Airlines boost air cargo capacity in Asia-Europe and Asia-Middle East routes, enhancing the Gulf's logistics role, reports Dubai's Logistics Middle East.
Airlines are shifting air cargo capacity toward Asia-Europe and Asia-Middle East corridors, reinforcing the Gulf's role as a logistics bridge, reports Dubai's Logistics Middle East.
DHL Global Forwarding's January 2026 report showed global air cargo capacity rising five percent year-on-year, with growth concentrated on Asia-Europe and Asia-Middle East lanes. This trend reflects the increasing demand for high-value goods, e-commerce, and time-critical shipments.
Middle Eastern carriers are expanding services that link Asian production centers with Europe and Africa, thereby strengthening the region's position as a connector. Global tonnage grew four percent in 2025, led by the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa.
The Asia-Europe corridors delivered the strongest performance, supported by shipments of electronics, cloud infrastructure, and fashion items. Disruptions in maritime routes, including instability in the Red Sea, have pushed more cargo to air transport.
Saudi Arabia entered the market with Riyadh Air's cargo operations in January 2026, adding belly-hold capacity on widebody routes such as Riyadh-London. Gulf infrastructure expansion and freighter deployment are tightening space across major corridors.
Despite this growth, airlines remain cautious as freighter retirements and widebody backlogs constrain expansion. Analysts suggest that the Middle East's advantage lies in combining aviation capacity with digital logistics, multimodal connectivity, and free zone ecosystems.
