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The latest Air Cargo News & Analysis

Idle passenger planes take on mini-freighter roles

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Mar 17, 2020, 2:40 PM EDT

Airlines are using their empty passenger aircraft as cargo planes amid widening COVID-19 travel bans across the globe that have cut huge amounts of belly cargo from service.

Air Cargo

COVID-19 forces Freightos into proactive layoffs

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Mar 17, 2020, 12:24 PM EDT

The logistics software provider Freightos is the latest to react to an uncertain freight market by cutting staff, a move the company attributes to the effect the coronavirus disease is having on supply chains and the financial ecosystem.

Logistics technologyAir Cargo

China air cargo capacity cuts pinch US crab exports

Chris Barnett, Special Correspondent | Mar 16, 2020, 10:52 AM EDT

The travails of crab shippers underscore the larger impact COVID-19 is having on North American exporters that face higher outbound air cargo rates because of the removal of belly cargo capacity on passenger jets due to cancellations tied to the disease.

Air cargo forwarding

Air freight rates soar as US trans-Atlantic travel ban nears

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Mar 13, 2020, 3:03 PM EDT

International air cargo rates are rising fast on the trans-Atlantic trade ahead of the 30-day US travel ban affecting 26 of Europe's largest economies, which will severely constrain belly cargo space on the busy trade lane.

Air Cargo

US ban sparks search for alternatives to trans-Atlantic air cargo

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Mar 12, 2020, 3:41 PM EDT

The sudden US travel ban imposed on 12 European countries will hurt an air freight industry still battling to overcome the loss of belly cargo capacity from the suspension of passenger flights to China.

Air cargo forwarding

Revenue loss for airlines to top $100 billion in 2020: IATA

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Mar 5, 2020, 1:40 PM EST

The financial hit to airlines in their battle to withstand a rapid drop in cargo and passenger revenue will be enormous, according to the industry trade association IATA.

Air Cargo

China capacity cuts test intermodal transport solutions

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Mar 5, 2020, 1:33 PM EST

Difficulties transporting cargo in and out of China and fast-rising air charter rates are pushing shippers and their forwarders towards multimodal services.

Air Cargo

Freightos rolls out FedEx customs brokerage add-on

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Feb 27, 2020, 6:00 AM EST

The freight rate marketplace provider Freightos will include an option for shippers to add FedEx customs brokerage services on-demand as part of a broader deal between the two companies that also includes FedEx’s use of Freightos’ air cargo pricing and booking tools.

Logistics technologyAir Cargo

Lufthansa speeds booking connectivity with digital forwarder API

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Feb 20, 2020, 12:29 PM EST

Lufthansa Cargo will offer instant air freight quotes via an application programming interface with digital forwarder Fleet, a company in which the German airline invested in 2018.

Logistics technologyAir CargoAir cargo carriers

Air freight charter rates soaring on coronavirus aid demand

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Feb 18, 2020, 12:25 PM EST

With no belly cargo available for flights to China, demand for chartered freighter capacity has risen sharply, along with air freight rates, as relief aid and medical supplies move to the country amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Air Cargo

‘Broken’ maps add to logistics costs: survey

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Feb 11, 2020, 11:44 AM EST

A survey of delivery drivers projects that missed deliveries and time wasted due to outdated and incorrect maps and navigation aids results in $2.5 billion in added costs.

Logistics technologyTruckingAir cargo forwarding

Air cargo recovery in doubt after coronavirus crisis: IATA

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Feb 6, 2020, 10:12 AM EST

The air cargo business has just reported its worst performance in a decade, and now hopes for a possible recovery in 2020 are in doubt due to China’s coronavirus outbreak.

Air Cargo

Coronavirus to cost China ports 6 million TEU in Q1: analyst

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Feb 5, 2020, 10:35 AM EST

The first real estimate of the impact the coronavirus will have on China’s container supply chain has been made, and it is significant.

MaritimeAir Cargo

Air cargo carriers slash China flights as coronavirus measures widen

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Jan 29, 2020, 3:18 PM EST

Measures being applied to limit the spread of the coronavirus have led to several global carriers making significant cuts to their China flight schedules.

Air Cargo

Freighter slot restrictions drag down Schiphol’s annual volume

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Jan 23, 2020, 3:42 PM EST

Space constraints at Amsterdam Schiphol continue to hold back cargo volume growth crucial to the airport’s role as a European gateway.

Air Cargo

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

Year of the salmon lifts Norway-China air cargo

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Jan 13, 2020, 11:05 AM EST

Air cargo may have had a year to forget in 2019, but in Europe it will be remembered as the year seafood exports to Asian markets, especially Norway to China, started to really take off.

Air Cargo

ARO 2020: Shippers need new plan for Mexico–US freight

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Dec 30, 2019, 11:00 AM EST

Chronic cross-border trucking delays serve as a reminder of how fragile the freight connection between the United States and its largest trading partner continues to be.

TruckingRailAir Cargo

ARO 2020: Air cargo flies into 2020 buffeted by weak demand, geopolitical tensions

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Dec 24, 2019, 2:11 AM EST

After a disappointing peak season in 2019, the outlook for international air freight in 2020 will depend on an acceleration in global trade demand and an easing of tensions between the United States and its trading partners, particularly China.

