Airports

News and analysis of airports, including air cargo facilities, services, connectivity, routes, frequencies 

The latest Airports News & Analysis

European green fuel regulations place airlines on notice

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Apr 28, 2023, 11:02 AM EDT

There are concerns that the latest requirement could force the price of sustainable aviation fuel higher, which would be felt in the pockets of airline passengers and cargo shippers.
Air CargoAsia-EuropeAirportsAir cargo carriers

Maersk adds new China-US flights to growing air cargo network

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Apr 4, 2023, 11:37 AM EDT

Maersk’s growing air cargo capacity is being used to plug gaps in connectivity in the carrier’s integrated end-to-end logistics offering.
Air CargoAirportsAir cargo carriers

German strikes over pay dispute cripple transportation network

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Mar 27, 2023, 11:36 AM EDT

German unions demanding inflation-busting wage increases walked off the job Monday, bringing the country’s transport system to a halt.
SurfaceForwardingRailInternational railAirportsAir cargo forwardingTransport, trade and regulation

Global air freight capacity oversupplied entering 2023

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Dec 20, 2022, 11:59 AM EST

Whereas a shortage of capacity in major trades was the chief issue for air cargo providers over the past two years, the greatest challenge in 2023 will be a lack of demand.
Air cargo carriersAirportsAir cargo forwarding

Air cargo CEOs predict first-quarter recovery in volume

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Nov 9, 2022, 11:50 AM EST

The global air cargo industry is flying into bracing headwinds, but airline CEOs remain largely positive that demand will return early next year.
Air cargo forwardingAirports

Air cargo market braces for turbulent 2023

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Nov 4, 2022, 10:15 AM EDT

There is no sign of an air cargo peak season this year and few signals that 2023 will see any improvement as global economic conditions worsen.
Air CargoAirportsAir cargo forwarding

Demand for heavy-lift air transport outstrips supply

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Oct 31, 2022, 5:42 PM EDT

Sanctions against Russia have sharply reduced available heavy-lift air tonnage even as energy sector demand escalates.
Heavy-haul transportAirports

Maersk expands air cargo offerings with new Chicago facility

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Oct 12, 2022, 4:47 PM EDT

Maersk's new air freight facility in Chicago is building on its fast-growing air cargo offering following the November 2021 acquisition of Senator International and purchase of new freighters for its Maersk Air Cargo division.
Air CargoAirports

Peak season hopes fade for ‘jumpy’ air cargo market

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Oct 7, 2022, 11:09 AM EDT

Demand for air cargo declined through September, and analysts say there is nothing in their data to indicate a pickup in volume out of Asia through the balance of the year.
Air cargo forwardingAirports

Seasonality returns to air freight markets after two years of turbulence

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Aug 26, 2022, 11:05 AM EDT

Average air cargo rates on east-west trade lanes have declined significantly since April as demand slows in line with the traditional slack summer season.
Air cargo forwardingAirports

Demand indicators show air cargo heading into turbulence

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Jul 8, 2022, 12:43 PM EDT

An ongoing shortage of capacity on the main trade lanes out of Asia and growing signs of declining demand are clouding the air cargo outlook for the remainder of the year.
Air cargo forwardingAirports

Trans-Atlantic air cargo market edges closer to recovery

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Jun 2, 2022, 10:01 AM EDT

Air cargo capacity is flooding back into the trans-Atlantic market via below deck belly space as travel increases and airlines ramp up their summer schedules.
Air cargo forwardingAirportsAir cargo carriers

Shanghai airport effectively closed as freight backlog builds amid COVID lockdown

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Mar 31, 2022, 11:31 AM EDT

Bonded trucking services in and out of Shanghai’s Pudong have been suspended and most flights have been canceled, bringing operations at China’s busiest cargo airport to a standstill.
Air cargo forwardingAirportsAir cargo carriers

Ocean, air shipments face weeks of disruption on Shanghai COVID lockdown

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Mar 28, 2022, 3:20 PM EDT

Carriers said while Shanghai’s main container terminals at Yangshan and Waigaoqiao remain open, many depots and warehouses are shut, and trucking is severely curtailed.
International portsAirports

Air cargo rates take off on Russia sanctions, China lockdowns

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Mar 15, 2022, 10:48 AM EDT

The ever-widening effects of Russia’s war on Ukraine and China’s COVID-19 lockdowns are placing mounting pressure on an already stressed air cargo sector.
Air cargo carriersAirportsAir cargo forwarding

