Shippers have less airfreight shipping choices in 2026 following a year of global supply chain disruption, according to Rhenus Logistics.
The company said that after a volatile 2025 marked by geopolitical tension, policy shifts and uneven demand, service options are becoming more standardised, reducing flexibility for shippers, despite capacity increases.
Rhenus said that “capacity remains available but (is) increasingly lane-specific, particularly across Trans-Pacific and trans-Atlantic routes affected by tariff uncertainty and regulation change”.
The company said that in contrast to Transpacific and Transatlantic activity, there are now more options for goods being moved within Asia Pacific.
Supply chains “across Asia Pacific are becoming denser and more regional”, said Rhenus. “Rapid e-commerce growth is driving demand for high-frequency logistics networks that extend beyond coastal gateways into tier-2 and tier-3 cities.”
China is supporting these logistics networks with investment into inland logistics hubs, supported by automation, AI-driven warehouse systems and digital trade documentation.
To help tackle issues created by infrastructure gaps and regulatory fragmentation, there has been investment in inland corridors, value-added warehousing and multimodal connections linking manufacturing centres to upgraded ports and airports, noted Rhenus.
Intermodal options are increasingly being built into global networks to improve reliability and reduce operational risks.
For example, said Rhenus, when flooding in Southern Thailand temporarily disrupted overland routes, some shippers shifted volumes into airfreight to protect service continuity.
Technology, including artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, are also reshaping how networks are managed, with autonomous decision-making and predictive analytics becoming more utilised.
Source: https://www.aircargonews.net/supply-chains/2026/02/airfreight-options-narrow-in-2026-as-supply-chain-volatility-reshapes-global-lanes/
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