Trans-Atlantic airfreight capacity tight despite charters

Dachser USA’s trans-Atlantic charter, launched in July between Frankfurt (FRA) and Chicago (ORD) with a 747-400F, has operated nearly at full capacity for the past 17 weeks. Capacity on the westbound leg falls well short of demand, however. [caption id="attachment_88715" align="alignright" width="300"] Photo/Dachser.[/caption] “From Europe into the U.S., we could have another plane, demand is so high,” Dachser USA’s vice president, air freight, Andy Frommenwiler, told Air Cargo World . Outbound from the U.S. has also increased in recent months, he said, but not to the same extent. Top exports from Europe to the U.S. on the charters include mechanical engineering products, accounting for more than 40% of exports, followed by metal products and electrical equipment. Eastbound, U.S. exports include vehicle parts, data processing devices, electronic optical products and other electrical equipment, according to a press release on the charters. The increase in automotive parts shipments relates to the gradual recovery of the automotive industry, which was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and has since faced production challenges around parts shortages and other delays. While supply chains are recovering, Frommenwiler said transit times to and from the U.S. are well behind pre-pandemic norms, particularly for ocean freight, and the modal shift to air has also caused bottlenecks for automotive customers. “We’re alerting customers to the situation in the U.S. and telling them to plan ahead,” he said. “You can’t just consider regular transit times of two to three days for regular freight and 24 hours for priority.” In some cases, congestion at major airports may cause delays of between five to 10 days, according to Frommenwiler, who said Dachser USA is working to avoid particularly congested airports, such as Los Angeles (LAX) , and opting to truck cargo from other airports with more normal handling times. Unfortunately, there is little light at the end of the tunnel beyond the peak season, as the industry gears up for global vaccine distribution. While additional charter capacity will likely enter the market for vaccine shipments once the transport requirements are known, “with the vaccine rollout, “it’ll get worse,” according to Frommenwiler. Infrastructure limitations like warehousing shortages around major airports and COVID-19 outbreaks among cargo handlers will likely contribute to slower transit times for the foreseeable future.

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