AfA chief Brandon Fried to bow out

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February 16, 2026

Airforwarders Association (AfA) executive director, Brandon Fried will retire at the end of the year, following a long-planned decision announced to members at the Airforwarders Association General Meeting on 16 February.

The Board of Directors has employed an executive search consultant to recruit the new leader and an appointment is expected toward the end of the year.

During the transition period, Fried will continue to carry out his responsibilities in full, leading the AfA’s advocacy, policy engagement, and member activities until his successor has been appointed.

Fried was elected chair of the board of directors in 2001 and has served as Executive Director since 2005, increasing the number of corporate members to more than 225.

Blueberries to the Big Apple

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Chris Lewis

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February 16, 2026

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Air Charter Service was called upon to move over 400 tons of blueberries from Peru to New York late last year.

The main blueberry harvest in one of the world’s top exporters peaks sharply in September and October, too much for regular passenger belly capacity to handle, especially on the Lima to New York route.

When a supplier’s yield exceeded the expected capacity ACS was asked to arrange the urgent transportation of 440 tons to New York over two weeks.

Chief executive of ACS São Paulo, Ana Benavente, said that perishable cargo rarely flies on full charters, but the sheer volumes dictated that they were needed this year. ACS sourced four Boeing B747-400Fs, , each with 110 tons on board, with a few days.
An ACS team member team flew with the first aircraft to ensure everything ran smoothly, and coordinated with the warehouse when the aircraft arrived, to ensure the cargo was properly broken down and successfully delivered to the trucks as quickly as possible.

Alaska signs GSSA deal for Rome route

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Chris Lewis

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February 16, 2026

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Alaska Airlines has signed a general sales and service agent (GSSA) partnership with Global GSA Group ahead of its late-April launch of flights from Rome-Fiumicino to its Seattle hub. Global GSA will develop the airline’s cargo business out of Italy and position Seattle as a key air gateway to North America and beyond.

Daily Boeing 787-9 flights will offer connections via Seattle to over 100 destinations across the US, Asia Pacific, South Pacific and Latin America. for commodities such as aircraft spare parts, high fashion and accessories, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals or machine parts.

Global GSA chief executive Aytekin Saray, said: “Rome-Seattle is a particularly attractive routing as it offers an additional, direct service into the Pacific Northwest and beyond, for the great variety of high value, special goods that Italy exports.”

Alaska Airlines is the fifth largest airline in the US and the 15th largest worldwideserving over 115 destinations.

Royal Air Maroc eyes LA as it celebrates 45 years in US

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Chris Lewis

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February 16, 2026

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Morocco’s national carrier, Royal Air Maroc Cargo, celebrated 45 years of service in the US on 16 February.
It entered the market in 1979 with a Casablanca–New York (JFK) route.
Today, Royal Air Maroc Cargo’s US operations account for nearly 90 percent of its transatlantic volumes
Its gateway distribution in the US is led by JFK (65%), followed by Miami (10%) and Washington Dulles (25%).
The carrier connections via Casablanca to Morocco and over 30 African destinations, as well as Europe, Turkey, and Brazil, adding that its location and optimized transfers shorten lead times by up to 24 hours compared to European or Gulf hubs. Nearly 10% of its shipments to the US originate from West Africa.
Cargo carried includes perishables, pharmaceuticals and industrial products, along with Moroccan handicrafts destined for hotels or private residences.
Globe Air Cargo, part of the ECS Group, represents the carrier in the US.
Vice-president cargo, Rita Chraibi, said: “Looking ahead, we are studying expansion to Los Angeles to enhance our North American footprint and focusing on strategic segments such as perishables and GDP-compliant pharmaceuticals. As we plan to quadruple our fleet by 2037, our US operations will remain central in linking North America, Africa, and the world.”

Belgian gateway says it with 13,850 tonnes of flowers

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Chris Lewis

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February 16, 2026

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Valentine’s Day represents one of the most demanding logistics peaks of the year for the global flower industry, and CargoLand by LGG is once again fully mobilised to ensure seamless flows during this critical period.

Each year, hundreds of tonnes of fresh flowers arrive within a matter of days, requiring flawless coordination, strict temperature control and absolute reliability. At this scale, speed, temperature control and coordination make all the difference. Built around a cargo-first, 24/7 operational model,

Liege’s CargoLand hub says it handled 13,850 tonnes of flowers during this year’s four-week Valentine’s campaign, supported by 45 additional charter flights on top of regular scheduled operations.

Preparation for the big day started well in advance with ground handlers, freight forwarders, trucking companies, airlines and public authorities brought together to anticipate volumes, staffing needs and regulatory changes, including updated phytosanitary procedures and new regulatory requirements.

CargoLand said this ensured that sufficient human and technical resources were in place to absorb peak demand.

The majority of the flowers originated from Kenya, Ecuador, Colombia, Ethiopia and Latin American gateways such as Quito and Bogota. Fast airside-to-warehouse transfers and dedicated cold-chain infrastructure played a decisive role in protecting quality, with ULD-compatible cold rooms maintained at 2–8°C and contingency capacity available at all times.

