75th Anniversary: ACW through the decades

2010

• The 747-8F makes its maiden voyage in February.
• A UPS 747-400F carrying a large quantity of lithium batteries crashes in Dubai on Sept. 3, prompting the FAA to restrict the cells’ transport on passengers flights.
• On Oct. 29, two unexploded bombs hidden inside printer cartridges were discovered in the cargo holds of two separate aircraft heading from Yemen to the U.S. The foiled Al-Qaeda plot set off another wave of cargo security concerns through the industry.

2011

• Qatar Airways purchases a 35 percent stake in Cargolux in June.
• British Airways and Iberia merge to form the International Airlines Group (IAG).
• In December, the DOJ investigation leads to two Cargolux executives who agree to spend 13 months in prison for coordinating airfreight surcharges to and from the U.S.

2012

• On Jan. 1, the European Union’s Emission Trading System (ETS) goes into effect, placing a cap on aircraft emissions on flights entering the E.U.
• UPS agrees to purchase TNT for $6.8 billion, but awaits approval from E.U.
• IATA begins promoting the gradual adoption of the electronic air waybill (e-AWB) in its embrace of e-freight initiatives.

2013

• In January, the European Commission blocks the UPS/TNT merger on antitrust grounds.

2014

• Air Cargo World is purchased by New York-based Royal Media Group in September. Editorial operations are moved to Seattle.
• A contract dispute between longshoremen and seaports on the U.S. West Coast leads to a labor slowdown that cripples oceanfreight for a period of nine months, and creates a surge in air cargo demand heading into 2015.

2015

• The decline of oil prices in the first half of 2015 led to a corresponding slump in air cargo demand for oil and gas exploration.
• Two years after UPS failed to purchase TNT, FedEx makes a $4.8 billion bid to purchase the European express firm; a year later, the European Commission upholds the deal.

2016

• Amazon announces in March the launch of its own air carrier, called Prime Air, with 20 dedicated freighters to be operated by Air Transport Services Group. Amazon then follows up with the announcement of another 20 freighters to be operated by Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings.

2017

• A strong peak season in 2016 led to one of the more robust periods of growth in air cargo demand through the first half of 2017.
• On July 11, air cargo journalism legend Richard Malkin passes away at the age of 104, just a few months shy of Air Cargo World’s 75th anniversary.

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