Edward Hardy Promoted to Head of Editorial at Air Cargo Week
Edward Hardy has been promoted to Head of Editorial at Air Cargo Week, after joining as editor in May 2022. During his tenure, the publication expanded its editorial team, launched the GATEWAY magazine, and adopted a digital‑first strategy. Hardy will now direct overall editorial strategy and continue expanding global coverage. The promotion underscores ACW’s commitment to high‑quality journalism for the airfreight sector.
IAG Cargo Announced Its Summer 2026 Schedule with the Launch of a New Route
IAG Cargo unveiled its summer 2026 schedule, launching a new four‑times‑weekly London Heathrow‑St Louis service that marks its 27th U.S. destination. The carrier also boosted weekly frequencies on Chicago and Washington routes to 21 flights and doubled services to Austin and...
Aeromexico Returns to Quito with Four Weekly Flights
Aeromexico has reinstated its nonstop service between Mexico City and Quito, launching four weekly Boeing 737 MAX 8 flights. The inaugural return flight was marked by a ceremony attended by Quiport’s CEO Ramón Miró and Aeromexico’s North‑Latin America VP Pepe Zapata. The...
Rhenus Expands Britax Römer Partnership with Integrated European Logistics Solution
Rhenus Logistics has expanded its partnership with child‑safety brand Britax Römer by delivering a fully integrated European logistics network centered on its Wesel hub. The solution unifies ocean freight from China, inland waterway transport via Rotterdam, centralized warehousing, and road distribution...
Airbus Brings Digital Technology to Firefighting
Airbus completed a first‑of‑its‑kind forest‑fire trial that linked helicopters, fixed‑wing aircraft, drones and ground crews through a private mobile network and its Agnet communication platform. The test, staged at a military camp near Nîmes, used an H130 FlightLab helicopter, an...
Swissport Drives Pharma Cold Chain Growth at EuroAirport Basel
Swissport’s cool+connect facility at EuroAirport Basel‑Mulhouse‑Freiburg has processed over 1,000 temperature‑controlled (RKN‑equivalent) containers since its February 2025 launch, with monthly volumes now reaching 200‑250 units. The growth underscores Basel’s emergence as a pivotal European gateway for life‑science air cargo. Integrated digital...
Second ATR 72-600MPA Touches Down After Multi-Stop Global Operation
Chapman Freeborn has completed the delivery of a second ATR 72‑600MPA to the Philippine Air Force after a complex multi‑stop ferry operation that spanned Egypt, Oman, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The aircraft, built by Leonardo in Italy, is configured for maritime...
AI and Volatility Reshape Airfreight Industry
At the World Cargo Symposium, IATA Director General Willie Walsh and LATAM Cargo CEO Andrés Bianchi warned that geopolitical tensions and shifting trade lanes are compressing air‑freight capacity, which has fallen more than 20% due to regional constraints. Despite this,...
WCAworld Launches China International Logistics Conference
WCAworld announced that its long‑running SINO Conference will be rebranded as the WCAworld China International Logistics event. The 22nd edition returns to Shanghai from 20‑23 June 2026, expanding the audience beyond members to the global logistics community. The change underscores...
Exceptional Growth in Africa
Africa’s airfreight sector is projected to grow 6% in 2025, far outpacing global forecasts, as intra‑African trade expands under the AfCFTA and consumer demand rises. Companies are shifting from sea‑dominant logistics to integrated air solutions that promise speed and reliability....
Air Cargo Rates Surge Amid Middle East Conflict as Capacity Tightens and Fuel Costs Rise
Air cargo spot rates jumped 10% week‑on‑week to $2.67 per kilo as the Middle East conflict squeezes capacity and lifts jet‑fuel costs. Rates from the Middle East and South Asia surged 22% to $4.37 per kilo, outpacing a 12% global...
Ethiopia’s Bishoftu Mega Airport Secures Fresh Financing Momentum
Ethiopia’s Bishoftu International Airport, a $12.5 billion megaproject designed for up to 110 million passengers a year, is moving from planning to construction with a target completion around 2030. Italy has entered financing discussions, signaling European confidence and adding a new layer...
