TAC INDEX MEASURING THE STATE OF THE AIR CARGO MARKET
October 5, 2026
5th October 2026 – Hong Kong, S.A.R. – a weekly air cargo bulletin for industry journalists interested in logistics and supply chains. Â
UPDATE on air cargo 05-OCTOBER-2026
Intelligence Update
Global air freight rates surged higher last week according to the latest data released by TAC Index, the leading price reporting agency on air freight markets and calculating agent for the Baltic Air Freight indices. The global Baltic Air Freight Index (BAI00) calculated by TAC jumped by +5.0% over seven days to October 5, leaving it up some +25.5% from 12 months earlier. That sort of jump was not unexpected after rates had been edging up slightly throughout September, but far from keeping pace yet with surging jet fuel prices – which were up more than +108% year-on-year to October 2, according to the IATA Jet Fuel Price Monitor.Â
BAI Spot rates were rising over the past week out of Hong Kong, while TAC Freight rates were also higher WoW out of China on the busiest lanes both to Europe and the US. The index of outbound routes from Hong Kong (BAI30) – reflecting the full spectrum of spot and forward contracts from the world’s biggest airport by cargo volume – rose +3.0% WoW to leave it ahead by +22.3% YoY. Outbound Shanghai (BAI80) gained +2.2% WoW to leave it at +18.3% YoY. Rates elsewhere out of East Asia were more mixed, with gains WoW out of Japan and Seoul – but falls on lanes from Taiwan. Likewise out of South East Asia, with gains from Vietnam – though not on lanes from Hanoi to Europe – and falls on lanes from Bangkok. BAI Spot from India was also falling back slightly over the week – though overall rates from India were a little higher again.
Out of Europe, overall rates were a lot firmer WoW – led by a big rise on Transatlantic lanes to the US as well as further gains on lanes to China, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, UAE, Australia and South Africa. Rates were mainly lower, however, after recent gains on lanes from Amsterdam. The index of outbound routes from Frankfurt (BAI20) gained +2.0% WoW to leave it ahead by some +46.0% YoY. Outbound London Heathrow (BAI40) bounced back sharply after recent weakness, jumping +28.2% WoW – led by big gains on lanes to North America and to South East Asia – putting it back in positive territory at +13.8% YoY.Â
From North America, rates were also mainly firmer, with strong gains WoW on lanes to Europe and the UK, China and Korea – though also falls on lanes to South America. The index of outbound routes from Chicago (BAI50) gained another +9.2% WoW to leave it up now by a whopping +77.2% YoY – well above the comparable period last year when volumes and rates were still getting hit by standoffs over tariffs and trade terms. Rates from Mexico to Europe were also well up WoW and remain much higher YoY.Â
Go to TACIndex.com for all the specific data on individual lanes – including new lanes recently added from the Greater Bay Area to Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul and Tokyo. You can also find information on the new TAC Terminal, an ‘Air Cargo Oracle’ designed to turn fragmented inputs into clear, actionable outputs (like a Bloomberg Terminal but for Air Cargo).
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