CargoSteps launches accelerator for cargo startups

Frankfurt-based freight management software company CargoSteps is launching an accelerator that will provide six slots for interested startups, with the goal of creating a forum for the exchange of ideas between young logistics companies. The "Startup LAB," to be located on famous Kaisserstrasse street near Frankfurt Airport (FRA), will give selected cargo-industry startups two new projects […]

• Nina Chamlou
• February 22, 2019

U.K. tightens drone regulations, revises flight restriction zones

This week, the United Kingdom government published an amendment to the U.K. Air Navigation Order 2016 (ANO), making it illegal as of Mar. 13 to fly small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) at any time within flight restriction zones (FRZs) around “protected aerodromes” – commercial airports, military airfields and general aviation airports – unless given permission […]

• Chelsea Toczauer
• February 22, 2019

ACS, Saudia Cargo ink new deal at Air Cargo Africa

This week, business partners Saudia Cargo and Air Charter Service (ACS) inked a new deal at the Air Cargo Africa conference in Johannesburg. The agreement addresses the transportation of rubber fenders for ship docks from Al Makotum International Airport (DWC) to Bangladesh. Omar Hariri, chief executive officer for Jeddah-based Saudia Cargo, was present at the […]

• Nina Chamlou
• February 22, 2019

JD Logistics’ President of International Logistics to speak at Cargo Facts Asia

Stard Huang, president of international business at JD Logistics – the integrated supply chain management arm of Beijing-based JD.com – has joined the Cargo Facts Asia 2019 speaker faculty. During a Fireside Chat, Stard will discuss how consumer e-commerce demands are evolving, and the implications for cross-border e-commerce supply chains and their reliance on air freight.

• Charles Kauffman
• February 22, 2019

Flexport lands billion-dollar investment from SoftBank

It’s getting harder to call Flexport a scrappy little logistics tech startup from San Francisco. Today, the five-year-old full-service online forwarder raised US$1 billion in a funding round, led by Silicon Valley’s SoftBank Vision Fund, bring its total valuation to $3.2 billion. With a “B.” Other investors in the round were Founders Fund, DST Global, […]

• Randy Woods
• February 21, 2019

Freightos’ connectivity study: Only a handful of air carriers make the grade

In its latest benchmarking study of air cargo carriers’ “digital maturity,” or their ability to connect with their customers through digital applications, Freightos said the industry has made great strides in its digitalization efforts, but it lags far behind the progress made in oceanfreight and is limited to only a handful of large carriers. The […]

• Randy Woods
• February 21, 2019

Pilot Freight sets record for revenues in 2018

U.S.-based Pilot Freight Services took in a record-high US$800 million in revenue for 2018, an increase of 24.8 percent over the previous year, which the logistics firm attributed to a “broadened selection of e-commerce products” and an “expansion of global capabilities.” The chief event of the year for Pilot was the company was the July […]

• Randy Woods
• February 21, 2019

KF Aerospace to introduce new facilities, widebody aircraft capability at YHM

Canada-based maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) organization KF Aerospace broke ground this week on the expansion of its MRO facility at Hamilton International Airport (YHM).

• Chelsea Toczauer
• February 21, 2019

Is it the role of the airport help train and recruit workers for sustained cargo growth?

Air cargo industry stakeholders are no strangers to the difficulties involved in recruiting skilled labor to fill warehousing and ground handling vacancies at growing airports. But does responsibility fall on the airport, or the individual stakeholders in need of labor? A number of airports, such as Liège Airport (LGG) and Istanbul New Airport (ISL), are […]

• Charles Kauffman
• February 20, 2019

DB Schenker gains GDP cert at NRT

This week, Germany-based logistics company DB Schenker has received Good Distribution Practice (GDP) certification at its Narita Airport (NRT) facility, near Tokyo, following the successful completion of an audit by SGS Japan, an international testing and certification company. The investment speaks to the growing pharmaceuticals market in Japan, which is the third largest in the […]

• Nina Chamlou
• February 20, 2019

Turkish Airlines signs deal for use of DoKaSch’s Opticoolers

Combination carrier Turkish Airlines has signed a rental agreement with DoKaSch for use of its temperature-controlled “Opticooler” containers, designed for pharma-industry clients. The Opticooler uses active cooling technology, meaning that it uses a battery-powered motor to control products’ temperatures, so that the cargo can travel of longer distances without risk of spoiling. Turkish Airlines said […]

• Nina Chamlou
• February 20, 2019

IATA Air Cargo Innovation Award finalists focus on ULD tech

For the third year, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released the names of three finalists for the organization’s Air Cargo Innovation Awards. This time, all three focus on the same piece of equipment in the supply chain: the ubiquitous unit load device (ULD). IATA’s judges winnowed down the short list of finalists from […]

• Randy Woods
• February 20, 2019

Expeditors continues to increase profits in 2018

Seattle-based forwarder and logistics services company Expeditors International released its 2018 results, which show that its high-margin profits we’ve come to expect in the last year continued to roll through the end of the year. Operating income increased 9 percent to US$217 million year-over-year for the fourth quarter, and 14 percent to $797 million for […]

• Nina Chamlou
• February 19, 2019

Aerolíneas Argentinas, SmartKargo to partner for door-to-door e-commerce service

Combination carrier Aerolíneas Argentinas is partnering with IT company SmartKargo to develop what Máximo Amadeo, commercial director of Aerolíneas Argentinas, calls “a real 24-hour, door-to-door service across the country” for e-commerce delivery. The digital offering can be likened to apps like Uber, in that independent couriers will be able to elect to participate in the […]

• Nina Chamlou
• February 19, 2019