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

Aviastar-TU sees more 757Fs on the horizon

After taking delivery of a 757-200PCF (25731, ex-American Airlines) on-lease from New Zealand-based Airwork this month, Russia-based Aviastar-TU confirmed to Cargo Facts that it plans to add another freighter-converted 757-200PCF later this year, and possibly more in 2019. The carrier’s second 757-200 (25696) is already in conversion with Precision Aircraft Solutions at the Aersale facility in […]

• Caryn Livingston
• August 22, 2018

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