Airlines Operators

✈️ Air Carriers: Agility and Value in the Global Logistics Chain

Airlines are essential players in global logistics, enabling fast, reliable and high-value transport across continents. Though air cargo represents a small percentage of total freight volume, it accounts for a disproportionately large share of value, especially in sectors like pharmaceuticals, electronics, fashion, and perishables.

The presence of regular air cargo services connects a logistics platform with global production and consumption centres, making it attractive for international trade, e-commerce, and time-sensitive industries. For a port or dry port integrated with an airport, the involvement of air carriers completes the intermodal offer, allowing for integrated sea-air or rail-air solutions that reduce transit times and diversify supply chain strategies.

Air carriers bring more than lift capacity—they offer digital tools, tracking capabilities, and cargo booking platforms that align with the demands of visibility and efficiency in modern supply chains. Many are now vertically integrated with freight forwarders, GSSAs or ground handlers, offering end-to-end logistics solutions tailored to global shippers.

In parallel, the sustainability dimension is gaining ground. Airlines are investing in more fuel-efficient aircraft, sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), and emissions offsetting schemes to align with global decarbonization efforts. Ports and logistics platforms that work closely with air carriers can contribute to building low-carbon corridors, combining air agility with greener ground operations.

The development of cargo-dedicated airlines, especially in response to e-commerce growth, has expanded the map of direct connections. Airports that foster airline partnerships through cargo incentives, infrastructure investment, and efficient ground handling services become more attractive nodes in the global air network.

Finally, air connectivity is also about resilience. When maritime or land transport is disrupted, air transport offers critical alternatives to maintain supply chain continuity—especially for medical supplies, urgent components or high-value goods.

In short, air carriers add speed, flexibility and strategic depth to the logistics ecosystem. Their integration into port platforms enables high-value, time-critical flows that boost competitiveness, attract investment and connect regions to global value chains.