The China-Russia connection: E-commerce demand supports a booming trade lane

Chinese express carriers have been making waves in the air cargo business for some time now, rapidly building up their freighter operations and innovating domestic express operations. Still, despite being the base for two of the world’s largest e-commerce companies – JD.com, which is often compared to Amazon for the high degree of control it […]

• Caryn Livingston
• October 9, 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

Airfreight braces for more tariffs as trade war expands [VIDEO]

The news late last week of additional tariffs levied by China on $75 billion worth of U.S. goods and a subsequent increase from 25% to 30% in tariffs imposed by the U.S. on Chinese goods is the latest development in the trade war that has already pushed some supply chains out of China and into […]

• Caryn Livingston
• August 26, 2019

Automotive industry transformation and tariffs have long-term implications for airfreight

The tariff war between China and the U.S. escalated Aug. 23 when China responded to the U.S.’ announced tariffs ranging from 5% to 10% on $75 billion worth of U.S. goods, to be implemented in two batches effective on Sep. 1 and Dec. 15. Soon after China’s announcement, the U.S. hit back by raise existing […]

• Cathy Roberson
• August 26, 2019

HKG begins recovery of full flight operations

Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) today began the rescheduling and recovery of its flight operations, as protesters released a statement apologizing for the disruption that they had caused over the last two days. Late last night, the airport authority obtained an injunction against the unlawful and willful obstruction of or interference with the proper use […]

• Jeff Lee
• August 14, 2019

Flights canceled for second day in a row at HKG, but minimal impact on freighters

HONG KONG – Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) announced the suspension of all check-in processes at around 4:30 p.m. local time this afternoon after protesters occupied much of the passenger terminal, resulting in the cancellation of a large number of flights scheduled to depart in the evening. However, the scale of the cancellations was nowhere […]

• Jeff Lee
• August 13, 2019

HKG freighter flights mostly unaffected by ground stop

HONG KONG – Freighter flights have continued to depart and arrive at HKG as usual, despite a flight stoppage ordered by Hong Kong’s airport authority today. However, cargo was booked to fly on many of the canceled passenger flights, and so shipments moving in the belly hold will likely encounter delays in the days to […]

• Jeff Lee
• August 12, 2019

More than strikes, CAAC warning could deal direct blow to Cathay Pacific Cargo

HONG KONG – The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has just issued what it called a “severe safety warning” to Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific in response to what it perceived as “safety risks recently exposed” by the airline. If enforced, the warning could impact not only flights connecting mainland China, but potentially Cathay flights […]

• Jeff Lee
• August 9, 2019

FedEx held back Huawei shipments, Chinese authorities say

Chinese authorities accused FedEx of intentionally holding back Huawei shipments from entering the country, in addition to other legal violations, state news agency XinhuaNet reported today.   The integrator accidentally diverted Huawei packages from the United Kingdom to the United States last month, leading FedEx to file a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Commerce for an undue burden to “police” shipments after the […]

• Brianne Ledda
• July 26, 2019

time:matters expands Sameday Air network to China

Lufthansa Cargo’s time-critical logistics subsidiary time:matters has expanded its Sameday Air network into China for the first time with the addition of stations in Beijing (PEK), Chengdu (CTU), Guangzhou (CAN), Nanjing (NKG), Qingdao (TAO), Shanghai (PVG) and Shenyang (SHE). Customers with urgent shipments will now have access to 157 weekly direct flights between Frankfurt, Munich, […]

• Jeff Lee
• July 4, 2019

DHL Global Trade Barometer predicts air trade contraction

The DHL Global Trade Barometer forecasts for global air trade dropped six points from March to a new index of 49, indicating a slight contraction over the next three months.  Most countries are expected to see air trade decline, with the largest contractions expected in Japan (-11 points) and the U.S. (-8 points). Further declines are expected in India […]

• Brianne Ledda
• June 27, 2019

Cargolux 747 relocates live belugas from China to Iceland

A Cargolux-operated 747 freighter carrying two live beluga whales landed at Iceland’s Reykjavik Keflavik Airport (KEF) on Wednesday after a 6,000-mile flight that began on the other side of the world in China. Ahead of the flight, the belugas were loaded into custom-fit slings within specially-designed containers and were trucked from Changfeng Ocean World to […]

• Brianne Ledda
• June 21, 2019

Kerry Logistics, Correos enter JV to serve Chinese export market

Today, Hong Kong-based logistics company Kerry Logistics Network Ltd. announced a joint-venture with Spain’s national postal service, Sociedad Estatal de Correos y Telégrafos, to provide end-to-end cross border services for companies engaged in e-commerce exports from China. Under the agreement, the companies will establish a new 200,000 square-foot sorting center in Southern China. The facility will […]

• Brianne Ledda
• June 17, 2019

Lululemon increasing airfreight ahead of port congestion in Asia

In an effort to get ahead of impending tariff-fueled port congestion, Canadian clothing retailer Lululemon will be increasing its international airfreight shipments before the fall. PJ Guido, Lululemon’s CFO, brought up the shift during a June 12 conference call to discuss Q1 results, when he mentioned that the company expects “gross margin to be flat […]

• Brianne Ledda
• June 13, 2019