passenger airlines

Air Belgium abandons direct passenger service to focus on cargo

In an unusual move, Air Belgium said Monday it will cease to exist as a passenger airline because of difficult market conditions and switch to become a contract carrier for airlines that need cargo or passenger airlift.

The board of directors moved to discontinue the company’s own passenger business, effective Oct. 3, to focus on the business-to-business market offering packaged leases that bundle an aircraft with transport service. 

Air Belgium said its financial position has been severely...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/air-belgium-abandons-direct-passenger-service-to-focus-on-cargo

Airline group says global cargo volume grew 6.9% in 2021

A close up a plane at the gate with cargo containers on the tarmac. View is looking down from the gate.

Air cargo demand rebounded in December, growing 8.9% over the 2019 level, after a stumble in November when airlines’ throughput increased only 3.9% because of congestion at major airports, the International Air Transport Association reported Tuesday.

The strong finish left the industry with a 6.9% gain in cargo volume for the full year, with the key international sector besting 2019 by 7.4%. 

Airlines in North America topped the growth chart in December, with international demand growing 20.5%...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/airline-group-says-global-cargo-volume-grew-69-in-2021

Mesa Airlines adding freighter for DHL service as cargo ambitions grow

A mustard-colored DHL cargo jet on the taxiway.

After recently completing its first year flying parcels for DHL Express, Mesa Airlines will add another narrowbody freighter to its fledgling fleet early next year as it looks to expand its cargo division and realize greater economies of scale for the DHL business.

Mesa Airlines began operating  two Boeing 737-400 converted freighters for DHL in October 2020, entering the air cargo market for the first time after years providing regional passenger air transport for United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAL)...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/mesa-airlines-adding-freighter-for-dhl-service-as-cargo-ambitions-grow

Exorbitant ocean rates, need for speed give air cargo an edge

A close up of a cargo pallet wrapped in plastic on a lift ready to go in the old of an aircraft, waiting in front of jet engine.

Increased use of airfreight by shippers trying to avoid clogged ports is adding pressure to overtaxed air capacity and sharply pushing up rates, especially out of Asia, but new data showing demand plateaued in October reinforces evidence that the traditional busy shipping season started earlier than normal.

In a panic over slower factory production due to power rationing in China and shortages of semiconductors, as well as ocean shipping backlogs that have quadrupled delivery times, more...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/exorbitant-ocean-rates-need-for-speed-give-air-cargo-an-edge

United Airlines makes more cargo revenue with less cargo

A white United Airlines jet takes off, view from the rear.

Cargo and domestic leisure travel were United Airlines’ strong suit in the third quarter as the carrier just missed returning to profitability despite better-than-expected results.

Cargo revenue soared 84% to $519 million compared to 2019, setting a record for the three-month period. For the first nine months of the year, cargo revenue is up 88% to $1.6 billion. 

Those gains, however, don’t represent more cargo volume. Cargo revenue ton miles, an industry metric that measures the revenue earned...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/united-airlines-makes-more-cargo-revenue-with-less-cargo

Daily Infographic: Airlines scheduled & operated more flights in July 2021 than any month since the start of the pandemic in March 2020


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To view more FreightWaves infographics, click here.

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/daily-infographic-airlines-scheduled-operated-more-flights-in-july-2021-than-any-month-since-the-start-of-the-pandemic-in-march-2020

How did Delta Airlines awaken 570 dormant aircraft?

Delta aircraft stored wing-to-wing on an airfield.

Delta Air Lines parked 571 mainline aircraft across the country in 2020 when the COVID-19 wiped out most passenger travel. Airlines still have about 70% of their pre-pandemic fleet in hibernation, but Delta is returning aircraft to the skies because the U.S. domestic market is recovering faster than in other parts of the world.

Parking a plane and bringing it back to life after months of inactivity isn’t as simple as turning the engines off and on. It takes a lot of effort, including maintenance...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/how-did-delta-airlines-awaken-570-dormant-aircraft

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