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The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has appointed Saadia Zahidi as its next Director General, making history as the first woman to lead the global airline body in its more than 80-year history. Effective 1 November 2026, Zahidi will become IATA’s ninth Director General, succeeding Willie Walsh, whose tenure concludes on 31 July. Until Zahidi assumes office, Sandrine Le Borgne, IATA’s Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President for Corporate Services, will serve as Interim Director General.
The appointment comes at a pivotal time for the aviation and air cargo industries, which are navigating a rapidly evolving landscape shaped by geopolitical uncertainties, digital transformation, sustainability commitments and shifting global trade patterns. Representing more than 370 airlines across over 120 countries, IATA accounts for approximately 85% of global air traffic, making its leadership decisions highly significant for the wider aviation, logistics and supply chain ecosystem.
Zahidi joins IATA from the World Economic Forum (WEF), where she served as Managing Director and Member of the Managing Board for more than two decades. During her tenure, she led the Forum’s Centre for the New Economy and Society and spearheaded initiatives focused on the future of work, economic growth, technological transformation and workforce development. Her background in economics and public policy is expected to bring a broader strategic perspective to an industry facing unprecedented technological and regulatory changes.
Welcoming the appointment, IATA Board Chair Roberto Alvo said Zahidi’s extensive international experience would strengthen the association’s role as the voice of the global airline industry. He noted that aviation is entering a period where technology, sustainability and geopolitical developments will fundamentally reshape global connectivity, requiring collaborative leadership and long-term vision.
For the supply chain and logistics sector, Zahidi’s appointment carries particular significance. Air freight remains a critical enabler of global commerce, supporting high-value manufacturing, pharmaceutical distribution, e-commerce and time-sensitive cargo movements. As airlines continue to invest in digital cargo solutions, operational resilience and decarbonisation, IATA’s leadership will play a crucial role in driving industry standards, regulatory advocacy and cross-border collaboration.
In her first statement following the appointment, Zahidi described aviation as essential infrastructure that underpins economic growth, trade, tourism, employment and investment. She emphasised that IATA’s mission of representing, leading and serving the airline industry is more important than ever as global challenges demand stronger cooperation across governments, airlines and supply chain stakeholders.
Beyond breaking a long-standing gender barrier, Zahidi’s appointment signals a strategic leadership transition for IATA as the aviation industry prepares for its next phase of growth. With sustainability targets, digital innovation and supply chain resilience topping the industry agenda, her tenure is expected to shape how global aviation responds to future economic and operational challenges while strengthening its role in facilitating international trade and logistics.
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬
Liège Airport in Belgium and Viracopos International Airport in Brazil are establishing a commercial partnership to develop air cargo traffic between Europe and South America, with a focus on attracting new freighter operations and strengthening connectivity across their respective markets. The two airports are signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the International Air Cargo Association’s (TIACA) Air Cargo Forum in Miami on 27 October 2026. The agreement establishes a framework for joint commercial development, including market intelligence sharing, coordinated customer outreach, promotional activities and engagement with prospective airline partners. The immediate priority is to identify shared business opportunities and assess the feasibility of new all-cargo services. Discussions will also consider potential commercial incentives for interested operators, alongside technical and operational studies to evaluate prospective routes. Frederic Brun, VP Sales & Marketing at Liège Airport, said the partnership would bring together complementary cargo networks and specialist handling capabilities to develop opportunities across Europe, Brazil and onward markets. He highlighted pharmaceuticals, technology and other high-value shipments as key areas for potential growth. Pharmaceuticals and Temperature-Sensitive Cargo in Focus Pharmaceutical logistics is expected to be a major focus of the collaboration. Viracopos reported a 43% increase in the value of its pharmaceutical imports in 2026 and is developing a dedicated cold warehouse that will double its pharmaceutical storage capacity. Liège will contribute its established pharmaceutical cargo expertise and relationships with specialist logistics providers. Both airports offer dedicated freighter facilities and direct connections between aircraft handling areas and cargo warehouses, supporting the movement of time-sensitive and temperature-sensitive shipments. Maria Fan, Chief Commercial Officer at Viracopos International Airport, said the partnership would