Peak season pressure: Why main deck freighters are mission-critical

In a report titled ‘Keeping Supply Chains Strong Amid Global Celebrations:Managing Holiday Peaks’, MSC Shipping noted that holiday peaks often trigger a domino effect across global supply chains. A single disruption at the early stages can ripple across networks, leaving retailers exposed to lost sales and strained margins. For air cargo, the same principle holds true, only magnified. Seasonal surges such as Chinese New Year, mid-year sales, Black Friday, and Christmas compress demand into short windows where main deck freighter capacity becomes the ultimate pinch point.

Why peak seasons matter
The global trading calendar is punctuated by recurring cargo peaks. Chinese New Year shutdowns lead to intense pre-holiday shipments followed by a surge of replenishment when factories reopen. Mid-year promotions and back-to-school campaigns drive volumes across Asia and Europe. Then comes the crescendo: Singles’ Day in China, Black Friday and Cyber Monday in the United States, followed swiftly by Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

These peaks hit industries differently but with equally high stakes. Electronics and high-tech shipments surge in the run-up to the holiday retail season. The apparel trade depends on fast replenishment during sales events. Pharmaceuticals and perishables require uninterrupted cold chain integrity even as warehouses fill and flight schedules tighten. For semiconductors and machinery, a single delayed delivery can stall entire production lines.

Getting peak wrong can mean delays, penalties, and lost sales. It is not just about moving more cargo; it is about protecting the business continuity of customers across industries.

Electronics, fashion, perishables, and increasingly semiconductors all depend on timely uplift to meet consumer demand. Bellyhold capacity, though valuable, cannot accommodate the oversized and high-volume shipments that define these periods. Airlines, forwarders, and shippers are therefore locked in an annual contest to secure main deck space well in advance, with strategies ranging from chartering extra freighters to deploying flexible fleets. The question is whether these measures can keep pace with the growing intensity and unpredictability of global peak seasons.

Main deck freighters versus bellyhold
Main deck freighters have always been central to peak season resilience. Their ability to carry outsized, odd-sized, and palletised cargo sets them apart from bellyhold capacity. Passenger aircraft bellies provide useful lift but cannot accommodate large machinery, automotive parts, or even the sheer density of consolidated e-commerce parcels moving across continents.

ECS Group’s CEO, Jean Ceccaldi, points out that while demand for both passenger and freighter space rises during peaks, freighters absorb more volatility: “During peak season, demand remains strong across both passenger and freighter flights. Outside of these periods, freighter operations generally experience greater fluctuations, while passenger flights tend to maintain steadier capacity levels.”

For shippers of high-value commodities such as semiconductors or pharmaceuticals, freighters remain the backbone of timely delivery when supply chains tighten.

“Every airline planning for the peak is having a digital tool at the centre of its strategy.”
Adrien Thominet, Aerion

How airlines and handlers plan ahead
Preparation for peak seasons starts months in advance. Airlines secure block space agreements with forwarders, schedule charter flights, and reposition freighters to high-demand routes. Flexible solutions such as ACMI leasing or the temporary conversion of passenger aircraft into freighters still play a role when additional lift is needed.

On the ground, handlers prepare by expanding workforce readiness and optimising facilities. Dirk Goovaerts, Swissport’s CEO for Continental Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India, and Global Cargo Chair, explains: “Swissport prepares for peak cargo seasons with early planning, strong workforce readiness, and optimised infrastructure. Our teams, trained for high-volume handling, are supported by specialised facilities like the flower corridor linking Nairobi with Amsterdam, Liège, and Brussels to keep perishables fresh. Our Cool+Connect terminal in Basel exemplifies advanced cold chain management, cutting CO₂ emissions and handling times while safeguarding pharmaceuticals.”

Digitalisation is another lever. From AI-based forecasting to IoT monitoring, handlers are deploying tools that predict and smooth flows. “Swissport uses AI-based forecasting to predict cargo surges and optimise staffing, IoT sensors to monitor temperature-sensitive shipments, and automated material handling systems to speed up ULD transfers,” Goovaerts says. The company's Cargospot platform, for instance, is a core digital tool that streamlines terminal operations and provides customers with end-to-end shipment visibility, helping to reduce dwell times and improve overall flow.

Regional dynamics of peak pressure
Peaks manifest differently across geographies. Asia is the epicentre of manufacturing and e-commerce exports, with China and Vietnam leading the surge. Ahead of Chinese New Year, factories rush to ship before prolonged closures, causing outbound capacity crunches.

Transpacific lanes face their heaviest strain in the run-up to U.S. retail events like Black Friday and Christmas. Europe, meanwhile, acts as both a consumption market and a redistribution hub. Airports such as Liège, Frankfurt and Luxembourg take on critical roles in connecting global flows.

