Increasing the B777 freighter network 
Starting today, 9 January 2024, Ethiopian Airlines is operating a new weekly freighter service between its Addis Ababa hub and Casablanca, Morocco. The East African carrier’s first Maghreb maindeck destination, its 34th in Africa, is served by a widebody B777-200 freighter.... more
321 Precision Conversions earns Easa approval
321 Precision Conversions has announced that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (Easa) has approved the A321-200 freighter conversion (A321-200PCF) FAA STC ST02716SE. This certification further validates the Precision design and enables the fuel efficient A321-200... more
Green light for Opticooler
After its technical approval of the Opticooler RAP, Air Canada Cargo has now also certified the RKN version. With Air Canada’s vast international passenger network and a fleet of dedicated freighters, Air Canada Cargo has access to over 300 cities on six continents. Air... more
Uncertainties and opportunities in 2024
In its latest weekly market data analysis, ocean and air freight rate benchmarking and market analytics platform Xeneta says that 2024 may herald the start of a new economic growth cycle for the global air cargo industry after last year ended with a +9% year-on-year rise in... more
China Cargo launches Miami freighter service
China Cargo Airlines is extending its relationship with Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a member of the Sats Group, in North America with a new handling contract, marking the start of the first services of a Chinese airline to Miami. The airline will launch three Boeing 777... more
Returns under red wings
Russia's Red Wings Airlines has revived Sky Gates Airlines. Founded in 2016 with a focus on freight, the company was forced to cease operations following the sanctions imposed in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and was taken over by Red Wings last... more
Unilode extends partnership in Thailand
Unilode Aviation Solutions, a global provider of outsourced unit load device (ULD) management, repair and digital services, and Thai Air Asia X, a low-cost medium-haul carrier based in Bangkok, have extended their full-service ULD management partnership until 2029. Thai Air... more
Saudi Arabian pivot 
A new collaboration project between Saudia Cargo, Cainiao and WFS / Sats. At the end of November three partners, each of which covers a different segment of the air cargo supply chain, unveiled a business model in Jeddah that will create gateways for e-commerce logistics in... more
Rotor begins production
Rotor Technologies, a developer of autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, has unveiled the R550X, the largest uncrewed civilian helicopter on the market, and begun production. The R550X is designed to lift heavy loads up to 1,200 lbs, or 550 kg, with no... more
Another big player for Vacad
Georgi Handling, another industry heavyweight, has joined the German Air Cargo Handlers Association (Vacad). The air cargo handler, which operates in Frankfurt and Leipzig, expanded its capacities this year. After Dnata and CHI Aviation Handling, Georgi Handling is the third... more