YTO Cargo Airlines chasing cross-border e-commerce with 757Fs

Hangzhou-based YTO Cargo Airlines this year added two Precision-converted 757-200PCFs to its fleet, which previously consisted of just six 737-300Fs, with the intention of going global. Although it has taken YTO longer than anticipated to launch international cargo flights, new flight rights may soon be granted, and the carrier’s pursuit of chasing cross-border e-commerce volumes […]

• Charles Kauffman
• July 10, 2018

Will partnering with Alibaba’s Cainiao payoff for global carriers?

In recent weeks, Alibaba’s Cainiao Smart Logistics Network has redoubled its focus on cross-border e-commerce with a string of new investments into logistics centers at six cities around the world, and, as of this week, new partnerships with global carriers. These initiatives support the Alibaba Group’s goal of reducing average delivery times to 24-hours across […]

• Charles Kauffman
• June 13, 2018

Is Alibaba’s new joint venture at Hong Kong International Airport a game changer?

Last week, Alibaba’s logistics-affiliate, Cainiao, announced plans to open five global hubs in Asia, Europe and the Middle East “to meet the surging cross-border e-commerce needs”. Today, Hangzhou-based Cainiao unveiled a separate US$1.5 billion investment in a joint-venture logistics center at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), what will effectively be the sixth hub. With six […]

• Charles Kauffman
• June 6, 2018

Alibaba refreshes blueprint for achieving global deliveries within 72 hours

  The goals remain much the same. Alibaba co-founder and chairman, Jack Ma has a steadfast vision for global e-commerce logistics that aims to make parcel shipments significantly cheaper, while boosting the speed of point-to-point deliveries so that a delivery between any two city pairs within China or between any two global cities can be […]

• Charles Kauffman
• May 31, 2018

FedEx boosts e-commerce capabilities with acquisition of P2P

Today, FedEx announced the acquisition of UK-based P2P Mailing Limited for £92 million, in a move that bolsters the global integrator’s worldwide e-commerce delivery capabilities. P2P facilitates cross-border e-commerce deliveries with an asset-light model that relies on a proprietary IT platform to string together final-mile delivery and customs partners in different regions to deliver e-commerce […]

• Charles Kauffman
• March 27, 2018

Alibaba to invest heavily in logistics over the next five years

In what appears to be a shift away from an asset-light logistics model heavily reliant on third-party partners, China-based Alibaba Group Holding Limited announced plans to invest US $15.2 billion over the next five-years – with the ultimate aim of fulfilling domestic orders within 24 hours, and global orders within 72 hours. Its first major […]

• Charles Kauffman
• September 28, 2017

SF Express Airlines opens new hub at Shanghai Pudong

Following the recent termination of CAAC restrictions which had for months blocked Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) from launching new flights, SF Express Airlines seized the opportunity to bring China’s most populous city into its rapidly expanding air freight network. A new 25,000 sq. meter airside terminal will allow SF to connect its expansive ground […]

• Charles Kauffman
• July 13, 2017

China Eastern to fuel JD.com’s own-operated air freight network?

This week, China Eastern Airlines (CEA) and China’s number-two e-commerce player (after Alibaba’s Taobao), JD.com entered into a strategic partnership to “leverage each other’s resources” to strengthen their joint logistics capabilities. As would be expected, China Eastern Airlines’ key resource on offer is its airlift capacity, while JD’s is its e-commerce platform and last-mile delivery […]

• Charles Kauffman
• June 29, 2017

Cainiao and SF come to blows over data control

Last Thursday, SF Express’ daily parcel volumes reportedly fell by one million units after a spat with Alibaba-affiliated Cainiao resulted in SF becoming temporarily de-listed as a service provider option within Cainiao’s logistics platform. This time around, the operational disruptions were short-lived. Following mediation by China’s Postal Bureau, the two companies resumed business as normal […]

• Charles Kauffman
• June 7, 2017

YTO Express acquires OTEL to use as springboard for international expansion

On 8 May, Shanghai-headquartered courier, YTO Express announced its intention to acquire a 61.87% stake in Hong Kong-based forwarder and logistics specialist, On Time Logistics (OTEL), and establish its international business headquarters in Hong Kong. The acquisition will support YTO’s efforts to go global by leveraging OTEL’s international business expertise, global network of 52 offices […]

• Charles Kauffman
• May 17, 2017