A review of the air freight map in Southeast Asia
- Southeast Asia is becoming a major region for air freight as Vietnam and Thailand grow as high-tech manufacturing hubs, driving demand for flexible capacity and digital solutions.
- The Turkish shipping company is combining cargo space and cargo space, expanding block space agreements, and using its smart hub in Istanbul to provide fast, secure and specialized handling of time-sensitive cargo such as medicine and electronics.
- Dynamic capacity management, AI-based tools and digital upgrades adapt to real-time demand and improve visibility and operational efficiency across volatile regional and intercontinental routes.
As manufacturing brands change and e-commerce accelerates, Southeast Asia has become a strategic battleground for global air freight companies. Vietnam and Thailand, in particular, are emerging as high-tech manufacturing hubs – and data shows that air freight traffic is growing accordingly.
While China and Hong Kong remain dominant in terms of outbound tonnage, regional diversification is prompting more carriers to review capacity allocation, digital capabilities and hub design. Turkish Airlines Cargo is among the companies that have moved early to accommodate this change, providing case studies of how flexible deployments and customized solutions have become key to remaining competitive.
Southeast Asia’s export profile is changing
Vietnam’s electronics exports to the United States are set to increase by more than 75 percent between 2020 and 2024, according to UN trade data. At the same time, Thailand has become a growing powerhouse in automotive and semiconductor manufacturing.
“At Turkish Cargo, we see strong growth potential in Southeast Asia, particularly in Vietnam and Thailand, where high-tech manufacturing and increased e-commerce demand are driving exports to the US,” said Vulcan Solmaz, Turkish Airlines Vice President of Cargo Asia and Far East.
This growing demand is prompting shippers to move beyond traditional shipping lines or seasonal charters. Solmaz pointed to the expansion of the Turkish shipping company’s space contracts in Hong Kong and Vietnam as part of a long-term strategy. Objective: To secure predictable growth for exporters in a region where competition for production capacity is intense.
The use of tome controls on high-frequency passenger services is also strategically linked to freight capacity, particularly on eastbound lines. “We are streamlining traffic in both directions to ensure that all available space is used efficiently,” Solmaz said. “Close coordination between freight and passenger operations allows us to efficiently allocate capacity across the region.”
From speed to expertise
In digitally mature Asian markets, customers increasingly expect instant booking, real-time tracking and fast delivery – especially for time-sensitive goods such as pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and e-commerce parcels. It is changing how airlines invest in digital systems and physical infrastructure.
“Asia Pacific is one of the most digitally advanced regions, and this is clearly reflected in customer expectations,” notes Solmaz. “Today, more than 90% of bookings in Asia are processed digitally through TKGO.”
The carrier’s Istanbul hub, SMARTIST, plays an important role in providing the speed and security required for this shipment. End-to-end communications now reduce transit times on corridors such as China to South America to just 27 hours. “It’s almost like connecting two ends of the world in one day,” Solmaz said.
Dedicated handling zones, ASRS systems, and AI-powered navigation tools are standard requirements rather than luxury features. “The facility is equipped with ASRS systems, 24/7 temperature-controlled areas, and fully secured VAL and VUN rooms,” Solmaz explained, noting its role in processing high-value transactions with minimal delays.
The focus on specialty goods is particularly evident in the pharmaceutical and electronics sectors. For example, Turku Cargo’s TK Pharma product is CEIV/GDP certified and distributed at service level. For electronics, the carrier has “developed secure transport zones and processing flows to reduce risks and shorten transit times,” Solmaz said.
Mobility is the new normal
The challenge in 2025 is not just capabilities, but also speed. Air cargo flows in Asia remain volatile, with uneven recovery in consumer markets and constant changes in resource flows. Turkish Airlines’ response is to rely less on fixed load cycles and more on real-time demand matching.
“We are taking dynamic management and proactive measures to increase capacity in our network,” Solmaz said. These include charter flights between Asia from high-demand sources, use of more than 60 partner airlines for flexible routing, and carrier combinations tailored to markets.
The main cargo airports in China and Hong Kong still provide the bulk of cargo to Europe and Africa, but the growth curve has started to decline. Solmaz sees the root of diversification elsewhere: “Meanwhile, multimedia centers in Central Asia are becoming more important as trade flows diversify.”
This includes plans to establish a new center in Central Asia with continuous upgrades to TSK’s digital tools. “We have a new generation of cargo aircraft on order and are improving our digital systems to provide customers with greater visibility and control.” Solmaz insisted.
Notably, machine learning-based revenue management systems and AI assistants such as CARGY are integrated to improve pricing and booking response times – a clear signal that OT is no longer isolated, but integrated into customer service and business decision-making.
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