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Date: 30/10/2024

Air cargo flows strained due to festival-linked passenger traffic
 
Air freight forwarders and shippers are reporting a severe strain on airline belly hold capacity due to festival-linked passenger traffic. Various Indian festivals run between September and November, with Diwali – the festival of lights — the biggest celebration, starting on October 31. Industry sources complain that the cargo capacity crunch is seriously impacting supply chains, especially time-sensitive or perishable cargo movements. Cargo volumes had seen strong surges in recent weeks, causing clearance delays of up to four days at major airports. Additionally, air freight rates out of India for major international destinations moved substantially higher – rising 23% to 65% in the US, Europe and Latin America. To mitigate cargo delays, logistics stakeholders are exploring alternatives, including dedicated freighters and road haulers, which inevitably involve additional costs, as per a report.