air cargo capacity

Running on Ice: Mexico goes electric

Hello, and welcome to the coolest community in freight! Here you’ll find the latest information on warehouse news, tech developments and all things reefer madness-related. I’m your controller of the thermostat, Mary O’Connell. Thanks for having me!

All thawed out
(Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

Reducing carbon emissions from reefer trucks is catching on south of the border. Mexico City’s air quality is 10 times the World Health Organization’s recommended limit, ranking it sixth worst amongst major...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/running-on-ice-mexico-goes-electric

Sagging air cargo market shows turnaround potential

A large air freight container on a flat cart pulled by a tug.

New data shows the decline in air cargo business slowed in August, traditionally the weakest month for international carriage of goods by air, raising hopes the upcoming pre-holiday season will be busier than some previously expected amid external forces that are pulling the market in different directions.

The airfreight market last month contracted 5% year over year, and 4% compared to pre-pandemic levels, and shipping rates continued to float downward, following demand drops of 8% in June and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/sagging-air-cargo-market-shows-turnaround-potential

cargo.one helps forwarders win more air shipments and reduce time spent on bookings by 50%

In the past, a freight forwarder’s time was often spent manually searching for capacity and the best rates for clients. Fragmented communication during the booking process often created small errors that, at times, inevitably led to completely paused bookings. These dated ways of conducting business through ineffective communication have cost forwarders time and money. 

There is now a solution for booking air cargo digitally — cargo.one enables thousands of forwarders globally to view live...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/cargoone-helps-forwarders-win-more-air-shipments-and-reduce-time-spent-on-bookings-by-50

Will exuberance for air cargo conversions create freighter glut?

A plane on struts in maintenance hanger.

A surge of passenger-to-freighter aircraft conversions in response to heightened shipping activity since the pandemic is raising questions about whether the boom cycle can be sustained or will lead to oversupply that lowers lease and freight rates.

The number of aircraft reconfigured for main-deck cargo storage is estimated to exceed 180 by 2025, a 150% increase compared to the average annual production of 70 units last decade, according to a recent analysis by AeroDynamic Advisory. Thirty years...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/will-exuberance-for-air-cargo-conversions-create-freighter-glut

FedEx adds war surcharge as Ukraine crisis ratchets up shipping costs

A white and purple FedEx jet on the ground.

FedEx Express notified customers on Thursday that it will hike its peak surcharge for many international  parcel and freight shipments, beginning next week, because of the latest supply chain disruptions caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

The express delivery company is increasing the surcharge by 20 to 30 cents per kilogram for most of Asia-Pacific, effective Monday, with price increases starting March 21 in other areas. European exports and imports are rising a tenth of a euro, or 11...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fedex-adds-war-surcharge-as-ukraine-crisis-ratchets-up-shipping-costs

Cathay Pacific limps through Q1 with 20% cargo capacity

A white jumbo jet with teal tail and Cathay Pacific Cargo lettering lifts off from runway.

Cathay Pacific carried fewer than 25,000 passengers in January, a 99.2% decline from three years ago, and cargo volume is down to 21% of pre-COVID levels, according to monthly traffic figures released Thursday that illustrate the devastating impact of Hong Kong’s restrictive reaction to the omicron variant. 

With its large freighter fleet and extensive long-haul passenger network, Cathay has traditionally been one of the crown jewels in air cargo. It was the third-largest carrier by amount of...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/cathay-pacific-limps-through-q1-with-20-cargo-capacity

Flexport to launch Eastern Airlines’ 777 express freighter service

Angle view of rear of Eastern Air express freighter.

Rapidly growing freight forwarder Flexport said Tuesday it has signed a multiyear contract for dedicated transport with Eastern Air, a new entrant that intends to deploy light-duty 777 freighters focused on e-commerce shipments with a quick-to-market, low-cost strategy to fill a persistent gap for available airlift. 

Privately held Eastern Air Holdings has purchased 35 Boeing 777 passenger jets and is retrofitting them itself by removing the seats, bins and galleys — work that is usually...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/flexport-to-launch-eastern-airlines-777-express-freighter-service

Omicron, weather dent air cargo growth in January

A large cargo pallet with netting on tarmac in front of an aircraft's engine.

A new report shows air cargo demand was flat in January compared to last year and 2019, but the sampling of airlines’ shipment business doesn’t take into account ongoing disruptions to the air logistics system that have prevented carriers from transporting as many goods as shippers are presenting, essentially resulting in an undercount of volume.

The amount of air cargo moved by airlines last month inched up 0.1% compared to the opening month in 2021 and 0.2% versus 2019, Amsterdam-based Clive...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/omicron-weather-dent-air-cargo-growth-in-january

Freight forwarders double down on air charter networks

A large white plane with blue GEODIS logo on the side. Grass in the forefront.

Several global freight brokers expanded their private air networks in January to guarantee reliable transport for customers in response to high import/export demand, tight aircraft supply and severe ocean shipping delays.

The new services give customers more shipping options during a year when airfreight demand is forecast to continue growing, especially in the near term as congested airports scale back workloads and carriers cancel flights due to the rapid spread of the omicron variant....

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freight-forwarders-double-down-on-air-charter-networks

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