Airfreight capacity in Europe hits its limit

Airfreight in Europe has hit capacity for the first time in at least ten years and it has seen some shippers paying sky-high air rates to get their shipment loaded, according to the Freightos International Freight Index. Freightos Webcargo chief executive officer, Manel Galindo says: “While ocean freight rates are still tanking, airfreight is at […]

ACI Europe: freight grows 6.2% in October at European airports

Freight traffic across the European airport network averaged year-on-year (YOY) growth of 6.2 per cent in October, according to the latest figures published by the Airports Council International (ACI) Europe. The European airport trade body says so far this year cargo traffic is up 8.9 per cent – 7.9 per cent at European Union (EU) […]

Tonnage fall of 2.5% in October at Incheon

Seoul’s Incheon International Airport saw cargo volumes fall 2.5 per cent in October handling 247,000 tonnes. The gateway put the decline down to the loss of operating days in the month, due to the golden Chuseok Holiday, which meant it only operated on 18 days in October as opposed to 22.5 days. However, the airport […]

FedEx all set for a hectic Christmas driven by e-commerce

FedEx says it will be a busy Christmas period and notes the rapid growth of e-commerce will drive volume over the 2017 season. The express freight firm explains it expects to see between 380-400million packages pass through its global network between Black Friday (24 November) to Christmas Eve. It also predicts three Mondays over the […]

IATA: Airline profits to hit $38b in 2018, cargo to remain strong

Airline profits will rise to $38.4 billion in 2018, while cargo volume growth will return to a normal pace after booming in 2017, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecasts. Net profits will rise from the $34.5 billion expected to be seen in 2017, which has been revised from $31.4 billion in IATA’s June forecast, […]

WFS gains IATA CEIV Pharma in Brussels

Brussels has become the first of Worldwide Flight Services’ (WFS) European cargo stations to achieve IATA CEIV Pharma certification. The cargo handler is in the process of certification for either Good Distribution Practice (GDP) or IATA CEIV Pharma at major locations across its network, which also includes building new facilities at stations including Paris, Milan […]

Training is high priority for KLM

Training is one of the top priorities for KLM Cargo as part of its goal to be the globe’s number one cargo carrier. KLM Cargo manager of compliance knowledge, Gert Mijnders (pictured) says training is now such an important tool within the industry and it “certainly” is for KLM Cargo. Mijnders explains: “We cannot afford […]

Virgin and Delta’s LHR pharma traffic set for bright future

The new joint Virgin Atlantic Cargo and Delta Cargo Pharma Zone at Heathrow Airport is already paying dividends for both belly carriers. The facility was opened in September and developed in response to customer requirements and to support the growing pharmaceutical volumes moved by both and to capture further pharma business on the world’s busiest […]

IATA: October growth signals start to strong fourth quarter

Airfreight volumes have grown by 5.9 per cent in October, which the International Air Transport Association (IATA) says signals a strong start to the fourth quarter. The association says though October was slower than the annual growth of 9.2 per cent in September, it was still above the annual average of 3.2 per cent seen […]

WorldACD: October confirms its reputation with record volumes

The latest global air cargo figures as reported by 75 airlines to air cargo industry analyst WorldACD has shown a strong month. WorldACD says it confirms what followers of the industry had noticed already: the month of October 2017 was special. Monthly volumes were higher than ever, whilst revenues (when measured in EUR) peaked as well, […]

Cargolux and Nippon Cargo Airlines pen cooperation agreement

Cargolux has signed a cooperation agreement with Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) today that allows both partners access to each other’s capacity through code-share and space swap agreements. Cargolux now has access to NCA’s flights from Frankfurt Hahn to Tokyo Narita while NCA has access to its flights from Luxembourg to Narita. The carrier says it […]

Vienna Airport expands its cargo capabilities and adds pharma centre

Vienna Airport has added 13,000 square metres of cargo capacity and opened a new Pharma Handling Centre to meet growing air cargo volumes and demand. The developments are part of a €17.9 million investment by operator Flughafen Wien to expand its cargo capabilities and it says further facility expansion of air cargo and locating of […]

IAG Cargo makes changes to its executive team

IAG Cargo has made three changes to its executive team including creating two new roles, which it says has been done to align with its business priorities. From 1 December commercial director, David Shepherd will take on the position of director of digital ventures. Meanwhile, IAG Cargo has appointed a new director of sales, marketing and […]

ACI: Freight growth slows in September but remains robust

The global surge in freight volumes slowed in September but was still up 6.8 per cent year-on-year, Airports Council International (ACI) says. The association says though the growth was down from 10.5 per cent in August, it says most regions posted robust freight volume figures. Africa led the way, growing 16.2 per cent followed by […]

The belly-maindeck divide continues to widen

With the air cargo market’s up-turn now rolling for over a year, memories of the long, cold, dark days of flagging volumes and depressed yields may gradually be receding in the collective memories of the industry, writes Donald Urquhart. But parked freighters remain a visible reminder of the painful volatility and begs the question as […]

