Asia Pacific Air Cargo Market Analysis and Forecast by Size, Share, Growth, Trends 2031

Asia Pacific Air Cargo Market: Strategic Insights

Asia Pacific Air Cargo Market

• Market Size 2024
  US$ 42,503.7 Million
• Market Size 2025-2031
  US$ 69,552.2 Million

Market Dynamics

GROWTH DRIVERS

• Surging Adoption of E-Commerce Platforms
• Increasing Number of Partnerships and Collaborations

FUTURE TRENDS

• Intelligent Cold Chain Solutions
• Implementation of Several Software Solutions

OPPORTUNITIES

• Expanding Airport Infrastructure and New Policies
• Constant Need to Transport Temperature-Sensitive Products

Regional Overview

• Asia Pacific

Market Segmentation

End User

• Retail
• Pharmaceutical or Healthcare
• Food or Beverage
• Consumer Electronics
• Automotive
• Others

Type

• Air Mail
• Air Freight

Services

• Express
• Regular

Asia Pacific Air Cargo Market Segmentation Analysis:

• By End User, the Asia Pacific Air Cargo Market is segmented into Retail, Pharmaceutical or Healthcare, Food or Beverage, Consumer Electronics, Automotive, and Others. The Pharmaceutical or Healthcare segment dominated the market in 2024.
• By Type, the Asia Pacific Air Cargo Market is segmented into Air Mail and Air Freight. The Air Freight segment dominated the market in 2024.
• By Services, the Asia Pacific Air Cargo Market is segmented into Express and Regular. The Regular segment dominated the market in 2024.

Asia Pacific Air Cargo Market Outlook

The number of partnerships & collaborations among different airlines & cargo service providers is rising globally. A few key developments in the air cargo market are:

• In 2024, IndiGo CarGo signed an extensive interline agreement with Air France KLM Martinair Cargo. This partnership aims to enhance delivery accuracy and efficiency across their combined networks, expanding IndiGo's reach and improving cargo services between India and Europe.
• In 2024, SpiceXpress partnered with Bengaluru-based Star Air to manage belly space capacity in Star Air's fleet. This collaboration added nine new destinations to SpiceXpress's domestic network, strengthening door-to-door delivery and air cargo infrastructure, especially in underserved regions of India.
• In 2025, Saudia Cargo signed two major global logistics partnership agreements-one with Denmark's Scan Global Logistics (SGL) and another with Air Logistics Group. The SGL partnership provides priority access to Saudia Cargo's global network, while the Air Logistics Group agreement enhances integrated air cargo solutions between the UK and Saudi Arabia.
• In 2024, Korean Air Cargo and Vienna Airport expanded their long-standing partnership to meet growing demand for air cargo services between Korea and Central/Eastern Europe. This included more regular cargo flights and a focus on Vienna as a hub for temperature-sensitive and hazardous goods.
• In 2024, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines completed their merger, consolidating cargo operations. Asiana's cargo business was transferred to Air Incheon, further strengthening Korea's position as a cargo hub in East Asia.
• In 2024, India and the Republic of Korea signed an MoU allowing Korean carriers to operate non-scheduled all-cargo services on key routes (Incheon-Hanoi/Kuala Lumpur-New Delhi/Mumbai-Vienna/Milan/Brussels) through June 2025, with ongoing discussions to increase capacity.
• In 2024, India and Ethiopia signed an MoU to enhance air cargo capacity, allowing up to 38 services per week in each direction and granting Indian carriers access to any point in Ethiopia.
• In 2024, India negotiated increased air cargo frequencies with Uzbekistan (from 18 to 28 services/week) and Vietnam (from 28 to 42 services/week), boosting connectivity and trade.
• Throughout 2024 till May 2025, WestJet Cargo continued to expand its global reach into Latin America and Asia through partnerships with Awesome Cargo and Flexport, supporting both freighter and belly cargo operations

Asia Pacific Air Cargo Market Country Insights

By country, the Asia Pacific Air Cargo Market is segmented into Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and the Rest of APAC. China held the largest share in 2024.

Cargo handled by airports in China rose from 16.8 million tonnes in 2023 to 20.06 million tonnes in 2024, an increase of 20%. The booming e-commerce market largely drove this surge. The Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and Beijing Capital International were ranked the second and fourth busiest airports in air cargo capacity handled in 2024. Guangzhou airport handled 2.38 million tons of cargo, whereas Beijing Capital handled 1.32 million tons of air cargo.

Chinese carriers currently lag behind foreign operators in widebody freighter capacity, limiting their ability to fully capitalize on expanding demand. Fathomer, investment in widebody freighter fleets is critical to maintain global competitiveness, compelling air cargo operators in China to acquire newer freighter aircraft. In 2025, China Airlines announced its plans to expand its cargo operations and placed orders with Boeing for four B777-8 freighters. This strategic investment will lead to the airline strengthening its position in fleet flexibility and future growth potential. Air operators in the country are enhancing air freight connectivity between regions. In 2025, Saudia Cargo and China Cargo Airlines announced they had entered into a cooperation agreement to strengthen air freight routes between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Thus, the China air cargo market shows promising growth underpinned by strong manufacturing exports and e-commerce expansion. Yet, the industry must navigate capacity constraints and geopolitical risks to sustain momentum and secure global market leadership.

Asia Pacific Air Cargo Market Company Profiles

Some of the key players operating in the market include United Parcel Service Inc, FedEx Corp, ANA Cargo, Cargolux Airlines International S.A., Cathay Pacific Airways Limited, Emirates SkyCargo, Etihad Cargo, Zela Aviation The Air Charter Company, Lufthansa Group, Deutsche Post AG

These players are adopting various strategies such as expansion, product innovation, and mergers and acquisitions to provide innovative products to their consumers and increase their market share.

Asia Pacific Air Cargo Market Research Methodology

The following methodology has been followed for the collection and analysis of data presented in this report:

Secondary Research

The research process begins with comprehensive secondary research, utilizing internal and external sources to gather qualitative and quantitative data for each market. Commonly referenced secondary research sources include, but are not limited to:

• Company websites, annual reports, financial statements, broker analyses, and investor presentations
• Industry trade journals and other relevant publications
• Government documents, statistical databases, and market reports
• News articles, press releases, and webcasts specific to companies operating in the market

Note: All financial data included in the Company Profiles section has been standardized to US$. For companies reporting in other currencies, figures have been converted to US$ using the relevant exchange rates for the corresponding year.

Primary Research

The Insight Partners conducts a significant number of primary interviews each year with industry stakeholders and experts to validate its data analysis and gain valuable insights. These research interviews are designed to:

• Validate and refine findings from secondary research
• Enhance the expertise and market understanding of the analysis team
• Gain insights into market size, trends, growth patterns, competitive dynamics, and future prospects

Primary research is conducted via email interactions and telephone interviews, encompassing various markets, categories, segments, and sub-segments across different regions. Participants typically include:

• Industry stakeholders: Vice Presidents, Business Development Managers, Market Intelligence Managers, and National Sales Managers
• External experts: Valuation specialists, research analysts, and key opinion leaders with industry-specific expertise