FedEx has switched from downsizing to incrementally growing its air cargo fleet by ordering large 777 freighters and postponing plans to retire older MD-11 jets.
Air Transport Services Group had lackluster results in 2024 but hopes that leasing Airbus A330 freighters for the first time this year will improve the bottom line.
Canada’s Purolator is getting more efficient freighters for its feeder network in western Canada through its partnership with KF Aerospace.
Emirates SkyCargo has hired startup Compass Cargo Airlines to operate two Boeing 747-400 freighters in its global freight network.
Several freighter operators are flying new routes this year between Europe, Asia and the Middle East to meet increased customer demand.
Federal Express’ strategy for improving profitability and soft parcel volumes includes redeploying aircraft for daytime international flights to capture containerized cargo.
Air Canada bought two medium 767 cargo jets from Boeing last year with the goal of growing the cargo business, but changing economic factors have led the company to lease the planes to Ethiopian Airlines.
The air logistics sector has been riding high all year, but market watchers caution that growth in 2025 could slow sharply.
The air cargo market will double in size over the next 20 years, and express will be the industry’s main growth engine, Boeing said in a new forecast.
Delivery of replacement aircraft for five freighters recently retired by Avianca Cargo has been pushed back by six months or more, but the airline has still been able to maintain revenue levels.
The air cargo market has enjoyed a banner year, but the peak shipping season is less pronounced.
Amazon has added 21 Air to its roster of air cargo transport providers.
Air Transport Services Group said fewer aircraft in revenue service plus higher expenses led to a reduction in core operating profit during the third quarter, but the current quarter is expected to be better.
The company that produces A321 converted freighters is adding a production line in Japan on the expectation that cargo airlines in the region will need more standard-size freighters.
The strong air cargo market acted as a tailwind for Air Canada in the third quarter.
EFW, a company that specializes in passenger-to-freighter conversions, is shutting down its U.S. assembly plants because of shortages in skilled labor and other problems that have delayed delivery of large aircraft to Amazon.
WestJet Cargo is trying to find an alternative revenue stream after a new investment in four freighter aircraft didn’t meet revenue expectations.
Qantas has deployed a new Airbus A321 freighter, allowing it to offer more service options for customers in Oceania and Asia.
Three freighter operators are among the early adopters of an innovative aircraft coating inspired by sharks that makes aircraft more aerodynamic and fuel-efficient.
Air cargo professionals are bullish about the second half of the year as the traditional peak season approaches, but uncertainty remains about how the market will play out.
Cargojet’s domestic and international flying business posted solid gains in the second quarter thanks to e-commerce demand in Canada.
Magma Aviation, which charters aircraft under management control, has begun Middle East operations with two narrowbody cargo jets sourced from its parent company.
Air Canada has jettisoned two freighter aircraft from its fleet because there isn’t enough business to justify the cost.
Sun Country Airlines expects to double its cargo revenue once a revised transportation contract with Amazon is fully implemented in 2026.
FedEx is rebranding its cargo jets by erasing the Express descriptor to signify there are no longer separate Express and Ground operations, just One FedEx.
DHL is beefing up its aircraft maintenance capacity in Europe.
FedEx will fly fewer aircraft and go to fewer U.S. cities starting this fall after the U.S. Postal Service gave its primary air cargo contract to a competitor.
The Embraer E190 cargo jet is getting closer to commercial service after Brazil’s aviation authority signed off on the passenger-to-freighter conversion plan.
More than 100 Boeing 757s that underwent passenger-to-freighter conversions by Precision Aircraft Solutions need to be inspected and repaired to address the risk of cracking in an external component.
Airbus slightly trimmed its demand forecast for freighter aircraft but said airlines would need more large cargo jets than previously estimated. As if on cue, Emirates ordered more 777s from rival Boeing.
My Freighter is growing its fleet so it can be your freighter in the Asia-Europe region.
FedEx is cutting nearly 20% of its Boeing 757 cargo jets because of soft demand and efforts to modernize the fleet.
A Nippon Cargo Airlines 747-400 freighter operated by Atlas Air experienced a tire and landing gear failure at Hong Kong airport, blocking a runway for eight hours.
Maersk has ambitious plans for its dedicated cargo airline to become a major piece of its integrated logistics service, alongside its ocean container business.
