WEEKLY NEWS


From the Head of Editorial F


rom fruits and vegetables to flowers and seafood, the perishables segment remains both resilient and essential, carrying high volumes across the globe even when economic and geopolitical headwinds persist.


What strikes most about perishables is their dual


nature. By weight, they account for a significant slice of global air cargo, yet their economic profile remains modest compared with high-value pharmaceuticals or electronics. This dichotomy shapes the strategies of carriers, freight forwarders, and logistics hubs alike. Every hour in transit matters; a missed connection can mean spoilage,


lost


revenue, and disrupted supply chains. Resilience in this segment is grounded in careful planning and infrastructure. Latin America, has established itself as the dominant air-export


for


instance, region


for perishables, supplying over a quarter of global volumes. Flowers, fruit, and vegetables flow steadily from the continent, illustrating how geography, climate, and production cycles intertwine with global trade corridors. The sector’s durability is not just about volume but the precision required to move goods swiftly, often in challenging weather or across regions with limited transport infrastructure. Carriers have responded with investments tailored to unique


the 02 needs destination. of These perishables. Pre-positioned operational enhancements In practice,


temperature-controlled storage, and streamlined handling protocols ensure that cargo retains freshness from origin to


are


complemented by sophisticated coordination with exporters, port authorities, and ground handlers. finely


it’s a tuned choreography: aircraft availability, customs


clearance, and cold-chain integrity must all align to meet the unforgiving timelines of perishable goods. Looking


ahead, the stability of perishables air freight


is likely to continue. Unlike discretionary cargo, demand for fresh food, flowers, and other perishables remains


FUEL COSTS AND CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS PUSH RATES HIGHER


BY Edward HARDY


GLOBAL airfreight is navigating turbulent skies, with rates climbing at levels not seen since the Covid-19 pandemic. Between February and March 2026, key trade lanes saw price surges of up to 95 percent, driven by a combination of rising fuel costs and constrained capacity in the Middle East. The Iran war emerged as the central


disruptor. Closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sent oil and jet fuel prices to record highs, with jet fuel costs more than doubling since late February. This surge has replaced capacity as the primary driver of airfreight pricing. Capacity remains tight. Routes transiting


the Middle East account for over 15 percent of global airfreight traffic, amplifying the ripple effects on trade lanes worldwide. Around half of monitored international routes experienced month-on-month rate


ACW 13 APRIL 2026 www.aircargoweek.com


increases of 20 percent or more in March, with fuel surcharges spiking by as much as 290 percent on certain key routes. Regional disparities are clear. Routes


from Shanghai to Dubai have jumped 95 percent


peaks, while Mumbai and Delhi to Madrid saw more moderate rises of 27 percent, including a 21 percent increase in fuel


in rates, approaching Covid-era


costs. Security surcharges have also added pressure, rising 44 percent on some Middle Eastern–European corridors. With


airlines entering the northern


hemisphere summer schedule in April, some capacity relief may appear, but the ongoing Middle East conflict ensures that volatility in pricing and availability will continue to shape the global airfreight market.


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The ACW Team demand remains. hubs,


Edward HARDY, Head of Editorial


inelastic, tied to daily consumption and retail schedules. Growth may fluctuate by lane or season, but the underlying structural


Furthermore, the logistics


expertise developed in this sector—rapid deployment, cold- chain management, and hub coordination—is increasingly transferable, of fering lessons for other segments of air cargo facing volatility. As we showcase operations and trends in this issue,


the story of perishables highlights an enduring truth about air freight: it’s not just about moving goods, it’s about moving them right, on time, and in per fect condition. For carriers and operators, that focus on precision and reliability continues to define the competitive edge, keeping perishable air cargo at the forefront of global logistics.


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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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