WEEKLY NEWS


From the Head of Editorial P


harmaceuticals complex


and and vaccines, temperature-sensitive, infrastructure.


increasingly are


driving


unprecedented demand for reliable, scalable, and compliant cold-chain


Yet, as the sector grows, the question looms: Are logistics


networks keeping pace? Sub-Saharan Africa, for example, continues to receive only


2 percent of global air cargo capacity despite a population of 1.2 billion. The misalignment between inbound perishables and


outbound pharmaceuticals highlights a structural


underallocation of lift that risks both economic opportunity and public health outcomes. In regions where the cold chain is fragmented, routing a shipment through Dubai or Abu Dhabi can be faster than moving it directly between African capitals, a stark reminder of the operational gaps that can compromise time- and temperature-sensitive cargo. Contrast this with Abu Dhabi, where Etihad Cargo has


positioned itself as more than a carrier—it’s an integrated layer within a government-backed life sciences ecosystem. Dedicated pharma corridors, permanent cool-dollies, and a culture of process discipline ensure that risk is designed out rather than managed reactively. Emerging markets present both promise and pressure. India


02


and Southeast Asia are expanding their pharma production and export capacity, yet airport cold-chain infrastructure often struggles to scale at the same pace. Even where IATA’s CEIV Pharma certification signals procedural quality, physical limitations, warehouse


capacity, apron-side temperature


control, and dwell-time management remain critical. Reliability is now a defining metric. Shippers are concentrating flows through proven hubs, sometimes at the cost of ef ficiency, to safeguard compliance. Technology and standards continue to be key enablers. IoT


devices, RFID trackers, and robust governance frameworks allow traceability and operational confidence, while IATA’s Temperature Control Regulations,


Time and


AIR CARGO MARKET STRENGTHENS DESPITE INSTABILITY


BY Edward HARDY


The air cargo industry entered Q2 2026 on a trajectory of


robust expansion, underpinned


by strong underlying demand, constrained capacity, and sharply higher energy costs. February statistics from IATA highlight global air cargo demand rising 11.2 percent year on year, with international volumes up 11.6 percent. Growth


remains uneven across


regions: Africa leads at 21 percent, the Middle East at 16.6 percent, and Asia Pacific at 12.5 percent, while Latin America and the Caribbean continue


to lag. Cargo tonne-kilometres


expanded alongside available capacity, with ACTK up 8.5 percent, yet load factors improved to 46.0 percent, demonstrating that new capacity has been largely absorbed by resilient flows. Major corridors remain the backbone of the market: Europe–Asia and Middle East– Asia posted double-digit year-on-year gains, while Africa–Asia volumes rebounded sharply,


ACW 06 MARCH 2026


normalising after 2025 constraints. Macro indicators reinforce this optimism. Global manufacturing output and export orders PMIs are at multi-year highs, and world trade volumes expanded 5.2 percent year on year in January. These trends support export-oriented cargo flows, particularly from Asia, while intra- and inter-regional e-commerce and industrial shipments maintain a steady baseline demand. Yet the cost environment is now an increasingly critical factor. TAC Index data for the week ending 30 March shows the Baltic airfreight index up 9.3 percent week on week and 10 percent year on year, with spot rates from Asia, notably Hong Kong, Shanghai, Bangkok, Seoul, and Vietnam, continuing to rise or remain elevated. Platts jet fuel prices have doubled over the past year, adding immediate upward pressure on airfreight rates, which are approaching peak-season levels. Even with


potential resolution of geopolitical tensions, rates are expected to remain high given the combined effect of strong demand, tight operational capacity, and energy volatility. In sum, the industry is experiencing structurally tight conditions: demand growth continues to outpace capacity in key corridors, operational constraints are supporting higher load factors, and cost pressures from fuel inflation are translating into rising freight rates. Early 2026 is thus characterised by resilient cargo flows, corridor-specific momentum, and intensifying pricing power for carriers.


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The ACW Team for global


Sensitive Labels, and Acceptance Checklists provide the foundation


consistency. Yet technology must


remain practical and scalable; complexity or cost can erode accessibility and adoption, particularly


in regions where


infrastructure is still developing. Pharma logistics is now a core enabler of public health,


economic growth, and supply chain resilience. Closing the gaps in connectivity, harmonising regulations, embedding sustainability, and investing in human capital are not optional; they define whether regions can fully participate in the global pharmaceutical economy. In this issue, we explore how innovation, investment, and


collaboration are shaping a more reliable, sustainable, and accessible cold chain, from emerging African hubs to state- of-the-art ecosystems in the Gulf, while examining the tools and standards that underpin the safe movement of life-saving products worldwide.


Edward HARDY, Head of Editorial


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of or attributed to the contents of Air Cargo Week, insofar as they are based on information, presentations, reports or data that have been publicly disseminated, furnished or otherwise communicated to Air Cargo Week. © AZura international 2026 • ISSN 2040-1671 -


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