As major container shipping lines consistently bypass the Red Sea to avoid the threat of rebel missile attacks, air cargo volumes are finally getting a boost. Preliminary data now backs anecdotal reports a month ago of businesses shifting some Asia exports for Europe and North America to air transport as a way of avoiding delays.
Until mid-January, there were few hard signs the airfreight sector was picking off cargo normally booked on ocean vessels transiting the Suez Canal. One option getting more attention is a hybrid sea-air mode, which offers faster transit than ocean shipping at a lower cost than pure airfreight.
