Air freight was an excellent artist in 2024, which grew by 11.3 percent – the demand for passengers. The expansion and disruption of e-commerce and disruption in the sea voyage kept demand high, with yields of 39 percent above 2019 levels. Looking forward, 2025 is focused on a further growth of 5.8 percent, but challenges are weaving to: geopolitical uncertainty, inflation and potential US policy shifts, including new rates. These urgent issues will be in the Iata World Cargo Symposium (WCS) 2025 in Dubai in Dubai from April 15-17. Industrial leaders will investigate how air freight can navigate an increasingly complicated global trading environment. The symposium contains plenal sessions, specialized cuts, workshops and executive summit, address:
· Digitalization: The role of AI and automation in the future of air freight.
· Sustainability: strategies for unbundling, reducing one-time plastic and ESG reporting.
· Risk and resilience: navigation of geopolitical uncertainty, regulatory shifts and disruption of the supply chain.
Digitalization: The future of air freight
The strength of e-commerce will represent a growing part of the air freight industry. Currently, it is on average about 20 percent of the cargo industry, but it is expected to grow to at least a third of all cargo shipping. As there is expected to be a $ 8 trillion market segment by 2027, the sector will earn a significant reward if it can get the product correctly.
The digitalization stream at WCS investigates how digital solutions adapt to meet this demand and reform the industry. Managers will open discussions with capital letters on the implementation of digital strategies, followed by a fireside chat over Iata’s Digitalization Leadership Charter, established to accelerate and maintain the digital transformation of the industry. From December 2024, 17 organizations reported.
In addition, a panel will investigate the challenges and opportunities as the industry moves to its target for the adoption date for one record by January 1, 2026 – a major milestone in data standardization. Spotlight sessions will emphasize the power of data transparency, workflow optimization and AI-powered innovations to increase efficiency and accuracy.
Sustainability: Building a greener air freight industry
Digitalization and sustainability go hand in hand. With half of all air freight traveling on passenger aircraft, sustainability efforts will significantly affect the environmental goals of the industry. Reducing paper use, optimizing cargo space and minimizing plastic for one -time use are priorities. Circular initiatives – such as recycling unit loading devices (ULDs) and increase the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) – are critical to reducing the carbon footprint of the air freight.
WCS 2025 will appear:
· A Keynote over the acceleration of SAF adoption.
· A panel discussion on CO₂ reduction strategies.
· Sessions on softening sustainability risks for supply chain, data use and innovation, and the promotion of circularity in operations.
· A dedicated spotlight on sustainable pharmaceutical logistics, addressing trends, challenges and best practices.
The day concludes with case studies in the real world, providing feasible insights into improving transparency in environmental reporting and social consequences.
Risk and resilience: navigating global uncertainty
Geopolitical risks remain a wildlife card for air freight. Potential US rates could create short-term stiples in demand as seen during the 2018–2019 Trading War in the US China when businesses rushed to move goods before new duties came into effect. Recent Iata data indicates a similar pattern, with the air freight rates of December from Asia to the US by 8 percent.
However, the long -term effects can be more disruptive. Higher costs can weaken demand, drive regional acquisition or push volumes to the load of the ocean. Tighter e-commerce regulations, including changes to the minimis emissions, can further complicate borderline trade.
On WCS 2025, experts in industry discuss strategies to improve resilience – from adjustment to moving trade policies and regulatory environments to strengthening safety chain safety in a developing threat landscape.
Workshops
To support the goals of the industry, WCS will also contain workshops on the major topics in the industry, including:
· Future talent: The development of the next generation of air freight leaders at the Future Air Cargo Executives Summit (Faces).
· Competence-based training: Improving safety and performance at the CBTA Center of Iata.
· Market Performance: Optimizing Keysegments with Iata Ceiv programs (Pharma, Live Animals, Lithium Batteries, Fresh).
· Freight solutions: The use of IATA instruments for better decision making, compliance and efficiency.
· E-commerce forum: Improving visibility between e-retailers and freight operators to increase efficiency.
· Udel -Forum: Exploration of Udes Design, AI applications and data collection of sustainability.
The way forward: collaboration is the key
The future of air freight depends on collaboration on the ecosystem – airlines, logistics suppliers, technology firms, regulators and shippers. Dubai, with its world-class logistics infrastructure and strategic position on the crossroads of global trade, provides the ideal environment for these important discussions.
As Iata, Emirates Skycargo and Dnata welcome the industry stakeholders to WCS 2025, the focus will be on the drive of innovation, improving efficiency and ensuring air freight remains a pillar of global trade.
WCS 2025 is more than just an operating event – it’s a call to action. The discussions in Dubai will form the trajectory of the industry for years. The question is not whether air freight needs can navigate the current environment, but how quickly it can adapt to new global realities.
The answer will define the future of air freight.
