Airfreight Industry Tiny But Expanding

December 5, 2000 9:10 AM, EST

Shipping freight by air is both expensive and indispensable. These two facts illustrate why the airfreight industry is simultaneously expanding and contracting.

	Source: Air Transport Association
	Ton-miles for domestic air cargo that includes mail, freight and express packages have grown 230%. Since 1989, international air cargo has outpaced domestic freight.

The expense of airfreight means shippers are always looking for a cheaper means to move their goods. The open secret among air express carriers is that a large chunk of their freight actually moves in trucks on the ground. Weekends in particular provide a window of opportunity to move goods tendered on Friday and delivered on Monday.

At the same time, the necessity of moving all kinds of goods quickly continues to increase. For some products that are especially perishable or time-sensitive, airfreight is the only practical means of transportation. The emergence of global supply chains is also fueling demand for international air cargo.

Right now, and for the foreseeable future, airfreight is gaining more business than it is losing, which is a good sign for the growing ranks of trucking companies that haul goods to and from airports.

For the full story, see the Dec. 4 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.