Global air cargo demand surged in 2024, and Schiphol Cargo effectively leveraged this growth to strengthen its position in the sector.
Published on: 14 February 2025
Total air cargo tonnage reached 1.5 million tonnes in 2024, marking an +8.2% increase compared to 2023. This growth was driven by a surge in e-commerce and various global geo-political developments and ocean shipping restrictions. The Full Freighter/Belly ratio stood at 57%/43%, reflecting a shift towards a higher proportion of belly freight (up from 39% in 2023). We anticipate this trend will continue in the coming years.
Despite a 1.9% decrease in Full Freighter Air Traffic Movements (to 15,661 ATMs), the higher average load factor led to a +0.9% increase in full freighter tonnage compared to 2023. Belly freight saw a notable +19.8% increase, driven by a higher number of flights carrying belly cargo, as passenger flights continued their post-COVID recovery. Electronics, machinery and spare parts, perishables, clothing, e-commerce goods, and pharmaceuticals are some of the largest categories by freight volume.
All regions experienced strong growth, with the exception of Latin America, which saw a decline, partly due to the reallocation of routes to and from Asia driven by e-commerce demand.
Growth in both Inbound and Outbound Tonnage:
- Inbound tonnage grew by +7.8%, fueled by strong demand from regions including the Middle East (India), Far East (China, Japan, Korea), Africa (Kenya, South Africa), and the US.
- Outbound tonnage saw an +8.8% increase, primarily driven by demand from the US. Significant growth also stemmed from The Middle East, Africa and Europe.
The full 2024 annual report is on our annual reports site.