Topic
Airports Council International's 2026 World Airport Traffic Report counted a record 9.8 billion passengers across 2,817 airports in 2025, but ACI World warns growth has slowed sharply through 2026.
A two-month pilot on the Chennai-Delhi-Frankfurt route slashed cargo connection times from up to 48 hours to as little as 5, doubling daily volumes — and Air India is now expanding the model to five Indian cities and three European hubs.
Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj airport has begun a 10-month suspension of all dedicated freighter flights to rebuild its cargo apron — pushing nearly a quarter of India's air cargo toward Navi Mumbai and other hubs until May 2027.
Global air freight rates have fallen for two straight months as the Gulf conflict premium bleeds out of the market. With shippers showing almost no appetite for peak-season charters, airlines face a second half that looks nothing like the first.
Hong Kong, Singapore and Shenzhen are pouring capital into freighter aprons, warehouses and ground fleets just as forecasters warned growth would stall. The 2026 numbers suggest the builders read the market better than the forecasters did.