29.09.2025
Logistics and freight transport is an essential driver of world trade, connecting markets and enabling economic growth. It’s a sector experiencing rapid global expansion, fuelled by increasing disposable incomes and rising demand for goods across industries. This growth brings huge opportunity, but also highlights the challenges of managing complex supply chains.
The complex world of logistics and transportation of freight hits upon many pain points:
- Cost pressures
- Lack of real-time end-to-end cargo tracking
- Supply chain disruption
- Labour shortages
- Environmental pressure
- Inefficient model integration
- Customer expectations for speed and reliability
The fact modern supply chains rely on multiple modes of transport (trucks, trains, ships, and planes) to get products from origin to destination is the root cause of many of these pain points. While each mode is efficient in its niche, transferring goods between them introduces delays, increases handling, and adds administrative complexity.
According to the European Commission, multimodal transport can increase total logistics costs by up to 15%, due to extra handling and coordination requirements.
Unavoidable bottlenecks
Every handoff in a supply chain is a potential bottleneck. Delays can cascade, disrupting production schedules and increasing inventory costs. Businesses increasingly operate in a world where consumers and clients expect faster delivery (even in B2B), and inefficiencies in multimodal logistics make meeting these expectations challenging.
Environmental pressure
Transportation is responsible for approximately 25% of global CO₂ emissions, with additional emissions generated each time cargo is transferred between modes. Complex logistics networks not only drive-up costs but also make it harder for companies to meet sustainability goals. Reducing the number of steps in supply chains is becoming essential, not just for efficiency, but for the planet.
The challenges of multi-stop goods transportation are clear: time, cost, and environmental impact all increase with each transfer. As supply chains face mounting pressure from rising demand, tighter delivery schedules, and sustainability requirements, the industry is looking for ways to simplify logistics.
Where Airlander fits in
As we develop larger Airlander variants at HAV, we continually assess pain points and talk to industry to ensure we deliver an aircraft that answers some of these key issues. We already see a large market gap between quick, expensive, carbon intensive air freight and cost efficient but slow surface transport. Airlander provides a way to simplify logistics by removing some of the transfers of goods between modes of transport. Instead of routing cargo through ports, rail terminals, and multiple handovers, it can deliver directly to factories or distribution centres. This direct-to-destination approach offers a will create a more resilient and predictable supply chain. For high-value or sensitive goods, fewer transfers also means greater control and predictability throughout the journey and improvements in real-time end-to-end cargo tracking. The lack of standardised processes and interoperability between systems also becomes improved.
Airlander provides a route to decarbonisation within a decade by offering a lower-emission alternative to conventional air freight while still operating faster than sea and land transport, making it particularly suited for medium-haul routes where efficiency and sustainability is critical.
Supply chain disruption, such as geopolitical issues or natural disasters are also alleviated. Tensions in the Suez Canal, or queues for miles at the port of Singapore? Being able to fly over these choke points is a massive benefit and one that will ultimately mean customer expectations for speed and reliability are met.
Remote or outsized loads
Airlander can open up routes and projects that were previously logistically challenging, such as delivering large construction modules to sites without port access or transporting specialised lab equipment directly to remote research facilities. With the right planning in place, Airlander can unlock new possibilities for transporting outsized, specialised, or hard-to-reach cargo, helping streamline logistics while supporting sustainability goals.