Weekly Air Operations Update: Shanghai to Europe, US and Australia - 25/10/24

General overview: The air market continues to be hot. The space on all routes out of North and South China are full, and rates are continuing to rise. The space for EU and US routes are full until early November.

In Bangladesh, the air cargo market is currently stable, the space situation has normalised, and due to a decrease in cargo volume, rates have started to decrease.

Shanghai to London

• Airport operations are currently normal
• Hauliers are working as normal
• No flight cancellations on Shanghai to London routes
• Weather is normal
• Space is very tight
• Air rates are increasing

 Shanghai to New York

• Airport operations are currently normal
• Hauliers are working as normal
• No flight cancellations
• Weather is normal
• Space is very tight
• Air rates are increasing

Shanghai to Los Angeles

• Airport operations are currently normal
• Hauliers are working as normal
• No flight cancellations
• Weather is normal
• Space is very tight
• Air rates are increasing

Shanghai to Frankfurt

• Airport operations are currently normal
• Hauliers are working as normal
• No flight cancellations
• Weather is normal
• Space is very tight
• Air rates are increasing

Shanghai to Melbourne

• Airport operations are currently normal
• Hauliers are working as normal
• No flight cancellations
• Weather is normal
• Space is very tight
• Rates are high and continuing to increase

Shanghai to Sydney

• Airport operations are currently normal
• Hauliers are working as normal
• No flight cancellations
• Weather is normal
• Space is very tight
• Rates are high and continuing to increase

Bangladesh update

The air cargo market is currently stable, and there is no congestion within the Cargo Village. Three out of four EDS machines are out of order, with only one operational. As a result, only LHR-bound shipments are being prioritized for scanning with the operational EDS machine. Shipments to other destinations are experiencing extended delays.

The space situation has normalised, and shipment dwell time has been reduced to 1-2 days. However, some carriers continue to face issues with onward confirmation from hubs, especially for flights heading to the US and Canada.

Due to a decrease in cargo volume, carriers have begun to gradually reduce rates. Although rates to the US and EU remain high, they are expected to decrease further in the coming days.

Market updates

Another 3 European airlines cut China services.

THREE more European airlines have recently joined their peers in scaling back operations in China as they grapple with sluggish demand and a Russian airspace ban that has made it harder to compete with Chinese rivals, reports Caixin.

Poland's national carrier, Polskie Linie Lotnicze LOT, announced it would suspend direct flights between Beijing and Warsaw for the upcoming winter season, Polskie Radio reported.

On the airline's website, its last bookable direct flight from Beijing to Warsaw for the winter season is scheduled to depart on October 25. The next such flight available for booking on the website is scheduled for March 31.

The suspension was due to unsatisfactory ticket sales, in part as the company brings a "less competitive offer" to the market than airlines flying shorter routes between Europe and China, said Polskie Radio.