News / Air freight review: carriers eye higher contract rates after extended peak

© Alibek Aibazov

Airlines are taking advantage of the elongated December peak to raise contract rates for 2025. 

Carriers are thought to have increased rates by about 10%, both for long-haul and intra-Asian routes, according to Dimerco.

A forwarding source in Shanghai backed this assessment, noting a $1.4/kg increase in blocked space agreements on Asia to Europe. However, while the forwarder said that level “would be a record over the past many years”, Dimerco claimed rates were lower than in 2023. 

The lengthy peak has ...