Air freight is on the rise. The data recorded in the first months of the year is so positive that the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has revised its forecasts upward, expecting 62 million tons to be moved globally, a 5% increase over 2023. The instability in international maritime transport, which is driving up prices on major routes, has substantially increased the competitiveness of air freight, explaining the growth observed in all regions since the third quarter of last year.
In the first quarter of 2024, the year-on-year increase in global air freight reached 13%. By region, the Middle East saw a spike of up to 23%, while Africa and Asia-Pacific also grew above the average, with 17%. The upward trend is further confirmed by the data IATA publishes monthly: in April, total demand, measured in cargo ton kilometres (CTK), grew by 11.1% compared to the same month last year.
The situation is equally positive in air transport in Spain. According to data from Spanish Airports and Air Navigation (AENA), until May, the country’s airports handled 502,743 tons of freight, an 18.4% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Last year over one million tons were surpassed, a figure that, given the current trend, will be greatly exceeded.
Madrid-Barajas leads the ranking with almost 60% of the total freight transported (300,113 tons), followed by Barcelona-El Prat (74,361 tons), Zaragoza (65,646 tons), and Vitoria (30,275 tons). In terms of activity variation, Zaragoza stands out, doubling its figures from the previous month in May, reaching 16.2 million kilos. It also leads year-on-year growth with 35.3%.
Expert Management of Air Freight Transport
Air transport is a safe and fast option for sending goods anywhere in the world, but it is crucial to have an expert partner for managing procedures and offering solutions tailored to each client’s needs. For example, in selecting the shipping method, type of aircraft, and air container. At Startrans, we have the experience and specialized staff to provide a precise and efficient service, both for domestic and international transport.
- Air Charter: full or partial aircraft charter.
- Air Security Truck Transportation: especially for e-commerce shipments, this service is linked to charter flights and speeds up the exchange of goods.
- Airport-to-door service: we collect the goods at the agreed airport and deliver them to the receiver at their facilities.
- Airport-to-airport service: we collect the goods at the agreed terminal and transport them to the delivery airport terminal, where the receiver must handle the import procedures.
- Door-to-airport-to-door service: we transport the goods from the client’s facilities to the receiver’s and handle all necessary procedures.
- Door-to-airport service: we collect the goods from the client’s facilities and handle all procedures up to the destination airport, where the receiver must handle import procedures and pick up the cargo.
To determine which shipping option is best for you, contact us, and we’ll advise you.