E-commerce growth, lean inventory strategies, and shifting manufacturing locations are pushing air cargo demand beyond available capacity in key global and domestic markets. What was once seasonal pressure has become sustained volume, leaving less margin for error across air freight networks.
For shippers, this creates a new operating reality. Missed cutoffs, rolled freight, and volatile spot rates are no longer exceptions—they are planning risks that must be managed daily. As capacity tightens, logistics teams are being forced to make faster decisions about which SKUs justify premium air freight services and which can tolerate longer transit times.
AirFreight.com is seeing shippers respond by booking earlier, upgrading service levels, and using expedited air freight more strategically for time-sensitive inventory. Rather than treating air freight as a last-minute fix, many companies are building it into their supply chain planning to protect production schedules, customer commitments, and revenue.
This shift is especially visible in industries where downtime or stockouts create immediate financial impact. Automotive, aerospace, medical, electronics, and high-velocity e-commerce shippers are all adjusting how and when they deploy air cargo to stay ahead of capacity constraints.