PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1995940
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1995940
Air cargo services represent a mode of transportation that utilizes aircraft, including planes and helicopters, to offer contract air transportation for cargo and mail over fixed international routes. This method is chosen for its capacity to efficiently deliver high-quality goods to consumers worldwide at reasonable prices.
The primary types within the air cargo services market are air mail and air freight. Airfreight involves the transportation of cargo and mail facilitated by an air carrier. The market is further segmented based on destination, distinguishing between domestic and international, and by service, categorized into express and regular. Additionally, segmentation by end-users includes consumer electronics, retail, third-party logistics, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, and other sectors.
Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.
Tariffs are impacting the air cargo services market by increasing costs associated with aircraft parts, fuel-related components, ground handling equipment, and cross-border operational fees. International air freight routes in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific are most affected due to tariff-related trade frictions and reduced cargo volumes on certain corridors. These pressures are increasing freight rates and operational complexity for service providers. However, tariffs are also encouraging route diversification, regional trade realignment, and investment in high-margin specialized cargo services such as pharmaceuticals and express logistics.
The air cargo services market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides air cargo services market statistics, including air cargo services industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a air cargo services market share, detailed air cargo services market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the air cargo services industry. This air cargo services market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.
The air cargo services market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $81.83 billion in 2025 to $87.19 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth in international trade volumes, expansion of global airline cargo fleets, increasing reliance on air freight for high-value goods, development of dedicated cargo terminals, rising demand for fast cross-border delivery.
The air cargo services market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $114.88 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing growth of e-commerce logistics, rising demand for pharmaceutical air shipments, expansion of smart airport cargo infrastructure, increasing use of data-driven cargo management, growing focus on sustainable aviation logistics. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of time-definite air freight services, rising demand for temperature-controlled cargo transport, growing integration of digital cargo tracking platforms, expansion of express and e-commerce air cargo services, enhanced focus on network optimization and route efficiency.
The growing automotive industry is expected to propel the growth of the air cargo services market going forward. The automotive industry encompasses companies and organizations involved in the design, development, manufacturing, marketing, sales, repair, and modification of motor vehicles. This industry is expanding due to increasing consumer demand for personal and commercial vehicles, driven by rising incomes, rapid urbanization, and the growing need for efficient and convenient transportation. Air cargo services play a vital role in supporting the automotive sector by enabling the rapid and reliable delivery of time-critical components and spare parts, reducing production downtime, and supporting just-in-time manufacturing operations across global supply chains. For instance, in April 2024, according to the Serbian Association of Vehicle and Parts Importers, a Serbia-based professional automotive organization, global vehicle production reached 93,546,599 units in 2023, including 67,133,570 passenger vehicles, up from 84,830,376 vehicles in 2022. Therefore, the expansion of the automotive industry is driving the growth of the air cargo services market.
Major companies operating in the air cargo services market are increasingly focusing on expanding logistics and delivery network cargo services to gain a competitive edge. Logistics and delivery network cargo services include end-to-end supply chain solutions covering the handling, transportation, storage, and distribution of goods from production facilities to final delivery points. These integrated services help improve delivery speed, operational efficiency, and reliability for customers across industries. For instance, in January 2023, Amazon Air, a US-based cargo airline, launched its dedicated air cargo operations in India, becoming the first e-commerce company in the country to operate its own air network. Amazon Air utilizes the cargo capacity of two Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by Quikjet Cargo Airlines, connecting major cities including Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai. Each aircraft transports thousands of packages daily, enabling faster movement of goods from fulfillment centers to last-mile delivery networks.
In April 2025, CMA CGM, a France-based logistics and shipping company, acquired Air Belgium for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, CMA CGM aims to strengthen and expand its air freight capabilities in Europe by integrating Air Belgium's freighter fleet, operational expertise, and cargo airline platform into its broader end-to-end logistics network. Air Belgium is a Belgium-based cargo airline that specializes in dedicated freighter operations and provides air cargo services, including charter and ACMI solutions, for global logistics and freight customers.
Major companies operating in the air cargo services market are Amazon.com Inc., UPS Airlines, United Parcel Service Inc., Deutsche Post AG, FedEx Corporation, United States Postal Service, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, Kuehne + Nagel International AG, The Emirates Group, International Consolidated Airlines Group SA, Qatar Airways Company QCSC, LATAM Airlines, Japan Airlines Co. Ltd., Cathay Pacific Airways Limited, Cargolux Airlines International SA, China Airlines Ltd., Aeromexico Cargo, Azul Airlines, Magma Aviation Limited, China Airlines Cargo, South African Airways Cargo, Thai Airways Cargo
Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the air cargo services market in 2025. North America was the second largest region in the air cargo services market. The regions covered in the air cargo services market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.
The countries covered in the air cargo services market report are China, India, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, New Zealand, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, Turkey, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa.
The air cargo services market includes revenues earned by entities by transporting goods and couriers at high speeds to enhance less time-consuming delivery without the need for warehouse and storage facilities. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.
The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).
The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.
Air Cargo Services Market Global Report 2026 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.
This report focuses air cargo services market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.
Where is the largest and fastest growing market for air cargo services ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The air cargo services market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.
The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, total addressable market (TAM), market attractiveness score (MAS), competitive landscape, market shares, company scoring matrix, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.
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