JD Logistics uses robots for last-mile delivery in new smart service centers [VIDEO]
Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com is forwarding an artificial intelligence (A.I.)-enabled future in logistics the launch of two “smart” delivery stations in Changsha and Hohhot, which utilize robots and facial recognition software – and cuteness, let’s admit – to complete last-mile deliveries. The golf cart-sized autonomous vehicles, complete with a front screen display that suggests cartoon […]
WorldACD: Do modest November volumes indicate a 2019 slowdown?
One of the more reliable annual air cargo results in recent years has been a healthy rise in volumes for November, indicating the results of the busy shipping events surrounding “11.11” in China and “Black Friday/Cyber Monday” in the United States. But according to analysis released today by WorldACD, November has not performed quite as […]
Freighter race heats up during holiday cool-down
Today, as Air Cargo World pauses to celebrate the season with families and other loved ones, and supply-chain stakeholders breathe sighs of relief after the last of the Christmas packages complete their final-mile deliveries, it appears that the freighter market is just getting warmed up. As reported yesterday in our sister publication, Cargo Facts, China-based […]
Frankfurt-Hahn, CASIL sign agreement to establish European hub
Today, Frankfurt-Hahn Airport (HHN) reported its new air-freight agreement with China Aerospace and Technology Corporation’s subsidiary, China Aerospace International Holdings Limited (CASIL). In the agreement, CASIL will operate several new flights to HHN and will establish the airport as its European hub. The new route is also the latest element of China’s sprawling initiative, as […]
Budapest Airport plans growth strategy for Asia with new routes
Today, Budapest Airport (BUD) announced its new growth strategy for Asia, set to launch in the new year, which includes the addition of several direct freighter and belly cargo routes to China. Although details on schedules and frequency are still to be determined, the new flights are expected to begin operations next summer. The new […]
China to double its number of airports by 2035
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) expects that by 2035, China will have 450 airports – nearly doubling its current number – according to a report released yesterday from CAAC News, its affiliated news outlet. If this forecast is true, would mean that China would overtake the United States as the world’s largest aviation […]
Early 2018 holiday shopping breaks peak season records
Following on the heels of China’s 11.11 shopping holiday, numbers are out for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. American shoppers kicked off the start of the shopping season in the United States, spending US$24.2 billion shopping online — 23 percent more than what they spent over the same five days in 2017. American consumers spent […]
CEVA Logistics sends successful ‘TIR’ truck from China to Europe
The original “Silk Road” between China and Europe is hardly a new form of overland travel, but CEVA Logistics Greater China is reconsidering the ancient trade route as an alternate mode of long-haul cargo transport that may be competitive to rail, ocean and even airfreight. On Monday, CEVA completed a trial run of its first […]
Pardon the Disruption: Wan Lin — Crossing borders at Cainiao
In November, Alibaba’s logistics affiliate, Cainiao, broke its own record during the “11.11” holiday by handling more than 1 billion orders in a single day. The fact that such a feat could occur is a credit to Wan Lin, president of Cainiao Network Technology. Wan first joined the company as vice president in 2014. Under […]
China’s Zhengzhou, Xinzheng airports earn fifth freedom rights
Following continued efforts to construct a “Chinese Memphis,” the State Council of the People’s Republic of China recently stated its approval allowing Zhengzhou Xinzheng (CGO) and Xi’an Xianyang (XIY) international airports the right to each negotiate fifth-freedom cargo services. On Nov. 23, the Chinese State Council published a “Notice on Supporting Measures for Deepening Reform […]
China developing Xinjiang airport as ‘Belt and Road’ air cargo node
Today, China’s state planner approved a US$6.1-billion airport expansion project in Urumqi, capital of China’s far-western Xinjiang province, which will help develop the city into a key air cargo hub in President Xi Jinping’s sprawling “Belt and Road” initiative. Construction of the Urumqi Airport (URC) will run through 2030, when the expanded airport is expected […]
China’s ‘11.11’ event called the biggest shopping day of all time
Yesterday, Alibaba’s busiest shopping event of the year, “11.11,” – formerly knowns as Singles’ Day – made history in both revenues and order volume as the biggest shopping event of all time, according to tallies by its logistics network, Cainiao. The promotion raked in US$30.8 billion in gross merchandise volume (GMV) – a 27 percent […]
SkyLease freighter skids off runway in Halifax, injuring 4 [VIDEO]
A 747-400 freighter, operated by Miami-based SkyLease Cargo, skidded off the runway while landing at Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) in the early morning hours of Nov. 7. The four crewmembers aboard the widebody all suffered minor injuries and were taken to a local hospital and are expected to recover. The aircraft (N908AR) came to […]
