRAVODELTA will specialise in providing strategic transactional support for complex aircraft trades
Aviation experts Bryson Monteleone, founder of BPMaero LLC and formerly with PwC Ireland, and Philip Carey, founder of Engage Aviation, have partnered to launch BRAVODELTA Aero-Ops (BRAVODELTA). The new venture will specialise in providing strategic transactio... Read More »
Wednesday October 1, 2025
Conflux is developing an advanced heat exchanger, using additive manufacturing, for Airbus’ ZEROe project
Conflux Technology (Conflux) has joined Airbus’ ZEROe project with the development of a new heat exchanger for hydrogen-electric propulsion. The component has been created using additive manufacturing and is currently undergoing a readiness assessment. It pl... Read More »
Wednesday October 1, 2025
Spirit Airlines AirTeamImages
Spirit Aviation Holdings, Inc., the parent of Spirit Airlines, is pressing forward with its Chapter 11 restructuring efforts, setting out a series of measures designed to stabilise operations and reshape the airline for the years ahead. Speaking before the U.S... Read More »
Tuesday September 30, 2025
Flexjet has ordered 300 Phantom 3500 jets © Otto Aviation
Otto Aerospace has confirmed its first fleet customer. Flexjet will serve as launch partner for the new Phantom 3500, an advanced business jet designed from the ground up for efficiency and sustainability. The Phantom 3500 is a clean-sheet creation. It applies... Read More »
Tuesday September 30, 2025
Honeywell and ITP Aero have inaugurated Europe’s first F124 engine service centre in Madrid
Honeywell and ITP Aero have officially opened Europe’s first maintenance, repair, and overhaul service centre for the Honeywell F124-GA-200 engine. The landmark facility is located at ITP Aero’s site in Ajalvir, Madrid. The launch was marked with a ribbon-... Read More »
Tuesday September 30, 2025
Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Christian Scherer, CEO, Commercial Aircraft, Airbus, Campbell Wilson, MD & CEO, Air India, inaugurate the joint venture facility
Air India and Airbus have opened a new pilot training centre at the Air India Aviation Training Academy in Gurugram, Haryana. The facility will train more than 5,000 pilots over the next ten years. It will support the rapid expansion of commercial aviation in ... Read More »
Tuesday September 30, 2025
PLAY Airlines has ceased operations © PLAY Airlines
PLAY Airlines has stopped flying after announcing the immediate closure of its business on Monday, September 29. The Icelandic low-cost carrier said performance had failed to match expectations. Recent months brought poor ticket sales, leaving the airline unab... Read More »
Tuesday September 30, 2025
Steve Sinquefield will retire after holding the position of Chief Legal Officer for more than ten years
StandardAero has confirmed the retirement of Steve Sinquefield, its Chief Legal Officer for more than a decade. Sinquefield will step down at the end of 2025, bringing to a close a distinguished 40-year career in aviation law. To ensure continuity, Michael L. ... Read More »
Tuesday September 30, 2025
Werner Aero has opened a new facility in Tucson, Arizona © Werner Aero
Werner Aero has announced a major expansion of its warehousing capabilities with the opening of a new 30,000 ft² facility in Tucson, Arizona. This investment lifts the company’s total warehouse space to 75,000 ft², giving it greater capacity to serve airli... Read More »
Monday September 29, 2025
The Lufthansa Group
At its Capital Markets Day in Munich, the Lufthansa Group unveiled a sweeping strategic overhaul, setting out ambitious financial targets and announcing deep job cuts as part of a push towards sharper efficiency and higher shareholder returns. The airline grou... Read More »
Monday September 29, 2025
The Board of Directors of Brussels Airlines has approved the addition of five brand-new Airbus A320neo aircraft to the fleet
Brussels Airlines will add five new Airbus A320neo aircraft to its fleet. This move brings the total number of A320neo aircraft to 13. It reflects the airline’s drive to cut emissions, improve passenger comfort and grow sustainably. The airline currently fli... Read More »
ajw avitrader

2026 MEDIA KIT

VP Sales & Business Development Americas
Tamar Jorssen
tamar.jorssen@avitrader.com
Phone: +1 (778) 213 8543
VP International Sales & Marketing
Malte Tamm
malte.tamm@avitrader.com
Phone: +49 (0)162 8263049

Subscribe to the most widely accepted news source in the aviation industry!


Free Daily, Weekly and MRO Publications delivered to your Inbox!
News Alerts, Editorials, Marketplace, Executive Interviews +more

Select publications:

*we respect your privacy and AviTrader will not share your email address to any 3rd Parties.