News / Airfreight rates soften as bellies bounce back on the Atlantic

© Ricky Deacon

The start of May has seen a softening of the air freight market – with customers on long-term contracts paying more than the spot rate, as belly bounces back.

For the first time post-pandemic, since the end of March capacity over the transatlantic is higher than pre-pandemic levels.

This extra capacity has led to the lowest dynamic load factors since the first half of January on western Europe to North America, albeit that it rose from 63% to 67% in the last ...