Coronavirus relief package offers air cargo a safety net

• Caryn Livingston and Charles Kauffman
• March 27, 2020
• Editorial, News, Strategy

On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed into law the massive, $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, under which U.S. airlines and other cargo operators will be eligible to receive billions in loans and — if they are willing to grant an equity share to the U.S. government — direct cash […]

Wallace on Kalitta’s COVID-19 operations

• Jeff Lee
• March 27, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Podcast, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

For a cargo carrier like U.S.-based Kalitta Air, which specializes in ACMI and charter operations, the COVID-19 pandemic and its ensuing capacity crunch has resulted in extremely high fleet utilization, as shippers and forwarders have turned to freighter operators for help in flying their freight. Of course, one factor working in Kalitta’s favor is its […]

The trajectory of US Air Trade in 2020

• Frederic Horst
• March 27, 2020
• All Posts, Cargo Facts Consulting, News

Recently, we took a look at what’s ahead in 2020 for European air trade in the light of the evolving COVID-19 crisis and following a decline of both exports and imports by over 5% in 2020. US air trade in 2019 presents a similar picture – after two good years US air freight export and import tonnage […]

Crew safety amid pandemic challenges cargo carriers

• Charles Kauffman
• March 26, 2020
• All Posts, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Exclusive, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Widebody Conversions

Sweden-headquartered West Atlantic Group is rethinking the process of crew transport, and preparing contingency plans to maintain its operational commitments during the COVID-19 outbreak. With increasing travel restrictions and dwindling passenger transport systems, crew transport and safety now loom among the most significant challenges to keeping the air cargo supply chain functioning amid the COVID-19 […]

The new Cargo Facts Asia 2020 virtual agenda is live

• Jeff Lee
• March 26, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Cargo Facts Asia, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Events, Express, Logistics, News, Production Freighters

Cargo Facts has released an updated agenda for the ninth edition of Cargo Facts Asia, which will take place Apr. 21-22 as a digital event. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to our decision to change the format of the event and we believe the virtual experience will make it both safer and easier for our […]

ACS sees spike in freighter charters, tight supply for aircraft

• Charles Kauffman
• March 25, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Equipment, News

U.K.-based Air Charter Service (ACS) is responding to a surge in cargo charters on the heels of escalating Covid-19 travel restrictions and flight cancellations that have led to dramatic reductions in global bellyhold capacity. What began in late February as an uptick in requests for lift out of Asia has, in recent weeks, evolved to […]

Freighters carry medical aid from China to Europe

• Jeff Lee
• March 25, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Logistics, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

As the COVID-19 crisis worsens in Europe, a plethora of medical equipment and aid is now being flown in from China by a range of freighter aircraft, whether production, converted or makeshift. ASL Airlines Belgium is currently operating ten flights a week using 747-400Fs between Liege and China. While these flights transported medical supplies from […]

Amazon Air to hand over first 737-800BCF to Sun Country Air

• Charles Kauffman
• March 24, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Conversions, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions

Even as demand for passenger travel falters amid the Covid-19 outbreak, low-cost carrier Sun Country Air will soon be adding flights — not to carry passengers, but rather to haul cargo on behalf of Amazon Air. On March 22, a 737-800BCF (32348, ex-Pegasus) departed Shanghai (PVG) for Everett (PAE) ahead of redelivery to GECAS [FAT […]