NTSB hints at ‘pilot error’ as contributor to Atlas 767F crash

Although the investigation into the fatal crash of Atlas Air Flight 3591 is months away from a conclusion, a story last Friday in the Wall Street Journal said investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) suspect “pilot error,” rather than equipment malfunction, may have “inadvertently” contributed to the accident that occurred outside on Houston. […]

• Randy Woods
• March 19, 2019

Sichuan Airlines preps for dual-airport operations in Chengdu

Sichuan Airlines is preparing to launch dual-airport operations in Chengdu from both its current home base at Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) and the city’s new Tianfu International Airport (no IATA code yet), for which construction is slated for completion at the end of this year.   As part of this new dual-airport cargo strategy, Sichuan Airlines will conduct all its dedicated freight aircraft and international cargo operations at Tianfu Airport, while […]

• Chelsea Toczauer
• March 19, 2019

ABC passes Cargo iQ audit for operations in Moscow

AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC) passed its second audit reconfirming its compliance with the quality standards of IATA interest group Cargo iQ, following a two-day inspection of its operations in Moscow, the same city in which it’s headquartered. Cargo iQ, formerly called Cargo 2000, uses a benchmarking system that rates a shipment’s performance, in terms of its […]

• Nina Chamlou
• March 19, 2019

Rhenus acquires Canadian 3PL Rodair

This week, the Germany-based logistics conglomerate, the Rhenus Group, acquired a Toronto-based 3PL, the Rodair Group, to expand its North American presence. Rodair has sites in Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver, offering freight forwarding, project logistics, courier, warehousing, distribution, e-commerce solutions and customs clearance services. The group services a range of industries, including fashion, retail, automotive, […]

• Nina Chamlou
• March 19, 2019

First glimpse of Amazon Air 737-800BCF seen in China

A Boeing-converted 737-800BCF was spotted in China this week sporting an Amazon Air “Prime Air” livery similar to what is customarily associated with what emblazons the e-tailer’s 767F network, a clear indication the operation will soon add a new fleet type. For more on this story, see coverage in our sister publication, Cargo Facts. Please […]

• Charles Kauffman
• March 19, 2019

BIFA said prepare for a no-deal Brexit with 11 days to go

The clock is still ticking on Brexit, but United Kingdom’s logistics community and the British Parliament are still working hard to diffuse the situation. Last week, Parliament rejected Prime Minister Theresa May’s second proposed Brexit plan, which would have defined the terms for Britain’s exit from the European Union. With just 11 days left until […]

• Nina Chamlou
• March 18, 2019

Gebrüder Weiss completes its Georgia facility expansion

Austrian 3PL Gebrüder Weiss has completed the expansion of its logistics facility in Tbilisi, Georgia – an investment the company said bolsters its presence in the Caucasus region. The new addition provides an extra 2,300 square meters of handling capacity for the operation, as well as 7,800 square meters of paved open space and 300 […]

• Nina Chamlou
• March 18, 2019

Anchorage planning new facilities to support transfer program

To benefit its unique cargo transfer program, Alaska’s Anchorage International Airport (ANC) is planning the construction of new infrastructure, including an air cargo building, e-commerce facility and parking spaces. 

• Chelsea Toczauer
• March 18, 2019

Unilode boxes up IATA’s Innovation Award at WCS [VIDEO]

After a full week of meetings and panel discussion about innovations in the air cargo arena – many of which focused on the management and tracking of unit load devices (ULDs) – IATA’s 13th World Cargo Symposium (WCS) ended with the announcement that ULD management firm, Unilode Aviation Solutions, was named the winner of this […]

• Randy Woods
• March 18, 2019

IATA partners with PayCargo for air cargo payment platform

PayCargo LLC, operator of a web-based payment platform for freight and logistics, is expanding a 2017 agreement with U.S.-based IATA subsidiary Cargo Network Services (CNS) to the global association. Under the expanded partnership, global air cargo customers will be able to make online payments and immediately access settlement data through the IATA-PayCargo System. A major […]

• Caryn Livingston
• March 15, 2019

Top 5 takeaways from 2018 airport cargo throughput

Last year, the world’s top 20 cargo airports by volume handled some 51 million tonnes of cargo, comprising 42 percent of all global air cargo volumes, according to preliminary world airport rankings released this week by Airports Council International (ACI). Although in many cases, airports closely tracked the overall market’s low-digit growth for 2018, there […]

• Chelsea Toczauer
• March 15, 2019

Brazil’s Bold Privatization Plan Put to Test With Airport Tender

President Jair Bolsonaro’s market friendly agenda faces a key test on Friday with an airport auction that will serve as a gauge of investors’ appetite for the administration’s massive privatization plan. The tender is expected to generate 3.5 billion reais ($910 million) in investments in the next 30 years. That figure includes a minimum initial […]

• Caryn Livingston
• March 15, 2019

Airbus Skyways drone completes first shore-to-ship delivery [VIDEO]

Today, an Airbus Skyways drone loaded with 1.5 kg of cargo departed from the Marina South Pier in Singapore, and traveled a distance of 1.5 km where it landed on the ship deck of the M/V Pacific Centurion.  After transferring its payload to the shipmaster, the Skyways drone returned to shore, completing the 3 km […]

• Charles Kauffman
• March 15, 2019

CCN, Microsoft launch blockchain air cargo billing, costing and reconciliation system

Singapore-based logistics company Cargo Community Network (CCN) and Microsoft launched a blockchain-based billing, costing and reconciliation system for air cargo at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) World Cargo Symposium in Singapore this week. The blockchain-based system, developed on Microsoft’s Azure cloud computing service, is designed to minimize billing discrepancies, accelerate billing reconciliation and provide […]

• Chelsea Toczauer
• March 14, 2019