IMARC Group has recently released a new research study titled “United States Air Freight Market Size, Share, Trends and Forecast by Service, Destination, End User, and Region, 2026-2034,” offers a detailed United States air freight market forecast covering market drivers, segmentation, growth opportunities, trends and competitive landscape to understand the current and future market scenarios.
United States Air Freight Market Size, Growth, and Forecast (2026-2034)
The United States air freight market size was valued at USD 64.06 Billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 91.81 Billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 4.08% during 2026-2034. The market is driven by the growing application in the pharmaceutical and medical sectors, and wide availability of fast-shipping solutions.
The rising adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and the internet of things (IoT), coupled with growing investments by retail giants in dedicated air cargo services to meet delivery promises, represent other major growth-inducing factors driving the United States air freight market share.
Consumers now expect shorter delivery times, prompting retailers to prioritize air freight services. For instance, in June 2024, Nippon Express began a new airfreight service from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport to Chubu Centrair International Airport in Japan to meet regional demand. Supply chain disruptions, such as ocean freight delays and port congestion, have further led businesses to shift toward air transport to maintain inventory flow and meet customer demands efficiently.
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Key Trends Driving the United States Air Freight Market
- E-commerce expansion: The explosive growth of e-commerce is a major driver, as consumers increasingly expect fast, often next-day, delivery, prompting retail giants and marketplaces to invest heavily in dedicated air cargo services, exemplified by ECU Worldwide’s June 2024 partnership with ShipBob to offer integrated air and ocean freight services.
- Supply chain disruptions and demand for speed: Congestion at major seaports, labor shortages, and geopolitical tensions have made ocean freight less reliable, prompting companies to increasingly use air freight to bypass bottlenecks and maintain inventory flow for critical, high-margin products.
- Transportation of high-value and time-sensitive goods: Sectors such as electronics, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, and automotive manufacturing depend heavily on air cargo for quick, safe delivery, with air freight’s temperature-controlled environments and rigorous tracking systems proving indispensable.
- Growing investment in logistics infrastructure: Substantial investments in airport cargo facilities and automation technologies have improved air freight capacity, tracking, and handling efficiency, making air transport more attractive to shippers.
- Expansion of dedicated air cargo carriers: Amazon officially launched Amazon Air Cargo in October 2024, expanding its air logistics beyond parcel delivery and opening its fleet to freight forwarders and businesses, challenging established carriers such as FedEx and UPS.
- Shifting trade policies and strategic alliances: Evolving tariffs and trade agreements are influencing logistics strategies, often favoring air freight to mitigate regulatory risk, as seen in Atlantis Transportation Services/ACI Air Cargo’s April 2024 strategic alliance with AGI.
United States Air Freight Market Report Segmentation:
The United States Air Freight Market report provides a detailed segmentation analysis to help businesses identify key growth segments and evolving industry trends. The market is categorized based on service, destination, end user, and region.
Service Insights:
- Freight: Stands as the largest service segment, holding around 39.8% of the market in 2025, driven by its crucial role in transporting high-value, time-sensitive, and large-volume goods across industries such as electronics, pharmaceuticals, automotive, and aerospace.
- Express: Caters to businesses requiring the fastest possible delivery for urgent, time-critical shipments.
- Mail: Supports postal and parcel delivery services requiring reliable air transportation networks.
- Others: Includes additional specialized air cargo service categories supporting diverse shipping needs.
Destination Insights:
- Domestic: Leads the market with around 62.5% share, supported by the country’s well-established infrastructure, high demand for fast delivery within its borders, and the proximity of major airports enabling cost-effective, reliable logistics.
- International: Continues to grow, supported by global trade demand and expanding air cargo connectivity between the U.S. and key international markets.
End User Insights:
- Commercial: Leads the market with around 67.8% share in 2025, as commercial airlines offer established, reliable networks and infrastructure enabling efficient, time-sensitive shipments while benefiting from economies of scale on existing passenger flight routes.
- Private: Serves specialized and dedicated air cargo needs for businesses requiring tailored logistics solutions.
Regional Insights:
- Northeast: Benefits from a high concentration of major airports like JFK and Newark, facilitating swift air freight movement, with strong demand driven by pharmaceuticals, technology, and manufacturing industries.
- Midwest: Driven by manufacturing hubs and distribution centers, with major airports like Chicago O’Hare and Detroit Metropolitan serving as critical air freight hubs connecting the region to global markets.
- South: A key hub supported by a rapidly growing e-commerce sector, particularly in Texas and Florida, with major logistics hubs like Dallas/Fort Worth and Miami International Airport facilitating goods movement.
- West: Central to the market due to proximity to Asia and the Pacific Rim, with strong e-commerce demand and an extensive airport network including San Francisco and Los Angeles International supporting both domestic and international shipments.
