Amidst the Israel conflict, cargo carriers swiftly introduced freighter operations, yet the withdrawal of belly capacity prevails. Rotate’s Live Capacity data reveals a 29 percent decline in overall cargo space, notably a 67 percent drop in widebody belly capacity. However, freighter capacity rises by 17 percent.
Silk Way emerges as a frontrunner, augmenting cargo capacity by 256 percent to 1,879 tonnes in the three weeks ending November 19. Challenge Group follows suit with a 49.2 percent capacity increase to 3,837 tonnes. National Airline’s cargo space soars by 780 percent to 959 tonnes.
While several freighter operators bolster capacity, major players like UPS, FedEx, and Lufthansa reduce their presence. On the passenger front, 24 airlines, including United, Emirates, and British Airways, halt flights to Israel amid the conflict.
