The 2026 global air freight forwarder ranking has once again highlighted how quickly capacity and volume dynamics shift in the sector. Armstrong & Associates' annual 'Top 25 Global Air Freight Forwarders' list ranks freight forwarders by air freight volumes in metric tons, offering a clear snapshot of market leaders. Kuehne+Nagel (K+N) maintained its number one spot in the airfreight market despite DSV's takeover of DB Schenker, increasing its airfreight volumes 7% year on year in 2025 to 2.2 million tonnes, beating DSV's 2 million tonnes. Meanwhile, DSV placed second with 2 million tonnes of airfreight following its Schenker acquisition.
Founded in 1890, Switzerland-based Kuehne+Nagel is a global logistics powerhouse offering integrated solutions across industries like aerospace, healthcare, and perishables, while Germany's DHL covers everything from air and ocean freight to customs clearing and e-commerce parcel delivery, with over 220 countries in its network. Other top-ranked firms include DSV, Sinotrans, Nippon Express, Expeditors, C.H. Robinson, CEVA Logistics, and GEODIS. For instance, BSI Global Logistics ranked #16 globally in the 2026 Transport Topics Top 50 air freight forwarders with 310,800 metric tons, maintaining its position from the previous year.
Key drivers in 2025 included e-commerce expansion, AI infrastructure investments, and shifting trade policies. According to IATA's 2025 data, global air cargo demand increased 3.4% year-on-year, with international operations rising 4.2%, yet growth in 2026 is expected to moderate slightly to 2.4%, in line with historical trends. Kuehne+Nagel CEO Stefan Paul noted that as a logistics partner to global cloud and server infrastructure providers, the firm gained significant market share in Air Logistics, contributing to its unchanged global No. 1 positions in both sea and air freight markets on a volume basis. As time-sensitive shipments continue to grow—especially in e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, and high-value goods—digitalization and AI-driven operations have become key factors differentiating top-performing forwarders in 2026.
Looking ahead, capacity management, sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), and geopolitical risks remain the industry's main challenges. As of April 2026, global air cargo capacity decreased by 3% year on year due to Gulf region disruptions and high jet fuel costs, with spot rates up 45% year on year in week 17. IATA forecasts air cargo demand to grow by 2.6% in 2026, with air freight volumes expected to reach about 71.6 million tonnes. In this environment, top names like Kuehne+Nagel, DHL, DSV, and Expeditors are pushing green initiatives and better technology platforms like myKN or eSchenker to help customers manage shipments seamlessly and sustainably.
Note: This summary draws on Supply Chain 24/7's publicly visible headline + subhead + opening paragraph and on sector background on 2026 air freight forwarder rankings.
Key Takeaways:
1. Kuehne+Nagel retained global air freight leadership in 2025 with 2.2 million tonnes, followed by DSV in second place.
2. Armstrong & Associates' Top 25 list includes key players such as DHL, Expeditors, Nippon Express, and CEVA.
3. IATA data shows global air cargo demand grew 3.4% in 2025, with 2.4% growth forecast for 2026.
4. E-commerce, AI infrastructure, and trade policies are the main drivers shaping air freight demand in 2025–2026.
5. Digital platforms (myKN, eSchenker), AI-driven operations, and SAF investments provide competitive advantage in the sector.
