Industry Overview
In Europe’s fast-moving logistics arena, air freight is a high-stakes segment. With limited aircraft capacity, strict regulatory regimes and evolving service expectations, the competitive dynamics are intense. Providers must deliver speed, reliability and service differentiation (e.g., cold chain, high-value goods, door-to-door) to win business.

Market Outlook
The Europe air freight market is projected to reach around USD 80.3 billion by 2035, up from approximately USD 39.7 billion in 2024. The CAGR from 2025 to 2035 is estimated at 6.6%. This expansion creates space for both established players and emerging service specialists to capture growth.

Key Players
Key global players include:

  • DHL Global Forwarding (Germany)

  • Kuehne + Nagel (Switzerland)

  • FedEx Corporation (US)

  • UPS (US)
    And prominent regional/European players:

  • DB Schenker (Germany)

  • Geodis (France)

  • Hellmann Worldwide Logistics (Germany)
    These firms are engaging in mergers & acquisitions, launching digital booking platforms, deploying AI/analytics for route planning, and investing in greener aircraft to stay ahead.

Segmentation & Growth
The segmentation drivers include:

  • Type: International shipments dominate due to cross-border trade volumes.

  • Service Mode: Door-to-door services are gaining traction and growing fastest, as shippers seek end-to-end ease.

  • Regional: Germany remains the largest national market (~25.3% share) because of its robust export industry and freight-hub airports.

Conclusion
As the European air freight market Size evolves, competitive advantage will lie with firms that combine scale, service differentiation and digital agility. Logistics providers and shippers should monitor key players’ moves (for example, acquisitions, platform launches, green initiatives) and adjust their partner strategies accordingly to maximise value in this growth market.