Cross-border e-commerce demand and high levels of emergency shipments are driving demand for air cargo, but limited capacity in peak periods - and at airport hubs - is causing delays. 

Shippers now are fighting for space and paying more as volumes on Asia-Europe and Asia-North America lanes exceed available capacity.  

 

World wide, retail e-commerce sales are expected to reach US$2.29 trillion in 2017 and increase to US$4.48 trillion by the end of 2021, equating to 16.1 per cent of total retail sales. Consumers in China will generate almost half of all world-wide e-commerce sales in 2017, according to research consultant eMarketer.