Competitive Landscape:
The air freight market for the United States is highly competitive, with numerous major players dominating the sector. Key carriers like FedEx, UPS, and DHL Express offer comprehensive global air freight services, with extensive networks and infrastructure to support fast deliveries. Integrated air cargo services provided by traditional airlines such as American Airlines, Delta, and United Airlines also contribute significantly to the market. These companies compete on speed, reliability, cost-efficiency, and technological advancements in tracking and automation. Emerging players and logistics companies, including Amazon Air, are increasingly expanding their air cargo capabilities to capture market share, while third-party logistics providers such as XPO Logistics offer end-to-end solutions. The market research report provides a comprehensive analysis of market structure, key player positioning, top winning strategies, competitive dashboard, and company evaluation quadrant, along with detailed profiles of major companies operating in the market.
United States Air Freight Market Recent News and Developments:
- CEVA Logistics launches trans-Pacific air cargo charter service: In March 2025, CEVA Logistics started a new trans-Pacific air cargo charter service with three weekly flights between Wuxi, China and Chicago, Illinois, offering more dependable air capacity while providing sustainable aviation fuel options through its CEVA FORPLANET suite.
- Qantas Freight launches new U.S. booking website: In November 2024, Qantas Freight launched a new United States website allowing U.S.-based freight forwarders to search and book cargo capacity online across Qantas and Jetstar services in the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand.
- Amazon launches Amazon Air Cargo: In October 2024, Amazon officially launched Amazon Air Cargo, opening its fleet of over 100 aircraft and 250 daily flights to freight forwarders and businesses, challenging established carriers FedEx and UPS.
- CMA CGM AIR CARGO launches first transpacific service: In August 2024, CMA CGM AIR CARGO launched its first transpacific service connecting Hong Kong to Chicago, marking a key step in its North American expansion with additional aircraft deliveries planned to boost capacity.
- P. Moller-Maersk opens Miami air freight gateway: In May 2024, A.P. Moller-Maersk launched a full-service air freight gateway in Miami to enhance connectivity between the U.S., Asia, and Latin America, strengthening its global air freight network.
Challenges Impacting the United States Air Freight Market
High operational costs associated with fuel, infrastructure, and technology investments continue to pressure margins across the air freight industry.
Capacity constraints at major airports and cargo facilities can create bottlenecks during periods of peak demand, particularly around major shopping seasons.
Evolving trade policies, tariffs, and regulatory requirements add complexity for carriers and shippers navigating cross-border shipments.
Investment Opportunities in the United States Air Freight Market
The United States air freight market offers compelling investment opportunities supported by its steady 4.08% CAGR through 2034. Dedicated e-commerce air cargo services represent a high-growth opportunity as retailers continue to prioritize fast, reliable delivery.
AI and IoT-enabled logistics infrastructure presents an expanding investment category, as carriers seek to improve tracking, automation, and operational efficiency across their networks.
Pharmaceutical and high-value goods logistics offer attractive returns as specialized, temperature-controlled air cargo services continue to see rising demand across time-sensitive industries.
United States Air Freight Market Forecast and Outlook (2026-2034)
The United States air freight market forecast remains favorable, supported by continued e-commerce growth, rising demand for high-value and time-sensitive goods transportation, and ongoing investment in logistics infrastructure and automation. The market is projected to grow from USD 64.06 Billion in 2025 to USD 91.81 Billion by 2034 at a CAGR of 4.08%.
As dedicated cargo carriers, AI-enabled logistics, and expanding international connectivity continue to strengthen the sector, the United States air freight market is expected to sustain steady growth momentum through 2034.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): United States Air Freight Market
- What is the current size of the US air freight market?
The United States air freight market was valued at USD 64.06 Billion in 2025.
- What is the projected growth rate of the US air freight market?
The market is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 4.08% during 2026-2034, reaching USD 91.81 Billion by 2034.
- What are the main drivers fueling the growth of air freight in the US?
Key drivers include booming e-commerce demand, rising need for rapid transportation of high-value goods, supply chain disruptions favoring faster shipping options, advancements in logistics infrastructure, and evolving trade policies and tariffs influencing shipment patterns.
- How is the market segmented by service?
The market is segmented by service into freight, express, mail, and others, with freight leading at around 39.8% share in 2025.
- How is the market segmented by destination?
The market is segmented by destination into domestic and international, with domestic leading at around 62.5% share.
Author IMARC Group
IMARC Group is a leading global market research company providing data-driven insights and expert consulting services to businesses seeking to achieve their strategic objectives. With a multidisciplinary team of industry experts, IMARC delivers reliable market intelligence across sectors including Chemicals and Materials, Healthcare, Technology, Agriculture, and Retail.
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