Air charter capacity in Q1: what shippers should book now

Priority uplift tightens six weeks before Lunar New Year. The booking windows that still have room.

SEC / 01 Overview

Introduction

Priority uplift on the main Asia lanes tightens roughly six weeks before Lunar New Year, and charter capacity goes earlier still. If your first quarter includes a launch, a recall replacement or a seasonal set date, the booking window that still has room is closing now rather than in January.

What Is Already Gone

Full freighter charters out of Chattogram and Ho Chi Minh for the two weeks before the holiday are effectively committed. Part-charter and block space on scheduled services remain, at rates that will not improve.

The Windows That Remain

Early January and the ten days immediately after the holiday are still open and are the best value in the quarter. Cargo that can shift by a week in either direction should shift; cargo that cannot should be on a block-space agreement rather than spot.

Looking Ahead

We hold a standing allocation on three scheduled services through March. Volume above that moves, but on spot terms — which in Q1 means paying for someone else's planning.

Air charter capacity in Q1: what shippers should book now

1/2

days door-to-door

Transit

11:00

Cut-off

countries

Coverage

Charter Versus Block Space

A full charter only pays above a certain volume and a certain urgency. Below that, block space on a scheduled service gives most of the certainty at a fraction of the commitment.

A—02

Book the window, not the rate

Cargo that can move a week either side of the holiday saves more than any rate negotiation will recover once capacity is committed.

What's included

Block space on scheduled services

Part and full charter arrangement

Q1 capacity forecasting

Priority uplift for time-critical cargo

Dangerous goods and temperature handling