Transforming Cargo Terminals in the Age of Digital-First Air Logistics

Air cargo terminals are no longer just storage and transfer points. They are rapidly evolving into the strategic nerve centres of global trade, playing a far more critical role in ensuring the smooth movement of goods across increasingly complex supply chains.

With air cargo demand reaching record highs in 2024—rising by 11.3 per cent year-on-year and surpassing even the 2021 peak—terminal operators are now facing a new operational reality. The industry is experiencing greater volumes, rising complexity, and significantly higher customer expectations. This shift is driving an urgent need for faster processing, stronger visibility, tighter compliance, and more resilient, digitally enabled cargo terminal operations.

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The rise of e-commerce has fundamentally reshaped air logistics, shifting the industry away from traditional bulk freight toward faster, parcel-level movements. These shipments require an operational model designed for high-frequency flows, real-time tracking, same-day release cycles, and seamless coordination with customs authorities.

By the end of 2024, e-commerce already accounted for nearly 20 per cent of global air cargo volumes, and projections indicate that this share could potentially double within the next decade, placing even greater pressure on terminals to modernise and adapt.

This whitepaper explores how cargo terminals can reposition themselves as indispensable enablers of modern air logistics by delivering:

• Faster cargo release and reduced dwell times
• End-to-end visibility across stakeholders
• Compliance-ready handling for dangerous goods and cold chain
• Interoperable, paperless operations aligned with ICAO, IATA and UNECE
• New commercial models built around service quality—not just volume

Download the whitepaper now