When I have the intention of going after those building pieces you can only get from the airport or opinion bubble popping, I never have had an issue thus far as you are describing.
This is an example of what I personally do. This is good for both the Cargo Ship Dock and the Airport.
I am currently looking at Tokyo. Tokyo does not currently have a plane in. It shows me "Loading starts in: 7h 41m" It also shows me 3 things. Watches, Tree Saplings and Lawn Mower"
Now if I'm going to go for whatever piece I can collect from the airport, I already know what they're going to ask for based on what they're showing me. I believe the total time is somewhere around 16 hours between flights, but that does vary depending on if it's Paris, London or Tokyo. In either case, it's always been enough time to make what I need, however, knowing ahead of time I'm going to be expanding one of those areas I take an extra step. Well before it's needed I will stock up on anything that takes greater than 1 hour to make. I ensure that I have 5 of every item that takes longer than an hour to make.
Like my London currently shows Chair, Brick, Grass coming in 7h 56m. In this case, I may be short, but I have plenty of time to make 5 of each before the plane gets in. That is exactly why they tell you what is coming. So you can prepare ahead of time. Then if you miss it, it nobody's fault except your own. They gave you plenty of advanced notice and plenty of time once the plane lands to get everything made in time.
Generally the airport has been asking me for 2 or 3, so having 5 on hand guarentees you get what you need. However, lately my ship dock has been asking for 9. So lately what I've been doing is keeping a stock of 5 of everything that takes longer than an hour and when I see what it is going to be asking for I begin making the extra 4 at that time. So far, I haven't ran into much of an issue. A little bit only because I already tasked certain stores to long jobs prior to knowing what's coming in, but that is rare because I try to save the longer jobs until I'm getting ready for bed or work.
I currently have 10 of each area with every building maxed out except for Tokyo. That is only because I have intentionally not upgraded the Tokyo buildings as to not increase another level until I have accomplished other tasks first. Using my method, I have yet to ever have to go to the Global Trade HQ to find what I need. I get it all from the airport or popping opinion bubbles. The only exception to this is if I just happen to run across something while looking for other things, like to complete an Epic building, then I will buy it just because it is there and I have the simoleans for it, but I never intentionally look for those items. These days, I only hit the Trade HQ for two reasons. 1. To assist in Epic project completion and 2. to pop opinion bubbles at other cities to collect whatever they may have for me.
Otherwise, with time and patience, all things will come.
