European metal part II: Twin-aisle, remove the aisle

Yesterday, part I of “European metal” provided an overview of the narrowbody jet freighter fleet in service with European operators. Part II continues with an overview of the region’s widebody freighter fleet. Turning now to the widebody freighter fleet in service with European carriers, the region is home to approximately one-fifth of the global freighter […]

• Charles Kauffman
• December 7, 2018

Freighter fleet analysis part I: European metal

Were “innovation” to be defined by a cargo airline’s propensity to add the latest production and conversion freighter models, airlines in Europe would do quite well. Unfortunately, that remains a rather unconventional way to define innovation. Still, over the course of 2018, carriers with European Air Operator Certificates (AOC) have surfaced as early adopters of […]

• Charles Kauffman
• December 6, 2018

Alibaba’s eWTP lands in Belgium, to bring major Cainiao presence to Liège

The Government of Belgium and Alibaba signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today, to promote cross-border e-commerce between China and Europe by bringing Alibaba’s Electronic World Trade Platform (“eWTP”) trade hub to Belgium. A major component of the deal includes significant investments in physical infrastructure by Alibaba’s Smart Logistics platform Cainiao, which inked a contract […]

• Charles Kauffman
• December 5, 2018

Azul, Correios joint venture wins regulatory approval

Brazil’s top regulatory authority, Administrative Council for Economic (Cade) has approved, without restrictions, the creation of an integrated logistics joint venture (JV) between Brazil-based Azul Cargo Express and Correios. The antitrust body assessed that the operation does not increase the likelihood of closing the air cargo market, due to both companies’ small market share in […]

• Chelsea Toczauer
• December 5, 2018

Amazon’s potential threat to FedEx and UPS

More freighters are likely to follow the fortieth 767-300F delivered last month to Amazon Air’s fleet. Today, a research note from Morgan Stanley added that “the market is missing the risk” that Amazon Air poses to growth at United States-based integrators FedEx and UPS. Of course, the idea that Amazon may intend to become an integrator […]

• Caryn Livingston
• December 4, 2018

Air freight falters on weaker economy in DHL, WorldACD outlooks

While air cargo yields and volumes were up 7% and 2%, respectively, year-over-year for October, according to WorldACD, the latest release of DHL’s Global Trade Barometer assigns November air cargo trade its lowest index score since DHL launched the Barometer in January of this year. The falling outlook moving into peak season hints at larger […]

• Caryn Livingston
• December 3, 2018

ASL Airlines prepares for arrival of second 737-800BCF

GECAS took redelivery of a Boeing-converted 737-800BCF (32610, ex-China Southern Airlines) earlier this week, and will ferry the aircraft to Liege next week, where it will be handed over on lease to ASL Airlines Belgium. ASL expects to put the incoming 737-800BCF into service on behalf of express customer FedEx later next month. This is […]

• Charles Kauffman
• November 30, 2018

Cygnus space freighter docks at ISS

Northrup Grumman’s Cygnus space freighter docked at the International Space Station on 19 November with 7,400 pounds of cargo, consisting of food, lab equipment, and other materials. After the cargo is unloaded, Cygnus will be reloaded with waste items before leaving the space station early next year.

• Caryn Livingston
• November 30, 2018