Chapman Freeborn has appointed Tyler Porteous as vice president of cargo – Canada. He brings more than 15 years of experience in air cargo and charter operations to the broker, having previously worked for one of the world’s largest freighter operators, where he was responsible for building and growing the charter division.
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Emirates adds Liège-Chicago to freighter network
Emirates SkyCargo has added Liège to its freighter network, the airline’s first new destination of 2026.
Emirates will deploy five weekly freighters, boosting available cargo capacity by 500 tonnes a week. Three will connect Liège with Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai to transport temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals. The other two freighters will originate in Hong Kong and carry e-Commerce shipments to and through Liege.
The Belgian gateway is one of the world’s fastest-growing cargo hubs. In recent years, Emirates SkyCargo has served it with ad hoc freighters, shipping specialised products such as fresh-cut flowers and e-Commerce packages, as well as dedicated charters for horses travelling to global competitions.
Medical samples travel – so you don’t have to
Brussels Airport has carried out the first test shipments of human cell and blood material for precision treatment for cancer and rare diseases on passenger flights to Dallas as part of the Precision Therapy Logistics Gateway (PTLG) project. The project means that patients in future will not need to travel themselves, which significantly increases accessibility of treatment.
PTLG aims to analyse how precision therapies can be transported safely and quickly and Brussels and its project partners aim to become the first airport to develop an internationally recognised standard for the air transport of these treatments. It is also exploring options for setting up a specialised logistics centre at the airport.
PTLG is a cooperation between Brussels Airport, Pharma.Aero, Air Cargo Belgium and the Antwerp ATMP ecosystem, at.las.
Since November, 10 test shipments of cell and blood samples have been sent from Brussels Airport to BioLabs Pegasus Park, a biotech cluster in with another 50 scheduled.
Precision therapies, including cell, gene and radioligand therapies, are personalised treatments for individual patients. They are highly sensitive, and require fast, reliable transport under strictly controlled conditions, including temperature and lead time.
Brussels Airport has extensive expertise and facilities for the transport of time and temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical goods, with 45,000sq m of temperature-controlled storage space.
Upon arrival at Brussels Airport, the test shipments go through customs control and are stored in a temperature-controlled zone while awaiting the flight. They are then transferred to the aircraft in refrigerated containers developed by the airport.
In Dallas, the material is transported to a laboratory at BioLabs Pegasus Park, where it undergoes a visual inspection before being returned to Belgium.
Sensors are used to monitor critical parameters such as lead times, temperature control and traceability and to identify potential risks and bottlenecks.
The results of the test project are expected in the first half of 2026. Based on these findings, the project partners, led by Air Cargo Belgium, will develop an internationally recognised standardised protocol for the logistics chain of precision therapies.
New year, new carrier for Saudi Arabia
New Saudi Arabia carrier Riyadh Air has launched cargo operations. Riyadh Cargo will offer belly-hold capacity on its wide-body aircraft, of which it has over 120 on order. Riyadh Cargo has already carried cargo between Riyadh and London Heathrow, including garments, textiles, fresh flowers, seafood, tea and coffee.
The carrier has partnered with CHAMPS’s Cargo spot-neo platform and has invested in digitally tracked unit load devices in partnership with Unilode.
Ground handling and hub management are delivered in partnership with SATS Saudi Arabia Company at key including Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah.
It also provides centralized airwaybill control, with round‑the‑clock access to AWB stock.
Riyadh Air plans to increase its fleet to over 180 aircraft and reach over 100 destinations by 2030.
Global Head of Cargo, Pravin Singh, said: “Launching within a live environment allows us to test, learn, and continuously refine how we operate, while delivering real value to our customers from the get-go. The launch of the brand is a foundational step in building a cargo business that grows alongside our network expansion and supports Saudi Arabia’s broader logistics ambitions.”
Snooki the sea turtle takes to the air with a little help from ACS
Air Charter Service was called on a wildlife rescue centre in North Carolina to get an injured creature to her new home. Snooki the sea turtle sustained a spinal injury several years ago, limiting her mobility and ruling out of a return to the wild. The rescue centre in North Carolina had been searching for a ‘forever home’ for her for some time, before a zoo in Minnesota fitted the bill – where she will enjoy a space almost 50 times the size of her previous home.