At Liège Airport, executives highlight how their infrastructure and operational model provide resilience during peaks. With over 70 freighter stands, 24/7 operations and a community-driven digital platform, the Belgian hub positions itself as a peak-season shock absorber. “Our charter-friendly environment, rapid customs clearance, and specialised handling for e-commerce and perishables position us to absorb volume spikes, particularly during high-demand periods like year-end holidays,” says Frédéric Brun, Head of Commercial Cargo & Logistics.

Vice President of Sales & Marketing Torsten Wefers adds that the €500 million CARGOLAND development, which includes 90 hectares of logistics space and expanded first-line warehouses, is designed specifically to handle future surges sustainably. The airport's digital ecosystem, including the LGG CONNECT platform, enhances collaboration by sharing real-time data and planning forecasts among stakeholders, fostering a community-driven approach that is "Support, Share, Grow." The airport is even deploying a digital twin to proactively predict and resolve bottlenecks.

Technology and visibility
Technology is now inseparable from peak season planning. Dynamic pricing platforms help airlines manage yield under pressure, while digital marketplaces and booking systems provide forwarders and shippers with real-time visibility.

ECS Group has invested heavily in digital solutions through its Cargo Digital Factory. Ceccaldi explains, “We are investing in digital booking and capacity management to enhance our ability to handle peak volatility. Our Cargo Digital Factory develops proprietary tools such as Quantum for intelligent pricing and Apollo for real-time business intelligence. This enables us to automate quotations, optimise load planning, and maintain visibility across our global network.” The group’s collaboration with CargoTech also allows them to leverage AI-powered solutions like CargoAi’s CargoCoPilot to streamline workflows and reduce manual tasks. 

“We anticipate increased peak-season demand in emerging markets such as Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.”
Jean Ceccaldi, ECS Group

The parcel and e-commerce surge
If there is one segment that defines modern peak seasons, it is e-commerce. Volumes driven by platforms such as Alibaba, Amazon, Temu, and Shein have transformed Q4 into the industry’s busiest period. This has also created opportunities for specialised players.

Adrien Thominet, Chairman of Aerion, explained how the group’s Mail & More unit supports parcel flows:“At Mail & More, we prepare for peak shipping periods by scaling digital capacity planning, streamlining booking processes, and enhancing visibility through our MAIL EDI system which is a mission-critical tool that supports seamless integration of booking, labelling, customs documentation, and shipment tracking, helping customers maintain full visibility and control.”

Thominet highlighted the rise of consumer-to-consumer flows and the growing expectations of Gen Z and millennial shoppers for fast, traceable delivery. “Every airline wishing to enter into this commodity or planning for the peak is having a digital tool at the centre of its strategy,” he says. “Not doing so is no longer an option.”

Flexibility in routing is also essential. “Sometimes it is relevant to consider alternative routes by taking an extra day in transit rather than losing a couple of days at the destination because of congestion,” he added. This is especially important given recent geopolitical movements and the shift of production territories.

For shippers, securing space during peak months requires early engagement. Large retailers and manufacturers negotiate long-term block agreements, while smaller businesses often resort to paying premium spot rates. Some diversify modes through sea-air combinations, while others build up safety stocks in advance.

Thominet recommended that customers secure capacity early. “This year has seen geopolitical shifts and regulatory changes that alter origin-destination flows. Anticipation and planning are critical to avoid costly delays,” he noted.

Looking ahead, airlines are adding to their freighter fleets, with new production aircraft and passenger-to-freighter conversions in the pipeline. Yet whether this expansion will keep pace with demand is uncertain. Sustainability is another layer: freighter operations face growing scrutiny on emissions, and industry stakeholders are under pressure to make peak planning compatible with decarbonisation commitments.

ECS Group expects demand growth in emerging markets, from Africa to Latin America, where e-commerce and pharmaceuticals are driving new traffic. Liège is investing in scalable, sustainable infrastructure. Swissport continues to digitise ground handling, while Aerion’s Mail & More positions itself as the connective tissue between airlines, consolidators and postal networks.

Peak seasons are the ultimate test of air cargo resilience. Success depends on planning months ahead, securing scarce main deck capacity, and leveraging technology to anticipate and respond. Collaboration between airlines, airports, handlers and forwarders is essential, as is flexibility in rerouting and operations.

For now, the message is clear: main deck capacity will remain at the core of peak-season performance, and those who plan, digitise, and coordinate effectively will be best placed to ride the surges, from Chinese New Year to Black Friday and beyond.

This article was originally published in the STAT Trade Times' September 2025 issue.