AI Hardware Boom Replaces E-Commerce as Key Driver of Asian Air Cargo Growth

The global surge in AI infrastructure demand, including advanced chips and server components, has overtaken cross-border e-commerce as the primary growth driver for Asian air cargo carriers. Airlines like Korean Air and Japan Airlines are restructuring their routes to prioritize semiconductor manufacturing and assembly hubs across Asia. This shift provides airlines with more stable, long-term revenue streams due to multi-year backlogs for AI hardware, contrasting with the volatile consumer demand of e-commerce. Additionally, it highlights how tightening Western import regulations on low-value goods are cooling down the e-commerce shipping boom. According to IATA, AI-related cargo is projected to represent 53.5% of global air freight value by 2025 while accounting for only 7% of its weight. Because these high-value components require precise handling and rapid delivery, airlines are adopting specialized loading software and increasing flights from hubs in Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, and Malaysia.