News / Forwarders hit as on-time performance of air cargo schedules worsens

ID 35913574 © Andrey Burmakin

Average on-time performance among the major airlines flew downwards in July, to numbers that could indicate cause for concern.

And there may be a “significant and direct” impact on freight forwarders.

One forwarder told The Loadstar: “On-time performance for airlines based on Cargo IQ data is interesting because a lot of customers ask for 95–plus percent. But 25 of the top 40 airlines worldwide deliver around 76%, 77% over the month. So how do you want us to deliver 95%?” 

According to Cargo IQ’s latest data, average on-time performance among 22 major airlines was 77% in July, 3% below June’s reliability of 80%.  

It also represents a steep downward trend from May’s average of 81%. 

CargoIQ is an IATA interest group creating and implementing performance management standards for the air cargo industry, measuring member airlines punctuality through notification of freight and document (NFD) availability at destination.

Director of the Air Forwarders’ Assocation, Brandon Fried, told The Loadstar: “A good on-time availability percentage is typically anything exceeding 90%. A result in the 80s would be considered mediocre, while anything in the 70s or lower would be cause for concern.  

“When these numbers drop, it’s a clear signal there’s some kind of disruption in the supply chain that’s impacting performance,” he added.  

This has a “significant and direct” impact on freight forwarders and their customers, explained Mr Fried.  

“It can lead to missed connections, which then causes a chain reaction of delays. This often results in higher costs, including storage fees, and can even damage a freight forwarder’s relationship with customers, as our business is built on trust and reliability.”

The discrepancy of NFD availability across the 22 airlines surveyed in July ranges from 57% to the highest score of 94%. But director general of TIACA Glyn Hughes told The Loadstar the top-line NFD percentage might not reveal the whole story. 

“Commodity type, regulatory complexity and adoption of digital border processes will influence cargo NFD levels, so it’s not a direct comparative measurement between carriers” he pointed out. 

Indeed, Mr Fried added, often, a low on-time availability percentage was a symptom of a much larger, systemic issue within the air cargo ecosystem. 

“It’s a mix of both what’s within and outside an airline’s control,” he said. “While an airline can manage its own operational efficiency, external factors like weather, air traffic control delays, and outdated airport infrastructure, can all cause significant delays. And geopolitical events can also have a huge impact on air cargo routes and schedules.” 

Mr Fried attributed the dip in July to a mixture of congested airports, ground handling labour shortages, and outdated facilities “slowing cargo down”.  

He said: “Add poor data-sharing between airlines, forwarders, and handlers, and you’ve got a recipe for missed performance targets.

“Until the industry tackles trucking congestion, modernises cargo facilities, and invests in real digital connectivity, on-time performance will keep sliding, no matter what the trade rules are.”