Air Cargo

It’s far from a surge of optimism, but shippers’ expectations on how much freight they move via land, sea and air in the coming months is the second highest in the past six quarters.

Lufthansa Cargo’s first Boeing 777 freighter will take off from Frankfurt, Germany, tonight, bound for New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, on its first scheduled flight.

The profitability of Asian carriers with major freighter fleets continues to be negatively impacted by the overhang of excess capacity, but the long-term outlook for air freight is “encouraging,” according to the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines.

The 50 largest transportation and logistics companies worldwide grew more slowly in 2012 as the global economy sputtered, increasing revenue only 2.6 percent compared with a more robust 8.4 percent combined growth rate in 2011.

Emirates Group boosted revenue by 13 percent in the first six months of its fiscal year, through Sept. 30, to $11.5 billion.

U.S. Sens. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.; Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.; and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., have introduced the Safe Skies Act to ensure that America’s cargo plane pilots...

AirBridgeCargo Airlines transported 92,000 tons of cargo in the third quarter of 2013, a 3 percent increase year-over-year...

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a proposed settlement with US Airways and American Airlines to resolve its lawsuit challenging their planned merger.

More than 10,000 people are feared dead after Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) caused widespread devastation in the central Philippines on Friday and Saturday.

International Airlines Group’s cargo revenue in the third quarter of 2013 slumped more than 14 percent year-over-year, almost double the decline in freight traffic.

Japan’s All Nippon Airways Co. (ANA) said that its international cargo volume rose for the seventh straight month in September on a year-on-year basis, increasing 5.8 percent to 49,999 tons.

Nippon Express Co., Japan’s largest international freight forwarder, said that its group net profit plunged 34.2 percent in the first half of fiscal 2013, which started on April 1, from a year earlier to ¥7.443 billion ($75.9 million) despite revenue growth.

AirBridgeCargo Airlines has increased its flights from Milan and Paris to Moscow.

The global air cargo market stabilized in September, inching up 0.5 percent year-over-year...

Japan Airlines Corp. (JAL) said on Oct. 31 that its group net profit tumbled in the first half of fiscal 2013, which started on April 1, from a year earlier, despite increased revenue from both passenger and cargo operations.

Japan’s ANA Holdings Inc., the parent firm of All Nippon Airways Co. (ANA), said on Oct. 30 that its group net profit nosedived in the first half of fiscal 2013, which started in April, from a year earlier, despite a jump in international cargo revenue.

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol handled 383,780 metric tons of cargo in the third quarter of 2013, increasing 2.6 percent compared with the same period in 2012.

TNT Express posted a 25 percent year-over-year decline in third quarter profit on 6.6 percent lower revenue...

TNT is determined to claw back ground lost in Asia during the protracted negotiations of its sale to UPS.

When “Captain Phillips,” Hollywood’s take on the April 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates on the Maersk Alabama, debuted on Oct. 11, it thrust the ocean shipping industry into the mainstream spotlight in a way no recent film has. But it’s certainly not the first film to do so, and it won’t be the last.

Blue Dart Express, India's leading air express and logistics services provider, reported a drop in net income but rise in revenue in its second fiscal quarter, which ended Sept. 30.

Alitalia, Italy’s national airline, averted bankruptcy after shareholders agreed to a €500 million ($675 million) government-led bailout, but European Union regulators could yet veto the deal.

IAG Cargo has opened a new pharmaceutical center at London Heathrow Airport, the latest step in the expansion of its Constant Climate service...

Lufthansa Cargo reported that an on-going decline in traffic continued to slow in September, falling just 0.8 percent from a year ago, following a 1.3 percent decrease in August.

The parent of American Airlines, AMR Corp., reported September cargo figures for its principal subsidiary, showing an increase to 146,690 million ton miles...

Alitalia, Italy’s national airline, risks bankruptcy and its fleet could be grounded within days as its financial crisis nears a tipping point.

AirBridgeCargo Airlines transported 223,732 tons of cargo in the first eight months of 2013, a 4 percent increase year-over-year.

The United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization’s member states have agreed to develop a global market-based measure for international aviation on climate change...

Etihad Rail, the United Arab Emirates’ national railway network developer and operator, has signed a memorandum of understanding with National Air Cargo...

International Airlines Group reported cargo traffic of 467 million metric-ton kilometers in September, down 7.2 percent from 503 million metric-ton kilometers of cargo in September 2012.

The global air cargo market continued its “modest” recovery in August, with traffic increasing 3.6 percent year-over-year, the International Air Transport Association said.

Japan’s All Nippon Airways Co. (ANA) said that its international cargo volume rose for the sixth straight month in August on a year-on-year basis, jumping 9.5 percent to 47,598 tons.

Atlas Air has entered into a contract with Astral Aviation to provide a Boeing 747-400 Freighter service between Europe and Africa.

DHL Express will increase its general average price throughout the Asia-Pacific region by about 5 percent, starting Jan. 1, 2014.

Gati has won its arbitration proceedings against Air India and will receive 268.2 million rupees towards claims, damages, interest and costs from the Indian airline.

Japanese containerized cargo exports will rise 3.0 percent in fiscal 2013, which started on April 1, to 5.176 million 20-foot-equivalent units (TEUs), amid a moderate recovery in the global economy, a Tokyo-based research firm predicted in a new report.

A weakening cargo market and economic slowdown in Asia will cut global airlines profit in 2013 by 8 percent to $11.7 billion, according to the International Air Transport Association.

IAG Cargo has plans to increase flights between London Heathrow Airport and Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, in order to cater to the city’s booming pharmaceutical industry.