Rising e-commerce demand, uneven belly-freight recovery, infrastructure strain and freight theft transformed air cargo in 2025, forcing carriers and handlers to rethink operations, reported London's Air Cargo Week.

Industry leaders said the sector is entering 2026 more adaptive, digitised and regionally interconnected, despite policy uncertainty and infrastructure challenges. The Air Cargo Americas event in Miami highlighted that 2025 was not just volatile but transformational.

Passenger travel strengthened, but belly freight remained weak, with exclusion from Russian airspace described as a "silent capacity drag" on trans-Pacific operations. Carriers serving Asia-Americas and Asia-LATAM routes absorbed demand spikes at short notice.

E-commerce set a new baseline, with Amazon Air's 98.9 per cent on-time performance cited as a benchmark. Rising demand for late cut-offs, rapid uplift and tighter supply chain integration is reshaping expectations.

Infrastructure friction was evident, with Alliance Ground International noting delays of six to eight weeks to badge new airport employees. Some airports are digitising processes, but others still rely on paper-based workflows.

Supply chains in the Americas were rewired, with Brazil, Chile and Colombia evolving into e-commerce consumer markets. Mexico remained central, while the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Guatemala gained momentum as part of the extended North American base.

Freight theft resurfaced as a major concern, particularly in Mexico, Brazil and parts of the US. Organised groups used fake checkpoints to target cargo, prompting carriers to expand AI monitoring and strengthen storage facilities.

Executives said partnerships are now critical infrastructure, with carriers deepening ties with handlers, tech firms and forwarders. Looking ahead, 2026 will bring election-year policy risks, USMCA review uncertainty and evolving Asia-LATAM demand, but optimism remains that volatility can be turned into opportunity.

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