FedEx will soon begin streamlining flight operations in line with changing market demand and a world in which it no longer is the prime contractor for the U.S. Postal Service.
DHL’s supply chain unit has invested nearly $100 million to set up an air line haul operation with the help of a local airline that will support logistics customers in Brazil.
Maersk is pursuing its air cargo ambitions with a new freight station in Miami and its first two Boeing 777 freighters.
The date for entry into service of two Alaska Airlines aircraft continues to slide because of problems with Boeing’s modification to a cargo configuration.
Amazon has deepened its relationship with Air Transport Services Group, agreeing to lease at least 10 widebody freighters for five years in exchange for rights to increase its ownership stake.
Bluebird Nordic had ambitious growth plans a year ago. Now the cargo airline is out of business.
Hawaiian Airlines won’t fly as many cargo jets for Amazon as expected this year because of supply issues and Amazon’s timing preference for integrating aircraft into the fleet.
It’s not a great return on investment to acquire an aircraft and immediately ground it because demand is soft. But that’s what Saltchuk Aviation and its Alaska-based subsidiary Northern Air Cargo have done.
My Freighter, a fledgling carrier based in Uzbekistan, began leasing a third widebody freighter from Ohio-based Air Transport Services Group.
FedEx Express has parked more freighters, reduced aircraft capex and is integrating its daytime freighter network with the Freight segment’s less-than-truckload operation to provide linehaul connecting the U.S. and Europe to boost efficiency.
A DePaul University report says Amazon’s air logistics unit is increasing efficiency by adopting a hub-and-spoke operating system for its cargo jets and airport locations.
Airbus for years has operated whale-shaped cargo jets to support its manufacturing operation in Europe. Now it has dedicated a portion of its fleet to haul extra-large shipments for external customers.
Air Transport Services Group is taking a more conservative approach to fleet expansion until the air cargo market picks up and customers start leasing additional freighters.
Canadian operator Cargojet sharply scaled back fleet investments last year to stabilize the bottom line but reports the Q4 upturn in air cargo business carried over to the new year.
FedEx has more cargo jets than it needs for its express package network. Some of those planes will now be used to try and capture a larger share of the general cargo market. In doing so, FedEx will go head to head with all-cargo carriers like Atlas Air, Cathay Pacific and Nippon Cargo Airlines.
New owners have taken control of troubled Amerijet, which is scuttling several aircraft leases and laying off more workers to preserve cash.
Japan Airlines is restarting its freighter division after 13 years and will fly three 767s exclusively for DHL.
Air China Cargo is adding Airbus freighters to its fleet after previously operating Boeing jets.
Turkish Airlines said it plans to buy five large freighters from Airbus.
Cargo airline Amerijet is operating fewer aircraft to conserve money as shipping demand from major customers shrinks.
Cargojet wants to dump eight aircraft that were part of of its growth strategy and postpone converting two more aircraft into cargo jets as the weak cargo market shrinks profit margins.
Air Transport Services Group is slowing investment in converted freighters as a weak shipping market leads cargo airlines to pause fleet expansion.
The freighter conversion business is slowing down, but there remains residual momentum from carriers such as IndiGo.
Air Canada said it is taking a slower approach to adding cargo jets because there isn’t enough demand now to justify the investment.
Amazon Air is downsizing operations at Leipzig/Halle International Airport.
DSV is a logistics company, not an airline, but it is strategically adding freighters it controls through long-term leases based on demand in certain lanes.
Hawaiian Airlines hopes to parlay its advantage operating A330 jets into a larger air transport partnership with Amazon.
Too many freighter aircraft, especially single-aisle passenger conversions, are entering the market and lowering lease rates. But production continues to hum because cargo operators need more aircraft over the long term to support e-commerce growth and replenish aging fleets.
Amazon’s private airline that outsources cargo flying to third parties has ended its partnership with Silver Airways, a small regional carrier that operated five small ATR72-500 turboprop planes on small feeder routes, FreightWaves has confirmed. Silver Airways, a privately held regional airline based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, that operates passenger service in the Southeast, the […]
Mexico is kicking out freighter aircraft from the country’s busy international airport to address overcrowding. The move to another airport is creating headaches for airlines.
