Time：2013/4/23Copyright：Highsun

Operating a freighter is extremely challenging in a market where earnings are under pressure. All-cargo airlines are struggling to establish partnerships with passenger airlines, while hybrid airlines that operate both passenger and cargo operations are shrinking their fleet size and working to improve route networks and increase carrier rates.

The recovery of the freight market brings opportunities

After years of stagnation since the 2008 global financial crisis, the air cargo market finally showed a significant rebound in 2017. Although the current growth rate of freight volume exceeds the growth rate of cargo capacity of cargo aircraft and passenger aircraft, airlines are looking for ways to increase revenue.

Aircraft manufacturer Boeing revealed in its annual freight forecast that global air cargo volume increased by 9.5% from December 2016 to November 2017, which is the strongest performance of the industry since the 2008 financial crisis. In addition, IATA expects air cargo revenues to reach $59.2 billion in 2018, an increase of 8.6% from $54.5 billion in 2017.

In recent years, the share of belly cargo in the entire air cargo market has become higher and higher. This is a global trend, mainly because the growth in passenger demand is faster than the increase in demand for goods. As a result, the growth of abdominal capacity has been faster than the increase in air cargo demand, which has reduced the market demand for freighters.