The Pallet – April 2026 Edition
Your Monthly Brief from the International Air Cargo Association of Chicago ✈️
✉️ From the President’s Desk
Dear Members,
As we move into the second quarter of 2026, the air cargo market is entering a more decisive phase — one defined less by uncertainty and more by execution.
The conditions established earlier this year — steady demand, constrained capacity, and shifting global trade dynamics — are now translating into action. Forwarders and carriers are actively securing space, locking in agreements, and positioning their networks ahead of anticipated seasonal pressure.
Chicago remains central to this activity. With O’Hare continuing to operate as the busiest airport in the United States, the region is playing a critical role in supporting both domestic distribution and international cargo flows.
What we are seeing now is a clear separation in approach. Organizations planning ahead and securing capacity are gaining stability, while those remaining reactive are increasingly exposed to volatility in pricing and space availability.
This is a pivotal moment for the industry — and one that reinforces the importance of strong partnerships, informed decision-making, and continued collaboration across our network.
We look forward to continuing to engage with you through IACAC programming as we move further into the year.
Warm regards,
Christina Aguirre
President, IACAC
📬 Newsletter compiled and edited by Victoria Rahmanovic, IACAC Communications Committee
🌟 Member Spotlight: The Raymond Corporation
🔗 https://www.raymondcorp.com/
This month, we are proud to spotlight The Raymond Corporation, a leader in material handling and intralogistics innovation.
Raymond continues to drive efficiency across modern supply chains through advanced warehouse solutions, including electric lift trucks, automation technologies, and integrated systems. As companies prioritize throughput, accuracy, and scalability, Raymond’s technologies are enabling more controlled and responsive operations at the warehouse level.
Their focus on intelligent systems and operational precision reflects a broader industry shift toward execution, efficiency, and performance optimization — all critical components in today’s evolving logistics landscape.
🛫 IACAC News & Announcements
📌 Welcome New Members – April 2026
Please join us in welcoming our newest members:
- Advanced Logistics Solutions (ALS) — https://www.als-int.com/
• GGL USA — https://www.gglusa.us
We look forward to their contributions to the IACAC community.
📢 Industry News & Market Updates – April 2026
✈️ Contract Capacity Strategies Gain Momentum
🔗 https://www.freightwaves.com/news/forwarders-focus-on-contract-capacity-2026
Freight forwarders are increasingly prioritizing long-term agreements with carriers, shifting away from spot market exposure in favor of guaranteed space and pricing stability.
🌏 Asia Export Activity Accelerates Ahead of Seasonal Demand
🔗 https://www.stattimes.com/air-cargo/asia-exports-surge-ahead-of-peak-season-2026
Export volumes across key Asian gateways are rising as manufacturers move early to secure space, tightening capacity on major eastbound lanes.
📦 E-Commerce Continues to Anchor Air Cargo Demand
🔗 https://www.aircargoweek.com/e-commerce-demand-continues-to-drive-air-cargo-growth-2026/
High-frequency, time-sensitive e-commerce shipments continue to drive network design and capacity allocation decisions across global air cargo markets.
🚢 Ocean Reliability Issues Sustain Modal Shift
🔗 https://www.joc.com/ocean-disruptions-push-cargo-to-air-2026
Ongoing ocean freight disruptions — including congestion and schedule inconsistency — continue to push high-value and time-sensitive cargo into airfreight channels.
🚀 Hot Topics — Strategic Watchpoints
- Early peak-season planning beginning across Asia exports
• Increased contract allocation reducing spot market availability
• Forwarder performance tied to secured vs reactive capacity
• Continued modal shift driven by reliability, not urgency
📆 2026 IACAC Event Calendar
✔ Jan 30 — New Year Networking & Karaoke
✔ Feb 17 — PuttShack
✔ Mar 12 — Patty’s Day at Pop’s
✔ Apr 13 — Behind the Scenes at Lufthansa Cargo – Members Only
✔ May 7 — Still Celebrating Cinco De Mayo
✔ June — Date TBD — Chicago Dogs Game
✔ July — TBD
✔ Aug 13 — Annual Golf Outing
✔ Sep 24 — Oktoberfest
✔ Oct 15 — Air Cargo Night
✔ Nov — Date TBD — Compliance Day & Elections
✔ Dec 3 — Holiday Luncheon
🎉 Culture & Community
📸 Photo of the Month
Highlights from our Behind the Scenes at Lufthansa Cargo – Members Only Tour on April 13, 2026, where members had the opportunity to gain firsthand exposure to airline cargo operations, facility workflows, and handling processes. Experiences like this provide valuable operational insight and reinforce the collaborative strength of the IACAC community.
💡 Did You Know?
Efficient cargo handling at major hubs like Chicago O’Hare plays a critical role in maintaining schedule integrity and minimizing dwell time across global supply chains.
🏆 IACAC Event Winners – Free Membership Giveaway
🎉 2026 Winners So Far
🏅 January — Carlos Delfin
🏅 February — Mathew Gudgeon
🏅 March — Alex Espinosa – Best Dressed (Patty’s Day)
🏅 April — No Drawing
Join us at our next event for your chance to win!
📣 Stay Connected
📧 info@iacac.com
🌐 iacac.com
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🚀 Together, we move the world.