Local Innovation Largely Reduces Average Truck Waiting Times at WFS’ Milan Malpensa Cargo Terminal
Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has cut average truck processing time at Milan Malpensa’s cargo terminal to 48 minutes by deploying an SMS‑based door‑assignment system. The airport, handling about 65% of Italy’s airfreight, sees roughly 28,000 trucks annually, with 45% now...
Dubai Airport Bounces Back Despite Middle East Turmoil
Dubai International and Al Maktoum airports demonstrated operational resilience amid recent Middle East airspace disruptions, dynamically opening and closing corridors in coordination with the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority. The airports processed over one million passengers in a 17‑day window...
AAT Achieves IATA IEnvA Certification, Advancing Sustainable Cargo Operations
Asia Airfreight Terminal (AAT), a SATS Ltd subsidiary, secured the International Air Transport Association’s IEnvA certification, confirming its robust sustainability framework. The terminal reported a 33% reduction in emissions from a 2018 baseline, driven by energy‑efficient upgrades, fleet electrification, autonomous...
EcoCeres Secures Landmark SAF Supply Agreement in China
EcoCeres Inc. has launched a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) pilot program in China, dubbed “Project Spark,” partnering with CASRI, CNAF, China Southern Airlines, Air China Cargo, Sichuan Airlines and Huarong Chemical. The pilot used SAF produced at EcoCeres’ Zhangjiagang plant,...
Airbus Strengthens Cyber Capabilities with Ultra Cyber Acquisition
Airbus has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Ultra Cyber Ltd, adding over 200 cyber specialists and a UK‑based centre of excellence to its portfolio. The deal bolsters Airbus Defence and Space’s Connected Intelligence unit and deepens its sovereign cyber...
The True Cost of Engine Maintenance
Engine acquisition represents a significant portion of airline assets, often reaching 25% of a new aircraft’s value and up to 90% as the engine ages. Direct maintenance accounts for 35‑40% of airline operating costs, with shop visits ranging from $0.5 million...
TCS and Swissport Extend Strategic Partnership to Accelerate AI-Led Transformation
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Swissport have renewed their decade‑long partnership, extending it for another five years. The new agreement emphasizes AI‑enabled services, hybrid cloud, and data platforms to modernize Swissport’s global ground‑handling operations. TCS will drive operational resilience, faster...
What the El Paso Airspace Shutdown Reveals About Aviation’s GPS Vulnerability
The El Paso airspace shutdown earlier this year was triggered by a counter‑drone operation that employed GPS‑jamming technology. The incident exposed how national‑security measures can unintentionally disrupt the satellite‑navigation systems that modern cargo aviation depends on for routing, fuel‑efficiency and timing....
Sri Lanka’s Mattala Airport Proposed as a Contingency Hub for Gulf Carriers
Sri Lanka has offered Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport as a contingency hub for Gulf carriers after widespread closures of Middle East airspace disrupted Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi operations. The 3,500‑metre runway can accommodate Airbus A350, Boeing 777 and A380...
Quito Airport Named Best Regional Airport in South America for 11th Year
Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito was named Skytrax’s Best Regional Airport in South America for the 11th consecutive year, also earning the title of Cleanest Airport in the region. The airport placed third for staff quality and fourth worldwide...
Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas Extends ULD Management Contract with Jettainer
Spanish carrier Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas has renewed its ULD management agreement with Jettainer for several more years. The extension keeps Jettainer responsible for supplying and maintaining the airline’s unit load devices while introducing advanced IoT tracking technology across the...
DIMOS Advances Expansion of Cargo Site at Budapest Airport
DIMOS announced that Phase 2 of its cargo‑site expansion at Budapest Airport will launch in summer 2026, building on the successful Phase 1 rollout. The project adds truck dock systems, castor decks and mobile Pallet Mover conveyors to boost ULD capacity and streamline...
