Record 100 Airlines at Miami Forum as Freighter Squeeze Bites

A record 100 airlines were represented among delegates at TIACA's Air Cargo Forum in Miami this week, a gathering of roughly 3,000 people that unfolded against the industry's most acute freighter capacity shortage in years. The number matters because it signals how carriers, forwarders and shippers are converging on a single problem: where to find capacity, how to secure it, and how long the squeeze lasts.

Forecasts circulating at the event put next-year demand growth at 5% or more, with expectations for capacity growth more mixed. Demand from the AI sector appears set to continue well beyond the traditional peak season — a word, notably, that attendees heard surprisingly little. Transpacific freighter operators had particular reason for cheer, though the same cannot be said for anyone trying to book space on them.

One veteran observer noted that in over a decade of covering the industry, they had never heard so many airlines calling out for freighter capacity — normally a risky business. Freightor conversions have shot up in price, and delivery dates stretching over the next several years may arrive too late for the current rush.

Could the Boeing 777F shortage worsen?

Unconfirmed rumours in Miami suggested Boeing might not use its FAA exemption to keep delivering the current 777 freighter beyond 2027. Boeing and the FAA have not confirmed this. For an industry hoping the aircraft shortage resolves itself, the speculation offered little comfort.

Ecommerce, whose demise has been eagerly discussed, was still taking up space — down on some lanes, but certainly not out of the picture.

What does the squeeze change for shippers?

For shippers, a prolonged capacity crunch makes the relationship with forwarders more consequential. Their message in Miami was straightforward: help us when things go wrong, and we will remember when it is time to award the next contract.

One shipper described rewarding a forwarder that had worked to protect agreed rates during a capacity crunch, rather than simply joining the queue with a surcharge. Others wanted practical alternatives when disruption struck. Loyalty carries commercial value, even if it is difficult to capture in a procurement spreadsheet.

There was less enthusiasm for "yet another" dashboard. A beautifully displayed problem remains a problem, even if it is reassuring to know precisely which shade of amber a shipment has become.

Forwarders had their own disappointments. One said he had emerged from a string of airline meetings finding the offerings distinctly "meh" — little innovation, not much to get excited about. With space in short supply, an airline can perhaps get away with a sales pitch that amounts to having some. But a market in which customers need you is also an opportunity to give them a reason to stay when they don't.

Union protest and leadership handover

Outside the venue, union protesters dressed as rats highlighted safety allegations against ground handler Alliance Ground International. Inside, AGI occupied a large stand at the main entrance to the exhibition hall — an awkward arrangement for anyone hoping visitors would encounter only approved brand messaging.

The event also marked a generational handover. TIACA director general Glyn Hughes is departing, with Mammen Tharakan taking over and Hughes continuing part-time until January. He plans to spend time "doing life" before deciding what comes next, though persuading an industry accustomed to his availability that retirement is not simply a more flexible booking system may prove a challenge. Roos Bakker takes over as chair. TIACA's past financial problems now appear in the rear-view mirror.

Elsewhere, United Cargo bid farewell to cargo chief Jan Krems, and the US Airforwarders Association replaced Brandon Fried after 21 years with Steve Smith, previously chief executive of Airlink.

More than 100 students attended the event, and Cathay took the crown for best stand — centrally located, with the best coffee and the worst queues, serving carajillos (espresso fortified with liqueur). There were fewer stands than last time, but the mix felt better, and the morning-only conference programme left afternoons free for meetings.

Inside the hall, the mood was motivated. There was freight to move, business to win, and a reasonable expectation that demand would keep the industry occupied well beyond the seasonal rush. The question, with freighter deliveries delayed and the 777F's future uncertain, is how to carry it all.