FedEx reports solid fourth quarter results

Yesterday, in addition to the announcement that FedEx ordered for twelve 767Fs, and twelve 777Fs in a deal valued at US$6.6 billion, the express giant reported revenue up 10.1 percent, y-o-y, in its fiscal fourth quarter (ended 31 May) to a record $17.31 billion. Net income for the quarter was $1.13 billion, up 10.5 percent from […]

• Randy Woods
• June 20, 2018

IAG Cargo to host competition for startups to secure investors

IAG Cargo, the cargo arm of International Airlines Group, is accepting applications for its third iteration of its 10-week long “Hangar 51 Travel Tech Accelerator” program, to be held in London. The mentorship for logistics startups offers a chance to win a “multimillion pound” investment for their business idea at the end of the program, […]

• Nina Chamlou
• June 20, 2018

Australian, Norwegian marine companies partner in IoT to transport live fish

A new partnership between marine transportation companies, Australian FloatPac and Norwegian LipFish AS, may be an example of an application of the internet of things (IoT) that could catch on in the airfreight industry. LipFish AS said it has “worked closely” with FishPac – the oxygen-transport-systems-specific arm of the Australian aquaculture company – to develop […]

• Nina Chamlou
• June 20, 2018

Updated Cargobase’s app features 3PL matching algorithm

Singapore-based freight management app, Cargobase, updated its services yesterday, launching what it calls the first “curated multi-freight mode marketplace,” an extension of its existing app, which serves as a platform for shippers and 3PLs to communicate. Cargobase expanded its spot-buying software in April, a service it called “On the Go,” which widened its audience to […]

• Nina Chamlou
• June 20, 2018

NCA audit may take longer than hoped

After Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) temporarily grounded its eleven 747-Fs due to a maintenance record discrepancy over the weekend, the forwarding community is saying the halt in air service may be longer than the Narita-based carrier’s initial estimate. Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau is scheduling an inspection of NCA’s entire fleet after finding that the carrier has […]

• Nina Chamlou
• June 19, 2018

Freight management app ‘Kangaruu’ launches service

Another freight management startup, called Kangaruu, has entered the digitalization landscape, releasing its logistics management platform for shippers and brokers in the trucking industry. This year, we’ve seen airlines, logistics companies and tech start-ups try their hand at creating digital platforms through which industry members can communicate, with the goal of reducing or eliminating the […]

• Nina Chamlou
• June 19, 2018

Investment firm acquires WFS in new deal

Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) is being acquired by Cerberus Capital Management, the self-entitled “world’s largest air cargo handler,” based out of Paris, with a presence in 198 major airports in 22 countries. WFS is “positioned to benefit from attractive long-term industry growth,” said Cerberus’ head of global private equity and senior managing director, Brett Ingersoll. […]

• Nina Chamlou
• June 19, 2018

Google makes major e-commerce investment in China’s JD.com

In its latest foray into the e-commerce logistics world, Google has invested US$550 million in Beijing-based JD.com, giving the Silicon Valley giant greater access to services for global markets, including Southeast Asia, the United States, and Europe. The partnership is illustrative of both a growing focus on cross-border e-commerce, and the tendency of dominant e-tailers in […]

• Randy Woods
• June 18, 2018

XPO Logistics, Nestlé to build ‘digital warehouse’ in the U.K.

XPO Logistics is partnering with food and drink company Nestlé to create a 638,000-square-foot distribution center in Leicestershire, U.K. The warehouse, scheduled for completion in 2020, is being billed as a “digital warehouse of the future,” and will serve as a testing environment for new XPO technology before it is released globally. The facility will […]

• Caryn Livingston
• June 18, 2018

Maintenance record issues ground entire Nippon Cargo Airlines fleet

Due to an “inappropriate maintenance record” that was discovered on Saturday, Japan-based carrier Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) decided to ground its entire fleet of eleven 747 freighter aircraft on Sunday, June 17. The grounding is expected to last “about one week” while Japanese aviation officials conduct a safety audit, according to an official statement on […]

• Randy Woods
• June 18, 2018

Alaska Air Cargo looks to reduce wait times with self-service delivery kiosks

Alaska Air Cargo has quietly been testing app-based tablets at its Seattle cargo hub that allow customers to print cargo receipts, and head straight to the warehouse for cargo retrieval, without the need to wait in line. Reminiscent of a self-service passenger kiosk that retrieves a boarding pass with an alpha-numeric record locator, Alaska’s cargo […]

• Charles Kauffman
• June 15, 2018

Tigers Logistics expands Shanghai presence, citing e-commerce boom

With e-commerce giant Alibaba’s logistics network Cainiao continually expanding its network in response to a booming demand for e-commerce, affiliated logistics companies are being pushed to up their game, as well. Hong Kong-based logistics firm Tigers acquired a two-warehouse site in Shanghai this week that will increase its capacity by 34 percent. Tigers cited growing […]

• Nina Chamlou
• June 15, 2018

Private equity firm Naxicap buys GSSA European Cargo Services

The investment firm Naxicap Partners acquired European Cargo Services (ECS) – a general sales and services agent (GSSA)  representing carriers in 47 countries – in a mid-June deal facilitated by Paris-based financial investment house, Ardian. In recent years, ECS has demonstrated its focus on expanding its international presence, acquiring Hong Kong-based services company AVS in 2016 […]

• Nina Chamlou
• June 15, 2018

BRU integrates blockchain into digital BRUcloud service

Yesterday, Brussels Airport (BRU) launched its first blockchain-enabled application, which will work in conjunction with its cloud-based data management platform, BRUcloud, that was rolled out in January of this year. The addition of blockchain technology to the app will centralize client communication, replacing individual “system-to-system connections with all different partners,” said Sara Van Gelder, cargo […]

• Nina Chamlou
• June 14, 2018