Texas is a powerhouse in air cargo, with a thriving charter market driven by the state’s enormous economy and strategic location. The Lone Star State handles a significant share of U.S. air freight – nearly 1.8 million tons of air cargo (worth about $258 billion) moved through Texas in 2019.
Although air freight represents under 1% of Texas’s total freight tonnage, it carries disproportionately high value and has been the fastest-growing freight mode. In fact, Texas air cargo volumes are projected to grow ~250% by 2050, reaching over 4.6 million tons. Major airports like Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Houston Intercontinental (IAH) rank among the nation’s busiest cargo hubs, each handling hundreds of thousands of tons annually. This has fed a dynamic air cargo charter industry in Texas, as companies turn to on-demand flights for time-sensitive shipments and heavy or specialized air cargo.