Jack Burt
2025/08/22/ | Interview
It is a challenging time for supply chain decision-makers and managers in the US.
The introduction of tariffs on a wide range of goods from markets across the
globe has ramped up volatility, especially as many of the deadlines for these
tariffs change regularly.
According to Jack Burt, Senior Vice President of Cargo at Chapman Freeborn USA, the
industry is experiencing significant shifts. ”The net impact of tariffs on air cargo market
demand is likely to be negative, as high tariffs could lead to a reduction in international
trade volume,” Burt explains. ”Yet air freight has witnessed a surge in recent months
with some industry sectors as supply chain managers scramble to move commodities
before tariff deadlines kick in.”
According to Xeneta, air freight levels were up 5% in July. In times of volatility like this,
air cargo charters are at the leading edge of the industry as they provide premium
express deliveries. While tariff uncertainty continues – with higher US-China tariffs
postponed for another 90 days – air charter cargos offer supply chain managers a viable
option for expediting deliveries and navigating the current complexities in global trade.
Unprecedented volatility due to US tariffs on global partners
On August 12, China and the US agreed to extend a truce in their ongoing tariff war,
with the imposition of much higher tariffs between the world’s two largest economies
pushed back until November 10. While this news is certainly welcome, it extends a
period of unprecedented chaos and volatility for US supply chain managers, with no end
in sight.
Whether it is deliveries of raw materials, refined machinery, or produced goods, supply
chain decision-makers have limited visibility in terms of the tariffs that could occur for
global purchases. This makes it very hard to make decisions on how to spend capital for
a corporation in a smart manner without incurring tariffs.
Air cargo charters a premium option for expedited delivery
“It is the arrival date of a shipment in the US, rather than the date of purchase, that
matters,” notes Burt. “For this reason, expediting delivery becomes an important tool in
supply chain management. This explains the 5% increase in air cargo witnessed in
July.”
He continues, ” cargo charter is at the leading edge of expedited delivery. As a result,
when the market shifts or there is any kind of imbalance between supply and demand, it is typical to see a jump in air cargo charters, which is what has occurred in recent months.”
Standard road, ocean or rail delivery may not be fast enough to navigate these
changes, and therefore air freight becomes the preferred option, with regional cargo
charter addressing the premium end of the market.
“At present, there has been ample capacity for air charter brokers to handle the current
increase in load factor resulting from tariff uncertainty,” Burt observes. “Because globally
demand is down, partially as a result of lower trade levels caused by tariffs, aircraft and
crews are available so air charter brokers can successfully match supply with demand.”
Of course, this can change quickly and certain regions are more challenging. For
example, Vietnam, and Southeast Asia more generally, has less available capacity to
meet demand. And naturally, the cheapest air freight capacity is snapped up first. For
specialty aircraft, such as heavy lift craft, there is limited capacity, but this is not related
to tariffs, there is simply a limited number of these aircraft.
Typical commodities shipped using air cargo charters
A diverse range of products are being transported using air cargo charters. This is partly
because the landscape as to which products from which countries are affected by tariffs
is continually changing. Tariff rates are unique to individual countries, and then each
country has a list of specific commodities that are included or exempted.
“This causes a lot of confusion and also means that products of all sizes and types
might be air freighted, everything from textiles to industrial machinery,” says Burt. “High
end electronics and computer servers has been one common area for this service. Prior
to tariffs in Europe kicking in, expedited delivery on servers used for cryptocurrency
mining were popular. Another common commodity type is industrial machinery that
needs delivery prior to tariff rates kicking in.”
Air charter brokers use agility and global network
Burt emphasizes the adaptability of his organization: ”In the case of Chapman Freeborn,
there has been no need to hire additional staff to cover the uptick in demand. That is
because, as an air cargo broker, we’re already set up to respond rapidly to emergencies
or urgent requests.”
He explains further, “Our services include humanitarian and disaster relief flights, which
are coordinated in a matter of hours. These services depend on a widespread global
network of partners. Therefore, increases in demand caused by trade limitations like
tariffs can be managed without the need to hire additional staff.”
Naturally, it is important to remain nimble and adaptable in order to respond to ever-
changing economic realities.
“It is worth noting that retainer services are also a potential option for supply chain
managers, “Burt adds. “In this case, a full consultation is provided to put together a
tailored plan which means products can be transported as and when needed. However,
even without such a retainer, organizing air cargo shipments within 48 hours is entirely
possible.”
The coming months for tariffs and air cargo charters
Looking ahead, Burt provides his assessment: “The current levels of disruption and
uncertainty caused by tariffs show little sign of easing in the coming months. The
postponement of higher US-China tariffs will likely result in another push in terms of
demand for air cargo charters.”
Supply chain decision-makers will likely wish to ensure essential goods reach the US
prior to higher tariff levels being imposed. More generally, we can expect a decline in air
cargo as international trade slows. Capital decision makers may also choose to wait for
things to settle.
“What is clear is that, despite the current volatility, experienced cargo charter brokers
have the network, know-how and team to provide expedited deliveries as and when
supply chain managers need them,” Burt concludes.
About Chapman Freeborn
The Chapman Freeborn Group was established in the UK in 1973. The company has
offices worldwide including North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. In the
cargo market, Chapman Freeborn Airchartering specializes in the charter and lease of
aircraft for a wide-ranging customer base, including freight forwarders, multinational
corporations, governments, humanitarian agencies and a host of industries around the
globe.
In addition to freight services, Chapman Freeborn offers specialist passenger services
including private jet charters for executive travel and large aircraft for crew rotations and
international group travel, as well as on board courier services.
About Avia Solutions Group
Chapman Freeborn is part of Avia Solutions Group, the world’s largest ACMI (Aircraft,
Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) provider, operating a fleet of 209 aircraft on 6
continents. The group also provides a range of aviation services: MRO (Maintenance,
Repair, and Overhaul), pilot and crew training, ground handling, as well as a variety of
associated aviation services. Supported by 14,000 highly skilled aviation professionals,
the group is parent company to over 250+ subsidiaries.
For more information, please visit www.chapmanfreeborn.aero
Media contact:
Ruta Siniakovaite
Global PR manager
Avia Solutions Group
Ruta.siniakovaite@aviasg.com
+370 638 48907
Source: Chapman Freeborn