• e-commerce is reshaping airfreight with small, irregular parcel flows replacing traditional bulk shipments, requiring airlines to prioritise speed, flexibility, and traceability
• Technology and collaboration are key as platforms like Mail&More’s MAIL EDI and consignment consolidators enable aggregation, forecasting, real-time tracking, and efficient routing to optimise capacity and reduce bottlenecks
• Airports and operators must modernise with advanced ground handling, digital workflows, and regulatory compliance while meeting consumer expectations for fast, flexible, and trackable deliveries

Airfreight, once dominated by bulk shipments of high-value goods, is being changed by a tidal wave of smaller, lighter parcels travelling across borders every day.

The traditional model, built around predictable cargo flows, is being challenged by the fragmentation of e-commerce shipments. Instead of large consolidated loads, airlines are increasingly dealing with irregular but consistent flows of small parcels from diverse origins. This shift is forcing operators to rethink everything from cargo handling to customs clearance.

“e-commerce has created a completely different profile of traffic,” Jonathan Fredericks, Managing Director of Mail&More said. “We are no longer talking about a few tonnes of cargo loaded in one place and delivered to another. We are talking about thousands of smaller parcels, moving in multiple directions, requiring speed, flexibility and traceability.”

Hybrid solutions 

The fragmentation of parcel flows is opening the door to hybrid mail-cargo solutions—where airlines, postal operators and e-commerce platforms collaborate more closely to manage capacity.

Fredericks explained: “We see fragmentation in e-commerce parcel flows as a catalyst for hybrid mail-cargo solutions. It challenges traditional models and creates the need for specialised handling, routing and consolidation services. That is where scalable, plug-and-play solutions come in, matching variable flows with optimised airfreight capacity.”

At the heart of this change is technology. Mail&More’s MAIL EDI platform, for example, enables aggregation, forecasting and flexible routing, allowing airlines to adapt to fluctuating demand. “It means airlines can maximise their aircraft load factor while maintaining service reliability,” Fredericks stated.

The role of postal integrators and consignment consolidators has also become critical. By aggregating parcels from multiple sources and matching them with available capacity, they help reduce transit times and simplify customs clearance. “They are vital in streamlining cross-border fulfilment,” Fredericks noted. “We work closely with them to enhance route efficiency, pre-plan capacity and ensure traceability. This helps avoid bottlenecks, particularly during peak seasons.”

Under pressure to modernise

The rapid growth in e-commerce is also reshaping airports, where handling capacity is being tested like never before. Hubs designed to process larger, palletised shipments now face the challenge of managing high-density, small-parcel flows with minimal dwell time.

“A data-driven approach ensures parcels are processed quickly and efficiently, even during peak periods,” Fredericks said. “The challenge for airport hubs is adapting infrastructure and processes so ground operations can receive, sort and move shipments without delay.”

Ground handling agents, he argues, are central to this transformation. “They must modernise warehouses, embrace digital solutions and refine workflows to keep pace,” he continued. 

The innovation driving this change extends to parcel scanning, routing and reconciliation across multi-carrier networks. “Our cloud-based MAIL EDI system transforms how e-commerce flows are managed,” Fredericks added. “It automates booking, enables real-time tracking, improves transparency and reduces misrouting. That accuracy is critical when you are handling millions of parcels across multiple carriers.”

Regulation and rising expectations

Alongside operational pressures, the regulatory environment for cross-border e-commerce is evolving rapidly. Europe’s Import Control System 2 (ICS2), for instance, demands detailed shipment data in advance, reshaping how airlines and postal operators manage compliance.

“The regulatory landscape is changing at speed,” Fredericks outlined. “We embed updates into our systems so partners can remain compliant, reduce risk and avoid delays—particularly in corridors affected by geopolitical shifts and trade policy changes.”

But perhaps the most powerful force shaping the sector is consumer expectation. “Customers, especially younger demographics, expect deliveries that are not just fast but flexible and trackable,” Fredericks observed. “That expectation is pushing airfreight operators to provide real-time visibility, automated routing and analytics. Transparency is now as important as speed.”

Returns logistics add another layer of complexity. Many postal networks are not designed for the unpredictable nature of reverse flows. “Returns are a pain point,” Fredericks admitted. “Airfreight can help by offering fast, trackable return routes, especially for high-value items. Forecasting tools and digital systems make it possible to plan capacity and manage returns more effectively across borders.

“You cannot manage what you cannot see,” Fredericks highlighted. “Just like you cannot monitor an activity without a dashboard and KPIs. Data and digitalisation are the foundation of success.”

Looking ahead, there is consensus that airfreight’s future will be defined by flexibility, collaboration and technology. As Fredericks put it: “e-commerce has turned operational complexity into a competitive advantage for those who can adapt. Those who embrace data-driven processes, work with integrators and invest in digital tools will be best placed to meet the demands of global consumers.”