At the World Cargo Symposium, a fireside chat between Andrés Bianchi, CEO of Latin American Cargo, and Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), opened the discussion, with both emphasizing the extreme geopolitical volatility facing air cargo operations.
Both leaders stressed the strategic importance of Middle Eastern hubs in passenger and air cargo operations. They praised the industry's remarkable ability to maintain the flow of people and cargo under challenging conditions, noting that global cargo capacity has declined by more than 20% due to regional restrictions.
Walsh pointed out that the most important evolution in the industry over the past two decades has been its increased agility. He stated, "Airlines can now adapt quickly to market changes." "Today, we have the tools we need to quickly adapt to new environments."
He noted that the shift in trade routes driven by US tariffs in 2025 further demonstrates that volatility is reshaping transit times and routes, rather than hindering overall trade.
According to Walsh, the COVID-19 pandemic marked a defining moment for the air cargo industry. The relatively stable period between 2010 and 2019 was abruptly disrupted, with passenger services almost completely shut down in early 2020. However, air freight ensures the continuous flow of goods, at one point accounting for 42% of the aviation industry's total revenue. Its current share is around 15%, higher than pre-pandemic levels, demonstrating continued momentum.
The discussion shifts to the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the industry. Given that components such as memory chips are primarily transported by air, AI is expected to directly impact cargo volume. Therefore, as technology advances, the demand for air freight services will correspondingly increase. Ironically, air freight still heavily relies on paper documents, a point not overlooked by the discussion.
Looking ahead, AI in agency services presents broader opportunities for air freight. "Airlines generate a massive amount of data, and AI will allow us to analyze that data more effectively," Walsh states. "We're only scratching the surface."
Regarding the impact on the workforce, Walsh emphasizes the continued need for skilled personnel capable of critically evaluating AI-driven decisions. He draws an analogy to online check-in applications, pointing out that while technology hasn't significantly reduced the number of employees, it has enabled employees to shift from transactional roles to more customer-focused ones.
Aside from AI, air freight still relies heavily on human labor, which could become a bottleneck in the coming years. Ensuring collaboration across the value chain is crucial for sustainable solutions.
The discussion also touched on cargo time zones-a topic that, according to Walsh, is just beginning-and the need for OEMs to place greater emphasis on the development of new freighter aircraft. Furthermore, regulatory harmonization is considered essential to supporting speed and resilience, encouraging governments to recognize the vital role of air freight in contemporary society.
Ultimately, the challenge lies in reversing years of underinvestment to facilitate modernization, thereby enabling efficient, safe, and resilient global air freight for world trade.
