If you’re planning to ship cargo from China by air — now is the time to act. The market is once again under pressure: demand has surged, and there are hardly any free spots left on planes. And this isn’t just a seasonal spike — it’s the result of several key factors.
What’s happening and why:
- Eased trade barriers between the US and China.
- Holiday period and seasonal campaigns.
Several major Chinese holidays led to temporary shipping halts, and afterwards — a large accumulation of cargo in terminals. Airport queues and waiting times have grown significantly. Qingming Festival (April 4), Labor Day Holiday (May 1–5).
- Sales and e-commerce activity.
Giants like Alibaba, Temu, JD, and others pre-booked a large portion of air cargo space for upcoming sales. As a result, small and medium businesses are facing a shortage of slots. Many are being rejected or put on waiting lists.
What this has led to:
- A sharp increase in air freight rates (up to +30–40% in some cases).
- Difficulties with booking — many flights are fully booked weeks ahead.
- More delays and postponed shipments.
What businesses should do:
- Don’t delay planning.
If you have cargo that needs urgent delivery — act now. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to book a good spot or meet your deadlines.
- Work with an experienced logistics partner.
Searching for a flight on your own could take days — and there’s no guarantee of success. Logistics companies have direct ties with agents and airlines, know where slots are still available, and how to access the cargo flow. In some cases, it is more expedient to choose a combined delivery - for example, air transportation to the nearest European airport, and then by road to the final destination. This approach allows you to bypass congested hubs, save time and provide flexibility, especially if direct air freight to the desired airport is temporarily unavailable or too expensive. - Consider combined transport routes.
How DiFFreight operates in these conditions:
- We monitor the air freight market daily and respond quickly to any changes.
- We pre-book cargo space in advance to ensure uninterrupted shipment of your goods.
- We work in parallel with several reliable Chinese agents who have direct contracts with leading airlines. Thanks to this, we quickly check the availability of cargo spaces from various airports in China to key European hubs, which allows us to choose the best option in terms of destination, budget and delivery times - even during peak periods.
Tip from DiFFreight:Even if you’re only starting to plan a shipment — it’s best to speak with our experts now. This will help secure favorable conditions and reduce risks during peak load times.
Contact us:
We’re always available — via messenger, email, or phone. We’ll calculate the cost, suggest routes, and reserve space.
DiFFreight — like a superpower for your cargo.
Valid:
