Glasgow Prestwick Airport has launched a direct air cargo service to Shanghai Pudong Airport, thereby strengthening its transport network serving China. The route is operated by Air China Cargo, which is rerouting three of its four weekly flights from Guangzhou Baiyun to Shanghai, making the Chinese route more concentrated and efficient for cargo flows.
The Swiss company Swissport International has signed a binding agreement to acquire Swiftair Maroc – an air cargo handling operator based at Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca. This deal was concluded less than a month after the acquisition of a controlling stake in CV Handling in Cape Verde and marks another step in Swissport’s strategy to strengthen its presence in Northwest Africa. Casablanca Airport serves as Morocco’s primary air cargo hub, handling approximately 95% of the country’s total air cargo volume.
Palermo Airport (PMO) has commissioned a new cargo terminal, marking a significant milestone in the development of aviation logistics in Southern Italy. The facility covers an area of approximately 900 square meters – three times the capacity of the previous infrastructure – enabling a substantial increase in cargo handling volumes amidst rising demand for air freight services.
According to a traffic report published by ACI Europe on May 13, 2026, European airports recorded a 3.1% decline in cargo demand in March compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, passenger traffic rose by 3.8%, and the number of commercial flights increased by 1.3%. Despite the weak figures in March, the cargo sector demonstrated positive momentum for the first quarter as a whole: cargo volumes grew by 3% year-on-year, while passenger traffic increased by 4.3%.
In April, global air freight spot rates rose to $3.34 per kg – a 30% increase over last year’s figure and the highest level recorded since October 2022. According to Xeneta, this sharp surge is largely attributable to a temporary shortage of cargo capacity on routes affected by regional conflicts; however, as capacity is restored, the market is beginning to stabilize. Concurrently, long-term rates also increased in April – rising by 18% – a trend reminiscent of the supply chain disruptions experienced during the pandemic era.
Avia Solutions Group (ASG) – a company of Lithuanian origin that has actively expanded its aviation portfolio in recent years – has decided to shut down several of its airlines and revise its development strategy. One of the steps taken was the suspension of a project in the Philippines aimed at establishing a new carrier, Avion Express Philippines, operating in the wet-lease segment.
Amerijet International, Avianca Cargo, Cargojet Airways, DHL, and LATAM Cargo are expanding their operations in the Venezuelan market following a prolonged period of limited service. Starting in the spring of 2026, new air cargo connections to Caracas are being launched against the backdrop of a gradual normalization of air travel, growing trade, and increasing e-commerce volumes.
According to WorldACD Market Data, during the last full week of April, global air cargo capacity and tonnage increased by another 3%. The primary driver was a seasonal factor: a surge in flower shipments from Central and South America boosted volumes by 19%, driven primarily by exports from Colombia and Ecuador to the US and Canada ahead of Mother’s Day. Additional growth was recorded in the Asia-Pacific region (+3%) in the run-up to the May 1st holidays, while Europe and Africa showed stagnation, and North America saw a 2% decline.
The French-based ECS Group has announced a strategic partnership with the Uzbek air cargo carrier My Freighter to expand its commercial presence in Europe and strengthen logistics links between Europe and Central Asia. This collaboration aims to broaden distribution infrastructure and facilitate the more efficient utilization of cargo flows between the two regions.
The global air cargo market in March 2026 experienced a 4.8% decline in demand compared to the previous year, amid a challenging geopolitical situation in the Middle East and seasonal factors. International cargo flows declined by 5.5%, while total industry capacity decreased by 4.7%. Meanwhile, the cargo load factor remained stable at 47.9%, indicating the market has partially adjusted to the decline in volumes.