FedEx is downsizing its fleet again during the next 12 months to match weak international and domestic package shipping demand, and save money.
Cargo airlines and third-party logistics providers are crossing their fingers for a resurgence of air shipments by October. But indications are increasing that the peak season may go out with a whimper.
FedEx flight reductions reflect a significant drop in parcel traffic, throwing a wrench into management’s earnings expectations in the just-completed fourth quarter.
Airbus has reached another milestone with its young A330 passenger-to-freighter program.
Sun Country is bucking the trend of express carriers flying fewer hours because of slow shipping volumes. Its Amazon fleet is busy as ever.
Hawaiian Airlines faces more turbulent market conditions coming out of the pandemic than nearly any airline. On the bright side is a new charter contract with Amazon that will diversify the business.
Amerijet and Air Transport Service Group have hit milestones: Amerijet for growing its fleet to 25 aircraft and ATSG for leasing its first used freighter that was reconfigured for cargo by Boeing.
WestJet can’t catch a break when it comes to starting its new cargo airline. Service began Thursday but could shut down in less than a month if pilots go on strike.
FedEx said it aims to slash $700 million per year in costs through a massive overhaul of its air network, part of a larger corporate profitability initiative.
Ireland-based cargo group ASL Aviation is expanding to Australia with the acquisition of a FedEx contract carrier.
FedEx Express is aggressively scaling back air operations to save money as shipping demand crumbles.
Flight hours are a proxy for air cargo demand and the amount of time all-cargo aircraft are flying is falling.
Air Transport Services Group says its leasing business is insulating it from a market downturn that is impacting its cargo airlines.
EgyptAir has two interests in 737-800 freighters: flying them and rebuilding cargo versions from used passenger jets.
Chicago Rockford is moving into the major leagues of cargo airports with big expansion plans and the arrival of a global ground handling agent.
UPS is replacing MD-11s with more fuel-efficient Boeing 767 freighters as reducing costs and carbon emissions become increasingly important.
It’s the end of an era for the “Queen of the Skies.” Boeing will make its final 747 delivery on Tuesday, but cargo airlines could fly them for another 40 years.
Martinair, with the help of parent company Air France-KLM, is buying four new freighters from Airbus.
Air Canada is sticking with a Canadian, Jon Turner, as cargo chief after two Americans in that position left in recent years.
Amazon is still investing in its air cargo network despite cost cuts elsewhere in the company. Next up: India.
A new contract for pilots at Hawaiian Airlines is setting the bar for all-cargo carriers above traditional industry leaders even though the carrier has never flown freighters before.
Two Chinese logistics companies have started their own airlines and now have expanded their routes within China, and internationally.
A year ago, shippers were in scrums to find cargo space on airlines. The market has softened considerably and 2023 could see more declines before things get better.
Making money was more difficult for the air logistics sector in 2022, but the future remains bright.
FedEx Express is looking to trim fat at the largest cargo airline in the world and lean on rental fleets to fill in needs.
Air Canada is beefing up ground infrastructure as it develops a new fleet of freighters able to raise transport reliability for logistics customers.
Mediterranean Shipping Co. is moving up plans to inaugurate its air cargo airline, offering service between North America, Europe and Asia.
FedEx’s airline unit is taking down many flights to save money as it scrambles to counter a steep decline in shipping revenue.
Leasing companies are going bonkers converting used aircraft for cargo. As demand for air cargo cools, there could be a glut that lowers shipping rates.
Maersk is a giant in the ocean shipping industry. It is also heavily investing to grow its all-cargo airline.
In a major move, Amazon is acquiring 10 large freighter aircraft for long-haul international transport and hiring Hawaiian Airlines to fly them.
Aerospace engineering firm Mammoth Freighters hasn’t built one converted freighter yet but is already adding capacity to meet demand.
Air Canada is giving shippers more airfreight options in the Americas, thanks to a new converted freighter.
Cathay Pacific Cargo is sending cautionary signals about the peak shipping season but still wants new freighters from Airbus or Boeing.
Air Canada had a dual fleet but got rid of its cargo jets years ago. A pandemic epiphany led the airline to invest in 12 freighters.
Amazon is slowing down its air cargo expansion as online sales slow but putting more volume through its new Northern Kentucky hub.
