The STAT Trade Times Magazine - January-2026

In this issue

The January 2026 issue of The STAT Trade Times examines how the air cargo industry is adapting to slower growth while strengthening its structural role in global trade through sustainability, automation and digital transformation. The Cover Story by Sakshi Basutkar analyses global air freight trends for 2026, highlighting disciplined capacity, resilient demand for high-value cargo and the sector’s evolving position as a critical pillar of international commerce. The Industry Report by Parijat Sourabh explores how freighter operators are shrinking their carbon footprint, detailing the fuel, fleet and operational strategies being deployed to make air cargo more sustainable. In Focus, Nikitha Sebastian looks at how automation is redefining the modern air cargo terminal, with intelligent coordination and automated execution emerging as key enablers in an increasingly complex operating environment. The Picture Story by Rajarshi Chatterjee captures the weirdest cargo movements of 2025, showcasing the extraordinary and unexpected shipments, from Formula 1 cars and iconic film vehicles to live animals, that air freight made possible. In Event Logistics, Titus John highlights how EFM supports some of the world’s biggest sports and live event arenas through precision-driven, time-critical logistics and meticulous operational planning. Divya Shah, in the Special Report, examines the rise of smart terminals and the human-light revolution of 2026, driven by e-commerce growth, digital-first strategies and the industry’s accelerating push towards Net Zero.