However, Snooki couldn’t be out of water for long and needed to be kept warm, so ACS sourced a Falcon 20F aircraft able to regulate the temperature through its internal heating system and ensured that heat packs and blankets were available onboard. It was crucial for her to be kept under moisture throughout the flight, so a handler travelled alongside her in the cargo bay with a hand sprayer, using the crew’s jump seat.
On the day of the charter, one of ACS’s New York team travelled to North Carolina to make sure the loading went smoothly. Snooki’s crate was carefully forklifted onto the aircraft and rigged with netting to give the handler access. Everything ran seamlessly and Snooki arrived in Minneapolis St. Paul Airport in good time, ready for her final short road trip before settling into her new home.
New group to tackle Miami congestion
The Airforwarders Association (AfA) has welcomed the launch of the Miami Air Cargo Association (MACA) and has pledged to work with it to help the air cargo community tackle challenges, including truck congestion, infrastructure efficiency, and operational resilience.
AfA executive director, Brandon Fried (pictured, third from left), said: “The Miami Air Cargo Association provides an important new platform for collaboration at one of the United States’ busiest cargo gateways. Working together, we will press for solutions to tackle truck congestion and stand up for the day-to-day operational needs of freight forwarders.”
The MACA has been established as a 501-C non-profit organization with full bylaws and an appointed board. Its president and director, Warren Jones (left), said: “The creation of the Miami Air Cargo Association gives our local industry a focused platform to connect, collaborate, and give back.
“We appreciate the Airforwarders Association’s willingness to partner with us on issues that directly affect day to day operations at Miami International Airport, and look forward to working with them.”
The MACA plans a program of five industry lunches in 2026, alongside a fall golf outing, a year-end holiday event, charitable initiatives, and the development of a scholarship program for members.
Steve Hughes takes the reins at Globe Air Cargo
ECS Group has appointed Steve Hughes as managing director for Globe Air Cargo (GAC) UK, replacing Michelle House, who retires at the end of this year after ten years with the company and 44 years in the industry.
Hughes joins Globe Air Cargo from Wexco Cargo GSSA after seven years as its managing director and, in a career that began in 1998, has worked for British Airways Cargo and Virgin Atlantic Cargo before moving to GSSA management.
He has been working alongside Michelle House since October 2025, to ensure a smooth transition.
Awery appoints two
Awery Aviation Software has appointed Christian Gessner as Business Development Manager and David Kerr as a consultant.
Gessner brings two decades of experience in air cargo, including the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and several aviation software providers.
Kerr (pictured, below) has spent almost a decade at American Airlines, before moving on to senior roles at Etihad Cargo and European Cargo.
North America drives Vienna growth
Vienna Airport achieved a record 313,763 tonnes of cargo handled in 2025, up 5.3% on the previous year. Key drivers were the targeted expansion of long-haul services with additional belly-hold capacity, as well as strong growth in the e-commerce and pharmaceutical segments. The Vienna Pharma Handling Center also recorded a new all-time high, exceeding the previous year’s result by 6.4%.
Traditionally a leading transshipment hub for goods from Asia, the Vienna Cargo Hub benefited particularly from growing volumes to North America.
In 2025, 167,568 tonnes of air cargo were imported via Vienna Airport and distributed to Central and Eastern Europe, up 2.8% compared with the previous record year in 2024 thanks to growing e-commerce volumes from Asia for Europe
Export side tonnages also increased significantly, particularly in the first half of the year, due to US customs policy, the total of 146,195 tonnes exceeding the previous year by 8.4%. Key export markets include Asia and the US.
Future Forwarding opens office in Farnborough, UK
Future Forwarding has expanded its UK presence with a branch in Farnborough. It will support air, courier, road, rail, sea, and e-commerce movements, led by regional director Patrick Loffler, supported by operations manager, Damien Walmsley.
Founded in the UK in 1977 as a privately-owned, independent logistics provider, Future Forwarding expanded into the US in 2001, with a headquarters in Atlanta. Additional value-added services include customs clearance, warehousing and distribution, cargo insurance, and an online customer portal for shipment tracking.