- Lufthansa Cargo increased its load factor to more than 70 percent in the first six months of the year. The airline also reduced its capacity by 2.1 percent compared to a year ago, with the sharpest decline in Africa and the Middle East. Overall, Lufthansa Group’s second quarter operating profits were lower than expected.
- Boeing, South African Airways and SkyNRG are collaborating to make sustainable aviation biofuel from a new type of tobacco plant. SkyNRG is expanding production of the hybrid plant known as Solaris as an energy crop that farmers could grow instead of traditional tobacco. Test farming of the plants, which are effectively nicotine-free, is underway in South Africa with biofuel production expected from large and small farms in the next few years.
- PEMCO World Air Services announced the redelivery of three more 737-300 freighters to Yangtze River Express over the past several weeks. Yangtze River Express manages the cargo operations of Hainan Airlines, China Xinhua Airlines and other members of the Hainan Air Group.
- IAG converted eight A350-900 options into firm orders for Iberia.
- Thai Airways implemented strict policy on the prohibition of shipping shark fins with Thai Cargo. For over a year prior to issuing this official policy, Thai Cargo has avoided the shipping of shark fin on board aircraft.
- Delta Air Lines had cargo tonne miles of 218,248 in July, an increase of 8.4 percent year over year. The airline had 1.3 million cargo tonne miles year-to-date, up 0.5 percent.
- American Airlines Cargo began offering full cargo service to and from Washington, D.C. (DCA), Salt Lake City and Columbus, Ohio.
- Hong Kong Air Cargo Industry Services Limited (Hacis) – the added-value-logistics subsidiary of Hactl –more than doubled its business with Expeditors Hong Kong. Hacis is now handling Expeditors’ airfreight exports business.
- China Southern Airlines celebrated the launch of non-stop service from Guangzhou, China, to JFK International Airport.
- FedEx Trade Networks, the freight forwarding and customs brokerage arm of FedEx Corp., was awarded the 2014 Business Superbrands prize. The Superbrands program started in Hungary in 2004 and is part of a global organization that identifies brands that perform above and beyond others within the market.
- Emirates will step up services to Morocco with a second daily flight, boosting the service to 14 weekly flights beginning Sept. 1.
- Lufthansa Consulting brought its German branch offices together under one roof at a new location. From now on, customers can reach the management consultants at the Frankfurt Airport Center directly opposite Terminal 1 at Frankfurt Airport.
