By Ian Putzger Americas correspondent 5 August 2026Freight forwarders in Latin America and their customers are trying to cope with a stark change in airfreight capacity to North America. The football World Cup boosted flights between the hemispheres, but after the final, capacity shifted from the sector. Figures from WorldACD for 1-26 July show airfreight rates from Central and South America to North America rose 7.3% during the period, although volumes contracted 1.5%. Overall chargeable weight from the region’s airports climbed 1.5%, fuelled by rising volumes flown within Latin America, to Asia Pacific and Europe, while tonnag to Africa, the Middle East, India, and North America declined. Unlike bellyhold lift, freighter capacity to North America has been relatively unchanged.