Loss of AN-225 in Russian attack a blow to Ukraine's Antonov Airlines

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Mar 2, 2022, 3:21 PM EST

While Antonov's smaller AN-124s continue to operate, restoring the behemoth AN-225 will take five years and cost more than $3 billion, according to the Ukrainian government's news outlet.
Breakbulk carriersAirports

Chartered air cargo capacity floods into trans-Pacific trade

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Feb 22, 2022, 12:26 PM EST

Growing demand for e-commerce is behind forwarder moves to lock in controlled air freight capacity on Asia-US routes, with a particular focus on Vietnam.
Air cargo forwardingAirportsAir cargo carriers

Forwarders add Asia air, rail services as Omicron spreads

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Jan 28, 2022, 12:26 PM EST

The creativity of service providers is being tested as COVID-19 infections continue to spread around Asia and disrupt regional supply lines.
Air cargo forwardingInternational railAirports

GPA to store import containers at Statesboro Airport

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Jan 11, 2022, 12:40 PM EST

The Georgia Ports Authority this week began moving import containers belonging to a US retailer to the spare runway at Statesboro Airport, which has been used to store empty boxes and loaded exports since December.
North American portsAirports

Outlook 2022: Air cargo recovery hinges on easing of Asian border restrictions

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Jan 3, 2022, 4:23 PM EST

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to hang over the air cargo business, and until regular international travel resumes, shippers will find space in tight supply and rates at elevated levels.
Air CargoAirports

Hong Kong imposes mandatory quarantine on air cargo pilots

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Dec 29, 2021, 3:40 PM EST

Toughening Hong Kong’s quarantine requirement for air cargo pilots would severely disrupt airfreight operations during peak air cargo season and ahead of China’s Lunar New Year holiday.
AirportsAir cargo carriersAir cargo forwarding

Congested US airports push trans-Pacific air cargo rate to record high

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Dec 1, 2021, 12:53 PM EST

The bottlenecks that have frustrated ocean shippers all year have spread to air cargo, pushing up rates to stratospheric levels and delaying shipments.
AirportsAir cargo carriersAir cargo forwarding

Air cargo capacity fills up ahead of Asia-Europe peak season

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Oct 6, 2021, 2:48 PM EDT

Global air cargo volumes in August and September were up just 1 percent compared to the same months in 2019, but the shortage of capacity has shippers fighting to secure capacity ahead of holiday season.
Air cargo carriersAirportsAir cargo forwarding

Shanghai air cargo in holding pattern as backlog builds

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Aug 24, 2021, 10:21 AM EDT

There is little clarity in Shanghai airport’s evolving COVID-19 lockdown situation, with forwarders in China asked not to deliver export cargo to the terminals and airlines suspending inbound shipments.
AirportsNorth-American railAir cargo carriersAir cargo forwarding

Asia-US air cargo rates spike on China airport lockdowns

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Aug 20, 2021, 8:47 AM EDT

Air freight rates on the trans-Pacific, although at elevated levels, have been reasonably stable through the summer months, but measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in China are now pushing rates skyward.
Air CargoAirports

Scarcity of vaccine-certified airports raises bottleneck concerns

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Dec 16, 2020, 12:02 PM EST

The widespread distribution of coronavirus vaccines early next year will compete for limited transport capacity amid peak air cargo season, with the shipments channeled through the same hub airports.
Air CargoAirports

Heavy PPE demand overwhelms China’s airport hubs

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | May 6, 2020, 9:54 AM EDT

Global demand for medical supplies has not let up, but stricter customs rules are leading to lengthy delays at Chinese hub airports.
Air CargoAirports

European airports: Time to reform outdated airline slot system

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Jan 14, 2020, 1:14 PM EST

The congested hub airports in Europe are struggling with rapid growth in flight traffic and a slot allocation system that was devised a quarter of a century ago.
Air CargoAirports

Hong Kong airport chaos hampers air cargo

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Aug 12, 2019, 10:38 AM EDT

Thousands of tons of air cargo face shipping delays after Hong Kong closed its airport Monday due to disruptions caused when anti-government protesters stormed both terminals.
Air CargoAirports

European airport gateways feel cargo slump

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Aug 9, 2019, 11:05 AM EDT

There was little to celebrate at Europe’s main air cargo gateways in the first half of the year amid weak freight handling volumes that show no signs of improving.
Air CargoAirports

Tech firms combating US airport congestion

Chris Barnett, Special Correspondent | Mar 4, 2019, 2:09 PM EST

As US airports, terminal operators, and ground handlers are taking heat for rampant truck congestion and cargo delays, two software firms are looking to bring digitization and automation to airport freight handling operations.
Air cargo forwardingAirportsLogistics technology