The empty side of air cargo: A challenge that additional freighters cannot resolve.

As peak air cargo season approaches, the industry grapples with capacity challenges, leading to increased flight schedules and rising rates. A significant issue, known as the backhaul problem, arises from the empty return legs of aircraft, which can inflate costs for shippers. While outbound demand may be strong, imbalances vary by route, commodity, and market. Proper coordination and infrastructure at airports are crucial to manage these dynamics. Simply adding flights won't resolve capacity issues; effective management of ground operations is essential to ensure cargo moves efficiently once it arrives.