Air cargo continues to play an important role in global supply chains, particularly for high-value, time-sensitive and international shipments.
But in 2026, another factor is becoming increasingly important:
Q – How efficiently are businesses using the available cargo capacity ?
A – According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global air-cargo demand increased by 3.9% year-on-year in July 2026, while available cargo capacity increased by only 1.7%.
– Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America accounted for more than 90% of the overall increase in air-cargo demand during the period. Earlier in May, IATA reported an even wider difference, with demand increasing by 6.0% while capacity increased by only 1.9%.
– The message for manufacturers, exporters and logistics operations is straightforward:
– When available cargo capacity is valuable, weight and space inside the logistics system matter. And that includes the transport packaging.
1 – Air Cargo Capacity Is Becoming More Valuable
– Aircraft cargo capacity is limited by factors such as weight, available loading area, aircraft configuration and cargo dimensions.
– Businesses therefore should not only ask:
– How much does the product weigh?
– They should also consider:
– How much does the complete shipment weigh after packaging?
– The total transported weight may include:
– Product
– Pallet or supporting structure
– Protective packaging
– Strapping
– Wrapping
– Internal supports
– Other load-securing components
– Every packaging component has a purpose. However, unnecessarily heavy supporting material also becomes part of the shipment being transported. This makes lightweight packaging engineering particularly relevant for air freight.
2 – Packaging Weight Is Part of the Cargo Weight
– Transport packaging should first protect and support the product. Reducing packaging weight without understanding the application can create new risks.
– The better objective is therefore not:
– Use the lightest packaging possible.
– It is:
– Use the required protection without unnecessary packaging weight. This distinction is important.
– A transport packaging solution should consider factors such as:
– Product weight
– Weight distribution
– Dimensions
– Load arrangement
– Handling method
– Required support
– Transport conditions
– Cargo platform
– Eltete Malaysia follows this type of application-based approach within its Transport Packaging Solutions concept. Its packaging solutions are selected according to product, handling, destination, strength, space, material and cost requirements.
3 – Space Efficiency Matters Too
– Weight is only one part of air-cargo efficiency. The usable loading area is also important.
– A shipment may remain within its weight limit but still use cargo space inefficiently because of:
– Oversized supporting structures
– Uneven cargo height
– Unused areas around the load
– Heavy wooden supporting beams
– Inefficient pallet configuration
– As air-cargo demand increases faster than capacity, improving how cargo is arranged can become increasingly valuable. IATA’s June 2026 outlook reported that the global cargo load factor reached 46.4% in the first quarter of 2026, an increase from the previous year, reflecting stronger utilisation of available capacity.
– IATA’s 2026 Air Cargo Technology Trends report also identifies advanced packaging solutions as a high-impact technology area for the industry.
– That creates an important opportunity for transport-packaging design.
4 – From Packaging Cost to Logistics Efficiency
– Traditionally, businesses may compare packaging primarily based on the purchase price of the packaging material. But for air cargo, the packaging component can influence more than its own cost.
– Transport packaging may affect:
1 – Total shipment weight
– Heavier supporting structures add weight to each shipment.
2 – Available loading space
– The shape and height of the packaging system can influence how cargo is arranged.
3 – Handling
– Packaging must remain compatible with the required loading and cargo-handling process.
4 – Load stability
– Reducing weight should never compromise the stability or support required by the cargo. This means a cheaper packaging component is not automatically the most efficient packaging solution. The complete logistics system should be considered.
5 – How Eltete Approaches Lightweight Air-Cargo Support
– One Eltete solution developed specifically around this challenge is AirCargoRunner, also known as ACR. Eltete describes AirCargoRunner as a lightweight supporting runner for suitable air-cargo platforms, including PMC and ULD applications.
– It is designed for applications including:
– Creating a wider loading area
– Creating a higher and more even loading arrangement
– Supporting PMC structures
– Helping reduce bending caused by security-net and belt tension
– Creating lightweight supporting platforms
– Supporting the transportation of suitable empty air-cargo equipment
– These are specific applications documented by Eltete rather than general claims for every air-cargo shipment.
5 – Reducing Supporting Weight
– Eltete states that AirCargoRunner weighs approximately 1 kg per metre.
– In one comparison published in Eltete’s AirCargoRunner documentation, the supporting arrangement using AirCargoRunner weighed approximately 20 kg, compared with approximately 120 kg for the conventional supporting material used in that example.
– Eltete describes this as a weight reduction of more than 80% in the documented comparison.
– That figure should not be interpreted as:
– Every air-cargo shipment will become 80% lighter.
– The comparison relates to the supporting materials shown in that specific Eltete example. Actual results depend on the number and dimensions of the runners, cargo arrangement and materials being replaced.
– Nevertheless, the example demonstrates an important logistics principle:
– Reducing unnecessary supporting weight can reduce the amount of non-product weight being transported.
6 – Improving the Usable Loading Area
– AirCargoRunner is also designed to address loading-space utilisation. Eltete publishes one PMC loading example where raising the cargo above the locking system creates a wider usable loading area.
– In that particular example, the configuration allows:
– 8 Euro-size pallets instead of 5
and approximately:
– 35% more loading area. Again, this is a documented application example rather than a guaranteed result for every aircraft pallet.
– Actual space utilisation depends on:
– Cargo dimensions
– PMC configuration
– Locking system
– Runner arrangement
– Aircraft and operational requirements
– The important point is that transport packaging can influence the usable logistics space, not only product protection.
