100 years ago: first airmail flight in China
China’s first airmail flight took to the skies on 7 May 1920. The test was performed by English veterans who wanted to demonstrate the commercial advantages of the aircraft deployed, a former Handley Page O/7 bomber, on the route between Beijing and Tianjin. Onboard was an... more
Saudia Cargo lifts record payload from Pakistan
Saudia Cargo made a record payload carrying essential food supplies from Lahore, Pakistan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh, using a passenger aircraft turned into an all-cargo flight, a new trend that emerged in the ongoing fight against the coronavirus... more
Swiss air cargo experts inform online
GS1 Switzerland organised its third “online talk” on the corona crisis this week, exploring the challenges that lie ahead for the (Swiss) air cargo industry. While Peter Somaglia (l.), president IG Air Cargo Switzerland, highlighted the vital importance of this industry for... more
The ideas of March
Most operators want to forget March – a month that will remain long in our memories. Volumes collapsed – albeit more ‘mildly’ than in the passenger disaster zone – but more freighters – ‘true’ and ‘false’ ones – than ever before kept the air supply chain breathing. more
Celebrating and connecting (Air) New Zealand
Just after marking 80 years of flying - its forerunner Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL) took to the skies on 30 April 1940 - Air New Zealand entered a partnership with the Government to ensure critical cargo transport lines are maintained. The... more
Two different paths for Virgins
Virgin Atlantic will operate over 90 cargo-only flights per week this month as it helps customers reopen vital trade lanes connecting the UK with global markets. The airline will also operate cargo-only flights through Dublin for the first time, enabling Ireland's medical... more
CSA says goodbye to long-haul service
CSA Czech Airlines’ only widebody aircraft has been grounded since 27 February 2020, because the Prague-Seoul route operated by the A330-200 has been closed down. Initially, this connection was scheduled to restart on 6 April 2020, but after another month it is clear that a... more
Not just another shipper building an air lift
The Hut Group (THG), a British e-commerce company operating over 100 international websites selling FMCG mostly outside the UK, partners with Singapore Airlines to charter a series of more than 100 flights. Since the start of 2020, THG has been running successful... more
Air Asia launches blockchain platform
Teleport, the logistics arm of the Malaysian carrier Air Asia, has launched Freightchain, marketed as "the world's first digital air cargo network run on blockchain". A shipper or freight forwarder can now instantly book and confirm any of Air Asia's 247 aircraft to... more
"Alsatian diaspora" sets up Pakistan-Lyon airlift
After freight charters from China to South Africa, Zambia and the USA, GSSA and charter specialist Airnautic, headquartered near the Basel-Mulhouse airport, is now organising a series of flights to Lyon. Thus, from today, 5 May 2020, millions of face masks produced in... more