Freightos says air cargo digitalisation has entered a new phase

The air cargo industry has made major progress in digitalisation over the past five years, according to a new analysis released by WebCargo by Freightos, which reviewed more than 1.5 million digital air cargo bookings made on its platform between 2021 and 2026.

The company said the findings show a clear evolution in how digital tools are being used by both airlines and freight forwarders. In the early stages, the focus was largely on expansion: carriers moved quickly to open new lanes, deploy APIs and establish a broader digital footprint across the market.

At that stage, scale and visibility were the priority.

By 2026, however, Freightos says the competitive landscape has changed significantly. Digital access is no longer enough on its own. What now matters most is how well carriers perform operationally within that digital environment.

According to the company, factors such as booking acceptance rates, cancellation stability, API response times, contract deployment strategy and forwarder wallet share are now becoming the real differentiators in the market.

At the same time, forwarders have also changed their behavior, diversifying their airline choices more aggressively and reshaping traditional loyalty patterns across regions.

Freightos presents these conclusions in its new report, From Digital Hype to Operational Grit (2021–2026).

Alongside this long-term review, the company also published its latest weekly market update, highlighting the immediate impact of the war in the Middle East on global air cargo.

According to Freightos, the conflict caused significant disruption as multiple airspace closures across the region grounded parts of Gulf carrier fleets. However, some of the region’s major hubs have begun reopening. Emirates in Dubai is now reportedly operating more than half of its scheduled flights, while Etihad in Abu Dhabi has resumed some services. Qatar Airways Cargo, by contrast, remains suspended.

The temporary reduction in available capacity triggered major rate increases on several lanes. Freightos said prices from South Asia to North America climbed by around 50%, reaching as much as $6 per kg, while rates from South Asia to Europe rose to around $4 per kg.

Those increases could begin to moderate as capacity gradually returns to the market.

The latest Freightos Air Index shows that over the past week, rates from China to North America rose 11% to $7.11 per kg, while prices from China to North Europe increased 2% to $3.55 per kg. Meanwhile, Northern Europe to North America rates fell 9% to $2.50 per kg.

The weekly update also highlighted recent tariff-related developments in the United States. The U.S. Court of International Trade has ordered the government to begin refunding tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), while U.S. Customs and Border Protection has requested 45 days to establish a payment mechanism.

At the same time, the 10% Section 122 global tariff remains in force, although the U.S. government says Section 301 investigations should conclude in time to restore tariffs before the July expiration of Section 122. Some states are also now challenging the legal basis of Section 122.

Freightos noted that lower tariff levels, at least for now, may be encouraging some importers to frontload shipments. Even so, the company said most importers still appear to be waiting for more clarity before moving aggressively ahead of the July deadline.

Judah Levine, head of research at WebCargo by Freightos, said a wide range of air cargo lanes have been affected by Gulf airspace closures and that rates have risen sharply on several routes. He noted that Qatar Airways and Emirates SkyCargo are two of the world’s three largest cargo carriers by capacity, and that together with Etihad they account for around 13% of global capacity.

Their hubs play a crucial role in east-west trade flows, especially for freight moving from South Asia and Southeast Asia to Europe and North America.

Levine said most Gulf airports shut down entirely for several days at the start of the conflict, but partial reopening has started in recent days. The UAE has reportedly opened safe air corridors allowing up to 48 departures per hour, while Emirates is now operating a reduced but stable schedule at over 50% of normal flight levels.

Etihad has resumed selected services, but Qatar Airways Cargo remains suspended through Doha.

“With flights and capacity gradually returning, we may see some easing in rates over the coming days,” Levine suggested.

He added that some forwarders are rerouting cargo destined for Gulf markets to alternative airports in the region, particularly in Saudi Arabia, before moving shipments onward by road.

At the same time, current volatility is coinciding with the post-Lunar New Year rush, which may be adding further upward pressure to ex-China rates as volumes that would normally move through the Gulf compete for long-haul space elsewhere.

Freightos itself also reported financial momentum last month. In February, the company announced that its 2025 revenue rose nearly 25% as airline participation and transaction volumes on the platform increased. Revenue reached $29.5 million for the year, up from $23.8 million in 2024.

Adjusted EBITDA improved slightly as well, coming in at minus $11.2 million compared with minus $12.6 million the year before.

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