Cathay Cargo has reported a substantial increase in its performance for the first half of the year, with both cargo volumes and revenues showing double-digit growth. Tonnage handled by the airline rose by 8.5% year-on-year, reaching a total of 869,000 tonnes. Even more impressively, revenues surged by 23.9%, amounting to HK$13.8 billion. This strong financial outcome is largely attributed to heightened demand stemming from the expanding data center industry and the artificial intelligence (AI) boom.
For freight forwarders and operations managers, this indicates a robust and potentially tightening market for air cargo capacity, particularly on routes serving key technology hubs. The increased demand from high-value sectors like AI and data centers suggests that carriers may prioritize these shipments, potentially impacting rates and available space for general cargo. Forwarders should anticipate continued strong demand in these segments and plan capacity bookings accordingly, especially for time-sensitive or specialized shipments.