AfA Issues Warning over DHS Security Shutdown
The Department of Homeland Security shutdown has entered its fifth week, leaving the Transportation Security Administration shorthanded after more than 300 officers resigned. While passenger checkpoints feel the immediate impact, the staffing shortfall threatens the broader aviation security framework, including...
Kale and Tech Mahindra Announce Strategic Partnership
Kale Logistics and Tech Mahindra have forged a strategic partnership to accelerate digital transformation in global logistics, with a focus on ports and airports. The collaboration blends Kale’s cargo‑community SaaS expertise with Tech Mahindra’s engineering, AI, and consulting capabilities to...
Real-Time Operational Alignment and Predictive Optimisation Unlock Airport Capacity
Airports are increasingly constrained by fragmented decision‑making rather than runway or gate capacity. SITA’s Total Airport Management platform connects data, teams, and partners in real time, applying predictive analytics to optimise operations and pre‑empt disruptions. Early adopters such as Abu...
EFM Global Powers BLAST in First Deployment of Multi-Year Partnership
EFM Global executed end‑to‑end freight and production logistics for the BLAST Premier Open Rotterdam, marking the first rollout of its multi‑year partnership with esports promoter BLAST. The operation coordinated seven freight movements across Denmark, Malta and other locations, delivering staging,...
Doncaster Airport Celebrates ‘Key Milestone’ in Reopening Process
Doncaster Sheffield Airport has reached a key milestone in its reopening plan as the UK Civil Aviation Authority published the initial findings of its Airspace Change Proposal, moving the process to public consultation. The airport’s preferred “Option 3” reduces the volume...
Deutsche Aircraft Appoints Nils Heuer as Director of Global Sales
Deutsche Aircraft has named Nils Heuer Director of Global Sales, tasking him with leading the civil regional and multi‑role/special‑mission markets for the D328eco program. Heuer brings three years of direct D328eco sales experience and a background at Lufthansa Technik, blending...
BlueBox Systems Launches “Tradelane Intelligence”
BlueBox Systems unveiled Tradelane Intelligence, a data analytics platform that fuses AI‑verified airfreight information with premium ocean freight data from Vizion. The solution delivers real‑time dashboards for comparing carriers on transit times, punctuality, data compliance and CO₂ emissions, enabling both...
Nordic Air Cargo Symposium Comes to Latvia
The Nordic Air Cargo Symposium returns on 27‑28 April 2026 in Riga, Latvia, serving as the sole regional gathering for Northern Europe’s air freight sector. The two‑day event combines a networking reception, a full‑day conference and, for the first time,...
Quito Announces Airport Expansion and New Routes
At ACI Airport Day in Quito, global aviation experts discussed the emerging "airport city" model and its economic potential. Corporación Quiport announced a 5,000 sq m expansion of Mariscal Sucre International Airport’s cargo terminal, a new cargo aircraft stand and upgraded truck staging,...
LATAM Strengthens Grip on South American Airfreight Market
LATAM Group closed 2025 with a 30% share of South America’s airfreight market, moving over one million tonnes and generating US$1.7 billion in cargo revenue, which accounts for 11.4% of the airline’s total earnings. The carrier’s hybrid model—dedicated freighters plus passenger‑belly...
Awery Becomes First Company to Integrate IATA CO2 Connect Tool for Cargo
Awery Aviation Software has become the first digital platform to embed IATA’s CO2 Connect for Cargo into its ERP system, giving users real‑time, flight‑specific emissions data within existing workflows. The calculator draws on operational inputs from over 100 airlines, delivering...
BIFA Meets European Commission to Discuss Windsor Framework
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) met with the European Commission to review how the Windsor Framework is shaping freight flows between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. While the agreement removed export declarations for GB‑to‑NI shipments, it still forces operators...
Lödige Industries Launches Cargo Direct for Intelligent Terminal Orchestration
Lödige Industries has introduced Cargo Direct, a software module that links Air Waybill data with terminal resources in real time to orchestrate air cargo handling. The solution consolidates shipment details, layout, equipment and labor into a dynamic activity plan, directing...
