Air Cargo

Air Cargo Industry Reassesses Key Forecasts From Decade Ago

Industry leaders say they underestimated the importance of aircraft production capacity, technological advancement and the Greater Bay Area's commercial potential. Speaking at the TIACA Air Cargo Forum, Stanislas Brun, chief cargo officer at Etihad Cargo, noted that widebody freighter demand has outpaced original equipment manufacturers' production capabilities. Brun warned that aircraft delivery numbers continue declining annually, with no improvement expected over the next 15 years. Cathay's Dominic Perret acknowledged underestimating the GBA's evolution beyond a manufacturing hub into a significant import market. The region's large population, GDP and Shenzhen's technology sector now represent substantial opportunities. Perret said Cathay is redirecting strategy to connect cargo through Hong Kong into the wider GBA via dedicated flights and multimodal solutions. Air Canada Cargo has similarly shifted focus toward intermodal offerings, moving away from reliance on passenger schedule integration.