Peak Season Without Panic: A Checklist
14 AUG 2026 · 5 MIN READ · OPS DESK
December capacity is sold in October. Six moves made in September decide whether your cargo flies on schedule or waits on the tarmac.
1. Lock blocked-space agreements by mid-October. Freighter capacity sells out in November; a signed BSA turns your forecast into guaranteed ULD positions instead of hopeful emails.
2. Pre-book screening slots for your top lanes so pallets never miss a departure sitting in the X-ray queue. One missed screening is one missed flight and a week of apology emails.
3. Reserve 15% buffer stock now. Our Kraków bonded hub rents peak pallets from September — stock positioned near the airport in October is stock that ships in December.
4. Freeze packaging changes after 1 November. A stable, pre-approved box beats a perfect one during the rush; screening rejects and re-packs are missed flights.
5. Name your charter backup. Agree the trigger price and the phone number before you need them. Panic charters booked at midnight cost roughly double a pre-arranged backup.
6. Publish the peak rota. Who releases freight, who books, who answers the airline at 22:00 — written down, with deputies. Peak season fails on handoffs, not on effort.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Blocked space signed by mid-October is the whole game.
- 15% buffer stock near the airport covers the December spike.
- Freeze packaging 1 November; pre-agree charter backup now.
