Decline in Delta Air Lines’ Q1 cargo revenue has silver lining

The rate of decline in cargo revenue at Delta Air Lines slowed further in the first quarter, reflecting an overall improvement in global market conditions for airfreight. 

Atlanta-based Delta (NYSE: DAL) on Wednesday reported record first-quarter adjusted revenue of $12.6 billion, but cargo revenue fell 15% year over year to $178 million. The world’s second-largest passenger airline by passengers carried almost never mentions cargo beyond a line on the income statement, but the earnings news...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/decline-in-delta-air-lines-q1-cargo-revenue-has-silver-lining

Ocean freight rates steady despite Baltimore bridge collapse

The March 26 collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has significantly disrupted U.S. East Coast supply chains. However, ocean freight container shipping rates have remained relatively stable, according to Xeneta, an ocean freight rate benchmarking and intelligence platform.

Xeneta’s data reveals that average spot rates from the Far East to the East Coast, including Baltimore, have fallen by 1% since the bridge collapse, standing at $5,421 per forty-foot equivalent unit. When...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ocean-freight-rates-steady-despite-baltimore-bridge-collapse

ABX Air pilots choose cooperation over confrontation 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The exhibit hall at the Omni Hotel here was filled in mid-February with booths representing airlines, logistics providers, airports, truck delivery companies and technology vendors marketing their capabilities to industry peers attending the AirCargo 2024 conference. The stall with a handful of ABX Air pilots from the Teamsters union stood out.

Pilots never attend air logistics conferences, let alone rent space for a display. Why would they? They don’t have anything to sell....

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/abx-air-pilots-choose-cooperation-over-confrontation

Demand shocks keeping aging fleet afloat, argue shipowners

Ship recycling has fallen to its lowest level in 20 years, per a recent report by the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO). 

BIMCO — a trade group representing shipowners — states that capacity has been overtaxed by the Red Sea crisis, which has forced shipping lines to take a longer route around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope. Prior to the emergence of this latest choke point, BIMCO points to the impact of Western sanctions on Russian oil and coal, which similarly stressed tanker and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/demand-shocks-keeping-aging-fleet-afloat-argue-shipowners

UPS plans to hire 300 pilots to support Postal Service contract

UPS is looking to hire more than 300 pilots to support an anticipated increase in air cargo demand driven by a new multi-year contract from the U.S. Postal Service, according to the union representing the company’s air crews.

“The Independent Pilots Association Executive Board was informed that UPS HR is resuming their pilot hiring process to account for the additional volume surge that will occur as the year progresses,” the union said in a statement shared with FreightWaves. “The initial...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ups-plans-to-hire-300-pilots-to-support-postal-service-contract

FMC fears glut of container fee disputes after Baltimore bridge collapse

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators are bracing for disputes over container fees caused by routing cancellations in the wake of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.

Shortly after the collapse early on March 26 that closed the Port of Baltimore, MSC, the world’s largest ocean carrier, advised customers that containers en route to the port would be diverted for unloading at alternate U.S. East Coast ports, and that the carriage contract would be declared terminated at the alternate port instead of...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fmc-fears-glut-of-container-fee-disputes-after-baltimore-bridge-collapse

Postal Service’s air cargo shift to UPS makes everyone a winner 

The U.S. Postal Service’s decision this week not to renew a contract with FedEx, worth more than $1.5 billion per year, for domestic air transport and award it to UPS after more than two decades actually benefits all three parties, according to industry analysts. 

At face value, the arrangement seems a blow for FedEx (NYSE: FDX), which will lose one its biggest customers when the existing contract expires on Sept. 29. And it raises questions about how UPS (NYSE: UPS) can make a decent profit...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/postal-services-air-cargo-shift-to-ups-makes-everyone-a-winner

Trans-Pacific container rates plunge again

Eastbound trans-Pacific ocean container spot rates plunged again this week as container ship capacity on the trade lane recovers and volumes reset at a lower level than they were pre-Lunar New Year.

The Freightos Baltic Daily Index spot rate for China to the West Coast of North America fell from $3,620 per forty-foot equivalent unit to $2,976 per FEU this week, a drop of 17.8%. The rate has come down more than 36% since March 1 as steamship line networks have adjusted and capacity has loosened...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/trans-pacific-container-rates-plunge-again

Bankrupt charter airline iAero to cease operations

iAero Airways, the largest passenger charter and cargo carrier in the U.S., will cease operations on Saturday after an unsuccessful effort to restructure the company under bankruptcy protection, President Timothy Rainey informed employees.

Headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, iAero operates several narrowbody cargo jets for DHL Express. Other customers include the National Hockey League and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The airline’s main flying base is at Miami International...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/bankrupt-charter-airline-iaero-to-cease-operations

UPS wins air cargo contract with Postal Service, replaces FedEx

UPS will replace FedEx as the dominant provider of domestic air cargo for the U.S. Postal Service for the first time in more than 20 years. The express delivery giant on Monday announced that the Postal Service has awarded it a “significant” contract to move the majority of the mail agency’s air cargo in the United States.

The contract will take effect on Sept. 30 and calls for a 5.5-year minimum base term, according to the Postal Service. FedEx’s (NYSE: FDX) contract with the U.S. Postal...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ups-wins-air-cargo-contract-with-postal-service-replaces-fedex

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