why air cargo handling hubs are adapting to meet e-commerce demand

• Why E-commerce is Driving Change in Air Cargo Handling
• Why Traditional Air Cargo Handling Hubs Need to Adapt
• The Biggest Challenges Facing Air Cargo Handling Hubs
• How Air Cargo Handling Hubs are Adapting
• How Cargo Handling Systems Help Meet E-commerce Demand
• Supporting Your Hub With Our Air Cargo Handling Equipment

How e-commerce has changed air cargo

Online retail is having a profound impact on both air cargo and ocean freight.

• The direct-to-consumer model is shifting. Companies are switching from palletising freight to sending individual parcels directly to customers.
• Shipments have become smaller but more frequent, as parcel freight prioritises speed, tracking visibility and last-mile delivery integration.
• Seasonality is diminishing. E-commerce is creating constant demand throughout the entire year, and peak periods are becoming longer.
• The scale of this shift is reflected in global air cargo demand. In July 2026, global industry-wide cargo tonne-kilometers rose by 3.9% compared to July 2025.

The challenges that e-commerce demands are creating for air cargo handling hubs are numerous. Right now, there are three main categories of issue.

Capacity and Infrastructure Constraints

Capacity and infrastructure constraints are a major challenge for the hubs. Just now:

• Warehouses are struggling with congestion;
• Storage space is limited;
• and peak periods are creating bottlenecks.
• IATA reported in June 2026 that industry capacity, which is measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK), increased by 1.7%, which was less than the increase in cargo demand.

Processing High Volumes of Individual Parcels

The high volume of individual parcels that the hubs are handling is also causing challenges in the form of:

• Increased sorting requirements
• Extra handling touchpoints
• and greater tracking complexity.

E-commerce Air cargo handling hubs have realised the urgency of the situation and the demands that online retail is placing on them and are responding. The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) recommends cargo handlers to invest in logistics infrastructure to deal with increased e-commerce cargo volumes and ensure efficient handling and processing.

Having worked with aviation, logistics and cargo-handling operations, we have seen first-hand how changes in cargo volumes, facility layouts and handling requirements affect air cargo operations. Today, operators are responding through a combination of automation, digitalisation and facility redesign.

Investing in Automation

Implementing automation is a big development in air cargo handling and is transforming how the hubs process cargo. Automated cargo handling is allowing them to increase their throughput.

Digitalising Cargo Operations

Digitalisation has become vital in air cargo handling as well.

• Electronic air waybills (e-AWB): these electronic versions of the contract between the shipper or forwarder and the airline or carrier have become central in air cargo handling. They minimise error, accelerate the process, ensure visibility in the shipping process and allow cross-border compliance and compliance with customs clearance digitalisation.
• RFID and barcode tracking: these help to speed up identification and sorting, improve security of cargo, ensure accuracy, maintain operational flow and allow real-time tracking and visibility as items move through the shipping process.
• Cargo management platforms: these platforms provide real-time visibility throughout shipping, support smoother cargo handling and operational flow, and help operators manage storage locations more effectively. They also allow hubs to monitor and optimise cargo movements, helping them make better use of available capacity as e-commerce volumes grow.

E-commerce demand may be growing by the year, but Air Cargo Handling Equipment is helping hubs to meet this demand, and they’re doing so in various ways.

Increasing throughput

Air cargo handling systems are increasing the total volume of cargo the hubs are processing by:

• Accelerating loading and unloading;
• Reducing bottlenecks;
• Allowing the hubs to process cargo continuously;
• Increasing handling capacity.

Improving safety and reducing manual handling

The systems also improve safety and reduce manual handling, which they do by:

• reducing manual processes, which minimises manual handling and spares operators potential injuries;
• and lowering the dependency on manual labour

The reduction of manual handling also creates less rise of cargo damage from operators mishandling the goods, either by hand or not operating forklifts correctly.

Supporting scalable cargo operations

Air cargo handling systems not only help hubs to process current volumes of air cargo, but they also support future growth. They do this by:

• reducing turnaround times so the hub can process more;
• freeing up equipment and allowing operators to use it more productively;
• preparing hubs for future growth by enabling them to handle higher volumes.

The growth of e-commerce is changing what air cargo hubs need from their facilities. Automation, digitalisation, improved cargo flows and flexible handling infrastructure can help operators respond to increasing volumes while maintaining safe and efficient operations. You can increase your handling capacity, reduce manual handling and make air cargo handling much safer with our systems and equipment. We’re happy to help and can advise you on the best of our resources to support your air cargo hub.

To take the first step towards boosting your air cargo handling, message us via our contact form or email us at hello@joloda.com. Before making any recommendations, we’ll come out to your site and evaluate your facilities. After agreeing on the best systems and/or equipment, our expert engineers will install everything for you so that you can conduct your business safely and smoothly.