Advantages and Challenges of International Air Freight How Can Enterprises Cope?

The Advantages and Challenges of International Air Freight How Should Enterprises Respond?

With the acceleration of globalization, the international trade and logistics industries have ushered in unprecedented development opportunities. Among various transportation methods, international air freight, with its efficiency and flexibility, has become the key link connecting global markets. However, this rapid development also brings a series of challenges. So, how can enterprises better leverage the advantages of international air freight while effectively addressing these challenges?

Firstly, the greatest advantage of international air freight lies in speed. Compared to sea, rail or road transport, air transport can cross long distances in a short time, providing timely delivery services for enterprises. For example, during the pandemic, many medical supplies such as vaccines and protective equipment needed to be quickly transported around the world, and air transport became the best choice. According to Economic Daily reports, the global air cargo volume increased by 8.2% in 2025, indicating that an increasing number of enterprises began to rely on air transport to meet market demand.

Secondly, international air freight can support the circulation of high-value-added products. Electronic devices, precision instruments, and other high-tech products have strict requirements for transportation conditions, while air transport provides reliable guarantees for such goods with its stability and safety. Air transport is particularly suitable for the transportation of seasonal goods, such as fresh fruits and flowers. Take Chilean cherries as an example; every winter, large quantities of cherries are transported into the Chinese market through air freight, ensuring consumers can enjoy the freshest products.

However, international air freight is not without challenges. The primary issue is the high cost. Despite airlines continuously optimizing their route networks and service quality, fluctuations in fuel prices, airport congestion, and high operational costs still deter many enterprises. According to data from The Wall Street Journal, global aviation fuel costs rose by approximately 40% in 2025, placing immense pressure on both airlines and shippers. Weather factors, geopolitical risks, and technical failures may also lead to flight delays or cancellations, further increasing the difficulty of enterprise logistics management.

To address these challenges, enterprises need to take proactive measures to reduce risks and enhance competitiveness. On one hand, they can lock in lower freight discounts by signing long-term cooperation agreements; on the other hand, they should strengthen the diversification of supply chain layouts to reduce uncertainties brought about by a single mode of transport. For instance, some large e-commerce companies have begun to try shifting part of their orders from air transport to rail transport or multimodal transport models to balance cost and relationships.

It is worth noting that digital transformation is also an important means for enterprises to respond to the challenges of air freight. By leveraging Internet of Things IoT technology and big data analysis platforms, enterprises can track the status of goods in real-time, predict potential risks, and formulate more scientific and reasonable logistics plans. Meanwhile, intelligent warehouse systems can help enterprises optimize inventory management, avoiding capital waste caused by insufficient or excessive inventory.

In summary, international air freight, as an efficient cross-border logistics solution, provides strong support for enterprises to open up international markets. However, the high costs and uncontrollable risks cannot be ignored. Only through reasonable planning, technological innovation, and flexible adjustments in strategies can enterprises stand firm in this blue ocean and achieve sustainable development. In the future, with the application of new technologies and the improvement of industry standards, international air freight will undoubtedly welcome broader development space.