Shippers’ perspective on air freight is shifting. Traditionally seen as an expensive mode to combat unforeseen delays, more and more shippers are making air freight a part of their planned shipments. According to IATA, demand grew 11% year-over-year in December, marking 14 consecutive months of double-digit increases. By March 2025, capacity had grown by 4.3%, with over half of global air cargo now moving in belly-hold space.

Air freight will continue to serve as a last-minute problem solver in today’s logistics landscape with geopolitical conflicts, significant tariff changes, and unexpected weather. However, more companies are realizing that when considering the full cost equation, air shipping can be the smarter financial choice when used strategically.