Amazon bulks up its delivery network with huge electric vehicle order

Amazon placed an order for 100,000 electric delivery vehicles, Dave Clark, Amazon’s senior vice president of worldwide operations, announced on Twitter today. The vans, from Rivian Automotive, are expected to begin delivering packages in 2021. https://twitter.com/davehclark/status/1174697626685661186?s=20 The move is not altogether surprising, as Amazon earlier this year led a $700 million equity investment in Rivian […]

• Caryn Livingston
• September 19, 2019

Alphabet’s Wing plans drone drug-store deliveries within a month

(Bloomberg) —One of the nation’s largest drug store chains and a shipping service giant are joining forces, with Alphabet Inc.’s Wing to begin a first-of-its-kind drone delivery service in October. Walgreens, FedEx Corp. and Wing, an offshoot of Google that was the first U.S. drone operator to receive partial certification as an airline, will begin the exploratory […]

• Bloomberg News
• September 19, 2019

Delta, LATAM August traffic suffer in weak trade climate 

In the Americas, both Chile-based LATAM Cargo and Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines reported year-over-year declines for the month of August.  Despite the slight reprieve LATAM saw earlier this year in June and July, the return in declines suggests continued impact of weak trade stemming from global political economic conditions on these carriers’ cargo business. Meanwhile, Delta Cargo […]

• Chelsea Toczauer
• September 19, 2019

UPS CEO says growth is steady in Amazon age, even as FedEx reels

(Bloomberg) —Not that long ago, Wall Street fretted that tradition-bound United Parcel Service Inc. would lag nimble FedEx Corp., with its fully automated package-sorting hubs, in the race to cash in from surging shipments tied to e-commerce. It hasn’t turned out that way. A $20 billion investment spree detailed by UPS Chief Executive Officer David […]

• Bloomberg News
• September 19, 2019

European, Middle East carriers’ lag in traffic continues into August

Carrier's based in the regions Europe and the Middle East reported mixed cargo traffic results in August as protectionist policies and the upcoming Brexit continue to create friction for global trade. Both Lufthansa Group and International Airlines Group reported year-over-year declines in cargo traffic, while Air France-KLM’s August performance was flat, in comparison to August […]

• Chelsea Toczauer
• September 18, 2019

FedEx bottom line responds to departure of Amazon volumes, trade friction in 1Q earnings

FedEx reported net income down 10.8% to $745 million for the first quarter of its 2020 fiscal year, which ended on Aug. 31, on revenue that was flat at $17 billion. In addition to feeling the impact of slowing global trade and the ongoing growing pains related to the integration of TNT Express, FedEx also […]

• Charles Kauffman
• September 18, 2019

Emirates SkyCargo partners with e-commerce start-up Seafood Souq

Emirates SkyCargo announced today it has entered into a partnership with with Dubai-based e-commerce start-up Seafood Souq to support transparent and efficient transportation of seafood for Seafood Souq’s customers. As part of the partnership, Emirates SkyCargo Cargo will transport seafood shipments from source markets to customers using Seafood Souq’s app. Initially, shipments will be delivered […]

• Chelsea Toczauer
• September 18, 2019

Cargo couture: selecting tailored, wearable tech for your collection

Models strut down the catwalk as fashion giants look on – viewers take note of the product’s material, fit and whether the item is “Prêt-à-Porter,” or ready to wear. Keep in mind, this show is only one of a slew of stakeholders in haute couture have attended worldwide and now they must select pieces from […]

• Chelsea Toczauer
• September 18, 2019

Amazon cozies up to postal operators, Cargo Facts Consulting finds

Amazon has inked major agreements with at least 12 postal operators globally to fulfill its growing shipping demands, finds a new report this week from Cargo Facts Consulting. E-commerce traffic has been good for volume and revenue growth in parcel business units for the world’s largest postal companies. Likewise, when sourcing delivery capacity for its […]

• Caryn Livingston
• September 17, 2019

Does increase in FedEx 2020 shipping rates prelude strategy shift? 

FedEx announced new shipping rates for FedEx Express, FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight will come into effect Jan. 6, 2020.  The new rates will include increases in surcharges and fees for FedEx’s U.S. Express Package Services, U.S. Ground Services, International Express Package Services, International Ground Services, U.S. Express Freight Services, International Express Freight Services, as well as an […]

• Chelsea Toczauer
• September 17, 2019

Outlook is positive for African air cargo carriers as trade with China grows

African carriers have been a shining star in an otherwise dismal global airfreight market. Year-to-date through July, freight tonne kilometers (FTKs) are up 4.9% year-over-year while capacity is up 13.6%. This region has been on an upward but erratic path in recent years with much of the growth attributed to its trade relations with Asia-Pacific. […]

• Cathy Roberson
• September 17, 2019

U-Freight Hong Kong warehouse certified for air cargo screening

Freight forwarder U-Freight Group was certified as a Regulated Air Cargo Screening Facility (RACSF) by Hong Kong’s Civil Aviation Department (CAD), the forwarder announced yesterday. The facility is located in Hong Kong’s Golden Bear Industrial Center, slightly under 30 kilometers from Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). Hong Kong’s CAD launched the RACSF program in October […]

• Caryn Livingston
• September 17, 2019

SF Express begins 747 service to Europe

Shenzhen-based SF Airlines operated its first flight to Europe in the last decade on Sept. 15 with service from Wuxi (WUX) to Frankfurt-Hahn Airport (HHN) and an intermediary stop in Chongqing (CKG). The China-Europe service was operated for SF Express using one of the carrier’s two 747-400 freighters. As reported by our sister publication Cargo […]

• Caryn Livingston
• September 16, 2019

Amazon Air launches daily service to ATL

Daily Amazon Air flights to Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport (ATL) began last week on Sept. 12, ATL confirmed to Air Cargo World. The inaugural service was operated by ABX Air, a subsidiary carrier of Air Transport Services Group, using a 767-200 freighter. Amazon Air flights also began operating at St. Louis Airport (STL) last week, while […]

• Caryn Livingston
• September 16, 2019