all-cargo aircraft

Air Canada shows big ambitions for cargo startup

Close-up side view of an Air Canada jet with red maple leaf and cargo door open.

Air Canada isn’t just testing the waters for a stand-alone freighter division — it’s jumping in with both feet. 

The carrier was one of the first to harness the revenue opportunity from cargo-only passenger aircraft when the pandemic knocked out regular travel business and discovered there is strong demand for additional cargo lift into the Canadian market. It subsequently launched a cargo airline within an airline to take advantage of the ongoing airlift shortage and e-commerce boom. 

The...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/air-canada-shows-big-ambitions-for-cargo-startup

WestJet marks new era with move to cargo jets

A white WestJet plane with wheels down comes in for landing. Plane has green tail.

Canadian shippers with express delivery needs will have more air cargo capacity to choose from this summer when WestJet, the country’s second-largest passenger airline, launches its stand-alone freighter division.

WestJet plans to take delivery in Calgary, Alberta, of its first used Boeing 737-800 aircraft converted for cabin cargo within a week and have two aircraft in revenue service by July 1, or sooner, Charles Duncan, executive vice president of cargo, told FreightWaves.

Operating from a...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/westjet-marks-new-era-with-move-to-cargo-jets

How many strongmen does it take to pull the massive AN-225?

A group of men crawling to pull a massive plane with crowed cheering on.

The AN-225 is an absolute behemoth, the largest and heaviest commercial cargo aircraft in the world. It has a payload of 275.6 tons. The one-and-only model is owned and operated by Antonov Airlines, based in Kyiv, Ukraine.

The Mriya, which means dream in Ukrainian, is so big and expensive to operate that it’s only used for special jobs like carrying huge electrical transformers and mobile power generators. It was originally built in the 1980s to transport rockets and space shuttles for the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/how-many-strongmen-does-it-take-to-pull-the-massive-an-225

TSA to exempt ‘secure’ exporters from new air cargo screening

A forklift moves wooden pallets of goods at an airfreight warehouse.

Three weeks before new security rules go into effect for all export cargo moving by air, the Transportation Security Administration has finalized plans giving businesses the ability to opt out of screening every shipment prior to loading if their facilities have approved security controls. The air cargo industry is splintered over whether an alternative approach will provide the same protection and be fairly applied. 

The TSA said manufacturers, suppliers, warehouses, vendors, e-commerce...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/tsa-to-exempt-secure-exporters-from-new-air-cargo-screening

Amazon investment strengthens partnership with cargo airline ATSG

A white Amazon Air jet with blue tail, side view on runway.

Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) has taken a minority stake in cargo airline Air Transport Services Group (NASDAQ: ATSG), strengthening a strategic partnership in its fast-growing private air network that supports e-commerce fulfillment.

ATSG said in an SEC filing Monday that Amazon for the first time exercised warrants it held, paying $131 million to take a 19.5% share in the Wilmington, Ohio-based aircraft leasing and aviation services company. 

Amazon is purchasing about 14.4 million shares in two...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/amazon-investment-strengthens-partnership-with-cargo-airline-atsg

Air cargo goes crazy for K-9 security

A canine team inspect boxes inside an air shipping container for explosives.

Demand is high for dogs in the air logistics sector, and it’s not because they make nice companions during the self-isolation of coronavirus.

In just four months, new international security standards go into effect requiring countries to implement programs for 100% screening of every shipment on all-cargo aircraft. It’s a huge undertaking for the private sector, which is still waiting for the U.S. Transportation Security Administration to issue rules detailing how to achieve that goal.

Many...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/air-cargo-goes-crazy-for-k-9-security

TSA to reveal security plan for air cargo industry

Workers at an express air hub as packages come down chutes into air cargo containers.

Companies that purchase and provide transport on all-cargo aircraft will be closely watching whether the Transportation Security Administration on Wednesday offers an alternative security arrangement many believe is designed to help one company — Amazon — avoid screening every outbound shipment for explosives.

How to comply with pending international airfreight security standards is reopening a  long-running policy debate over whether supply chains are best protected through a risk-based...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/tsa-to-reveal-security-plan-for-air-cargo-industry

Atlas Air, DHL Express buy large Boeing freighters

Bright yellow DHL cargo jet.

Atlas Air Worldwide (NASDQ: AAWW) and DHL Express on Tuesday announced significant purchases of production freighters from Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) to help stay ahead of demand trends for the air cargo market.

Atlas Air ordered four 747-8 cargo planes, adding to the world’s largest fleet of 747s, while Deutsche Post DHL’s (DIX: DPW) express delivery arm said it will purchase eight 777 freighters.

The 747-8s earmarked for Atlas will be the last ones off the production line in Everett, Washington....

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/atlas-air-dhl-express-buy-large-boeing-freighters

TSA 100% screening option could be cheaper for cargo shippers

A TSA inspector observes cargo being loaded on a Saudia 747 jet. Split screen with TSA official in charge of Air Cargo division on the right.

Most people know the Transportation Security Administration as the folks with blue shirts who check documents and carry-on bags at the airport before passengers board aircraft. The agency also has a less visible but no less important role, ensuring that cargo loaded on passenger and freighter aircraft doesn’t contain explosives.

A big issue on the TSA’s plate this year is the June 30 deadline for member states of the International Civil Aviation Organization to implement 100% screening of export...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/tsa-100-screening-alternative-could-be-cheaper-for-cargo-shippers

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