Aviation
U-Freight sees continued rise in Philippine shipments
U-Freight sees continued rise in Philippine shipments
Transport Logistic Southeast Asia, Air Cargo Southeast Asia accelerates the region’s logistics resilience, sustainability and digitalization
Air cargo capacity overtook demand for the first time in 19 months
Emirates SkyCargo signs service quality deal with Kuehne+Nagel
Geodis completes transport, float-off of three wind foundations
Oman Air Cargo appoints Swissport as its new ground handler in Schiphol
Frankfurt Airport poised to become global pharma hub
Emirates boosts cargo capacity in China with new Shenzhen service
ONE opens office in Greece
Freightos: Transpacific rates slide on early end to peak surge
Hellmann opens new contract logistics center in the Melbourne
MOL completes the acquisition of LBC Tank Terminals
Ethiopian expands Asia cargo network with new Urumqi service in China
Cathay Cargo transports terracotta figures, other artifacts from Xi’an to Perth
S&P: Israel-Iran conflict could lead to sharp shock in global growth
Middle East, South Asia tonnages partially rebound
Ship recycling could double to 16,000 ships over the next 10 years
DHL Global Forwarding inaugurates new Frankfurt air freight hub
IATA: Air cargo demand up 2.2% despite trade disruptions
Saudia Cargo, China Cargo Airlines ink deal to boost Asia-Europe air freight
Oman Air joins oneworld alliance
Air Hong Kong now operating all-A330 Freighter fleet
Air One moves 12-meter cargo from Liège to Abu Dhabi
IATA launches SAF matchmaking platform
APAC Logistics occupiers focus on expansion amid global trade uncertainty
Hong Kong takes center stage at TIACA 2025 Summit
Hong Kong Convention enters into force marking new era in ship recycling
FedEx retires 12 aircraft amid choppy demand
Atlas Air expands cargo facility at Miami International Airport
Asia Pacific air cargo volumes rise again on continued frontloading
Emirates SkyCargo warns of fuel-linked payload concern amid Mideast tension
Qatar Airways reinstates flights as Qatar airspace reopens
Saudia Cargo, TAM Group launch ‘Saudia Cargo Global’ from new Hong Kong hub
Rhenus expands in Southeast Asia with new Singapore air freight gateway
Cathay Pacific maintains double-digit cargo growth in May
Air Charter Service makes top management changes
South Carolina Ports reports stable cargo volumes despite uncertainty
Saudia Cargo inks global partnerships to expand reach
Frankfurt Airport cargo volume bounces back in May
Qantas Freight expands freighter operation in China
JD Logistics debuts in Saudi Arabia
Hong Kong maintains 3% export growth forecast despite tariffs
First ITA Airways flights with Lufthansa Cargo shipments arrive in Rome
MNG Airlines to order two Airbus A350F Freighters
DHL: Early peak season driven by tariff and capacity fluidity
Port of Long Beach sees cargo decline for May
Freightos: Iran-Israel conflict not impacting freight yet
WFS earns Cargo iQ Quality Certification across EMEA, Asia
AviLease orders 10 Airbus A350F freighters
Kale Logistics launches Maritime Single Window in Brunei
WorldACD: Air cargo rides uncertainty as demand grows 6% in May
WFS extends cargo handling, trucking contract with Oman Air in France
FedEx spots freight opportunities for expanded cargo plane operations
Saudia Cargo eyes fleet, network, digital upgrades in bid for Top 10 status
Malaysia sets sights on becoming a key regional cargo hub
Hong Kong sees modest air cargo growth despite trade uncertainty
WorldACD: Worldwide tonnages rebounded 4% in May after April decline
Etihad Cargo, Ezhou Huahu Airport partner to expand Asia-Pacific connectivity
Lödige Industries in Asia expands presence with new South Korea branch office
FedEx boosts APAC healthcare capabilities with CEIV pharma certification
Kuehne+Nagel, SATS launch expedited aircraft parts delivery in Singapore
Qatar Airways Cargo, IAG Cargo, MASkargo to launch global cargo partnership
Etihad Cargo introduces SmartTrack, expanding real-time shipment monitoring
Airline profitability to strengthen slightly in 2025 despite headwinds – IATA
Air China Cargo to set-up its UK cargo hub at Glasgow Prestwick Airport
Emirates SkyCargo boosts East-West connectivity with new connections
cargo.one integrates digital air freight booking with Descartes' system
WorldACD: Global air cargo market stable, while China-US lane recovers
Mersin International Port completes first phase of East Med Hub 2 terminal
