

ABC in Superbike freighter flight
ABC B747-8F being loaded with Superbike AirBridgeCargo (ABC) has completed a Boeing 747 freighter charter flight for Universal Global Logistics S.A.U. delivering 66 motorcycles on their way to the first round of the 2018 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship in Australia. The palletized motorcycles were part of a 110 tonnes payload transported from Barcelona, Spain, to Melbourne’s Avalon Airport, Australia, onboard the B747-8F. In Melbourne, the Superbike teams continued the


Egyptair Cargo targets growth with new freighters
Egyptair Cargo has revealed plans to expand its freighter fleet as it targets the launch of new intercontinental services. The airline told Air Cargo News that it will take delivery of three Airbus A330-200 passenger-to-freighter conversations before the end of March 2019. The first of the freighters is due to join Egyptair Cargo’s fleet in June, with the second due in October and the third in March 2019. There are also plans to take delivery of two Boeing 737-800 freighters,

Qatar Airways adds to pharma container offering
Qatar Airways Cargo has begun offering pharma container firm CSafe’s newest RAP container. The active RAP unit caters for large volume pharma shipments and has been approved by the cargo carrier for use across its pharma network. The CSafe RAP utilises heating and compressor-driven cooling technologies together with insulation to eliminate the payload risks associated with extreme ambient temperature conditions and long-duration shipments. The unit is able to maintain constan


Air cargo becomes a sellers' market
The boot is on the other foot now. For years, airlines were craving fixed contracts, while forwarders, egged on by their clients, kept shopping around for the bargain of the day. Today it is the forwarders who are desperate to secure lift, as the ad hoc market augurs painfully high prices. “The market is more and more changing from a buyer’s to a seller’s market. Supply is the bottleneck right now, which will not change short term,” remarks Ingo-Alexander Rahn, global head of


Frankfurt cargo traffic improves
Cargo throughput at Frankfurt Airport totalled 163,121 tonnes in February, up by 2.2% over the same month of last year. The increase follows January’s slight drop, as reported in ACI Europe’s latest figures yesterday. The German gateway’s cargo traffic for 2018 to date stands at 329,686 tonnes, up 1.3% compared to the first two months of 2017. Including mail, the February total was 166,959 tonnes, a rise of 3.2% year on year; year to date freight and mail rose 2.2% to 337,645

Panalpina sees profits soar on record airfreight volumes
Panalpina reported revenue and profit increases last year on the back of record airfreight volumes, while it will continue to target “bolt-on” acquisitions. The Switzerland-based freight forwarder saw 2017 revenues increase 6.5% year on year to Sfr5.5bn, while earnings before interest and tax (ebit) climbed 26.1% to Sfr103m and profits were up 9.9% to Sfr57m. The company said improvements were driven by its airfreight division, which saw full-year volumes increase in line wit


UK export index on the rise as Brexit looms
A new report commissioned by Heathrow Airport management suggests that the UK export climate is in its "strongest position" since the year 2000 The quarterly Export Climate Index (ECI) tracks the health of the UK’s export economy and its impacts on families and businesses across the country. The index, carried out by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), is the first of its kind and, said Heathrow Airport, will become "increasingly important as the Government


Cargojet: strong Q4 financial performance
Canadian overnight all-cargo carrier Cargojet has posted revenues of $118.2m for the fourth quarter ended December 31 2017 – an impressive rise of 25.6% over the same period of the previous year. The gross margin for the quarter was $37.4m, representing an increase of 36% compared to the previous reporting period. For the full year, revenues were up 15.7% at $382.9m and the gross margin stood at $106.3m (up 23.9% year on year) . Ajay Virmani, president and chief executive, sa
Delta Cargo improves web portal
Atlanta-headquartered Delta Cargo (the freight-carrying arm of Delta Air Lines) has enhanced its relaunched website to enable online booking, check-in and tracking of shipments. “The new website has proved to be very popular and with these enhancements we are making the customer experience even easier and more efficient, with 24/7, complete end-to-end digital booking, acceptance and tracking,” said Shawn Cole, Delta vice president – cargo. “The improved functionality comes as


Cargolux and NCA announce start date for Luxembourg-Narita partnership
Cargolux and Nippon Cargo Airlines NCA have announced a start date for a new freighter service between Luxembourg and Narita previously announced as part of a new partnership. Starting on March 27, NCA will have access to capacity on Cargolux's new weekly Tuesday flight between the two hubs, which will utilise both B747-400F and B747-8F aircraft. The flight is subject to government approvals. News of plans to launch the new service was first revealed in November when the carr