connect the Brazilian airport’s investments in cargo infrastructure with a complementary European gateway. She identified pharmaceuticals, technology and international e-commerce as sectors where reliable handling and connectivity are particularly important. HighTech Imports and Data Centre Demand Technology cargo represents another potential growth area. According to Viracopos, the airport handles 45% of Brazil’s airborne high-tech imports. Rising investment in digitalisation, artificial intelligence and cloud computing is increasing demand for data centre infrastructure, including server racks and associated equipment. The airport also expects Brazil’s REData tax regime to support further investment. The measure provides for a five-year suspension of federal taxes on qualifying data centre equipment acquisitions, potentially encouraging additional imports and creating opportunities for airlines and logistics providers serving the technology sector. E-commerce Infrastructure Strengthens the Proposition International e-commerce is a further priority under the proposed partnership. Viracopos has an additional dedicated warehouse spanning 20,000 sq. m. in operation, offering expanded X-ray inspection capabilities and direct apron access alongside improvements to the airport’s logistics centre. Closer coordination between cargo operators and government agencies has also helped reduce customs bottlenecks at Viracopos. Combined with Liège’s European cargo network and onward connections, these capabilities could support businesses seeking distribution options into Brazil and wider Latin American markets. The airports also see potential to develop more direct Europe–Brazil cargo flows while exploring connections for shipments moving between Asia and Latin America through Liège. Joint Commercial Development, with Services yet to be Confirmed Under the agreement, the airports plan to establish a shared target list of prospective customers, exchange market intelligence and maintain regular engagement between their business development teams. Joint participation in industry events and shared promotional activity will support outreach to airlines, freight forwarders and shippers. However, no airline commitments or launch dates have been announced. The airports will focus on translating identified market opportunities into commercially viable operating proposals, with progress dependent on cargo demand, airline requirements and the operational performance of the proposed corridor. The partnership marks a coordinated effort by Liège and Viracopos to combine their respective strengths and explore new air cargo connections between Europe and South America, particularly in specialised and high-value freight segments.
Global air cargo volumes rebounded in the week of 12–18 October, 2026 as Asian exports recovered following the Golden Week holiday period, with chargeable weight rising 2% week on week and global air freight rates increasing by 4%, according to the latest figures from WorldACD Market Data. The recovery was led by a 9% increase in chargeable weight from Asia Pacific, offsetting declines across North America, Central and South America, the Middle East and South Asia (MESA), Europe and Africa. Global available capacity also rose by 2%, rGlobal Air Cargo Volumes Rise 2% as Asian Exports Rebound; Rates Climb 4%, reversing two consecutive weeks of 1% declines as airlines expanded freighter operations. North America recorded a 5% week-on-week decline in chargeable weight, partly reflecting public holidays in Canada and the US. Central and South America fell by 4%, while MESA declined by 3%. Europe and Africa registered smaller contractions of 2% and 1%, respectively. Asia Pacific Drives Transpacific Growth The resumption of factory and export activity following Golden Week and mid-autumn festival holidays propelled Asia Pacific volumes higher, particularly on routes to the US and Europe. Chargeable weight from Asia Pacific to Europe rose 13% week on week, while shipments to the US increased 10%. On the transpacific trade lane, volumes from Hong Kong and mainland China to the US surged 27% and 18%, respectively. Shipments to the US increased across all Asian origins except Japan, where volumes stabilised following the post-Silver Week recovery. South Korea led growth on Asia–Europe routes, with volumes rising 34%, followed by China at 22%, Singapore at 16% and Hong Kong at 11%. However, European-bound shipments from Vietnam, Japan and Malaysia declined. Year on year, Asia Pacific chargeable weight to the US was up 14%, reflecting continued demand for artificial intelligence-related shipments and other technology cargo. The picture was weaker on routes to Europe, where volumes fell 16% compared with the corresponding period in 2025. Hong Kong recorded a 32% annual decline in shipments to Europe, which WorldACD partly attributed to European Union measures aimed at curbing e-commerce parcel imports. Volumes from China and Vietnam declined 12% and 10%, respectively, while South Korea was the only Asian origin to post double-digit annual growth, increasing 14%. MESA Shipments Reveal Contrasting US and European Trends Air cargo volumes from the Middle East and South Asia weakened during the week, with shipments to Europe falling 6% and those to the US declining 4%. Sharp reductions from Dubai and Sri Lanka contributed to the slowdown in US-bound traffic, while shipments from India decreased 2%. On routes to Europe, volumes from