Cathay Pacific, Sinopec join forces in a SAF initiative
WR Logistics appoints Massimo Naldini as CEO for Italy
Chengdu-Shenzhen-Hong Kong rail-sea corridor launched
China Airlines joins digital booking platform Freightos
ONE advances green strategy with ship recycling policy, SRTI membership
IATA: Air cargo demand up 5.8% in April
Port of Houston records double-digit container growth
Hactl advances phase two of smart cargo thermal detection
Frontloading boosts cargo volume for airlines in the Asia Pacific
Kuehne+Nagel appoints new global head of sales
Frankfurt Cargo Services expands e-commerce handling facility by 300%
Port of NY/NJ reports continued cargo growth in April
CEVA Logistics links Far East, Latin America with car carrier fleet
Kuehne+Nagel, Natilus team up on blended-wing cargo planes
APAC, Middle East records double-digit growth in air connectivity — ACI World
Transpacific ocean volumes surge during tariff pause
Qatar Airways Cargo reports record year
Lufthansa Cargo uses AI to process booking requests faster
IATA appoints Sheldon Hee as regional vice president for Asia-Pacific
Pacific Carriers, Singapore Maritime Foundation boost maritime workforce
DHL Group partners with Shopify to accelerate global cross-border shipping
WestJet Cargo expands capacity to Japan with daily Dreamliner service
WorldACD: Asia Pacific and worldwide tonnages rebound
Hasenkamp announces first art storage facility of its kind in Saudi Arabia
Swissport, Aurrigo launch first global pilot of autonomous ground handling
FedEx Global Healthcare earns IATA CEIV Pharma Certification
Kuehne+Nagel acquires Spanish road logistics provider TDN
Sudden transpacific capacity shortage amid US-China tariff pause
Lufthansa Cargo expands temperature-controlled logistics with new features
San Pedro Bay Ports open bidding for short line rail services
Neste starts to supply SAF to FedEx at LAX
Cargolux, AIT Worldwide Logistics sign landmark SAF deal
Cathay Cargo sees year-on-year growth, but monthly slowdown amid tariff uncertainty
Qatar Airways Cargo records strongest financial results since pandemic
Port of Antwerp-Bruges launches Europe’s first electric tugboat
Lufthansa Cargo to market ITA Airways capacity, adds Rome as fifth hub
HSBC: China-US tariffs pause would drive an early peak season
Lufthansa Cargo announces executive board reshuffle
China Southern Airlines’ first scheduled freighter lands at Glasgow Prestwick
Hong Kong air cargo volume rises year over year in April, slips from March
Mobull unveils new art warehouse in Brussels
Air Charter Service: Current market the most uncertain since Covid-19
SATS to invest over US$192M to enhance Changi Airport operations
Vienna Airport records cargo increase in Q1
Kuehne+Nagel unveils air freight sustainability initiative
APEC lowers 2025 growth forecast to 2.6%, urges trade policy stability
U.S. slashes ‘de minimis’ tariff on small China parcels to 30%
TIACA names Roos Bakker as first woman chair
Airforwarders Association calls for freeze on tariffs, not trade
Frankfurt-Hahn Airport partners with Somon Air to boost freight traffic
Fednav’s Paul Pathy elected BIMCO president
Awery poll: Security, compliance are top priorities for GSSAs
Frankfurt Airport cargo volume declines in April
Emirates Group confident in growth amid market volatility
China-US deescalation may spur early peak season
Etihad Cargo reshapes regional structure to drive network expansion
Cargo iQ adds SAL, Saudi Arabia's largest logistics provider
allivate digitalizes import shipment pick-up at Frankfurt Airport
U-Freight earns HKAEO accreditation for high security standards
AAPA: Supply chain disruptions hinder aviation’s role in global growth
Maastricht Aachen Airport makes new cargo appointment
US-China tariff pause offers temporary relief, could fuel another frontloading rush
Turkish Cargo signs long-term Partnership with Atlas Air for 747F flights
Qatar Airways Cargo expands Australian export capacity through Virgin Australia
WorldACD: Labor Day contributes to Asia-Pacific air cargo decline
Finnair Cargo joins Smart Freight Centre
Global schedule reliability records two consecutive month-on-month increases
CEVA Logistics announces new strategic warehouse in Singapore
China Airlines orders four Boeing 777-8 Freighters to expand cargo fleet
Qatar Airways Cargo launches campaign highlighting global trade role
Global air freight rates continue to tumble on tariff uncertainty