Cargo on the rise at Jet Airways and an integral part of business

Jet Airways is carrying more cargo than ever and the belly carrier is set to see this rise further as the Indian market grows and it expands its network and capacity. Speaking on 15 November to Air Cargo Week in London when the carrier launched its third daily Boeing 777-300ER flight from Mumbai International Airport […]

First station outside Europe opened by time:matters

Time:matters has further extended its network for sameday transport of cargo by opening its first station outside of Europe in Tel Aviv, Israel. The station is now open for time-critical shipments and export shipments with direct flights and there will be access to 90 direct connections a week to and from Tel Aviv. Time:matters says the […]

WFS picks up five new handling contracts in France

Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has scooped five new cargo handling contracts by passenger and freighter airlines in France. Four of the contracts cover Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport as well as handling at WFS’ other 11 cargo stations across France. Belly carrier Vietnam Airlines has renewed its handling agreement with WFS, while CAL Cargo Airlines […]

Dimerco continues expansion with new Netherlands office

The Dimerco Express Group has continued the expansion of its European network with the opening of an office in the Netherlands. Dimerco reported 30 per cent growth in Europe for 2016-2017 earlier this year and the new operation, which is based at Venlo, will be its third location in the Netherlands (other offices are in […]

Swissport Cargo Services Frankfurt awarded CEIV Pharma

Swissport Cargo Services Frankfurt – a subsidiary of Swissport International – has been awarded IATA CEIV Pharma certification at Frankfurt Airport. This certification Swissport says reflects its continued dedication to offer “excellent” life science & healthcare shipment handling services and will increase its contribution to the Pharma Gateway Frankfurt. Swissport says with the increasing flow […]

Study finds importance of airfreight in Switzerland

A study by BAK Economics and Infras has highlighted the importance of airfreight to Switzerland as a whole and from Zurich Airport. In terms of value the report found that 40 per cent of all exports leave Switzerland via air cargo carriers. The study found there is often no alternative to airfreight, in particular for […]

Lufthansa Cargo and Fraport Ground Services extend contract

Lufthansa Cargo and Fraport Ground Services have signed a contract to extend their ground handling partnership at Frankfurt Airport. The agreement has been signed for a term of eight years and runs from January 2018 to December 2025. Freeport member of the executive board and executive director of labour relations, Michael Müller says: “We are very […]

Yusen Logistics acquires Romanian 3PL Tibbett Logistics

Yusen Logistics has extended its business in Central Eastern Europe with the acquisition of Tibbett Logistics. The Japanese company has reached agreement to acquire Tibbett, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of UK-based Keswick Enterprises Group. No financial figure of the deal has been announced and the acquisition is subject to regulatory approval by the […]

CEVA opens new UK pharma facility

CEVA Logistics has opened a fully refurbished 132,000 square foot facility at Redditch. The renovated site further adds to the forwarder’s investment in the pharmaceutical logistics industry and will serve a number of customers across the healthcare sector. Refurbishments at the West Midlands site included the addition of LED lighting as well as the installation […]

60 Seconds with Soner Akkurt

Istanbul New Airport (INA) is set to open in the fourth quarter of 2018 and the gateway is set to be one of the globe’s ‘megahubs’ and help grow freight into and out of Istanbul. The operator is the IGA Airport Operation and Air Cargo Week spoke to chief commercial officer, Soner Akkurt (pictured below) […]

Brussels Airlines Cargo seeing strong demand across Africa

Africa is a key region for Brussels Airlines Cargo and a major growth market for the belly carrier, writes Justin Burns. The airline operates a fleet of six Airbus A330s daily to Africa offering an average capacity per flight of 10 tonnes to Africa and 12 tonnes out. It serves 17 sub-Saharan Africa routes in […]

Key senior appointments made by Virgin Atlantic Cargo

Virgin Atlantic Cargo has appointed Paul Fallon (pictured above) as director of commercial & business development and Tania Wilson (pictured below) as director of operations. The changes follow Dominic Kennedy’s promotion to managing director of Virgin Atlantic Cargo in August. Fallon began his career in Virgin’s commercial team in 2003 and later spent over five […]

BIFA shares Parliament’s concerns over Customs plans post-Brexit

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) says that the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee is right to have concerns over the UK government and HMRC’s plans for Customs procedures post-Brexit. Commenting after the publication of a report by the Committee, the trade association for UK freight forwarders agrees that more needs to be done […]

NAS and ANA Aviation strengthen Amerijet ties

Network Airline Services’ (NAS) Paris CDG office has extended its contractual territory with Amerijet International to include Malta. NAS says customers in Malta can now book their shipments on Amerijet’s flights through their local NAS office and transactions will be managed and directed through its team in France. ANA Aviation Services has also been appointed […]

Freight fall of 3.4% in October at Brussels Airport

Brussels Airport’s freight traffic fell by 3.4 per cent in October compared to the same month last year, which it puts down to the departure of several carriers due to noise fines imposed by the Brussels Capital Region. In October, the airport handled a total of 45,018 tonnes, a fall on the 46,603 tonnes on […]