air-cargo

DSV Warns of Widebody Freighter Bottleneck as Demand Inches Up

DSV projects modest airfreight demand growth of around 3% this year, tracking global GDP expansion. Momentum is driven by high-tech and cloud computing sectors alongside Asia Pacific e-commerce. The Denmark-based forwarder notes that US de minimus policy changes have redirected e-commerce shipments away from transpacific routes toward Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. On capacity, DSV's air and sea division head Frank Sobotka flagged critical constraints in widebody freighter supply. Next-generation aircraft programs from Airbus and Boeing face delays, limiting full-freighter availability even as bellyhold capacity remains supported by passenger aircraft deployments. Sobotka emphasized manufacturers cannot meet market demand for larger freighters. DSV operates a charter network handling roughly 10% of its air volumes. Middle East tensions and rising fuel costs—accounting for 40-50% of aircraft operating expenses—add pressure to the market outlook.