Category Archives: Aviation

According to DHL Global Forwarding’s latest Airfreight State of the Industry report, (October), currently global air cargo market is very unstable. The report found airfreight volumes as suppressed, with demand continuing to remain low on most trade lanes, although transatlantic volumes are comparatively strong. Global demand has softened since April this year and this year’s peak season is expected to see less of a surge than last year. Reduced purchasing power caused by economic lows will not help the sector, found the report, which uses data from various reliable sources including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Seabury, WorldACD, IHS Markit Group and DGF Desk Research. Lower sales and high inventory levels caused by reduced export orders will also not offer the industry any succour, nor will high inflation rates around the world that are causing uncertainty now and are likely to remain in force into 2023. The ongoing war in Ukraine is of course having an impact on the airfreight sector, both in terms of cargo movements and capacity, indicates report. The report also pointed to a trend of air shipments being converted into ocean freight, with shippers likely to shift away from air cargo as ocean-going vessel schedule reliability continues to improve. Overall airfreight capacity was up by 18% in October compared to the same month of 2021, with month-on-month increases continuing (although global airfreight capacity in October was down 5% compared to the same month of 2019). The report described the greater capacity being made available as “encouraging”, but also pointed out that high jet fuel prices remain a challenge, with there having been only small signs of late of fuel prices …

LATAM Cargo and Sonoco ThermoSafe, a unit of Sonoco, global providers of temperature assurance packaging have announced a global lease agreement for the new Pegasus ULD® temperature-controlled bulk shipping container, said release. The agreement enables pharmaceutical freight forwarders access to Pegasus ULD® containers directly from LATAM Cargo. “Sonoco ThermoSafe’s Pegasus ULD® is the world’s first FAA and EASA-approved passive bulk temperature-controlled ULD container for pharmaceutical use, which enables it to speed through international air freight handling and customs processes at the lowest possible cost. With a focus on sustainability, the Pegasus ULD® is engineered with composite materials, offering a lighter solution that is also substantially more damage-resistant than traditional metal containers. Additionally, the Pegasus ULD® contains a fully integrated, FAA-approved telemetry system providing real-time, cloud-based data on payload and ambient temperature and key environmental factors, precisely synchronized with GPS location,” the release added.

Oman-based low-cost carrier, SalamAir has launched a dedicated air cargo service and inducted its first freighter aircraft. It is the first airline in the Middle East to fly with the Airbus A321 passenger to freighter (P2F) conversion aircraft, the airline announced in a LinkedIn post. “The introduction of the A321 freighter by SalamAir is a historical moment in the aviation history of Oman and the region. It backs the Sultanate’s Vision 2040 to make the country a logistic hub in the region,” the post read.

Zongteng Group, a major provider of cross-border warehousing and logistics services for e-commerce sellers, announced the acquisition of its first freighter to help customers reach global markets faster. The news follows a growing trend of online sales platforms, such as Amazon and JD.com, and logistics providers creating private-label airlines to better control capacity and service reliability rather than exclusively rely on scheduled, multiparty carriers, said reports. Shenzhen, China-based Zongteng Group purchased a second-hand Boeing 777 freighter to increase its warehouse fulfillment capabilities, a spokesperson said. Flight-tracking websites show the plane was previously owned by China Cargo Airlines. Zongteng said Chinese startup Central Airlines will fly the large, all-cargo aircraft three to four times per week from Shenzhen to the Middle East and Europe for subsidiary YunExpress. The initial route, which was inaugurated on September 30, connects Shenzhen with Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The spokesperson said Zongteng will launch service on its primary route, between Shenzhen and Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, in December. The news release suggested air logistics service will eventually extend to North America. The 777 is a long-range twin-engine freighter, with a maximum payload of 112 tons.

Mahesh Malik, Chief Commercial Officer – CarGo, IndiGo said, “The Indian government has been very forthcoming in addressing the requirements of the logistics sector, specially air cargo. PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (PMGS-NMP) was launched with the purpose of providing multimodal connectivity infrastructure to various economic zones. The launch of the National Logistics Policy is a significant step in making India globally competitive in the logistics space. It will ensure quick last mile delivery, end transport-related challenges, save time and money of the manufacturers, prevent wastage of agricultural products. The policy constitutes planning, coordination, storing and movement of resources—like people, raw materials, inventory, equipment, etc., — from one location to another, from production to consumption, distribution, or other upstream production points. The policy has also proposed some key targets to be achieved, like a reduction in the cost of logistics from the current 14-18 per cent of the country’s GDP to the global best of around 8 per cent by 2030. India is setting big export targets and is also fulfilling them, strengthening the perception that India is emerging as a leading global manufacturing hub.”

Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has introduced an autonomous electric tractor developed by Teksbotics and partners to meet expected cargo demand growth. AAHK and Teksbotics have officially launched a project to utilise autonomous tractors to perform routine driving works between West Cargo Apron and Cargo Apron Staging Area at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). Currently, there are 20 units of autonomous electric tractors working around the clock at the airport for both cargo and baggage operations. The autonomous electric tractors work in conjunction with human-driven tractors, which are freed up to perform more complicated tasks, said reports. “In this project, autonomous electric tractors are deployed to release pressure of human drivers from the daily routine and simple driving tasks. Human drivers can focus on more skilled tasks in the Cargo Apron Operation,” said an official from Teksbotics.

Alaska Airlines has plans to buy 52 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft for delivery between 2024 and 2027, said reports. With this purchase, the carrier will have confirmed 737 MAX fleet from 94 to 146. According to the reports, to boost growth, the carrier has also secured rights for 105 more planes through 2030. This agreement represents the largest commitment for future aircraft in the airline’s history, says an official release. “This investment secures aircraft to optimize our growth through the next decade, which we know will be a formidable competitive advantage,” said Ben Minicucci, CEO, Alaska Airlines. “We’re proud of the strong financial foundation that uniquely positions Alaska to make this commitment to our future, and of the fantastic partnership we share with our hometown aircraft manufacturer at Boeing,” he added.

Air Canada has expanded its fleet and ordered conversion of 15 Airbus A220-300 aircraft into firm orders, taking the total order to 60 aircraft. “The expanded order for the A220 is an important development in the modernization of our fleet and a clear indication that we are emerging from the pandemic solidly positioned for the future. The A220 has become a mainstay of our narrow body fleet, and its performance and passenger comfort are enabling us to compete effectively in the North American market. We are also proud to support the Canadian aerospace industry. This increased order will support jobs at Airbus’ Mirabel factory and affirms Air Canada’s positive economic impact in Montreal, Quebec and throughout Canada,” said Air Canada official.

IAG Cargo is trialing new sustainable film for wrapping transported goods at its London Heathrow hub in a bid to save up to 15 tonnes of virgin polyethylene a year. 100% recyclable and biodegradable by landfill, the film has been developed by German disposal company and film manufacturer Verpa Folie alongside US-based BioNatur Plastics. The film has a 15 micron thickness and is designed to have an indefinite shelf life, prohibiting unnecessary waste. It can also be used for food and temperature-controlled items – which are popular services for IAG Cargo. The receiving country of the goods will be able to sustainably dispose of the film, said IAG Cargo. David Rose, chief transformation officer at IAG Cargo, said, “We are continuously looking at ways in which we can reduce our impact on the environment in line with our commitment to sustainability. This solution provided by Verpa Folie, which we plan to roll out across our operation, will reduce our plastic consumption and is another step forward for IAG Cargo as we become fit for future.” Peter Griebel, managing director of Verpa Folie Weidhausen GmbH (exclusive producer of BioNatur foil for M&G packaging in Europe) said, “We are really happy that our long-term partner, IAG Cargo, has started using our product, which is one of the most sustainable and thinnest solutions for air cargo operations worldwide.”

Healthcare firm Novo Nordisk has partnered with Kuehne+Nagel (K+N) to use 12m litres of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for its air cargo shipments. The agreement comes as the healthcare firm has the ambition to reach zero CO2 emissions from operations and transport by 2030. “With the deployment of 12m litres of SAF, Novo Nordisk will be able to replace fossil fuel for all K+N airfreight shipments in 2022,” the forwarder said. It claimed the deal would reduce direct emissions of around 30,000 tonnes of CO2. Dorethe Nielsen, vice president of corporate environmental strategy at Novo Nordisk, said, “This is yet another step in Novo Nordisk’s continuous support of the development of sustainable aviation fuel. Our airfreight accounts for most of our product distribution emissions as we provide life-saving medicines to patients around the world. We want to drive change in this area to help pave the way for other companies to also transition and cut emissions.”