Real-time visibility through digital tools, continuous coordination between handlers and truckers, and priority treatment allowed CargoLand to handle hundreds of tonnes per day while keeping dwell times to a minimum.

Air Canada Cargo tops $1 billion

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Chris Lewis

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February 13, 2026

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Air Canada said on 13 February that its Cargo division surpassed $1 billion in revenue in 2025. The figure was driven largely by the success of the freighter network strategy and a 28% increase in year-over-year digital bookings, it added.

Vice president, cargo, Jon Turner, said: “Surpassing $1 billion in annual revenue is a significant milestone, and underscores Air Canada Cargo’s position as a global leader in air freight. As we look ahead, we will continue investing in innovation, operational excellence, and strategic partnerships to unlock even greater opportunities for our customers and for global trade.

In 2025, Air Canada Cargo further expanded its interline partnership with Emirates SkyCargo. Strong sixth freedom traffic from Latin America, as well as an 86% increase in sixth freedom volumes on key market pairs cent, year-over-year, improved revenue diversification.

SAF powers South American flowers

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Chris Lewis

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February 13, 2026

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Kuehne+Nagel, LATAM Cargo, and The Elite Flower have carried out their largest SAF-based operation to date in Latin America, reducing about 300 tonnes of CO₂e linked to the transportation of more than 495 tonnes of flowers, or about 10 million stems Bogota to Miami for Valentine’s Day.

Kuehne+Nagel sustainability manager for Latin America, Ana San Carlos, said: “Collaborating with our partners generates and drives positive and innovative changes in important industries like perishables and air logistics, where reducing carbon emissions is essential. We are proud of the continued commitment to expand this initiative year after year and to inspire more stakeholders in Latin America and globally to continue advancing decarbonisation initiatives in our supply chains.”

VP of sustainability and product at LATAM Cargo Group, Cristina Oñate, added: “This agreement stems from a shared conviction: managing emissions from the aviation industry requires multiple solutions and, above all, collaboration. Together with our customers, we have taken another step towards more sustainable aviation by applying the environmental benefits of using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in the flower supply chain. The initiative demonstrates how reducing emissions further enhances the speed and reliability of air transport, which is key for fresh products such as flowers.”

Alvaro Camacho, logistics manager at The Elite Flower, commented : “We export nearly 40 million stems through LATAM Cargo, an operational challenge that we undertake with a commitment to doing it in an increasingly responsible way. The incorporation of SAF into our logistics processes enables us to advance in reducing the carbon footprint of air transport, without compromising the quality or timeliness of our flower deliveries. This type of initiative reflects our contribution to a more sustainable floriculture industry, where operational efficiency and environmental care go hand in hand.”

Liege reopens revamped Vet Center

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Chris Lewis

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February 12, 2026

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Liege’s CargoLand arm has officially inaugurated its newly renovated VetCenterfor the sanitary inspection and quarantine of live animals transiting the airport.

The Belgian gateway’s facilities now include fully equipped inspection zones and an isolated quarantine area, enabling veterinarians to manage animals requiring observation or additional testing without interrupting ongoing operations. This configuration allows parallel processing of multiple consignments while maintaining strict biosecurity and operational continuity.

CargoLand’s live animal facilities also include the Horse Inn, capable of accommodating up to 12,000 horses per year.

Trump tariffs hit forwarders hard

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Chris Lewis

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February 10, 2026

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Some 83% of respondents to a survey of Airforwarders Association (AfA) members said that they had seen reduced shipping volumes from clients as a direct result of new US import tariffs.

They said the tariffs required changes to their clients’ supply chains and shipping routes, while nearly half reported increased operational costs and administrative workload.

They also cited customs delays, airport congestion, reduced flight schedules, and inconsistent security and documentation processes as compounding the impact of tariffs on day-to-day operations.

The AfA said it will use the survey findings to inform its advocacy on Capitol Hill and with industry stakeholders.

Executive director, Brandon Fried, said: “Last year was defined by instability, with shifting trade policy, new tariffs, and changing security and compliance requirements, making it difficult for forwarders and their customers to plan with confidence.

“These results underline the need for more stable, predictable policymaking to provide businesses with the confidence to invest, plan capacity, and make longer-term supply chain decisions.”

TIACA director general, Glyn Hughes, added: “The survey results reflect the reality that current US trade policy is creating. The weaponization of tariffs to punish countries that don’t align to current US positions has caused pain and uncertainty. This has generated a global focus on a US- plus-one strategy when it comes to consumption markets. The ending of the de minimis exemptions from duties and tariffs has also had a negative impact.”

Kuehne+Nagel signs deal for more Frankfurt space

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Chris Lewis

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February 9, 2026

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Kuehne+Nagel has signed a lease agreement with Fraport AG for a new 7,600sq m air cargo facility in CargoCity South at Frankfurt Airport. Completion and handover are set for the end of 2028.

The layout features 16 gates and truck docks and has been awarded a German Sustainable Building Council gold standard certification. Besides LED lighting, heat pumps, EV charging stations, and smart metering, a large photovoltaic system will also be installed on the roof to generate renewable energy for the airport grid. The new facility brings Kuehne+Nagel’s total footprint in CargoCity South to over 20,000sq m.