WEEKLY NEWS


THE GREAT HOLIDAY HAND-OFF


The rise of second-tier gateways Regional


airports or are regionally transforming focused are into critical


“relievers”. Airports that were historically passenger- centric


now building


infrastructure, ramp space and logistics partnerships to tap holiday-ecommerce charters, air-parcel spikes and overflow freight. Ontario International Airport (ONT) in Southern


California reported cargo volumes up 8 percent in the first nine months of 2025, signalling its growing role in freight Greenville-Spartanburg


International (GSP) opened a 110,000 sq ft cargo


capable of handling three Boeing 747-8 freighters simultaneously, a clear signal of its ambitions in freight and cross-border logistics. Others such as Chicago Rockford International Airport Milwaukee Mitchell


International BY Oscar SARDINAS


AS the holiday e-commerce surge ramps up this year, the airfreight ecosystem in the Americas is seeing a major operational shift:


increased


all domestic and international air cargo volume that arrived at and departed from US airports from 2004 through 2023.” Hubs like Los Angeles International Airport (LAX),


reliance on


regional airports to absorb overflow, charter surges and specialised mail


understanding how the “handoff” from the big gateways to regional relievers is playing out will be key to winning time-sensitive fulfillment this time of the year.


Volume pressures mount on major hubs Air-cargo volume in the US continues to grow, but activity


remains concentrated. A recent US


Government Accountability Office report found that “about 50 airports handled more than 90 percent of


12 flows. For cargo executives,


Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Miami International Airport (MIA) and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport


(DFW)


According to a 2025 update, LAX and ORD continue to feature in the top 10 US freight airports, supported by integrators and strong e-commerce demand. What’s new is the strain. e-commerce volumes,


coupled with tighter ocean availability and compliance burden, are forcing hubs to seek relief channels. The result: a deliberate “handoff” strategy, where large gateways focus on high-density flows and international connections, while regional and second-tier airports pick up last-mile, decant, charter and overflow traffic.


remain core nodes. Airport


AIR CARG O WEEK


to Inland Empire) and GSP (serving the US Southeast logistics belt) benefit from proximity. Inter-hub coordination: Freight may arrive in


LAX or ORD, be sorted, then trucked for final flight from a nearby reliever airport. This hybrid model improves resilience.


Airport facility


What this implies for holiday 2025 Capacity planning must factor in secondary gateways. Build routing plans that include regional airports as contingency gateways. Visibility into ramp availability matters. Many


regional airports have less-mature cargo ecosystems; securing slots and truck linkages early is key. e-commerce demand drives non-standard flows.


(RFD) and (MKE)


are frequently cited in studies of cargo-focused airports that grew fastest during pandemic and post- pandemic e-commerce expansions. This shift offers some operational advantages:


better apron availability, less passenger disruption, lower cost per tonne, and faster ground-turns.


How the hand-off works operationally Cargo executives should expect several patterns: Pre-positioning with


Last-minute replenishments and charter bursts mean forwarders need flexible options beyond major gateways. Geographic diversification supports risk mitigation.


Relying solely on major hubs exposes operations to congestion. Having reliever airports spreads risk. Data-driven routing wins. Research confirms that


e-commerce logistics favour airports integrating air cargo carriers, frequency, proximity to logistic parks and urban demand.


overflow routing: Large


hubs remain primary arrival points for international freighters. When they hit capacity, regional airports take on the overflow. Charters routed to relievers: For holiday surges


and urgent replenishment, regional airports serve as flexible charter gateways with lower slot constraints. Mail/parcel hubs shift outward: Hubs near urban- industrial clusters gain strategic value. ONT (close


Final word This holiday season isn’t just about more parcels, it’s about more strategic routing. Large gateways will anchor volume, but operational agility hinges on regional networks stepping up. The “great holiday hand-off” from major hubs to regional relievers could become the defining choreography of peak-season success. Ensuring routing strategy,


contracts and logistic partnerships engage both hub tiers will make the difference between a smooth operation and backlog.


ramp-space


ACW 17 NOVEMBER 2025


www.aircargoweek.com


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