Air cargo demand in Central Asia is increasing, presenting challenges in developing charter operations to support burgeoning infrastructure projects, officials stated.
At the recent Central Asia Air Cargo Summit, Gerhard Coetzee, vice president of cargo for Chapman Freeborn in the India, Middle East, and Africa region, emphasized the rapid growth in demand throughout the area. He indicated that approximately $33 billion is required annually to invest in infrastructure projects. Additionally, trade through the Middle Corridor is anticipated to triple by the year 2030.
Coetzee noted that sectors including mining, energy, infrastructure, and manufacturing are generating heightened demand for heavy, oversized, time-critical, and project cargo. He remarked that the increasing demand is now being driven from within Central Asia rather than merely transiting through it. “Every one of these sectors creates a different type of cargo requirement, and not all of that cargo can move efficiently through a scheduled network,” he explained.
As connectivity improves, with better links between China and nations such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, along with developing scheduled flights to Europe, Coetzee cautioned that the appropriate capacity for these cargo types is not always available. He highlighted the specific challenges faced when transporting project cargo, noting that even if an aircraft has sufficient payload capacity, the actual cargo might be too large for the aircraft type or that route availability may not coincide with project deadlines.
There are also airport limitations that hinder operations of larger aircraft like Boeing 747s, 777s, and AN-134s. The transportation of heavy equipment, such as a 70-ton transformer or 16-metre pipes, necessitates specialized loading equipment, suitable runway capabilities, and expert handling. Furthermore, securing permits and regulatory approvals adds complexity, and adverse weather conditions, particularly in winter, can affect both logistics timing and operational costs.
Coetzee concluded that as Central Asia becomes more integrated into global supply chains, the key challenge will be ensuring access to the right air cargo capacity in a timely manner, tailored to the specific needs of various projects. The increasing demand for air cargo has been a critical development this year, especially as cargo airlines seek alternatives to the Middle East amid ongoing regional conflicts. Reports suggest that Chinese e-commerce platforms are also utilizing Central Asia to route some shipments to the United States.