Air CargoAir cargo carriers

Airlines losing safety net as forwarders slash contract volumes

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Dec 10, 2019, 2:24 PM EST

Long-term contracted volume is crucial for airlines setting budgets and forecasts, but in the face of weak demand and a bleak 2020 outlook, forwarders are reluctant to commit.

Air cargo forwarding

Air cargo slowdown enters peak season

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Dec 4, 2019, 12:07 PM EST

No one is expecting much from the air cargo peak shipping period this year, but persistent weakness in the market means any hopes of an upturn before the end of the year are fading fast.

Air Cargo

Airlines chasing greater access to e-commerce market

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Dec 3, 2019, 12:34 PM EST

Airlines are beginning to offer the first- and last-mile services that have more commonly been handled by integrators and e-commerce providers.

Air Cargo

Forwarders set to ramp up market share: FIATA

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Nov 20, 2019, 11:26 AM EST

Adding value to both carrier and shipper will be a key criteria of the forwarding business model over the next decade.

Air Cargo

No peak season this year for air cargo: TIACA

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Nov 19, 2019, 1:14 PM EST

With the traditional peak season period for air cargo already under way, there is still no sign of an increase in demand.

Air Cargo

Hong Kong protests force Asia airlines to scrap industry event

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Nov 13, 2019, 10:26 AM EST

A worsening political situation and escalating protests have forced the cancelation of an important airline gathering in Hong Kong.

Air cargo forwarding

Schiphol edges closer to solution for freighter slot shortage

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Nov 8, 2019, 10:42 AM EST

The shortage of slots for all-cargo flights cost Amsterdam Schiphol airport heavily in the first nine months of the year.

Air cargo forwarding

No sign of recovery for slumping air cargo market

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Oct 24, 2019, 1:12 PM EDT

There are no indications that the turbulence in global air freight markets will end anytime soon amid a continued downturn in trade and an uncertain economic environment.

Air Cargo

Top global transport providers grew in tumultuous 2018

Alan M. Field, Special Correspondent | Oct 24, 2019, 10:35 AM EDT

Forty-seven of the top 50 global transportation providers saw revenues rise in 2018, benefitting from a strong global economic growth and growing anticipation of reciprocal tariffs between the United States and China.

Logistics technologyContainer linesRailTruckingAir Cargo

DHL looks to capitalize on growing El Paso market

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Oct 10, 2019, 2:40 PM EDT

A bigger footprint in El Paso, Texas, will help the freight forwarding arm of Deutsche Post DHL reach more shippers in the US and Mexico.

Industrial real estateAir Cargo

US-China trade war drags air cargo down

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Oct 10, 2019, 1:31 AM EDT

Global air freight continues to feel the effects of the trade dispute between the US and China, with demand falling for 10 straight months.

Air Cargo

Manitoulin Global Forwarding buys Demark Global Logistics

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Oct 8, 2019, 11:22 AM EDT

Canadian forwarder Manitoulin adds to its US holdings, expanding its global logistics network.

Air cargo forwardingTrucking

Global air cargo rates fall to four-year low

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Oct 2, 2019, 11:53 AM EDT

There are dwindling expectations for a solid peak season in air cargo this year as the industry faces falling demand and yields in an uncertain trading environment.

Air Cargo

Soaring Shanghai-Europe air freight prices buck downward trend

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Oct 2, 2019, 11:45 AM EDT

An unexpected increase in air cargo rates from China to Europe appears to be the result of Asian volumes avoiding transshipment through Hong Kong.

Air Cargo

LAX air cargo upgrade delay disappoints stakeholders

Chris Barnett, Special Correspondent | Sep 27, 2019, 3:21 PM EDT

Stakeholders are disappointed in the multiple-year delay in building new air cargo facilities at Los Angeles International Airport, but will consider interim solutions to meet the challenge of growing volumes.

Air Cargo

LA air cargo expansion shelved

Chris Barnett, Special Correspondent | Sep 15, 2019, 7:00 PM EDT

The shelving of a new air cargo terminal at Los Angeles International Airport is a blow to forwarders and their cargo owners suffering from delays that the project aimed to relieve.

Air Cargo

Hong Kong shippers alarmed over rising logistics costs

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Sep 10, 2019, 5:35 PM EDT

Shippers worry “unreasonable” air freight fees, tighter cargo screening regulations, and the region’s dependence on transshipment could cause Hong Kong to cede more cargo to air and sea ports in southern China.

Air cargo forwardingMaritime

Air shippers fear costs, delays due to Hong Kong X-ray rule

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Aug 28, 2019, 11:34 AM EDT

Hong Kong in November will start down the road of X-raying all airfreight shipments, which has users worried about the costs -- in both time and money.

Air Cargo

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

Weak air freight, truckload hit Roadrunner’s Q2 line

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Aug 7, 2019, 2:32 PM EDT

Roadrunner Transportation Systems reported revenue and profits were down in the second quarter as it battled weak conditions in the airfreight, truckload, LTL, and intermodal markets.

LTLAir Cargo