Air Freight
The widest choice of routes, transit times and cost-effective solutions for every time-critical need.
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kgs
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Charters
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On-Time
Charter
- N Long-standing carrier relationships
- N Cost-effective precision aircraft
- N Tailored project cargo solutions
Freight
- N Measured and reliable transit times
- N Optimum blend of carrier selection
- N Balanced cost to transit time
Courier
- N Most competitive integrator rates and services
- N Bespoke solutions for sensitive consignments
- N Transparent milestone update throughout
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Air News & Insights
Drones strike Gulf hubs as air and sea freight networks tighten
Security incidents on 11 March have added further pressure to global freight networks already affected by disruption across the Middle East. A drone strike at the Port of Salalah in Oman hit fuel storage tanks, forcing the suspension of port…
Middle East: Disruption ripples through global supply chains
The ongoing disruption across the Middle East is now sending shockwaves far beyond the region itself, with upstream impacts emerging across air cargo networks, ocean shipping services and global freight pricing. What began as a regional security crisis affecting Gulf…
Turning disruption into decision advantage
The simultaneous disruption in the Persian Gulf and continued Red Sea avoidance is creating a supply chain shock without modern precedent. Metro’s latest application release is giving you unprecedented visibility. With vessels held or diverting, Gulf-bound cargo potentially discharging at…
Middle east Crisis: global network implications
The evolving security situation across the Middle East is now materially affecting both ocean and air freight networks, with implications extending far beyond the region itself. The Middle East is currently classified as high-risk for international transport operations, and the…
Birmingham airport investment will enhance cargo capability
Birmingham International Airport, a long-standing strategic hub partner of Metro, has confirmed an ambitious growth programme that will strengthen its infrastructure and bolster its role in air cargo logistics and global connectivity. Building on years of collaborative development with Metro…
Air freight markets firm as Chinese New Year front-loading reshapes early-year demand
Air freight markets have entered the new year on firmer footing than many expected, with volumes rebounding sharply through January as shippers accelerate movements ahead of earlier-than-usual Chinese New Year factory shutdowns. While underlying demand remains uneven, front-loading has concentrated…
Air freight volumes rebound and rates adjust post-peak
Average east-west spot freight rates strengthened into December as peak-season demand lifted pricing, and while they eased back over the year-end, early January data shows a sharp rebound in demand. Outbound air freight rates from Asia rose firmly into December,…
Smart 2026 supply chains are being engineered for pressure
Supply chains are no longer judged on efficiency alone, in 2026 they will be expected to anticipate disruption and adapt at speed to actively support growth. The experience of the past year confirmed that stability is no longer a realistic…
Continued Airfreight Growth Amid Emerging Challenges
Global air freight markets have continued to post positive year-on-year growth through September and October, reinforced by stronger than anticipated build up to peak season volumes, but recent indicators point to a moderating pace and emerging challenges that merit close…
Asia Air and Ocean Rates Edge Higher — For Now
After months of volatility and gradual rate decline, airfreight rates on key Asia–Europe and trans-Pacific lanes are climbing as capacity tightens ahead of a softer-than-usual peak season, while ocean carriers are seeing container spot rates rebound for a second consecutive…
One Minute Late, Thousands Lost: U.S. Customs Tightens Enforcement Across All Modes
In U.S. trade compliance, even a one-minute delay can be costly. Recent cases show importers and logistics partners facing thousands of dollars in penalties simply because mandatory filings were completed moments after official cut-off times. U.S. Customs and Border Protection…
Airfreight Cools; Growth Still Building
Even though air cargo is easing back after a brisk summer, global tonnages rose in the third quarter, with eCommerce redrawing lanes and hub dynamics, while UK airport expansions point to a more connected decade ahead. Worldwide air cargo tonnages…
Ex-China Airfreight: Turbulence and Transformation
For shippers moving goods by air into Europe and the US, the peak season has arrived with a complexity not seen in recent years. As flights are cancelled and rates trend sharply upward, a fundamental reshaping of the marketplace is…
Growth Sustained, But Reliability and Policy Risks Loom for Air Freight
Air cargo volumes surprised on the upside again in August, rising by around 5% year on year, the second consecutive month of growth at this pace. Capacity also increased by 4%, though yields came under pressure as rates softened. Despite…
Asia Pacific Freight Markets Reshape as Tariffs Shift Trade Flows
Air and sea freight in the Asia Pacific region is at the centre of global freight realignments, as eCommerce and feeder shipping operations are reshaped by recent policy changes in the US. Adjustments to tariff rules and the elimination of…
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Season 2025
The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) is an agricultural pest native to China, Japan and the Korean peninsula. Each year, Australia and New Zealand enforce strict controls from 1 September through 30 April to prevent the introduction of this invasive…
US Tariffs Reshape Global Supply Chains
The wave of new US tariffs has triggered a recalibration across global trade and supply chains. While markets initially reacted with relative calm, the cumulative impact of the Trump administration’s layered tariff regime, now reaching more than 60 countries, is…
Air Freight Demand Surges on Tariff Pressures but Challenges Persists
Global air cargo markets have entered an unusual mid-summer upswing as US importers accelerated shipments to avoid rising tariffs. July volumes rose strongly against seasonal norms, fuelled by front-loading, modal shift from ocean to air, and persistent trade uncertainty. The…
H1 2025: Six Developments Reshaping Global Trade
The first half of 2025 has been one of the most turbulent periods for supply chains in recent memory. From renewed tariff wars to fresh geopolitical flashpoints, logistics professionals have had to contend with a constantly shifting landscape. At the…
Front‑Loading and Hidden Inventory Disrupt Traditional Peak Season
The traditional second‑half transpacific cargo peak is unlikely to materialise this year as a wave of accelerated shipments in the first half of 2025 has drained demand from the later months, while significant volumes of hidden inventory remain stalled in…
Transatlantic Air Cargo: Calm Surface, Hidden Currents
The transatlantic air cargo market may appear steady, with stable capacity and rates, but beneath this surface calm, subtle shifts are reshaping flows, costs, and opportunities, especially on niche routes like Canada–Europe and Mexico–Europe. While wide-body and freighter capacity from…
Case Study
More testing times
This leading midlands-based British car manufacturer invested £1bn in the latest iteration of a popular model, covering research, design, advanced technology engineering and manufacturing.
The client had been moving cars for overseas testing through mainland European gateways, served by export cargo freighters, which increased transit time and reduced the time available for testing on arrival.
Forming a strategic alliance with Birmingham Airport and Emirates Airlines we agreed the movement of a Boeing 777 aircraft through Birmingham gateway specifically to move vehicles to the USA, reducing transit-times by 5 days which provided a substantial down time cost saving, with 500 vehicles transported in a 9 month period.
Through Innovation and creative initiatives Metro continue to be market leaders in UK Air Cargo.