Maastricht Aachen Airport Secures PNAO Designation
Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST) has been approved by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority and confirmed by the European Commission as an official on‑site inspection site for Products of Non‑Animal Origin (PNAO). The designation enables mandatory phytosanitary checks...
Softlink Global Partners with ISTE
Softlink Global has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE) to embed practical logistics technology into technical curricula across India. The deal introduces Softlink’s LogiLEARN, LogiSKILL and LogiXPERT platforms, giving students and faculty hands‑on...
Gebrüder Weiss Displays Resilience and Posts International Growth
Gebrüder Weiss closed 2025 with €2.73 bn net revenue, a modest year‑on‑year rise, while keeping its equity ratio above 60% and a stable workforce of roughly 8,600. Growth was led by European land transport and a 7% increase in logistics services,...
Windracers ULTRA to Be Deployed in Greenland for Glacier Surveying
Windracers ULTRA will be deployed in June 2026 as part of the GIANT programme to collect climate data in northwest Greenland. The heavy‑lift drone can carry over 150 kg and fly up to 2,000 km, enabling autonomous mapping of floating ice‑shelf bases...
Ethiopian Cargo to Join Freightos Booking Platform
Freightos will integrate Ethiopian Cargo into its WebCargo platform by month‑end, adding digital rates, quoting, e‑booking, interlining and instant payments via WebCargo Pay. Ethiopian Airlines, operating Africa’s largest air‑cargo network across more than 145 destinations, will become searchable and bookable...
Shaping the Industry’s Next Transformation
Air cargo has shifted from a supplemental service to a core component of global trade, with airlines treating freight as a strategic business unit. Industry veterans stress that long‑term success hinges on trusted partnerships, disciplined operations, and policy alignment rather...
Emerging Trends in Aircraft Parts Availability
Locatory.com’s February 2026 marketplace data reveals the top 50 most‑searched and hardest‑to‑find aircraft parts worldwide, underscoring persistent demand for legacy CFM56 engine components, APU and power‑generation hardware, and avionics LRUs. The report also highlights a surprising shortage of basic structural...
A New Generation of Nordic Air Cargo Leaders Emerge
ECS Group is reshaping the Nordic air‑cargo landscape by promoting internal talent into senior management roles, blending operational know‑how with commercial and digital expertise. Recent appointments, such as Thomas Olesen at Skylog Denmark, have already delivered measurable results, including a...
Venezuela in Flux
The January 2026 capture of President Nicolás Maduro triggered immediate Venezuelan airspace closures, forcing cargo operators to reroute around the Caribbean and add 15‑20% to fuel costs. U.S. and European carriers have not served the market since 2019, leaving only...
Shifting the Freight Forwarder’s Role
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is expanding AI‑driven analytics, shifting freight forwarders from traditional paperwork compliance to managing data integrity across multiple trade datasets. The AI system acts as an anomaly detector, flagging shipments that deviate from expected patterns and...
Menzies Aviation Accelerates E-Commerce Strategy
Menzies Aviation has launched the MILE (Menzies Integrated Logistics for e‑commerce) initiative to capture the booming air‑cargo demand from online retail. The program blends the carrier’s global ground‑handling expertise with parcel‑level processing, ULD break‑bulk and first‑to‑last‑mile integration, while the MACH...
Flying Flowers with Care
Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services has built a temperature‑controlled supply chain that begins at the flower farm and extends through refrigerated trucks, a purpose‑built airport warehouse, and rapid ramp transfers. The carrier leverages IoT‑enabled sensors, blast chillers, and AI‑driven capacity...
60 Seconds With … Kristof De Smedt
Kristof De Smedt, a veteran with over 25 years in pharma logistics, was promoted on October 1 2025 to Global Market Segment Director for Airlines and Logistic Providers at Cold Chain Technologies (CCT) following its acquisitions of Tower Cold Chain and Global...
