Air freight market stays concentrated as digital and cold-chain competition heats up

The Business Research Company says Kuehne Nagel led global air freight sales in 2024, as the top 10 players held 37% of revenue in a fairly concentrated market. The report points to rising competition around digital freight tools, cargo visibility, cold-chain capacity and integrated terminals as operators position for faster and more specialized shipping demand.

Why it matters: - Air freight is increasingly defined by speed, visibility and specialized handling, especially for pharmaceuticals, perishables and other time-sensitive cargo. - The report frames network scale, digital tools and regulatory compliance as key advantages for companies trying to win more cross-border shipment business. - A more concentrated market can make it harder for smaller operators to compete without carrier relationships, broad route coverage or technology investment.

What happened: - The Business Research Company published its Air Freight Market Report 2026, covering market size, trends and a global forecast for 2026-2035. - Kuehne Nagel Management AG led global sales in 2024 with a 14% market share. - The company’s air logistics division offers time-critical shipping, consolidated freight, temperature-controlled solutions and digital supply chain visibility tools. - The report says the top 10 air freight players accounted for 37% of total market revenue in 2024. - The report lists Kuehne Nagel Management AG, DHL International GmbH, DSV A/S, DB Schenker, Sinotrans Ltd., Nippon Express Co., Ltd., Expeditors International of Washington, Inc., United Parcel Service, Inc., CEVA Logistics and UPS Supply Chain Solutions, Inc. among the leading companies. - The report also names major companies operating in the market, including FedEx Corp., American Airlines Inc., Air France-KLM S.A., Delta Air Lines Inc., Korean Air Lines Co. Ltd. and Singapore Airlines Limited. - Request a free sample of the air freight market report. - Access the detailed air freight market report.

The details: - The report says the market is fairly concentrated, with moderate entry barriers tied to global route networks, cargo capacity, digital logistics platforms, international regulatory compliance and shipper relationships. - Kuehne Nagel held 14% of the market in 2024, followed by DHL International GmbH at 7%, DSV A/S at 6% and DB Schenker at 5%. - Sinotrans Ltd. held 2% of the market, while Nippon Express Co., Ltd. and Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. each held 1%. - United Parcel Service, Inc. held 0.4%, CEVA Logistics held 0.4% and UPS Supply Chain Solutions, Inc. held 0.2%. - Major raw material suppliers in the market include Shell Aviation, BP Aviation, ExxonMobil Aviation, TotalEnergies Aviation, Chevron Corporation, Airbus SE, Boeing Company and Embraer S.A. - The report also lists ATR, Safran S.A., Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, Lufthansa Technik AG, Unilode Aviation Solutions, Brambles Limited, DoKaSch GmbH, Nordisk Aviation Products, CSafe Global, Envirotainer AB and SkyCell AG as suppliers. - Major wholesalers and distributors include Kuehne Nagel Management AG, DHL International GmbH, DSV A/S, DB Schenker, Sinotrans Ltd., Nippon Express Co., Ltd., Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. and United Parcel Service, Inc. - The report names Apple Inc., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Intel Corporation, Pfizer Inc., Moderna, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Novartis AG, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Amazon.com, Inc., Alibaba Group Holding Limited, Walmart Inc. and Zara as major end users. - Other end users include Nike, Inc., Tesla, Inc., General Electric Company, Caterpillar Inc., Bosch Group and Siemens AG. - The report says integrated cargo terminal development is reshaping the market by improving throughput, coordination and handling of high-value shipments. - In September 2025, Adani Airports Holdings Limited operationalized a new Integrated Cargo Terminal at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. - The terminal was designed to centralize and streamline cargo operations. - The report says the terminal’s high-capacity infrastructure, airline cargo consolidation and specialized handling support pharmaceuticals, perishables and express consignments. - The 2026 edition of the report adds market attractiveness scoring, TAM analysis, company scoring matrices, Excel-based forecasting dashboards, market hotspots infographics and updated graphics and tables.

Between the lines: - The competitive edge in air freight is shifting beyond pure transport capacity toward software, specialization and network orchestration. - Cold-chain logistics and cargo visibility are becoming differentiators as shippers demand tighter control over delivery conditions and transit timing. - The concentration data suggests leading integrators and logistics networks can defend share, but only if they keep investing in route density, automation and service breadth. - The report also flags sustainable aviation cargo solutions as an emerging strategy, signaling pressure to improve emissions performance alongside efficiency.

What’s next: - The report expects demand for faster transit times, supply chain visibility, cross-border trade efficiency and specialized cargo handling to keep rising. - Companies are focusing on digital freight management platforms, advanced cold-chain air logistics, AI and automation, and lower-emission cargo solutions. - Network expansion and service differentiation are expected to remain central to competition as the market evolves through 2035.

The bottom line: - Air freight remains a scale game, but the next wave of competition is being shaped by digital control, temperature-sensitive logistics and smarter cargo infrastructure.