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 Unprecedented Demand Trends Signal A Golden Era For Logistics Providers

The most compelling narrative of the air freight forwarding system market emerging from 2024 data is the sheer velocity of demand growth. Historical tracking of cargo ton-kilometers shows that the 11.3 percent surge in global demand recorded by IATA in 2024 represents a fundamental upward correction rather than a statistical anomaly. The demand has officially eclipsed the previous all-time records set during the chaotic peaks of 2021, effectively establishing a new historical baseline for the industry. What makes this trend particularly significant for investment is its consistency. By December 2024, the market had recorded seventeen consecutive months of growth, providing strong evidence of a sustained structural expansion rather than a fleeting seasonal spike.

Air freight forwarding system market stability is further underscored by volume consistency. The "sea-to-air" modal shift, driven by the urgent need for supply chain resilience, has funneled massive tonnage into the air freight forwarding system. With absolute volumes reaching 24.2 billion ton-kilometers in December alone, forwarders now operate in a seller’s market where capacity management serves as the primary differentiator. The strategic opportunity here lies in scalability; providers who can guarantee space during these prolonged peaks are securing long-term loyalty from shippers prioritizing reliability over cost.

Explosive E-commerce Trends Create Massive Opportunities In Cross Border Logistics For Air Freight Forwarding System Market

Underlying this growth is an undeniable digital engine. E-commerce has transformed from a complementary segment to a dominant force, now accounting for an estimated 20 to 25 percent of total air cargo volumes. This shift represents the "new normal" for the logistics sector. Analysis of 2024 data indicates that originations from China alone drove 37 percent of global cross-border shipping, heavily influenced by ultra-fast fashion and marketplace platforms. The sheer volume generated by platforms like Temu, estimated to hold a 7 percent market share of cross-border orders, is reshaping flight schedules and cargo handling procedures globally.

Such trends present a specific opportunity for forwarders in the Air freight forwarding system market to specialize in high-velocity, small-parcel logistics. The modern consumer has set a grueling pace, with 80 percent of shoppers in recent surveys expressing a demand for same-day shipping. This pressure forces the freight forwarding system to integrate closer with last-mile delivery networks than ever before. Data shows that the growth in "General Cargo" volumes, which outpaced special cargo by rising 13 percent in early 2024, is largely a proxy for this bulk e-commerce movement. Forwarders capable of streamlining customs brokerage for millions of individual parcels are positioned to capture the highest value in this booming segment.

Capacity Expansion Trends Offer Strategic Opportunities For Infrastructure Investment

To meet this insatiable demand, the physical infrastructure of the Air freight forwarding system market is undergoing a massive overhaul. One of the most significant trends identified is the aggressive expansion of the freighter fleet. Forecasts aligned with current order books suggest the global freighter fleet will expand to 3,900 aircraft by 2043. This expansion focuses heavily on repurposing assets, with a staggering 1,840 of the projected future deliveries designated as passenger-to-freighter conversions. Such trends indicate a market hungry for immediate capacity, willing to invest in extending the life of existing airframes to secure it.

For investors, this points to a lucrative opportunity in the asset management and leasing side of the freight forwarding system. The 7.4 percent increase in available cargo capacity seen in 2024 was quickly absorbed by the Air freight forwarding system market, as evidenced by the Cargo Load Factor improving to nearly 46 percent. Major players like Amazon Air are targeting fleets of over 100 aircraft by 2025, moving away from reliance on commercial carriers. This shift towards owned-capacity or dedicated charter networks—exemplified by the expansion in DSV’s network—is a critical evolution. It suggests that control over assets is becoming just as important as the digital platforms used to manage them.

