150 years of airmail - "par ballon monté" 
The Franco-Prussian war (cf. ITJ 36-39/2020, p. 26) gave rise to the start of the first regular air mail service. On 5 September 1870, in order to connect the beleaguered city and fortress of Metz in Lorraine to the outside world, Julien-François Jeannel, a pharmacist in the... more
UN: support express, air mail and cargo operators!
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU) are encouraging national governments to support their designated postal operators, air cargo carriers, and express mail operators through financial aid and operational flexibility. A... more
First Antonov aircraft without Russian parts
Ukrainian Antonov Airlines has completed the jig assembly of the AN-178 airframe (series No. 006) intended for delivery under the contract between Spetstechnoexport and Peru's ministry of the interior. At the presentation on the eve of Ukraine's National Flag Day (23... more
Alha and Emirates warming up again
On 15 July 2020, Emirates restarted regular flights to/from Rome FCO, and its cargo operations are now back on track as usual, with a primary focus on controlled-temperature services for pharma products. Alha, as the airline's local cargo handling partner, is providing... more
African air spaces (not) re-opened
After a break of exactly five months, international flights to Malawi were permitted to resume operations on 1 September, whereby initially only the airport of Lilongwe (photo), the capital of the landlocked country in southeast Africa will be handling the traffic. The airport... more
Diesel and propellers: technology for the future?
The Californian start-up Otto Aviation officially introduces the Celera 500L as "the most fuel-efficient commercially viable passenger aircraft in the world". The full-scale prototype has completed 31 test flights validating its performance goals: a max. cruise... more
Pharma logistics providers praise cooperation
Skycell, a Swiss-based provider of temperature-controlled container solutions, has supported three vaccine shipments sent from a manufacturer in Italy to the Brazilian government amid the pandemic. The first charter, jointly operated by Lufthansa, DHL and Skycell, flew from... more
San Francisco today, Boston tomorrow
Only a few days after landing again in Buenos Aires (photo), Swiss Worldcargo is expanding in North America. Starting today, 2 September 2020, the freight division of Swiss International Air Lines will operate three weekly flights from Zurich to San Francisco... more
Spreading from and to Wuhan
On 28 August 2020, SF Airlines launched a twice weekly B757-200F service between Wuhan and Osaka (Japan). Its second international route opened in Wuhan since its inauguration in 2009 is part of the airline's contribution to speed up the restoration of import and export... more
Partnering with Qatar Airways Cargo at Heathrow
As part of a new long-term agreement to provide cargo handling, freighter aircraft handling and cargo transportation to/from aircraft at London Heathrow Airport, Qatar Airways Cargo is moving into the cargo facilities of Menzies Aviation from today, 1st September 2020. The... more