News / Glut of new China-Europe capacity will depress airfreight rates

Surging China-Europe air passenger services will only serve to further depress air freight rates, as the industry struggles to contend with mounting belly capacity amid weak demand.

Looking at the UK alone, the spike in services over the past six months has been dramatic, with weekly China-Heathrow flights increasing ten-fold, from five to 54.

Passengers and shippers are welcoming the new capacity, but forwarders are asking carriers: “How will they fill their freight bellies?”

“Looking at the Chinese market and the new capacity ...