The Pallet August 2026

What an incredible day we had at our 2026 IACAC Annual Golf Outing!

On behalf of the entire IACAC Board, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us, sponsored the event, donated, volunteered, and helped make this year’s outing such a success.

Events like the Golf Outing are possible because of the tremendous support we receive from our members and industry partners. Your participation allows IACAC to continue creating opportunities for our air cargo community to connect, strengthen relationships, exchange ideas, and support the continued growth of our association.

More importantly, seeing so many familiar faces—and plenty of new ones—together in one place was a wonderful reminder of what makes this organization special. Our industry may be built around moving cargo, but IACAC has always been built around people.

As summer comes to a close, we’re not slowing down. We have an exciting fall ahead, beginning with Oktoberfest on September 24th, followed by one of our biggest industry gatherings of the year, Airline Night in October.

Thank you again to everyone who made our Golf Outing possible and to all of our members who continue to support IACAC throughout the year. We look forward to seeing you again soon!

Warm regards,
Christina Aguirre
President, IACAC

This month, we’re proud to spotlight Restricted Article Specialists (RAS), an IACAC member providing dangerous goods expertise and support to the transportation industry.

Navigating the regulations surrounding hazardous materials and dangerous goods is a critical responsibility throughout the air cargo supply chain. From classification and packaging to documentation, training, and regulatory compliance, specialized knowledge helps ensure shipments move safely and in accordance with applicable transportation requirements.

RAS brings that specialized expertise to an area of our industry where accuracy, education, and safety are essential.
We’re proud to recognize Restricted Article Specialists and the important role dangerous goods professionals play in keeping our global supply chains moving safely.

📌 Membership Update – August 2026

While we don’t have any new members to announce this month, we’d like to take the opportunity to thank all of our IACAC members for your continued involvement and support.

From attending events and serving on committees to sponsoring programs and introducing new colleagues to the association, your participation is what keeps IACAC growing.

Thank you for being part of our community!

2026 IACAC Annual Golf Outing

What a day!

Our Annual Golf Outing on August 13th brought together members, customers, colleagues, and friends from throughout Chicago’s air cargo and logistics community for one of our favorite events of the year.

From the first tee to the final gathering, the day was filled with great conversations, friendly competition, plenty of laughs, and—most importantly—the opportunity to strengthen the relationships that make our industry so special.

A tremendous THANK YOU goes out to all of our sponsors whose generosity helped make this event possible, as well as every golfer, attendee, volunteer, donor, and supporter who participated.

📈 Global Air Cargo Demand Jumps 8.5%

Global air cargo demand increased 8.5% year-over-year in June, according to IATA, while international demand rose 9.6%. North American carriers recorded the strongest regional performance, with demand increasing 13.1% year-over-year.

After several months of elevated pricing, the global air cargo market softened in July. Xeneta reported global spot rates remained 28% above last year but declined 6% month-over-month, pointing toward a more measured outlook for the remainder of 2026.

July brought a broader correction in airfreight pricing following elevated spring and early-summer levels. The Baltic Air Freight Index reported Chicago O’Hare outbound pricing declined approximately 6.2% in July as capacity recovered and earlier market pressures eased.

Global chargeable weight softened during the first full week of August while available capacity remained relatively stable. Despite the slowdown, global airfreight rates remained roughly 19% above year-earlier levels, reflecting a more balanced—but still elevated—market.

After strong cargo growth during the first half of 2026, market indicators are pointing toward a potentially more moderate traditional peak season. Xeneta notes that fewer shippers are discussing peak-season charter programs, while capacity availability, shifting trade flows, fuel costs, and geopolitical uncertainty remain key factors heading into the final months of the year.

• Peak season expectations are moderating as available capacity and softer late-summer demand bring greater balance to the market.
• North American air cargo demand remains strong, outperforming several other global regions.
• Rates remain above 2025 levels despite recent month-over-month declines.
• Changing trade patterns and customs rules continue influencing routing, sourcing, and inventory decisions.
• Fuel and geopolitical uncertainty remain important considerations for carrier networks and operating costs.

IACAC Oktoberfest

📅 Thursday, September 24, 2026
🕠 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
📍 Church Street Brewing Company – Itasca, IL

Raise a glass with your fellow IACAC members at our annual Oktoberfest celebration!

Join us at Church Street Brewing Company for an evening of networking, food, drinks, and plenty of Oktoberfest fun with Chicago’s air cargo and logistics community.

Whether you’re reconnecting with longtime colleagues or meeting new faces, this is a great opportunity to step away from the office and spend an evening with fellow industry professionals.

IACAC Airline Night

📅 Thursday, October 15, 2026
Get ready for one of IACAC’s biggest industry events of the year!

Airline Night brings together airlines, freight forwarders, logistics providers, and industry partners from across the Chicago air cargo community for an evening of networking, relationship building, and connecting with the people who keep our industry moving.

Whether you represent an airline, forwarder, service provider, or another part of the supply chain, Airline Night is an excellent opportunity to connect with colleagues and expand your network within Chicago’s air cargo community.

🎟️ Tickets are on sale now!

✔ 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 25 — Chicago Dogs Game
✔ Aug 13 — Annual Golf Outing
🍻 Sep 24 — Oktoberfest | 5:30–8:30 PM | Church Street Brewing Company
✈️ Oct 15 — Airline Night
📋 Nov — Coming soon!
🎄 Dec 3 — Holiday Luncheon

This month’s Photo of the Month celebrates one of our favorite traditions—the IACAC Annual Golf Outing!
Thank you to everyone who came out on August 13th and helped make the day such a memorable one. Whether you joined us on the course, sponsored a hole, donated a prize, volunteered, or simply came out to support the association, your participation made the event possible.

More than anything, the Golf Outing reminds us what IACAC is all about: bringing our industry together, building relationships, and having a little fun along the way.

Did you know? Air cargo represents only a small fraction of global trade by physical volume, but accounts for roughly one-third of world trade by value.

That’s because aircraft disproportionately carry the world’s most time-sensitive and high-value goods—from pharmaceuticals and semiconductors to aerospace components, electronics, and critical manufacturing parts.
It’s a powerful reminder that air cargo’s impact on global commerce extends far beyond the tonnage we move.