Global air cargo demand rose 7% year-on-year in June, according to Xeneta data, a figure that came in well ahead of both analyst expectations and the market’s own supply growth of just 3%. The gap between demand and capacity has become the defining feature of air freight in 2026, and the driver is no longer the e-commerce boom that powered the sector for the past two to three years. It is semiconductors and AI infrastructure.

Ontario International Airport recorded its fourth consecutive month of passenger growth in March, welcoming 574,819 travelers — a 2.7% year-over-year gain — while commercial air freight tonnage climbed 15.3%, airport officials announced. The headline numbers were driven almost entirely by international traffic, which surged 55.2% to 60,042 passengers in March against the same month last year. Domestic volumes edged down 1.2% to 514,777. Through the first quarter, ONT served 1,546,339 total passengers, up 4.

Boeing’s 2024 World Air Cargo Forecast anticipates a doubling of global air cargo traffic by 2043, driven by a 4% annual growth rate. This robust outlook highlights the pivotal role of e-commerce and shifting supply chains in reshaping global trade logistics. Emerging markets, particularly in Asia, are set to propel demand, with express carrier traffic forecast to triple, underscoring the rising prominence of expedited delivery services. The global freighter fleet will expand significantly, growing from 2,340 aircraft in 2023 to an estimated 3,900 by 2043.