• Middle East emerging as a global airfreight hub: Air cargo volumes are recovering strongly, driven by e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, perishables, and disrupted ocean freight lanes, positioning the region as a logistics centre for the Global South.
• SolitAir’s specialised mid-haul strategy: The UAE-based cargo airline focuses on underserved trade routes, fast airport-to-airport delivery, and tailored solutions for SMEs, freight forwarders, and high-value shipments, achieving over 98 percent on-time performance.
• Innovation and digitalisation driving efficiency: SolitAir leverages fuel-efficient aircraft, smart routing, real-time booking and capacity prediction platforms, with long-term plans to integrate electric freighters, enhancing speed, reliability, and sustainable growth.

Airfreight volumes in the Middle East have been recovering steadily, driven by the relentless growth of e-commerce, increased demand for pharmaceuticals and perishables, and shifting global trade flows. But beyond the rebound, something more significant is taking shape: the region is positioning itself not just as a transit point between East and West, but as a logistics nerve centre for the Global South.

As traditional ocean freight lanes remain disrupted — plagued by Red Sea tensions, Panama Canal bottlenecks, and geopolitical instability — airfreight has stepped in to fill critical gaps in supply chains. And in this fast-moving, high-stakes environment, the Middle East’s strategic location, infrastructure investment, and appetite for innovation are giving rise to a new wave of cargo operators that are more agile, specialised, and digitally enabled.

One such player is SolitAir, the UAE’s only dedicated cargo airline, led by industry veteran Hamdi Osman. But the story isn’t just about one company — it’s about how carriers like SolitAir are reshaping the airfreight landscape across the region by focusing on underserved trade routes, operational speed, and tailored logistics solutions that reflect the changing face of global commerce.

“There are parts of the industry that are fragmented, and others that urgently need innovation,” he explains. “Legacy players are geared toward broad network coverage. We are targeting precision.”

SolitAir, operating from Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport, is designed to address a very specific opportunity: providing fast, reliable, and flexible mid-haul cargo solutions on high-yield routes across the Global South. That includes often-overlooked trade lanes connecting Africa, Southeast Asia, and South Asia — routes traditional airlines typically under-serve or ignore.

“Think of Bangladesh to Hong Kong or Dubai to the Maldives,” Osman says. “These are routes where time matters, and where custom solutions outperform traditional schedules.”

Speed, scale and specialisation

The Middle East has long served as a pivotal hub in global trade. But what’s changing now is not just the volume of goods passing through — it’s the type of clients and cargo.

Freight forwarders, e-commerce retailers, SMEs, and integrator airlines are increasingly demanding tailored solutions. That includes handling everything from pharmaceuticals and perishables to dangerous goods, oversized freight, and high-value shipments.

Osman isn’t interested in replicating the vast, integrated networks of legacy cargo carriers or integrator airlines. Instead, he’s building a model that thrives on speed, reliability, and adaptability. The airline’s promise? Airport-to-airport delivery within six hours across select, high-demand lanes.

“We’re listening carefully to what our customers want,” Osman says. “Our DAC–HKG–DAC route is one example — completely built around a specific logistics challenge.”

“Our model focuses on the middle mile,” Osman says. “It’s a space with less visibility but huge importance. By improving this link, we help businesses meet their supply chain deadlines with confidence.”

Key to this promise is SolitAir’s use of fuel-efficient aircraft, smart routing, and streamlined customs clearance. Backed by digital platforms that improve booking, visibility, and capacity prediction, Osman claims the airline is already delivering over 98 percent on-time performance.

Navigating a world of disruption

The current operating environment is anything but stable. Rising oil prices, political unrest, port congestion, and macroeconomic volatility are testing the limits of global supply chains. Yet airfreight continues to outperform.

“Even with continued Red Sea disruptions, the Panama Canal bottlenecks, and inflation in Europe and China, the demand for fast, reliable airfreight remains strong,” Osman notes.

Dubai’s strategic location gives SolitAir a natural advantage. From its base, the airline can reach over 60 percent of the world’s population within a six-hour flight. That, combined with a flexible fleet and lean operations, allows the carrier to offer stability and competitive pricing — even in turbulent times.

And with Gulf economies pushing for diversification and investing heavily in logistics infrastructure, the momentum appears to be on SolitAir’s side.

Beyond operations, Osman is embedding innovation into the DNA of SolitAir. From real-time flight planning tools to MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) software and digital compliance platforms, the airline is investing heavily in technologies that improve safety, scalability, and speed.

Notably, SolitAir is exploring the integration of electric freighters — an ambitious move in a region still dominated by conventional aviation.

“We expect our first electric aircraft to be operational in the Middle East by the end of the decade,” Osman says. “It’s a long-term bet, but one that aligns with our view of responsible growth.”