Leading air cargo verticals see demand levels diverge

E-commerce and AI data centre-related volumes have been fuelling air cargo demand growth over recent years, but the performance of the two verticals has increasingly diverged over recent months. Speaking at this week's EU Cross-Border E-Commerce Forum in Liege, Aevean head of consulting Maarten Wormer highlighted the rapid growth of demand for data centre-related air imports. Over the first seven months of the year, he said, data centre volumes into the US were up by 103% year on year and reached 107,000 tonnes in July - the equivalent to 1,000 freighter flights. Drilling further into the segment, Wormer said that over the seven-month period, US air imports of network equipment were up 130% year on year, there was a 37% increase in power infrastructure, computer components increased 86% and servers were up 181%. In contrast, e-commerce volumes from China to the European Union declined by 29% year on year in July following the introduction of a €3 charge for low-value package imports. The volume decline to France had started in March when volumes dropped by 30% as it introduced its own charge in anticipation of the EU levy, Wormer said. In July, e-commerce volumes into France had declined by 64%. Despite the decline in China-Europe e-commerce demand, Wormer said that the overall air cargo market had been growing this year. Aevean figures show that over the first seven months of 2026, air cargo volumes are up 5.8% year on year, primarily led by Asia Pacific to North America volumes, which have increased by 24% on 2025 levels. Meanwhile, volumes from Asia Pacific to Europe had increased by 4% year on year. Intra-Asia volumes had improved by 8% and there was also an 8% improvement from Asia Pacific to South America. The trade lane to record the largest fall in demand was Asia Pacific to the Middle East as a result of the ongoing US-Iran conflict.

China Eastern selects WFS after resuming Stockholm flights

China Eastern has resumed flights to Stockholm after a six-year absence and has selected WFS to provide cargo handling services. The airline restarted flights between Shanghai Pudong and Arlanda in June, flying three times per week utilising Airbus A330 metal. In line with the resumption of flights, the company signed a three-year deal with handler WFS, which previously acted as the airline's cargo handler in Sweden. The flights operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays and are expected to carry around 1,000 tonnes of cargo between the cities each year. The airline stopped operating to the airport as a result of the Covid pandemic. WFS Sweden managing director Kim Elfström said: "We enjoyed a strong working relationship in Sweden before the pandemic and have maintained our close Scandinavian ties with the airline through our ongoing contract in Copenhagen. "We look forward to supporting China Eastern's return to Sweden and its future growth on this important route." WFS operates two cargo terminals at Stockholm Arlanda Airport, covering a footprint of over 18,000 sq m and including its new Good Distribution Practice (GDP)-certified pharma handling facilities and road transport services. The company now provides cargo handling and trucking services for over 20 international airlines and freight forwarding clients. In the last 12 months in Stockholm, WFS has also renewed its cargo contract with Singapore Airlines and won a new handling agreement with Norse Atlantic Airways.

