Airport logistics collaboration established 
Siemens Postal, Parcel & Airport Logistics (SPPAL) and the French engineering company Gaussin Manugistique have signed an agreement for the global commercialization of autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) that transport unit load devices (ULDs) at airports. SPPAL will... more
Port of Antwerp clinks "grand cru" glasses
The port of Antwerp expects its 2018 figures to outshine those from 2017, and has spoken of a "grand cru year". Antwerp says its position as a major European port and Europe's largest integrated chemistry cluster was reinforced last year. The throughput forecast... more
Qatar Airways ends successful 2018 investing in China
As part of its strategy to invest in the strongest airlines around the world, Qatar Airways completed an on-market purchase of certain A and H shares of China Southern Airlines on 28 December 2018. This investment results in an aggregate holding of approximately 5% of the... more
New IT system for Bremen port railway
The port of Bremen’s railway is to get a new modular IT system that will optimize train and wagon movement planning and scheduling. From autumn 2020, users will be able to use a customer portal to obtain information about port railway operations, record and track orders, as... more
Redspher boost sales to EUR 300 million
The logistics group Redspher, which is owned by the on-demand transport provider Flash Europe International, generated a turnover of around EUR 300 million in 2018, thereby achieving the sales target it planned for 2020. The group of companies (then known as Flash) registered a... more
Port of New Orleans - new commissioners take charge
The board of commissioners of the port of New Orleans selected a new executive committee in late December 2018. Arnold B. Baker was elected chairman, Tara C. Hernandez as vice-chair and Darryl D. Berger as secretary-treasurer. Baker joined the US port's board in April... more
Rhenus acquires Cesped in Italy
Rhenus Logistics has purchased 100% of the equity share capital of Italy-based Cesped and its related companies. Guido Restelli, MD of Rhenus Logistics in Italy and future member of Cesped’s management board, remarked: “This move offers great potential for further developments... more
Icao looks back on "moderate" 2018
After the sharp pick-up in airfreight growth during the inventory restocking period in 2017, air cargo traffic growth moderated in 2018. That coincided with the softening demand drivers impacted by trade tension and declining import and export orders. Preliminary figures... more
Is world trade gaining ground again?
The container throughput index published by the German research body Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (RWI - Leibniz) and the Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) came in at 133.7 points in November 2018 (validated). That was a slight... more
“Curiosity of the Day” 
Determined to prove his theory that yellow fever was transmitted by mosquito bites, the US medical pioneer Jesse Lazear allowed himself to be bitten by infected insects. His idea was correct – but it caused his death soon after in September 1900. more