Asian Manufacturing Shifts Reveal Lucrative Regional Opportunities For Forwarders

Geographically, the global trade map in the air freight forwarding system market is being redrawn. While Asia-Pacific carriers led the world with 14.5 percent demand growth in 2024, the emergence of alternative hubs tells a more nuanced story. The "China Plus One" strategy is now a statistical reality rather than a theoretical concept. Export volumes from Thailand and Vietnam surged by 25 percent in specific months of 2024, while origination from Central Asia grew by 36 percent during the first half of the year.

These figures reveal a diversifying manufacturing base that requires a more flexible freight forwarding system. The opportunity involves looking beyond traditional Shanghai-to-Los Angeles or Frankfurt routes. The 46 percent jump in Taiwan-to-Europe tonnages recorded in late 2024 suggests that high-tech manufacturing is moving in intense, specialized corridors. Forwarders establishing strong ground networks in Vietnam, Thailand, and Central Asia are positioning themselves to capture the cargo flows of the next decade. Regional diversification mitigates risk and opens up new revenue streams away from hyper-competitive primary trade lanes.

Sustainability Trends Compel Stakeholders To Seize Green Energy Opportunities

Environmental imperatives have moved from corporate social responsibility footnotes in the air freight forwarding system market to core operational requirements. In 2024, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production reached 1.0 million tons. While this represents a fraction of global demand, the trajectory is exponential, with projections doubling to 2.1 million tons for 2025. With 43 airlines already committed to specific SAF targets for 2030, the freight forwarding system is under immense pressure to decarbonize.

This trend creates a unique differentiation opportunity for the air freight forwarding system market. Forwarders offering "green lanes" or verified carbon-reduced shipping options are winning contracts from multinational corporations with strict Scope 3 emission targets. The market is increasingly willing to pay a premium for sustainability, provided the data is accurate. As the industry moves further into 2025, the ability to audit and report on carbon footprints will be just as valuable as the ability to move the cargo itself.

Strategic Consolidation and Asset Control Drive Intense Rivalry Among Global Logistics Giants

The competitive ecosystem of the air freight forwarding system market is characterized by a high-stakes duel between established market leaders and expanding integrators, where scale and asset control have become the primary currencies of power. Kuehne+Nagel maintains its global dominance, leveraging a massive 2.1 million-ton air cargo volume to dictate terms with carriers, utilizing yield management strategies that delivered a stable operational conversion rate of 27.3 percent in 2024. However, this supremacy is being aggressively challenged by DSV, which recorded a superior volume growth rate of 7.1 percent. DSV is differentiating itself through a strategy of "controlled capacity," significantly expanding its proprietary charter network to capture high-margin traffic, a move that propelled its air revenue to DKK 55.2 billion.

Competition has evolved beyond simple price wars into a race for infrastructure sovereignty and digital capability. Traditional forwarders are facing encroaching threats from e-commerce giants like Amazon Air, which is disrupting the sector by deploying a proprietary fleet of over 100 aircraft to internalize logistics volumes. Consequently, legacy players are forced to compete on service agility rather than just cost, creating specialized "green lanes" and investing in real-time tracking to retain high-value clients. This dynamic forces a bifurcation in the market where players must either achieve massive scale through acquisition or carve out niche dominance in complex verticals like cross-border e-commerce to survive margin pressures.

Segmental Analysis 

Digital Architectures Revolutionizing Global Cargo Operations Through Advanced Software Integration

Freight management software currently dominates the technological landscape of the air freight forwarding system market with a 39.06% market share, driven by an urgent industry requirement for automated transaction processing and real-time visibility. Platforms like Freightos reported a record 1.3 million transactions in FY 2024, demonstrating the sheer volume of critical data these systems now handle. Consequently, the total Gross Booking Value processed through their ecosystem reached US$ 894 million for the year, highlighting the massive financial throughput managed by these digital tools. To sustain this momentum, leading innovator WiseTech Global invested AUD 368.2 million (approximately US$ 250 million) into research and development during FY 2024 alone. This massive capital injection facilitated 1,135 new product enhancements, directly improving user experience and reinforcing the indispensable nature of the Air freight forwarding system market.