Sri Lanka fell 15% and those from India declined 7%. Dubai bucked the trend, recording a 5% increase. Annual comparisons, however, showed stronger performance on the US-bound trade lane. MESA chargeable weight to the US rose 24% year on year, supported by increases of 34% from India and 44% from Bangladesh. In contrast, volumes to Europe fell 13%, with Sri Lanka the only origin to avoid a decline. Capacity and Rates Rise as Peak Season Approaches Global air cargo capacity increased 2% week on week after declining in each of the previous two weeks. Asia Pacific led the expansion with a 6% rise, while capacity from Europe increased 2% and from North America and Central and South America rose 1% each. Africa and MESA recorded 2% reductions. Across the two-week period covering weeks 41 and 42, capacity remained 1% below the preceding fortnight but was 2% higher than in the corresponding period of 2025. Air cargo rates strengthened across all origin regions except Africa, where prices declined 4%. Rates rose 4% from Asia Pacific, 3% from Central and South America, 2% from MESA, and 1% each from Europe and North America. The two-week comparison showed global rates up 1%, while the year-on-year picture was markedly stronger: worldwide air cargo rates were almost 30% higher than a year earlier. MESA recorded the steepest increase at 61%, followed by gains ranging from 25% to 29% across Europe, Asia Pacific, North America and Africa. Central and South America registered a more moderate 7% rise. Transpacific Rates Strengthen amid Technology Cargo Demand Rates from Asia Pacific to the US increased 6% week on week, while those to Europe rose 1%. Singapore recorded a particularly sharp 23% increase in rates to the US, with most other Asian origins posting single-digit gains. Indonesia remained unchanged. On Asia–Europe routes, most origins recorded single-digit increases, while Thailand was unchanged. Rates from Vietnam slipped 1% and from Japan fell 8%. Compared with the same period in 2025, Asia Pacific rates to the US were 41% higher, with increases of 34% to 48% across most routes. Rates to Europe rose 25% on average, ranging from a 16% increase for Hong Kong to 56% for Indonesia. WorldACD noted that robust artificial intelligence-related cargo flows had strengthened expectations for a strong peak season on transpacific routes. The outlook for Asia–Europe traffic was less certain, however, as changes to EU import rules threatened to add pressure to e-commerce shipments. From 1 November, a €2 handling fee is due to apply to non-EU e-commerce imports, in addition to the €3 customs duty per item introduced on 1 July 2026 for low-value consignments worth up to €150. As the industry enters the final months of the year, the latest data point to a market shaped by recovering Asian export activity, firmer freight rates and expanding capacity, alongside diverging demand across major trade lanes and continued uncertainty over e-commerce flows into Europe.
Boeing’s 777 Freighter (777F) has become the most widely operated dedicated freighter aircraft globally, overtaking the combined in-service fleet of Boeing 747 freighter variants, according to reports. The milestone reinforces the aircraft’s position in long-haul air cargo operations, where airlines require high payload capacity, extended range and operational efficiency. More than 330 Boeing 777F aircraft are now in service worldwide. Boeing’s reported figures indicate that the fleet accounts for approximately 40% of global freighter capacity and transports more air cargo annually than any other freighter type. Its growing presence reflects the importance of large widebody aircraft in connecting major manufacturing centres, distribution hubs and consumer markets across continents. Strong performance on long-haul routes The 777F’s operational utilisation highlights its role in international freight networks. During 2025, the fleet recorded approximately 6,250 flight hours, averaging more than 17 hours of operation per aircraft per day. Boeing’s figures also indicate that the aircraft accounted for around 80% of freighter flights covering distances exceeding 6,000 nautical miles. The company estimates that goods worth approximately US$4 trillion were transported aboard 777F aircraft during the year. The aircraft’s capabilities support direct, long-distance cargo services with fewer technical stops. Boeing lists the 777F’s maximum structural payload at 107 tonnes and its range at up to 5,000 nautical miles with a full payload of that capacity. These characteristics make it suitable for express shipments, e-commerce consignments, industrial goods and other time-sensitive international freight. Production outlook and next-generation transition The aircraft’s market position is also supported by continued demand for large freighters. In September 2026, the US Federal Aviation Administration granted Boeing an exemption allowing up to 35 additional 777F aircraft to receive certification beyond the emissions-rule deadline, providing a bridge towards the next-generation 777-8 Freighter. Boeing’s 777-8F is designed to carry up to 118 tonnes of structural payload, with a range of 5,000 nautical miles at a 110-tonne payload. As global trade networks evolve and demand for long-haul air freight remains significant, the 777F’s extensive operating base underlines its importance to airlines, freight forwarders and international supply chains. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
