SF’s large-scale cargo drone moves closer to commercialization after successful flight

Shenzhen-based SF Express announced this week that its Feihong-98 unmanned large cargo drone completed a successful test flight at the company’s Baotou test facility in Inner Mongolia.  SF is preparing to launch small-scale commercialization of the drone within 3-5 years, according to local media sources. Developed in partnership with the China Academy of Aerospace Electronics […]

• Chelsea Toczauer
• October 17, 2018

Overheard at Cargo Facts Symposium Part II: A bright future for 737 NG conversions

SAN DIEGO – Yesterday, we started our two-part coverage of our annual “Overheard at Cargo Facts Symposium” review. You can revisit that story here. Today, in part II we take a look at what’s happening in the conversion market and what’s ahead for e-commerce. Think 737 Classic conversions are over? Not so fast! Despite a […]

• Caryn Livingston
• October 16, 2018

Janco Holdings to launch dedicated freighter operations

Hong Kong-based freight forwarder Janco Holdings Ltd announced it reached an agreement to ACMI-lease an A300-600F (733) from Uzbekistan-based Silk Road Cargo to support the launch of an own-controlled freighter operation, Hub Airways. Janco says it is looking to add a second aircraft in 2019. When flights launch later this year, Hub Airways will target […]

• Charles Kauffman
• September 26, 2018

Blue Dart expands network as industry preps for Indian e-commerce boom

Reflecting rising optimism in India as a burgeoning e-commerce market, and subsequent investment into the country’s logistics, air cargo, and e-commerce markets, Deutsche Post-DHL Group’s Blue Dart is pursuing a major expansion plan to expand its logistics network to connect every home in India. Blue Dart is the leading third-party logistics provider in India and […]

• Caryn Livingston
• September 24, 2018

UPS expects big return on facilities, fleet investments

At a UPS “Transformation Conference” in New York today, the company outlined plans for expanding and automating its international and domestic express services to better accommodate burgeoning cross-border e-commerce volumes, justifying the major capital expenditures with larger expected returns on revenue. The express company struggled somewhat during the second quarter of this year, reporting a […]

• Caryn Livingston
• September 13, 2018

Runaway e-commerce growth reshaping air freight: Part II

Today, we conclude our two-part analysis of the ways in which surging demand from e-commerce is changing how participants across the air freight supply chain operate, and what the future of air freight in a logistics world built around e-commerce might look like. Part II examines how e-commerce marketplaces are making moves toward offering their […]

• Caryn Livingston
• September 12, 2018

SpiceJet adds maiden 737 NG freighter, more on the way

Today, India-based low-cost carrier SpiceJet took redelivery of its maiden freighter, a Bedek Aviation Group-converted 737-700BDSF (29042, ex-Xiamen Airlines), to support the launch of a newly created cargo subsidiary, SpiceXpress. The aircraft, on-lease from Spectre Cargo, is the first of four Spectre-leased 737 NG freighters SpiceXpress plans to put into service over the next few […]

• Charles Kauffman
• September 10, 2018

Runaway e-commerce growth reshaping air freight: Part I

Today, we begin a two-part analysis of the ways in which surging demand from e-commerce is changing how participants across the air freight supply chain operate and what the future of air freight in a logistics world built around e-commerce might look like. Part I offers insights into what qualifies as e-commerce, which trade routes are […]

• Caryn Livingston
• September 7, 2018

Amazon, Walmart extend aisle to last-mile

Yesterday, Amazon announced an order with Mercedes-Benz for 20,000 delivery vans to support the company’s recently-unveiled last-mile delivery program, which for as little as US$10,000, will give third-party entrepreneurs and companies the tools to build out an independently-operated business around delivering parcels for the e-commerce giant. According to the company, all 20,000 Sprinter vans will […]

• Caryn Livingston and Charles Kauffman
• September 6, 2018

China Postal Airlines’ parent planning IPO, and fleet expansion?

China Postal Express & Logistics Co., Ltd (EMS), a subsidiary of Beijing-based China Post, which owns a number of logistics companies, including China Postal Airlines and China Post Logistics, is planning to execute an IPO within three years. China Post Chairman, Liu Aili, announced the subsidiary’s intention to go public last week during a signing […]

• Charles Kauffman
• August 27, 2018