DHL acquires US e-commerce logistics company IDS Fulfillment
Tariff shifts reshape freighter operations, fuel market volatility
Turkish Cargo, Hong Kong Air Cargo, sign strategic MoU
Pharma.Aero, TIACA partner to boost air cargo's role in healthcare, trade
SATS appoints chief digital officer to lead global digitalisation efforts
AAL transports 60-metre port cranes from Europe to the US
dnata expands airside fleet with 800 new units in US$110M rollout
Trans Global Projects names new director as it launches Malaysian office
ICAO Council condemns radio frequency interference affecting civil aviation
Qatar Airways Cargo becomes launch customer of Mammoth Freighters 777-200LRMF
Air cargo market awaits impact of tariffs and 'de minimis' changes
DP World, Asian Terminals invest US$100M to expand Manila South Harbor
IMO enforces stricter air pollution limits for ships in the Mediterranean
WorldACD: Global cargo tonnages rise 6% in April year-on-year
Kuehne+Nagel, cargo.one partner to expand digital airline connections
ANA cargo volume rises in fiscal year 2024
UK freight group forms advisory body for Heathrow cargo overhaul
Korean Air to build urban air mobility hub in Bucheon
CMA CGM completes Air Belgium acquisition
India shuts airspace to Pakistan airlines amid rising tensions
Air cargo demand rises 4.4% in March amid frontloading ahead of tariffs
Saudia Cargo, China Henan Aviation launch Asia-Middle East air logistics bridge
Geodis, Dolfines team up on XXL lifting device for offshore wind
Emirates, Philippine Airlines to explore enhanced partnership in cargo
time:matters strengthens presence in Southeast Asia
APAC airlines report cargo growth, warn of tariff impact on demand
U-Freight sees continued global ecommerce growth despite current risks
WestJet Cargo expands service to South Korea with increased frequencies
ANA first airline to adopt fuel-saving riblet technology on Boeing 777
CEVA Logistics signs deal to acquire Borusan Tedarik, expand in Turkey
Cargolux posts strong 2024 results, cautions on global market impact
Airports in APAC, Middle East to see US$240B investment in infrastructure expansion
Swissport expands to 13 Saudi airports
WFS, Cathay Cargo ink new cargo handling contracts for Portland, Dallas Fort Worth airports
Air cargo rates from Asia Pacific fall further amid market uncertainty
CMA CGM becomes majority shareholder with 51% stake in Santos Brasil
KLN opens new Netherlands logistics facility to meet e-commerce demand
Cathay expects softening China-US cargo demand amid trade tensions
Qatar Airways Cargo, IAG Cargo, MASkargo eye launch of global cargo joint venture
ANA Cargo boosts online booking with CargoWise
IATA: Brazil's adoption of electronic air waybill a milestone for modernization
Hong Kong air cargo grows 4.8% in March driven by Middle East, Europe
Emirates SkyCargo invests in hydrogen-powered trucks
US to implement reduced port fees for Chinese ships starting October
DHL temporarily halts B2C shipments over US$800 to the US
Saudia Cargo, China Cargo Airlines forge alliance to boost Saudi-China trade
Hactl earns top marks in IATA SeMS certification
Oman Air Cargo launches new Netherlands service, boosts UK flights
Emirates SkyCargo becomes Teleport's cargo partner
UNCTAD: Global economic growth may slow to 2.3% amid mounting pressures
IATA launches information portal for live animal regulations
WFS, Emirates partner for new cargo handling contract at Frankfurt Airport
Hongkong Post halts US parcel shipments amid end of ‘de minimis’ exemptions
dnata handles over 1 million tonnes of cargo in Dubai in a year
Emirates SkyCargo expands dedicated freighter network to Narita
Kuehne+Nagel expands e-commerce deal with Orange
Etihad Cargo raises main deck capacity amid increased Greater China demand
DHL Supply Chain launches new pharma hub in Singapore
Hong Kong International Airport retains top cargo hub title for 14th year in 2024
Cathay Cargo Terminal introduces electric autonomous tractors
Korean Air to monitor trade uncertainties after recording Q1 cargo growth
Frankfurt continues to record cargo growth in March
Saudia Cargo launches new freighter routes to China, Belgium
India ends transshipment facility for Bangladesh exports
Supply chains brace for impact as US further hikes tariffs on China
Airfreight demand from China, Hong Kong to the US declines as rates rise
AIRLINES HONE SPECIAL CARGO PRODUCTS
November 13, 2018

