- Ethiopian Cargo is adding four weekly frequencies between its capital city, Addis Ababa, and Brussels Airport. The airline originally served Belgium from Ostend Airport, relocating to Brussels in 2004. In 2008 Ethiopian moved to Liege Airport, and currently serves Liege nine times per week. By adding Addis-Brussels-Addis, Ethiopian will strengthen the position of Brussels Airport as an African air cargo destination.
- PACTL handled 1.5 million tonnes of freight in 2014, reflecting a 16.15 percent year-over-year increase. Also known as the Shanghai Pudong International Airport Cargo Terminal Co. Ltd., the partners – Shanghai Airport, Lufthansa Cargo and JHJ Logistics Management – reported domestic cargo volume rose by 6.25 percent, year-over-year, to 97,336 tonnes in 2014. International growth grew by 16.9 percent to 1.4 million tonnes, breaking down to a 16.85 percent increase in imports, or 598,000 tonnes. Exports grew by 15.7 percent to more than 904,100 tonnes.
- High-tech and retail growth provided the catalyst for UPS to expand its facilities in Krefeld, Germany; Butzbach, Germany (about 37 miles from the Frankfurt Airport); and Venlo, the Netherlands. The expansion adds almost 220,000 square feet of processing space to UPS’s global supply chain network. Krefeld added 53,000 square feet, Butzbach 75,000 square feet and Venlo 91,000 square feet. Additionally, UPS recently added 1.2 million square feet to four North American locations. UPS now has a total of more than 33 million square feet globally.
- Following announcements from Emirates and Qatar Airways about switching to “all-in” rate structures, the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Association stated that it welcomed the practice and is pleased to see the elimination of surcharges for fuel and security at both carriers. The simplification of rate structures would benefit forwarders and shippers, the organization stated, adding that forwarders have desired this change because surcharges are opaque and complex.
- Precision Aircraft Solutions has begun conversion of the first 757-200PCF aircraft for Asia Pacific Airlines. Asia Pacific currently operates a fleet of three 727 freighters in the western and southern Pacific areas, carrying primarily the U.S. mail and fresh tuna for the Japanese and U.S. markets. The conversion is underway at the AeroTurbine MRO facility in Goodyear, Ariz.
- Lufthansa Technik gained approval of the European airworthiness authority EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) as the maintenance organization for A350s. The MRO now offers routine maintenance services in Frankfurt. Lufthansa Airlines will commission its first A350 in the second half of 2016. Lufthansa Technik will service all aircraft maintenance for the carrier’s entire fleet of A350s.
- Lufthansa Technik and the Brazilian low-fare airline Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras signed a long-term component supply contract for the airline’s seven A330-200 aircraft. The contract will run until end of 2019. Azul flew its first international flight in December 2014, using its newly acquired A330 fleet.
- Panalpina, an international freight forwarding and logistics company, opened two new African bases – in Morocco and Kenya. Offices in Casablanca and Nairobi became fully operational in January.