If you've been following the news, you've probably seen the headlines about a ceasefire. And sure, that sounds like good news – less conflict, more stability, maybe even cheaper shipping, right?
Well, not so fast.
People in the air freight world are shaking their heads. One senior forwarder put it bluntly: "We're very, very far from normalisation." Ceasefire or no ceasefire, the skies are still messy.
So what's actually going on?
First, capacity is still tight. Passenger planes – which carry about half of all air cargo – haven't fully returned to pre-COVID schedules in many regions. Add in ongoing labour disputes at major airports, plus new security checks in Europe and Asia, and you've got a perfect storm.
Second, demand isn't dropping. E-commerce giants are still shipping massive volumes. And with ocean freight facing Red Sea disruptions (even with a ceasefire elsewhere, ships aren't magically back to normal), more shippers are switching to air – which pushes rates up.
Third, fuel prices and inflation haven't settled. Every link in the chain costs more.
What does this mean for your supply chain?
If you're importing or exporting time-sensitive goods – electronics, fashion, auto parts, medical supplies – you're probably feeling the pinch. Delays pop up without warning. Rates jump overnight. And small mistakes in booking or documentation can cost you days (and thousands of dollars).
This is where having the right logistics partner actually matters.
At XMAE Logistics, we've been handling air freight through every kind of chaos – COVID, port strikes, geopolitical shocks, you name it. We don't just forward boxes; we help you plan around the turbulence.
Here's what that looks like in real life:
- Real-time rate comparisons – not just one carrier, but our whole network. We find the lane that still makes sense for your budget.
- Direct relationships with airlines – even when capacity is tight, we have dedicated space on key routes (China-US, Europe-Asia, Middle East corridors).
- Proactive rerouting – if a hub gets clogged, we shift your cargo to another airport before you even know there's a problem.
- Paperwork that actually clears customs – our docs team knows the latest regulations in over 40 countries. No "oops, we forgot a stamp" delays.
- Last month, one of our clients needed 15 tons of industrial parts from Shanghai to Chicago in four days. The usual forwarders quoted 7–10 days and a sky-high rate. We found a mixed carrier solution – two different airlines, one trucking leg – and delivered in 96 hours, at 18% below their budget.
The bottom line?
Don't wait for "normalisation." It's not coming soon. Instead, work with a freight team that doesn't panic when things get bumpy.
Got a shipment that needs to move – fast and reliably? Give us a shot. We'll show you how air freight can still work for your business, even when the headlines say otherwise.
�� [Get a quick air freight quote from XMAE Logistics]
- Written by the operations team at XMAE. We move cargo, not just paperwork.
