Expeditors sees strong air freight demand keeping rates elevated in Q4

• Air freight rates are expected to remain elevated in the fourth quarter as AI investment and e-commerce demand outpace capacity growth.
• Global air cargo demand rose 8.5%–10% in September, compared with capacity growth of 2.8%–3.5%.
• Hyperscaler-related demand could remain strong through the first half of 2027, while aircraft production backlogs continue to constrain capacity.
• Chinese e-commerce volumes into the US recovered to roughly 85%–90% of levels before restrictions on de minimis entries.
• Shippers face the tightest conditions on Asia-Pacific–US routes, making early forecasts critical to securing cargo space.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Expeditors International of Washington Inc. published the original content used to generate this news brief on November 04, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.