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Global airfreight operations increasingly depend on flexible routing, close carrier coordination and experienced logistics teams as capacity constraints and geopolitical disruptions force transport plans to change at short notice, according to deugro.
Alexander Krause, the project logistics company’s Global Head of Airfreight, said tighter markets require daily communication with clients, airlines, local offices and logistics partners to secure cargo space and keep urgent shipments moving.
“Long standing global experience, a hands on mentality, and close, proactive communication with clients and partners are key to successful airfreight operations at all times,” Krause said.
The comments come as project cargo shippers face a market shaped by uncertain capacity, shifting trade flows and operational disruption. For companies moving critical components, industrial equipment or time sensitive replacement parts, the challenge is no longer simply finding the fastest service. It is finding an option that remains workable when the original plan changes.
Capacity constraints force rapid changes
Airfreight has traditionally been used when speed outweighs cost, particularly for urgent production equipment, spare parts and high value cargo. Current market conditions, however, are placing greater emphasis on contingency planning.
Capacity constraints can emerge quickly when airlines adjust schedules, geopolitical events affect airspace, or demand rises on major trade lanes. Cargo that was expected to move directly may need to be transferred through another airport, combined with road transport, or held temporarily until suitable space becomes available.
“We are working intensively on a daily basis and maintaining close communication with our clients and partners to secure urgently needed cargo space in a tightened market,” Krause said.
For project logistics providers, this means transport planning must remain open to revision until cargo is delivered. Alternative routes, temporary storage and combinations of transport modes are becoming standard tools rather than emergency measures.
A routing plan can resemble a carefully arranged chain. When one link is removed, the shipment does not necessarily stop, but each remaining link must be reassessed for capacity, timing, customs requirements and handling limitations.
Collaboration becomes an operational requirement
Krause said coordination between clients, carriers, logistics specialists and local teams is central to maintaining supply chain continuity.
Disruptions can arise with limited warning, leaving little time for formal tender processes or lengthy internal reviews. Operational teams may need immediate confirmation of aircraft capacity, trucking availability, warehouse space and customs procedures before deciding whether an alternative route is practical.
Transparent communication is particularly important for project cargo because shipment requirements often extend beyond weight and dimensions. Loading restrictions, lifting points, dangerous goods classifications, security requirements and delivery deadlines can all affect whether a proposed service is suitable.
A route may appear available on paper, but does the airport have the equipment required to handle the cargo? Can the shipment clear customs within the required timeframe? Is the connecting flight able to accept the same dimensions?
These questions can determine whether an alternative protects the schedule or introduces further delays.
Alexander Krause joined deugro in January 2026 after more than a decade in international logistics. His career has included operational, commercial and management positions at Panalpina, Scan Global Logistics, GAC, Kuehne+Nagel and K2 Project Forwarding.
Based in Dubai, Krause works with deugro teams, clients and partners on complex and time critical airfreight movements. Dubai’s position between Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East gives airfreight operators access to major international connections, but it also places them close to trade lanes affected by regional disruption.
Experience supports risk assessment
Technology continues to improve shipment tracking, capacity visibility and data sharing across logistics networks. Krause said operational experience remains essential when teams must assess risk and select practical alternatives.
“The planning of alternative routes, the combination of different transport modes, and close coordination with carriers and partners are essential to maintaining our clients’ supply chains,” he said.
Experienced teams can often identify risks that are not immediately visible in digital booking systems. A connection may be technically available but leave insufficient time for cargo transfer. An airport may accept a shipment but lack suitable handling equipment. A lower cost option may create unacceptable exposure to delay.
For project logistics providers, the value of experience lies in understanding how individual decisions affect the full transport chain. Airfreight may cover the longest part of the journey, but successful delivery also depends on collection, export clearance, airport handling, transfer procedures, import clearance and final delivery.
The pressure on capacity has therefore expanded the role of airfreight teams. Their work increasingly includes route design, multimodal planning, storage coordination and continuous communication with carriers and clients.
Speed remains important, but speed without flexibility can leave cargo stranded when conditions change.
