Air cargo operators warn of capacity crunch

Some of the world’s biggest air cargo operators are warning they face a capacity crunch, as their jet fleets age and Boeing and Airbus delay delivering new aircraft. Mr Michael Steen, Chief Executive of US-based air freight operator Atlas Air, said that the supply-demand imbalance for large wide-body freighters will intensify over the next several years. He blamed in part an upcoming wave of aircraft retirements, coupled with limited capacity entering the market and ongoing aviation supply chain challenges. Of the approximately 630 large wide-body freighters in active operation around the world, up to 150 are nearing or have already entered their retirement window as they are 25 years or older.  As for new aircraft deliveries, there is very limited wide-body capacity entering the market, said a report.