- E-commerce now accounts for more than 20% of global air freight volume, reshaping operational requirements across the sector.
- Andre Majeres of IATA highlights the shift towards speed, fragmentation and complexity, with a sharp rise in special shipments – perishable products, pharmaceuticals and personal medicines.
- Pharmaceutical shipments are now 90 percent temperature controlled, and refrigerated goods grew 62 percent year-on-year.
E-commerce now represents more than a fifth of global air freight volume, according to the International Air Transport Association, signaling a profound structural shift in how goods are moved across borders.
“We can say that 20 percent of air freight comes from e-commerce transactions,” said Andre Majeres, head of e-commerce and cargo operations at IATA.
With more than 2.7 billion digital shoppers and more than 80 percent of cross-border e-commerce moving by air, speed remains the key driver. But the B2C model brings fragmentation, irregular ordering, and tighter delivery periods.
This shift is particularly evident in emerging markets. While China and the United States dominate online retail, Latin America and Southeast Asia are seeing double-digit growth in e-commerce, creating a new wave of mid-level merchandise flows.
Cold chains, live animals and the rise of special cargo
The growth of air freight is not just about volume, but also about complexity. “Efficiency is the minimum. Excellence is what we strive for,” Majeres told delegates, highlighting the increasing dominance of specialty goods: perishable products, pharmaceuticals, and temperature-sensitive goods.
In 2025, fruits and vegetables accounted for the largest share of perishable products transported by air – 28 percent – followed by fish (23 percent), general perishables (19 percent), flowers (12 percent), and meat (9 percent). It was a notable statistic Cool goodswhich although still only 8 percent of total perishable products, grew by 62 percent year-on-year.
Pharma Shipping has also undergone a transformation. In 2019, only 59% of pharmaceutical shipments were temperature controlled. By 2025, this share had jumped to 90%. “This tells us that we are responding to the needs of the industry,” Majeres said.
Regulatory harmonization is starting to catch up. Brazil has become the latest of 46 countries to officially adopt the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animal Regulations (LAR), underscoring the broader move towards harmonized standards across sensitive cargo classes.
One of the most practically demanding growth sectors is personalized medicine, especially cell and gene therapies. Unlike traditional merchandise, these products often include one patient and one specimen form with a string of identity and 24/7 monitoring requirements.
“We can’t just talk about being on time,” Majeres said. “We have to be on time.” “There’s not a second we can lose.”
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