Software firm Aerios says that light freighter operator Berry Aviation has cut its quote turnaround times from 5–6 minutes to around 2 minutes after adopting its Carrier App. Moreover, it says, duplicate requests are handled handled in seconds, rather than being rebuilt manually.
The Carrier App has replaced legacy technology to streamline quote generation for Berry’s customers.
US-based Berry Aviation operates a fleet of nine Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia cargo aircraft to provide on-demand domestic cargo services for the automotive market.
Aerios says that currently, air cargo charter remains highly reliant on legacy systems and manual workflows, which can create bottlenecks and introduce manual errors, particularly in fast-moving markets.
By replacing a legacy system with Aerios’ Carrier App, Berry Aviation has seen a dramatic improvement in response times to client requests, as well as improved efficiency, it says.
Generating quotations from Berry’s former mid-2000s era platform was time-consuming, with lengthy manual calculations and limited access to historical data and quotations.
The new system sits directly within Berry Aviation’s charter sales workflow and enables its team to generate quotes significantly faster, reducing response times and increasing customer satisfaction. The system also introduces structured data tracking and reporting, allowing management to instantly access insights, including top customers by revenue, conversion rates, and key routes and pricing metrics, replacing manual, time-intensive reporting processes.
Berry’s Chris Alexander, in charge of cargo sales and flight control, said: “Aerios is a game-changer. We are in the early stages, and it has already reduced the time it takes to provide our customers with quotes by 50%. It is so efficient and easy to use, and the best part is the fact that it can easily be customized to fit our needs.”
The resilience of the global air freight market is being tested once again as conflict in the Middle East places a further question mark against already low growth expectations for 2026, says industry analyst Xeneta. However, lessons from past crises are bringing some short-term stability as shippers, airlines, and forwarders wait to see what unfolds in the region, and its long-term impact on the global economy
Historically, air freight has served as an equalizer during supply chain crises, notably Covid and Red Sea disruption. When ocean freight shipping faltered, air cargo stepped in to fill the gap. This time is different. Unlike previous shocks, the current conflict is hitting airlines and air cargo industry harder than ocean shipping amidst fears the worst may be yet to come.
“Typically, at the start of each month, we report the global air cargo market’s performance for the previous 4-5 weeks – but, right now, whether demand was down -2% or -4% in March does not concern the industry greatly if we are on the verge of a global economic crisis,” says Niall van de Wouw, Xeneta’s chief airfreight officer.
“There is clearly a lot of concern and unanswered questions about the market outlook, but we also see a current transparency and maturity in customer and supplier relationships, and a sense of solidarity that although the impact of the conflict is beyond their control, they will get through it together.”
Cost only one variable
Van de Wouw added: “Air freight rates are going up, and we already see evidence of the Middle East conflict reshaping global airfreight pricing, but, for shippers, cost is only one of the variables. Protecting market share and service to customers also plays an important role.
“Will the increase in fuel prices dampen demand for air freight? Not immediately, but if this conflict continues in the longer term, then definitely yes because the world would be facing a much broader economic issue.”
Until then, he expects the air freight industry will continue to find a way to transport goods, ‘but that will come at a cost’. He highlighted how capacity has shifted to safer airport locations such as Muscat and Jeddah to keep air cargo supply chains moving and expects to see more such flexibility.
“Right now, we can see a lot of solidarity and trust between shippers, forwarders, and airlines to get goods moved. We see businesses respecting contracts as much as they can and sticking to what they have agreed as they wait to see what unfolds,” he said.
Hopes pinned on fast resolution
Air cargo stakeholders are pinning their hopes on a fast resolution to the current situation in the Middle East.
Cities like Dubai and Doha occupy strategic midpoints between the Americas, Asia, and Europe, and have served as the growth engine behind the rise of super-connectors like Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways. Now, geographic advantage has become a strategic vulnerability as hub airports have become victims of the conflict.
The ripple effects reach even further. An oil shock has nearly doubled jet fuel prices, squeezing carriers that are already rerouting or grounding flights due to financial pressures.
Five weeks into the conflict, air cargo capacity in the region remains roughly -30% below pre-conflict levels – and that squeeze in supply is showing up in rates. Global air cargo spot rates in March surpassed 2025 peak-season levels, reaching USD 2.86 per kilo – their highest point since December 2024.
Timing is particularly damaging
The conflict escalated in the middle of tender season for annual airfreight contracts, accelerating a shift already underway: in Q1 2026, shippers moved meaningfully towards three-month agreements over annual contracts, compressing rate validity across the market. This is in line with Xeneta’s advice. “We have been recommending postponing tenders during the present uncertainty, because what is the value of making a longer-term commitment now when the whole backdrop can change so quickly?” van de Wouw said.
For airline-forwarder negotiations, Q1 2026 echoes the dynamics that emerged during Covid. In March, the share of global volumes shipped under spot rates rose three percentage points to 52% – just one point below the level recorded at the onset of the pandemic.
The rate impact has been sharpest on outbound corridors from South Asia and Southeast Asia to the Middle East. Spot rates surged +50–100% in the week ending 29 March, compared to just four weeks prior. The spike reflects a convergence of pressures: severe capacity shortages from heavy reliance on Middle Eastern carriers, near-doubled jet fuel costs, and newly added war-risk surcharges.