At the beginning of October, Delta Cargo officially expanded its product portfolio with the addition of Equation Critical, a new service for international shipments with a high degree of urgency. With a 90-minute cut-off and backed with GPS tracking, Equation Critical shipments are loaded on the next available flight and move at the highest priority through the US airline’s network.

 

The move pushed a successful product launched earlier in the year into the international arena. It was built on DASH Critical, a domestic offering that Delta introduced in the US market.

 

“Following the successful launch and roll-out of DASH Critical in the United States, we have taken that formula to the next level and introduced our new Equation Critical service for international shipments which have the highest boarding priority in our network,” said Shawn Cole, vice-president, Delta Cargo. “With GPS tracking and 100% service level guarantee, we are introducing a service that ensures important international shipments are in the right place at the right time, throughout the shipping process.”

 

At this point the service is available out of three origin points (Atlanta, Savannah and London) to seven destinations, one of them (Seoul) in Asia. The airline plans to roll it out in other markets subject to demand and regulatory approvals.

 

Delta is one of a number of carriers that have announced additions or refinements to their service portfolio this year. Two elements are playing significant roles in airlines’ push in this direction.

 

The first is improved technology, like the deployment of GPS tracking. Delta and Cathay Pacific are currently experimenting with Bluetooth technology for real-time, end-to-end tracking of containers, which will likely give rise to further service refinements.

 

AirBridgeCargo and strategic partner CargoLogicAir have teamed up with SITAONAIR to test the technology provider’s platform based on Internet of Things to monitor ambient conditions of climate-sensitive shipments during flight. If successful, this could be a milestone for the monitoring of high-end pharmaceutical and life sciences shipments in the air.

 

“Digital pharma is a priority innovation focus for us. With genuine Internet of Things capabilities, enabled for us onboard by SITAONAIR, our digital pharma service is born, ensuring we can provide the best transportation conditions inflight for customers’ invaluable cargo,” said Sergey Lazarev, general director of AirBridgeCargo.

 

A second factor is the rise of express traffic triggered by the delivery time expectations in e-commerce. Airlines find that they are in an advantageous position to offer faster service than the express carriers.

 

“We are in the express business,” said Tim Strauss, vice-president of cargo at Air Canada, adding that his outfit is a full day faster than the integrators flying cargo between international points and its home market.

 

E-commerce has filled cargo holds, which has helped drive up yields, but it is no guarantee of better returns. Hauling large volumes of parcels often commands modest rates, especially when it comes to large e-commerce players like Amazon that are fiercely cost-conscious, and the density usually is not good.

 

Stan Wraight, president and CEO of Strategic Aviation Solutions International, urges airlines to work together with handling companies to establish processes on the ground that can support better express services that can command a premium.

 

The rise in global perishables flows is also prompting carriers to try and stand out with special offerings. In September Etihad Cargo unveiled FreshForward, a service designed to guarantee smooth passage for this traffic through the carrier’s network. This traffic has priority for transfers from aircraft to a dedicated centre and subsequently to reefer trucks for final delivery.

 

The new offering is the latest step in a broad revision of the airline’s service that is shifting more towards premium product segments. It follows the launch of special services targeting the automotive and the arts & music sectors.

 

Etihad’s portfolio transformation indicates that to some extent the interest in special services predates the rise of e-commerce and the digitization that has helped pave the way for better monitoring and shipment management. The global downturn that started in 2009 took a heavy toll on yields, and special services offered niches with better margins.

 

Self Photos / Files - delta Petstocargo

 

One sector that has drawn much attention is animal transportation. Much of this segment – for example horses, zoo animals, tropical fish or baby chicks – has seen stable growth, but some sectors are going strong. Livestock shipments are on the rise, particularly to markets where a growing middle class is using its improved purchasing power to eat better meats. In some cases this is to rapidly establish new herds in these areas.

 

Pet traffic has increased significantly, although a growing number of airlines have imposed bans on animals that could suffer from stress during flight, with possible lethal consequences. Mishaps in pet transportation invariably kick up a firestorm of criticism on social media that tarnish the image of the hapless carrier.

 

On the other hand, carrying pets carries twin benefits for carriers – premium yields for the cargo division and paying passengers in the cabin above, one airline executive noted privately.

 

Delta is looking to up its game in this segment. It recently signed a partnership agreement with CarePod, a pet technology start-up whose range of smart products will help the airline do a better job in flying pets and monitoring their progress.

 

 

By Ian Putzger

Air Freight Correspondent | Toronto