Miami operations back to normal after tragic Amazon freighter crash

Cargo operations at Miami International Airport appeared to be running broadly normally this morning, less than 24 hours after a fatal Amazon freighter crash brought flights to a halt and caused widespread disruption. Freighters were again arriving and departing the major US cargo gateway, with little indication of a significant reduction in 21 Air's operation following the loss of its 32-year-old Amazon-chartered B767, which caused the death of five people.. The recovery follows the major disruption yesterday, when more than 160 flights were cancelled and nearly 325 delayed as the accident prompted a ground stop lasting around three hours. The crash occurred just before 2pm when 21 Air's flight 7598, a B767-300F from San Juan, over-ran runway 30 on landing. The aircraft left the airport perimeter, crossed a road and struck vehicles, before coming to rest and catching fire. At least five people were killed and five injured, three critically. Rescue crews had to extricate the aircraft's pilots from the cockpit. The FAA and NTSB are investigating and no cause has yet been established. However, attention is focusing on what happened during the landing. Flight tracking data shows the aircraft, registration N1997A, was still travelling at 112 knots as it left the usable runway area. There were thunderstorms and strong winds in the vicinity, and aviation experts have suggested investigators are likely to examine where on the runway the aircraft touched down, as well as the weather, braking performance, condition of the aircraft, and crew actions. There was no emergency declaration from the pilots before landing, according to a review of air traffic control communications by CNN. The accident has put the rapidly expanding US cargo airline under scrutiny. Although headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, 21 Air has a significant presence at Miami, where it operates a 24-hour operations centre and stations pilot and loadmaster crews. The Part 121 all-cargo carrier flies for customers including Amazon, DHL, and Cargojet, and has grown rapidly in recent years. When logistics entrepreneur and Houston Astros owner Jim Crane acquired the airline in 2021, it operated just four or five freighters. By April this year, its fleet had reportedly grown to 16, including seven B767-300 converted freighters operating within Amazon's domestic air network. More recent data from aviation analytics firm Cirium, following Sunday's accident, puts the number of 767s operated by 21 Air for Amazon at eight. The Amazon relationship itself is relatively recent, with 21 Air beginning flights for the ecommerce company in late 2024. The airline has also undergone significant ownership and management changes this year. In April, Canadian freighter operator Cargojet sold its 25% holding in 21 Air, ending an investment it had held since 2021 and leaving Mr Crane in control. Cargojet said the divestment would allow it "to focus capital on its Canadian domestic network, ACMI and charter operations", although the companies have continued to work together commercially. Cargojet still reportedly leases one 767-200 and one 757 to 21 Air, with leases expiring May 2027 and August 2031 respectively There has also been a change at the top. of 21 Air: CEO Tim Strauss's two-year contract expired this year and Keith Winters, a former CEO of Crane Worldwide Logistics and long-time associate of Mr Crane, was brought in to run the carrier, tasked with building out the management team to support an "accelerated growth plan". And 21 Air's ambitions extend well beyond its 757 and 767 operations. The carrier is seeking to add 777 freighters and enter the long-haul international cargo market, with Mr Crane saying earlier this year he hoped to have the aircraft type added to 21 Air's operating certificate by the end of 2026. "The revenue base on those 777s is probably triple that of the planes we're running. And they're flying long routes, so you get a lot of billable hours," he said. Separately, 21 Air has been awaiting an FAA decision on a long-running application concerning pilot experience requirements across its 757 and 767 fleets. The airline petitioned the regulator in March 2025 for permission, subject to specified conditions, to count combined experience on the closely related 757 and 767 towards certain crew-pairing requirements. It also sought permission for combined captain experience across the two types to count towards the 100-hour threshold after which a newly qualified captain is no longer subject to higher landing minima. 21 Air argued its training and experience requirements would provide an equivalent level of safety, and said having to satisfy the experience requirements separately on both aircraft types would increase training and operating costs. As of 31 July, the application remained unresolved, with 21 Air writing to the regulator to say it had received neither an approval nor denial, and requested an update. The Loadstar could find no subsequent FAA decision on the application. There is no evidence that the exemption application, the experience of the pilots involved, or 21 Air's rapid expansion played any role in yesterday's accident. Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said of the accident: "This is a fast-moving situation and we're still gathering details. We're working closely with local authorities and officials to understand exactly what happened. "Right now, our absolute priority is the safety, well-being, and care of everyone involved. We're doing everything we can to support those affected." Mr Winters said all at the carrier were "devastated" by the accident, adding: "Our deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives. Our immediate priorities are supporting those affected, assisting the authorities, and ensuring that accurate information is communicated as it becomes available. "We are cooperating fully with the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration, and local authorities. The circumstances of the accident are under investigation." The NTSB is expected to provide its first detailed update on the investigation later today. The Miami accident is the second fatal crash involving an aircraft operating for Amazon Air. In February 2019, an Atlas Air B767 freighter operating an Amazon flight from Miami crashed into Trinity Bay, near Houston, killing all three people on board. The NTSB concluded that the first officer's inappropriate response to an inadvertent activation of the aircraft's go-around mode "led to spatial disorientation and a steep descent". For more detail, check out Amazon's Miami runway disaster exposes fragile seam of air cargo contract carrier model. Check out today's News in Brief podcast, on geopolitics, port congestion ,& rising air freight rates, featuring former liner executive Nils Roche