Market adoption continues to accelerate as logistics providers prioritize operational efficiency over legacy methods. Global e-booking transactions processed through freight management platforms soared to 1.2 billion in 2024, reflecting widespread reliance on digital booking engines. In the fourth quarter of 2024 alone, Freightos facilitated 350,400 transactions, marking a significant uptick in software utilization. Simultaneously, Flexport utilized advanced AI within its software stack to reduce shipping delays, showcasing the tangible operational benefits of modern systems. Furthermore, the broader aviation industry saw SITA estimate airline IT spend at US$ 37 billion in 2024, with a large portion flowing into cargo solutions. Champ Cargosystems also expanded its footprint with the launch of "Shipply" in 2024 to address first-mile tracking, proving that software is the backbone of the Air freight forwarding system market.

Scalable Cloud Platforms Becoming The Backbone Of Modern Logistics Networks

Cloud-based and SaaS deployments command a massive 51.25% market share, as logistics providers rapidly abandon rigid on-premise infrastructure for flexible, scalable solutions. WiseTech Global, a leader in cloud-native logistics, reported FY 2024 revenue of AUD 1,041.7 million (approx. US$ 700 million), validating the highly lucrative nature of the SaaS model. The inherent efficiency of these cloud platforms generated AUD 333.0 million in free cash flow for WiseTech, allowing for further reinvestment into cloud capabilities. Freightos, operating purely on a SaaS model, generated US$ 23.8 million in platform revenue for FY 2024. The Air freight forwarding system market sees continuous migration to the cloud, evidenced by 67 distinct carriers actively selling on the Freightos cloud platform by Q4 2024.

Connectivity remains the primary selling point for cloud deployment as it enables seamless integration across borders. By the fourth quarter of 2024, the number of unique buyers accessing the Freightos cloud platform reached 20,100, proving the model's ability to aggregate global demand efficiently. Flexport, a digital-first forwarder built entirely on cloud infrastructure, achieved US$ 2.1 billion in revenue in 2024, underscoring the commercial viability of cloud-native operations. Strategic investments further bolster this segment, such as Shopify’s US$ 260 million investment in Flexport to strengthen digital logistics integration. The North American air freight software sector alone was valued at US$ 1.85 billion in 2024, with cloud solutions forming the majority of this value. Additionally, the massive US$ 15.9 billion DSV acquisition of DB Schenker was partly driven by the need to unify operations onto a single, efficient cloud-based operating system within the Air freight forwarding system market.

Unprecedented Cargo Volumes Demanding Robust Transportation Management Service Capabilities

Transportation management services generated 40.32% of market revenue, a figure supported by the immense physical volume of goods requiring complex digital oversight. Global air cargo volumes hit 127 million tons in 2024, necessitating robust management services to handle the unprecedented load. The top 20 cargo hubs alone processed 52.2 million tons, creating a high demand for throughput management technologies. Major players like DHL Global Forwarding managed 1.8 million tons of air freight in 2024, relying heavily on transportation management services to execute these movements efficiently. Similarly, Kuehne+Nagel reported handling 2.1 million tons of air cargo, generating significant service-based revenue. The Air freight forwarding system market thrives on these high volumes, as every ton requires digital coordination, documentation, and tracking services.

Revenue generation in this segment is closely tied to the freight rates and yields managed by these systems. Kuehne+Nagel reported a 2024 net turnover of CHF 7.3 billion (approx. US$ 8.2 billion) specifically from its air logistics unit, driven by service fees. Expeditors International generated US$ 1.06 billion in airfreight revenue in Q4 2024 alone, showcasing the financial scale of transportation services. Spot rates for air cargo from China to the US reached US$ 5.12 per kg in December 2024, requiring sophisticated systems to manage dynamic pricing strategies. Rates from Southeast Asia to the US also remained strong at US$ 4.50 per kg, driving the value of management services. DHL Global Forwarding’s airfreight division reported Q4 2024 revenue of EUR 1.6 billion, further solidifying the financial dominance of this segment within the Air freight forwarding system market.

