JULY 28, 2025
Lift Off: 4 Big Ideas That Took Flight at Air Cargo Europe
Air Cargo Europe is co-located with Transport Logistic for a joint mega event every two years for the last 20+ years. In 2025, the powerhouse event gathered a record number 2,722 exhibitors from 73 nations, and more than 77,000 visitors from 130 countries in Munich.
The Transport Logistic event focused on navigating the future of AI, cybersecurity, and sustainable concepts.
Air Cargo Europe zeroes in on air freight topics including AI, Greenhushing, future of freighters and digitalization.
4 Key Themes & Takeaways
The featured sessions at Air Cargo Europe 2025 revealed a clear through-line: the air cargo industry is at a pivotal point – balancing operational efficiency with bold innovation, and commercial growth with environmental responsibility. 4 recurring themes emerged from the week’s most talked-about panels.
1. Sustainability Requires Transparency – Not Greenhushing
Across the industry, there is growing recognition that staying silent about sustainability efforts is no longer acceptable. The panel on “Combating Greenhushing” made it clear: companies must be more transparent—not just to meet ESG expectations, but to earn trust across supply chains and with regulators.
Takeaway: It’s not enough to do good; companies must also show the impact of their climate actions, circular initiatives, and emissions reductions. For pharma and perishables, where environmental scrutiny is growing, this transparency could soon be a regulatory as well as a reputational requirement.
2. AI is Moving from Buzzword to Business Driver
Artificial intelligence was the unifying thread across multiple sessions. From predictive demand planning to real-time pricing and routing optimization, AI is reshaping how cargo is forecasted, sold, and tracked.
Takeaway: Forward-looking air cargo players are already embedding AI into commercial and operational decision-making. For pharma logistics, AI offers new opportunities for minimizing temperature excursions, optimizing packout strategies, and ensuring delivery precision—especially in time-critical lanes.
3. Freighter Strategy Is Evolving with Demand Volatility
The “Future of Freighters” session explored how carriers are rethinking fleet composition and capacity strategies. The rise of narrowbody freighter conversions, increased interest in regional routes, and shifting demand patterns—particularly from e-commerce and life sciences—are all shaping investment decisions.
Takeaway: For pharmaceutical shippers, this may mean greater access to dedicated capacity on shorter-haul routes, more consistent lift availability, and potential improvements in transit reliability as carriers tailor fleets more precisely to cargo needs.
4. Automation and Digitization Are Redefining Efficiency
The closing session by Fraunhofer IML laid out a future in which cargo terminals are increasingly automated, data-driven, and interconnected. From robotics-enabled handling to automated document flows, the air cargo industry is gradually building a more agile and transparent logistics backbone.
Takeaway: Digitization isn’t just a back-office upgrade – it’s becoming a differentiator. Pharma companies, in particular, stand to benefit from more robust audit trails, real-time temperature tracking, and reduced manual error throughout the shipment journey.
ThermoSafe – Center Stage
During the Air Cargo World event, STAT Trade Times publishing house interviewed Bourji Mourad, Director Global Leasing & Market Development, Sonoco ThermoSafe about air cargo trends and the Pegasus ULD.
Mourad talks about how airline partnerships and container flexibility are essential to building a reliable, compliant air cargo program – especially for pharma. Video interview highlights include:
- Shippers want choice, backup availability, cost-effectiveness, and secure chain-of-custody containers
- How FAA and EASA aircraft-certified containers like the Pegasus ULD must meet strict safety and maintenance standards
- The Pegasus ULD is the only passive ULD for air cargo, using PCM cooling bottles instead of powered systems
- How active and passive technologies are needed depending on the product, lane and application.
Watch the video on STAT Trade Times.
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Interested in diving deeper into air cargo solutions or learning how the Pegasus ULD can support your operation? Our air freight experts are ready to discuss your needs. Contact ThermoSafe to start the conversation.
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