UK Air Freight Market Size, Share, Growth, Analysis and Insights 2025-2033

Market Overview

The UK Air Freight Market reached a size of USD 10.54 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 16.40 Billion by 2033, expanding at a CAGR of 4.52% during 2025–2033.

Market growth is primarily driven by robust global trade flows, the surge in e-commerce shipments, and increasing demand for time-sensitive deliveries. Technological advancements, such as automation, real-time tracking, and the development of hybrid airships and cargo drones, are transforming the UK’s freight infrastructure. These innovations are improving operational efficiency, reducing delivery times, and enhancing environmental sustainability across the air logistics ecosystem.

Study Assumption Years

• Base Year: 2024
• Historical Year/Period: 2019–2024
• Forecast Year/Period: 2025–2033

UK Air Freight Market Key Takeaways

• Current Market Size (2024): USD 10.54 Billion
• CAGR (2025–2033): 4.52%
• Forecast Period: 2025–2033
• Hybrid airships, such as the Airlander 10, are emerging as sustainable, low-emission regional freight solutions, with production beginning by 2030.
• The UK government’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandate (effective January 2025) requires 2% SAF usage on departures, advancing net-zero aviation goals by 2050.
• BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) drone regulation reforms introduced in April 2025 enable routine drone deliveries, expanding accessibility to remote regions.
• Market segmentation includes freight, express, mail, and other services, across domestic and international destinations.
• Major end users include private and commercial sectors, with leading regional markets in London, South East, North West, and Scotland.

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Market Growth Factors

Expanding Global Trade and E-commerce Demand

The UK air freight sector is sustained through high trade levels and the rapid uptake of internet-based electronic commerce. Air freight infrastructure must operate smoothly and reliably for the UK economy. The infrastructure makes it easier to transport goods needing to be delivered promptly. These goods include pharmaceuticals, fresh fruit and vegetables, also electronics.

Air cargo is necessary for express delivery and high-value products. E-commerce companies such as Amazon take advantage of automated sorting facilities, artificial intelligence demand forecasting, and online freight booking platforms, all of which increase the efficiency of air cargo whilst enabling goods to be delivered across borders in a timely fashion.

Sustainability Initiatives and SAF Adoption

People expect sustainability to play a key role as UK air cargo develops in the future. The UK Government made an announcement of a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandate to start in January 2025. It requires SAF to make up 2% of all flight departures, which increases until 2050.

Demand for SAF under this scheme will help support the growth of domestic SAF production, green investment and jobs in renewable energy and biofuels. It will also show that the aviation sector is playing its part in delivering carbon-neutral flying. A number of the biggest players in aviation including Farnborough Airport now have long term SAF offtake agreements in place.

Technological Advancements: Drones and Automation

Automation and drone technology are also starting to impact the air freight sector. The expected regularization of BVLOS deliveries from April 2025 opens up the possibility of cost-effective delivery to the Highlands and offshore islands of Scotland that can benefit from an efficient drone-based logistics solution.

Windracers and others are developing long-haul UAVs that can carry 100 kg (220 lb) payloads over 1000 km (620 mi), creating a hybrid 'UAV + air + road' logistics system to cost-effectively deliver supplies to remote or hard-to-reach rural areas, providing a scalable way to increase reliability, accessibility, and environmental performance.

Market Segmentation

Service Insights

• Freight: Transportation of general cargo by air requiring specialized logistics and handling services.
• Express: High-priority, time-critical deliveries offering rapid transit times.
• Mail: Air-based postal transportation for both domestic and international routes.
• Others: Includes additional air cargo services such as chartered or special-purpose freight operations.

Destination Insights

• Domestic: Air freight operations conducted within the UK for regional logistics and last-mile connections.
• International: Air freight services linking the UK with major global trade partners across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

End-User Insights

• Private: Individual consumers and small-scale enterprises utilizing air freight for specialized deliveries.
• Commercial: Corporate, industrial, and logistics firms engaged in high-volume or time-sensitive air shipments.

Regional Insights

The UK Air Freight Market spans all major regions, including London, South East, North West, East of England, South West, Scotland, West Midlands, Yorkshire and The Humber, East Midlands, and Others.

London remains a central hub due to its concentration of major airports such as Heathrow and Stansted, offering global connectivity. East Midlands is emerging as a strategic air freight hub, hosting DHL’s UK air cargo operations and pioneering hydrogen-electric aircraft initiatives. The South East and Scotland also contribute significantly to regional trade, with increasing adoption of sustainable freight technologies.

Recent Developments & News

• June 2025: The British International Freight Association (BIFA) signed an MoU with the Ethiopian Freight Forwarders and Shipping Agents Association (EFFSAA) in Addis Ababa to strengthen technical collaboration, workforce training, and global trade linkages.
• May 2025: ZeroAvia, in partnership with RVL Aviation and MONTE, announced the launch of the world’s first hydrogen-electric cargo flights from East Midlands Airport, utilizing the ZA600 hydrogen-electric powertrain retrofitted on Cessna Caravan aircraft — a key step toward zero-emission air freight operations.

These initiatives reflect the UK’s commitment to sustainable logistics and technological leadership in green aviation.

Key Players

• Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV)
• Farnborough Airport
• Windracers
• British International Freight Association (BIFA)
• Ethiopian Freight Forwarders and Shipping Agents Association (EFFSAA)
• ZeroAvia
• RVL Aviation
• MONTE

The market is characterized by collaborations between aerospace innovators, freight associations, and government bodies, driving sustainability, innovation, and efficiency in UK logistics.

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