7 – Making Uneven Loads More Efficient
– Air-cargo loads do not always have the same dimensions or height. Uneven cargo can make it harder to create a stable and efficient loading arrangement.
– Eltete states that AirCargoRunners can be used to help create a higher and more even loading level.
– Eltete also documents AirCargoRunners, which can be positioned between suitable uneven box layers to help improve overall load stability. The products perform different functions.
– AirCargoRunner
– supports or modifies the lower loading platform.
– These examples demonstrate how packaging engineering can be used to address both weight and load configuration.
8 – Why This Matters for Manufacturers and Exporters
– The latest air-cargo market data makes transport efficiency increasingly relevant. If demand grows faster than available capacity, manufacturers should look beyond the product itself and evaluate the complete transport unit.
– A useful review could ask:
Q – How much packaging weight are we transporting ?
A – Separate the product weight from pallets, runners, beams, protective materials and other packaging components.
Q – Is every packaging component necessary ?
A -Removing material blindly is not the answer. Instead, identify whether multiple components are performing the same function unnecessarily.
Q – Are heavy supporting materials necessary ?
A – Where technically suitable, lighter alternatives may be worth evaluating.
Q – Are we using the available loading area efficiently ?
A – Review unused areas, uneven heights and limitations created by the supporting structure.
Q – Is the packaging designed specifically for the transport method?
A – Air cargo has different requirements from sea freight, road transport or warehouse storage. The packaging should reflect those conditions.
9 – Lightweight Does Not Mean Weak
– One of the most important misconceptions about packaging optimisation is that using less weight automatically means using less protection. That is not necessarily the case.
– A well-designed transport packaging solution places strength and support where they are required. Eltete’s broader transport-packaging range follows this type of approach.
– Eltete Malaysia supplies paper-based products including:
1 – Edgeboard for protection and stabilisation.
2 – Paper Pallets as paper-based load-support platforms.
Slip Sheets for suitable palletless-handling applications.
3 – Honeycomb Board for cushioning, structural support and other transport-packaging applications.
4 – PallRun® and EdgeRunner® for suitable pallet and supporting applications.
5 – The Box and other packaging solutions for selected transport requirements.
– The appropriate solution depends on the actual application.
10 – The Bigger 2026 Trend: Packaging Is Becoming Part of Logistics Optimisation
– The air-cargo market shows why packaging should no longer be viewed only as material placed around a product.
– Packaging affects the logistics system surrounding that product.
– It can influence:
Protection
↓
Weight
↓
Space utilisation
↓
Handling
↓
Load stability
↓
Transport efficiency
– This means packaging engineers, logistics managers and procurement teams increasingly need to evaluate the same shipment together.
– The question is changing from:
– “How much does this packaging cost?”
to:
– “What does this packaging do to the complete logistics operation?”
11 – When Should Air-Cargo Packaging Be Reviewed ?
– Companies should consider reviewing their air-cargo packaging when:
– Air-freight volume increases
– Freight cost increases
– Products change dimensions
– Cargo loads become uneven
– Heavy wooden supports are being used
– Aircraft pallet space is difficult to optimise
– Packaging weight represents a significant portion of the shipment
– Empty air-cargo equipment needs to be transported
– New export routes are introduced
– Packaging sustainability targets change
– The review should consider the complete application rather than replacing materials simply for the sake of reducing weight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q – Is air-cargo demand increasing in 2026 ?
A – Yes. IATA reported that global air-cargo demand increased by 3.9% year-on-year in July 2026, while available capacity increased by 1.7%.
Q – Why does packaging weight matter in air freight ?
A – Packaging contributes to the total transported weight. Reducing unnecessary supporting weight while maintaining the required product protection can improve the efficiency of the complete transport unit.
Q – What is Eltete AirCargoRunner ?
A – AirCargoRunner is an Eltete lightweight supporting runner designed for suitable air-cargo platform applications including PMC and ULD arrangements.
Q – How much does AirCargoRunner weigh ?
A – Eltete states that AirCargoRunner weighs approximately 1 kg per metre.
Q – Does AirCargoRunner always reduce weight by more than 80% ?
A – No. Eltete’s more-than-80% figure comes from a particular comparison between the AirCargoRunner configuration and conventional supporting materials. Actual weight savings vary according to the application.
Q – Can AirCargoRunner increase cargo loading space ?
A – Eltete publishes one specific PMC example where its AirCargoRunner arrangement created approximately 35% more loading area. This should be treated as an application example rather than a guaranteed result for every cargo configuration.
12 – Make Every Kilogram and Every Loading Area Count
– Air-cargo demand continues to grow in 2026 while available capacity is expanding at a slower pace. That makes efficient use of weight and loading space increasingly relevant for manufacturers, exporters and air-cargo operators.
– Transport packaging cannot solve every logistics challenge. But the right packaging design can help businesses avoid carrying unnecessary supporting weight, improve suitable loading configurations and maintain the protection required during transportation.
– Eltete’s transport-packaging approach focuses on selecting packaging according to the product, handling method, destination, strength, space, material and cost requirements rather than applying one standard configuration to every shipment. For air-cargo applications, that same principle means looking beyond the packaging itself.
Protect the cargo.
Optimise the weight.
Use the available space more efficiently.
Visit www.eltete.com.my