The disruption is no longer contained to the Middle East. Because the region accounts for roughly half of all capacity on Asia–Europe corridors – and for South Asia onward to the Americas – the squeeze is now reshaping flows across entire lanes.
Spot rates from Southeast Asia and South Asia to Europe have followed similar trajectories, given Middle Eastern carriers’ dominance on those routes. By contrast, Northeast Asia–Europe lanes have held up comparatively better as airlines deployed more direct flights to compensate. Europe–Africa corridors registered +31% rate growth, reflecting the Middle East’s role as the primary transit hub connecting the two regions.
Rates rise in double digits
Five weeks in, the pressure has spread well beyond the immediate Asia–EMEA region. Rising jet fuel costs have pushed air freight rates from Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia to North America up by mid-high double digits. South Asia–North America rates surged even higher, up approximately +75%, again driven by Middle Eastern carriers’ significant share of that corridor.
But longer-term rates tell a different story. Rates valid for more than a month on Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia–North America lanes rose by only low single digits compare to four weeks earlier, as US tariffs and the unwinding of de minimis exemptions continue to weigh on demand across those corridors.
Not all lanes are moving in the same direction. Europe–North America spot rates fell by some -10% in the week ending 29 March compared to four weeks prior, as summer passenger schedules restored belly cargo capacity to the market. North America–Latin America rates held broadly flat over the same period, while Europe–Latin America spot rates rose approximately +12%, reflecting capacity withdrawals from that corridor.
Airfreight demand might receive a temporary boost from ocean carriers declaring ‘end of voyage’ at ports outside of their intended destination, leaving shippers and forwarders to recover their supply chains, van de Wouw said, but any gains might be short-lived.
Fallout bigger than tariffs
“Tariffs created uncertainty but the fallout here is bigger because of the cost of jet fuel, the potential energy crisis. and inflation growth. Right now, the air cargo market is suffering from a supply issue – and this will be resolved. But, the longer this recovery takes is going to determine if it becomes a much bigger demand issue.
“Whether airfreight benefits or suffers in the longer-term is down to the length of the conflict and its outcomes,” van de Wouw said.
For the record, global air cargo demand fell -3% year-on-year in March, while capacity supply was -6% lower than in March 2025. Dynamic load factor – Xeneta’s measurement of capacity utilisation based on volume and weight of cargo flown alongside available capacity – rose to 65%.
Chapman Freeborn, the global air charter specialist arm of Avia Solutions Group, has appointed Latha Narayan as president APACl. She wiill lead the company’s strategic and commercial development across the Asia Pacific region, focusing on scaling operations, enhancing performance, and strengthening alignment across cargo, passenger and business aviation services. Narayan has held senior leadership roles at British Airways and Etihad Airways and most recently worked as an independent aviation and cargo consultant, advising on strategic development, network optimisation and digital transformation.
AmericanAirlines Cargo has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting endangered species and preventing the illegal trafficking of wildlife, hosting an awareness and training event at its Miami International Airport cargo facility. It brought together more than 100 team members alongside industry experts to deepen understanding of wildlife trafficking risks and prevention strategies.
The event featured speakers from United for Wildlife of which the carrier is a member – the US Fish and Wildlife Service, HSBC and Deloitte, and included an exhibit showcasing previously seized wildlife products.
United for Wildlife’s Transport Taskforce director, Jon Godson, said. “We commend American Airlines for their leadership in the fight against the illicit trafficking of animals and for delivering an event that provides a compelling model which can be replicated by other Transport and Finance Taskforce members. The USFWS exhibit of previously seized wildlife offered a powerful, tangible reminder of the scale of the threats our sector continues to face.”
American Airlines’ vice president of operations, Sam Mendenhall, added: “Bringing together leaders from across aviation, conservation and finance creates a powerful network of awareness and action. The engagement we saw in Miami demonstrates how education at every level of the supply chain can make a real difference in disrupting illegal wildlife trafficking.”
And Eric Mathieu, Managing Director of Customer Experience at for the carrier added: “Our team members are on the front lines of global logistics. By equipping them with the knowledge and tools, we are empowering them to be active participants in protecting wildlife worldwide.”
American Airlines became the first US carrier to join United for Wildlife in 2022. Since then, it has implemented the Buckingham Palace Declaration across its cargo operations and expanded awareness efforts throughout its global network. To date, educational materials and prevention resources have been distributed to more than 47 cargo stations worldwide.
UK/US parcels specialist Mark 3 International has appointed Chris Stevens as Asia business development executive. He has held senior positions at Swiss Post International and Bpost International, focusing on global cross-border ecommerce and in his new role will provide expert advice on digital solutions for cross-border shipping, data capture and enhancement, including HS Code classification, compliance, prohibited and restricted goods screening, duty, and tax calculation. In the last three months Mark 3 has acquired Tricargo – a global air cargo sales solution – and signed a strategic partnership with DPD UK, part of the GeopostGroup. Last year it added warehousing facilities at JFK airport in New York, and will soon be adding further capacity at LAX.
