You request an air freight quote on a Tuesday and it looks manageable. You request the same quote two weeks later for the same route, same weight, same destination  and it’s 30% higher. Nothing about your shipment changed. So what changed? Air freight price fluctuation is one of the most frustrating parts of running a supply chain from China, and it catches eCommerce brands off guard more often than it should. This guide breaks down every reason air freight rates move  with real data and specific examples  so you can plan around the volatility instead of being surprised by it. What Makes Air Freight Pricing Different From Sea Freight Before getting into the individual causes, it helps to understand why