Freight Forwarding Giants Consolidating Market Spend To Secure Competitive Edge

Air freight forwarding companies are the undisputed leaders in adoption, controlling 44.89% of the market share as they invest heavily to stay competitive in a consolidated landscape. The landmark event of 2024 was DSV’s acquisition of DB Schenker for US$ 15.9 billion, a move designed to create a tech-enabled logistics giant capable of dominating global trade lanes. Large forwarders are aggressively rolling out standardized systems, with WiseTech Global confirming 52 Large Global Freight Forwarder rollouts on their CargoWise platform by 2024. The Air freight forwarding system market depends on these giants, including DHL Group, which reported a massive total revenue of EUR 84.2 billion in 2024. Kuehne+Nagel, another top consumer of these systems, reported a Group Net Turnover of CHF 24.8 billion for the same period.

Strong financial performance allows these forwarders to continue investing in advanced air freight systems to maintain their edge. Expeditors International returned US$ 1.1 billion to shareholders in 2024, indicating robust financial health available for capital expenditure on technology. Flexport, despite market volatility, maintained a valuation of US$ 3.8 billion in late 2024, representing the immense value placed on tech-centric forwarding models. Expeditors also reported net earnings of US$ 236 million in Q4 2024, providing ample resources for continuous system upgrades. Kuehne+Nagel expanded its influence by acquiring IMC Logistics in the US in 2024 to integrate intermodal transport data. DHL Global Forwarding achieved total Q4 2024 revenue of EUR 5 billion, proving that the biggest users of the Air freight forwarding system market are also its most financially capable stakeholders.

Regional Analysis 

North America Dominates Global Landscape Through Resilient Consumption And Advanced Logistics Infrastructure

North America has solidified its position as the undisputed hegemon of the air freight forwarding system market by commanding a staggering 43.65% market share in 2025. This dominance is not merely a function of geography but a result of insatiable consumer demand intersecting with advanced logistics integration. The "consumption engine" of the United States drove the Asia-North America trade lane to grow by 8.0%, acting as the primary revenue generator for global forwarders. Granular data reveals that the USA Pacific States saw inbound chargeable weight surge by 16% in key months, underscoring the region's reliance on high-velocity transpacific imports. 

Furthermore, the rapid maturity of domestic logistics networks has fortified this position; with players like Amazon Air operating a fleet of 100+ aircraft, the region has created a seamless "sky-to-door" ecosystem that competitor regions are still striving to replicate. This infrastructure allows North American forwarders to capture higher value, supporting yields that peaked at USD 3.22 per kg during high-demand cycles.

Asia Pacific Expands Influence Via Exploding E-commerce Volumes And Manufacturing Diversification

While North America consumes, Asia Pacific produces, firmly establishing itself as the second-largest power in the air freight forwarding system market through a 14.5% demand growth rate for its carriers. The region’s strength has evolved beyond traditional manufacturing into a cross-border e-commerce dynasty. Data indicates that China now accounts for 37% of global cross-border shipping originations, effectively acting as the baseload volume for the entire industry. 

However, the region’s resilience is rooted in diversification known as "China Plus One." Thailand and Vietnam export volumes both surged by 25% in 2024, creating new, dynamic nodes of freight activity. Additionally, the 46% year-on-year explosion in Taiwan-to-Europe tonnages highlights the region's critical role in the global semiconductor and high-tech supply chain. This duality of bulk e-commerce and high-value tech components ensures Asia Pacific remains the indispensable engine room of global trade.