Royal Air Maroc Cargo is extending its temperature-controlled facilities at Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport. On completion, there will be three import and two export chambers with a combined area of 590sq m for fresh produce, flowers and pharma with import chambers at 2–8°C; 15–25°C and frozen while export facilities will be at 2–8°C and 15–25°C. Royal Air Maroc Cargo also operates cold storage facilities in at Fès–Saïs, Oujda, Rabat, Agadir and Marrakesh.
Röhlig Logistics has extended its healthcare and life science GDP WeCare programme with certification of its branches in Toronto, Sydney and Melbourne and extending its network to 13 countries.
The programme has been developed in alignment with international Good Distribution Practice (GDP) guidelines, including WHO and EU regulations. Going beyond standard GDP requirements, it enables the forwarder to proactively manage quality and compliance in an increasingly complex regulatory environment through market-specific compliance measures, enhanced training protocols, and proactive quality management.
The certification focuses on key pillars of pharmaceutical logistics compliance, including temperature-controlled transport, deviation management, supplier qualification, risk assessment, and documentation standards.
Global head of healthcare and life sciences, Juancarlos Cruz, said: “By implementing our own policy and programme, we ensure consistency across our global network while proactively managing risks and strengthening reliability for our healthcare customers.”
Röhlig plans to certify additional branches worldwide in 2026.
Lufthansa will add an extra transpacific freighter service from Ho Chi Minh City via Shanghai to Los Angeles in its summer schedule. The carrier says it is currently the only operator offering main deck capacity between Vietnam to China.
From May, it will also reintroduce Delhi to its freighter network with a weekly connection.
There will be 33 connections per week between Frankfurt and North America, serving eleven destinations in along with four destinations in South America, including an additional frequency to Toronto.
Lufthansa Cargo will shortly add Zurich to its short-haul A321F freighter network which has also served Rome and Algiers once a week since February.
Lufthansa City Airlines has now been added to the belly portfolio, giving further options via Frankfurt and Munich. Long-haul connections from Frankfurt will be expanded including five weekly flights to St. Louis and Cape Town, six to Rio de Janeiro and Raleigh/Durham, and daily flights to Nairobi. Washington will even be served by two connections per day, and Minneapolis three times a week from April.
Munich’s services to São Paulo and Johannesburg will continue with three flights per week while ITA Airways is returning with two daily connections between London Heathrow and Rome. From June, Brussels Airlines will add two flights per week to Kilimanjaro International Airport and increase its connections to Freetown to six per week. Discover Airlines is launching year-round service to the Seychelles and increasing flights to Las Vegas to five per week. Austrian Airlines is also increasing its connections to the US with the resumption of daily flights to Los Angeles and a daily connection to Tokyo-Narita.
A new route between London Heathrow and St Louis is the highlight of IAG Cargo’s summer 2026 schedule. The new four-times-weekly service begins on 19 April and will be IAG Cargo’s 27th US destination and the only direct connection between London Heathrow and the Midwest hub.
Running from April through to October 2026, the schedule will also see an increase in frequencies between London and other US gateways, with services between Heathrow and Chicago and Washington Dulles both rising from 14 to 21 flights per week, while services to San Diego and Austin will double from seven to 14 flights per week.
In Canada, services from London Heathrow to Vancouver will grow from seven to 10 per week, rising further to 14 during July and August, while a new daily service between London Gatwick and Vancouver will operate between May and September.
The carrier, which includes Iberia along with British Airways, is also adding widebody capacity between London Heathrow and Madrid to enhance feed into transatlantic services from both hubs and increasing options between Europe, North America and Latin America.
Services between Madrid and San Francisco will resume whole flights (between London Heathrow and Tokyo Haneda will increase to double daily.
Chief sales and marketing officer Camilo Garcia Cervera, said: “This summer schedule is focused on giving freight forwarding partners greater choice and flexibility across key global trade lanes. The addition of St. Louis opens up important access into the U.S Midwest, while increased frequencies across North America, expanded connectivity via Madrid and additional capacity to Haneda and Canada ensure we can support a wide range of time-critical and high-value shipments.”
IAG Cargo also includes Aer Lingus and its Dublin hub is also a key transatlantic gateway with around 100 weekly widebody rotations. Madrid and Barcelona together provide capacity on 275 weekly widebody connections to destinations across North America, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Air Charter Service’s IATA-accredited Next Flight Out (NFO) offering increased shipments by 175% in 2025 compared with 2024. NFO provides a more versatile and cost-effective solution than onboard courier OBC as it allows for larger shipments that are unaccompanied by a passenger and with recent supply chain disruptions is used by a wide array of industries. However, its OBC, or hand-carry, team also increased jobs by 85% last year, the most the division has dealt with in a year since it was launched ten years ago. ACS has a ground transportation department in the US, which has also grown, with 53% more bookings last year. ACS Time Critical chief executive Robert Alleman, added: “We brought in the experienced Ash McCook a little under 18 months ago, who has a background in urgent logistics, which started in the armed forces more than 15 years ago – his focus on the NFO offering and team has really paid dividends.”
