# AI Hardware Becomes New Driver of Air Freight **Category:** Industry News | **Source:** Metro / WorldACD / Freightos | **Published:** 2026-09-19 | **Updated:** 2026-09-20 **Tags:** Luftfracht, KI-Hardware, Server, GPU, Halbleiter, Rechenzentrum, Asien, Air Cargo, Kapazität, Frachtrate, Logistik News, Transport News, Fracht News, Speditions News, Supply Chain News, Zoll News, Frachtportal News, Digitalisierung, E-Commerce > Air freight volume was six percent higher in August. High-tech and AI equipment is causing tight capacity and firm pricing on Asia routes. --- Global air freight grew in August 2026 compared to the previous year: according to Metro by six percent, according to WorldACD by five percent. New demand is emerging particularly from Asia through high-value technology. This includes semiconductors, servers, storage, power supply, and other equipment for data centers and artificial intelligence, or AI for short. However, the market is tighter than the pure growth figures suggest. Global air freight capacity remained virtually unchanged in August compared to the previous year according to Metro; WorldACD shows an increase of two percent. When volume grows significantly faster than cargo capacity, utilization and price pressure rise. Additional full freighters cannot be made available quickly due to delayed aircraft deliveries and slow conversion programs. In calendar week 36, spot rates from Asia to Europe increased by three percent and to the USA by two percent compared to the previous week. From China and Thailand to Europe, the increase was six percent each. Such weekly figures are snapshots, but they demonstrate the increasingly tight situation. E-commerce has not disappeared. Changes to European regulations for small shipments initially slowed some China routes. Aircraft were subsequently partially redirected to stronger transpacific routes. At the same time, high-tech cargo is generating new volume. Special requirements apply to this cargo. Servers and chips are expensive, theft-prone, and sensitive to moisture, vibration, and electrostatic discharge. Batteries or backup power systems may additionally fall under hazardous goods regulations. --- Dispatchers should secure capacity from Asia early and check alternative airports. For valuable technology, clear handovers, short dwell times, and appropriate cargo insurance are essential. Shippers must declare batteries, magnets, and other potential hazardous materials early. Spot rates should only be used for the specific departure week. In short: AI is not only filling data centers, but increasingly also filling aircraft cargo holds. --- Global airfreight volume increased by six percent in August 2026 according to Metro, and by five percent according to WorldACD compared to the previous year. Growth in July was five percent. Global capacity remained unchanged in August compared to the previous year according to Metro; according to WorldACD it was two percent higher. Capacity utilization increased by three percentage points. Full freighter traffic increased by nearly 14 percent in July. Asia-Europe spot rates increased by three percent in week 36. Asia-USA spot rates increased by two percent in the same week. AI, high-tech, and data center equipment supports demand. ## Related Entities ### Countries - [United States of America](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/us) - [Thailand](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/th) - [Malaysia](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/my) - [South Korea](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/kr) - [Hong Kong](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/hk) - [Taiwan](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/tw) - [China](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/cn) - [Vietnam](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/vn) ### Glossary - [Cargo aircraft](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/cargo-aircraft) - [Dangerous goods](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/dangerous-goods) - [Chargeable weight](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/chargeable-weight) - [Goods](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/goods) - [Air Cargo](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/air-cargo) - [Aircraft](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/aircraft) - [Hazardous Goods](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/hazardous-goods) - [Unloading](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/unloading-3) - [Spot Rate](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/spot-rate) - [Low-value consignment](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/low-value-consignment) - [Artificial intelligence](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/artificial-intelligence) - [Semiconductors](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/semiconductors) - [Data centre](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/data-centre) --- *Canonical URL: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/ki-hardware-wird-zum-neuen-treiber-der-luftfracht-20260919095416](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/ki-hardware-wird-zum-neuen-treiber-der-luftfracht-20260919095416)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/ki-hardware-wird-zum-neuen-treiber-der-luftfracht-20260919095416](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/ki-hardware-wird-zum-neuen-treiber-der-luftfracht-20260919095416)*