Europe Secures Vital Market Position Through Specialized Exports And Green Energy Leadership

Europe maintains its stronghold as the third pillar of the global air freight forwarding system market, characterized by specialized high-value handling and regulatory leadership. The region recorded steady 11.2% demand growth, driven largely by the 10.3% expansion in the Asia-Europe trade lane, which has now seen 22 months of consecutive growth. European strength lies in hub efficiency and connectivity; Lufthansa Cargo alone operated 89 weekly freighter connections, turning hubs like Frankfurt into central valves for global commerce. 

In addition to the above findings, the regional air freight forwarding system market is capitalizing on the 6.1% growth in Middle East-Europe lanes, using near-shoring advantages to maintain relevance. Uniquely, Europe is driving the quality-over-quantity metric, leading the charge on the 1.0 million tonnes of SAF produced, attracting premium contracts from sustainability-conscious multinational shippers.

Key Recent Developments Shaping the Air Freight Forwarding System Market 

1. Qatar Airways Cargo, IAG Cargo, and MASkargo launched a Global Cargo Joint Business in late 2025, integrating networks across Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Europe, and Americas for optimized freighter capacity and unified booking platforms.​
2. Ethiopian Airlines expanded its A350-900 fleet via a placement deal with Novus Aviation Capital at Dubai Airshow 2025, enhancing long-haul capacity to Africa, Europe, and Middle East.​
3. Air China Cargo signed for six Airbus A350F freighters on November 14, 2025, becoming mainland China's launch customer to modernize long-haul cargo operations.​
4. Etihad Cargo grew its winter 2025 freighter network from Abu Dhabi, adding routes to East Midlands (UK), Shanghai, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Ezhou, Riyadh, Paris, and Frankfurt.​
5. FedEx expanded Intra-Asia air network in October 2025 with two new routes, reallocating aircraft to meet rising regional demand amid trans-Pacific pressures.​
6. Cargolux and AIT Worldwide Logistics inked their largest Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) deal in 2025, advancing greener air cargo handling.​
7. Astral Aviation added a Boeing 767-300F freighter in 2025 to renew fleet, expand capacity, and enable longer routes.​
8. Over 50 new international air cargo routes launched in November 2025 across Asia, Europe, and Middle East by various carriers, improving global connectivity.​
9. DSV released H1 2025 air freight update on trade shifts, procurement impacts, and capacity under new U.S. policies.​
10. Airlines worldwide boosted networks in Asia, Middle East, and Europe in November 2025, supporting e-commerce and AI hardware demand.

Top Companies in the Air Freight Forwarding System Market

• Bollore Logistics
• CEVA Logistics
• DB Schenker
• DHL Global Forwarding
• DSV A/S
• Expeditors International of Washington Inc.
• Kuehne + Nagel International AG
• Nippon Express Co. Ltd.
• Sinotrans Ltd.
• UPS Supply Chain Solutions
• Other Prominent Players

Market Segmentation Overview

By Solution Type

• Freight Management Software
• Cargo Tracking & Visibility Systems
• Warehouse & Inventory Management Solutions
• Documentation & Customs Compliance Tools
• Analytics & Reporting Platforms
• Others

By Deployment

• On-Premises
• Cloud-Based / SaaS

By Service Type

• Transportation Management
• Route Planning & Optimization
• Shipment Consolidation & Documentation
• Freight Cost Management
• Customs Clearance & Regulatory Compliance
• Others

By End User

• Airlines & Cargo Carriers
• Freight Forwarding Companies
• Logistics Service Providers
• Exporters / Importers
• E-commerce Companies

By Region

• North America
  • The US
  • Canada
  • Mexico
• Europe
  • Western Europe
    • The UK
    • Germany
    • France
    • Italy
    • Spain
    • Rest of Western Europe
  • Eastern Europe
    • Poland
    • Russia
    • Rest of Eastern Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • Australia and New Zealand
  • South Korea
  • ASEAN
  • Rest of Asia Pacific
• Middle East and Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • UAE
  • Rest of MEA
• South America
  • Argentina
  • Brazil
  • Rest of South America