Air Charter Service’s IATA-accredited Next Flight Out (NFO) offering increased shipments by 175% in 2025 compared with 2024. NFO provides a more versatile and cost-effective solution than onboard courier OBC as it allows for larger shipments that are unaccompanied by a passenger and with recent supply chain disruptions is used by a wide array of industries. However, its OBC, or hand-carry, team also increased jobs by 85% last year, the most the division has dealt with in a year since it was launched ten years ago. ACS has a ground transportation department in the US, which has also grown, with 53% more bookings last year.
ACS Time Critical chief executive Robert Alleman, added: “We brought in the experienced Ash McCook a little under 18 months ago, who has a background in urgent logistics, which started in the armed forces more than 15 years ago – his focus on the NFO offering and team has really paid dividends.”
Next Flight Out storms ahead at ACS
Keeping it cool in Basel
Swissport has handled over 1,000 temperature-controlled containers at its cool+connect facility at EuroAirport Basel–Mulhouse–Freiburg, opened in February 2025. It reflects strong growth in pharmaceutical volumes and Basel’s role as a key gateway for life science air cargo.
Swissport says it has optimized the handling of +2 to +8°C shipments by consolidating them directly at the airport to be loaded into Active Cooltainers, maintaining the cool chain. It also eliminates off-airport trucking loops, reduces handling times by around 70% and materially lowers CO₂ emissions.
Kale to speed perishables through Bogota gateway
Cold chain forwarding specialist GAL Aviation has implemented Kale Logistics’ (Kale) Airport Cargo Community System to schedule cargo deliveries t at El Dorado International Airport in Bogota, Colombia.
GAL Aviation says the platform will strengthen collaboration among exporters, freight forwarders and transporters through structured appointment scheduling, improving cargo flow, reduced waiting times and better shipment visibility.
It has invited exporters, shippers, and logistics partners to complete their registration on the ACS platform to ensure a smooth transition.
GAL chief executive Juan Pablo Luchau, said: “This initiative will help improve coordination throughout the logistics chain while strengthening the sector’s overall performance and competitiveness. We have already begun pilot testing at Bogotá’s El Dorado Airport, where a tool of this technological caliber is indispensable given the complexity of the station.”
Kale president and chief executive Amar More added: “Today, airports require smarter digital ecosystems to manage growing cargo volumes and complex interactions among multiple stakeholders.”
US forwarders in turmoil over Mideast crisis
Most Airforwarders Association members are experiencing disruption from the conflict in the Middle East, while half report increased costs, according to a survey.
It found that more than three quarters are facing some level of disruption, with 29% reporting significant impact and 38% moderate impact.
Cost pressures are also rising, with more than two thirds of respondents reporting measurable increases, including 27% citing significant increases and 41% moderate increases.
Members reported volatile rates, flight cancellations, capacity constraints, and longer transit times as, alongside growing customer service pressures and space embargoes.
AfA executive director Brandon Fried, said: “Forwarders are adapting in real time, but they need a stable operating environment to keep goods moving efficiently. This data shows a sector under sustained pressure from global events beyond its control, with disruption, cost inflation, and uncertainty compounding daily operational challenges.” AfA is also calling for a resolution to the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, which has been ongoing since February 13, and for policymakers to prioritise payment of Transportation Security Administration personnel to avoid further disruption to aviation operations.
Hactl is in the loop for plastic recycling
Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) – reports that it has become the first air cargo terminal in the world to roll out 100% recycled plastic sheets.
It has been driving toward a fully recycled solution since first adopting the material in 2022, and, in collaboration with the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute, has now developed 100% closed-loop recycled plastic sheets using its own waste.
Hactl says this is a scalable and applicable solution for the wider industry.
Chief sustainability officer, Amy Lam, said: “Our existing plastic sheets already contained 30-50% recycled material, but we wanted to accelerate our full transition to the circular economy and bring tangible benefits to industry and society at large, and the new 100% closed-loop recycled plastic sheets enable us to achieve that goal.”
As a major air cargo handler in Hong Kong, Lam says Hactl is in an ideal position to influence the type of material used in wrapping aircraft pallets, driving the achievement of far better recycling rates: “We believe there is huge scope to improve the air cargo industry’s performance in this area. By incorporating a higher proportion of recycled content into our plastic sheets, we can achieve closed-loop recycling, significantly reduce the carbon footprint of our industry and keep thousands of tonnes of non biodegradable plastic out of our landfills.”
Flowers are faster with us, says Maastricht
Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST), the Netherlands’ second-largest airfreight gateway, says it processes flower cargo up to twice the speed of other airports in Europe.
Data collected in 2025 shows that flowers entering Europe via MST reach their final destination in half the time, on average, compared to similar shipments travelling through other European airports.
Flower cargo at is handled in an average of 3 hours, compared to 3.5 and 6.5 hours at other airports. During peak periods, MST achieves handling times of 2-4 hours, whereas at other gateways this can increase to 7-10 hours.
Four firths of flower shipments via MST reach the Aalsmeer auction before closing on the same day.
MST invested in monitoring technologyin 2025 to improve the quality and lifespan of sensitive cargo passing through the Dutch cargo hub.
Head of commercial development, Dean Boljuncic, said: “Handling time is a decisive factor in the quality and shelf life of flowers. Every minute flowers are exposed to higher temperatures shortens their lifespan. This data shows that MST consistently needs less time to process delicate cargo, thereby reducing value loss across the supply chain.”
Crisis? What crisis? Etihad launches Charlotte service
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways shrugged off the turmoil raging in the Middle East to launch a new service to Charlotte Douglas International Airport on 20 March, operated by Airbus A350-1000. The new service connects North Carolina to Etihad’s global network and offers freight connectivity to key destinations across India and Asia.
KLN signs rescue pact with Hong Kong Fire Service
KLN Logistics Group signed a memorandum of understanding with the Hong Kong Fire Services Department on 20 March to provide logistics support for international rescue operations.
They will establish supply hubs across KLN’s global network, with smart equipment to streamline planning procedures and jointly develop an AI-driven adaptive model to support local rescue operations. KLN will ensure precise tracking and resource control and support post-mission analysis to optimise resource use, alongside KLN’s devanning and replenishment services for future deployments.
DHL steps up to meet data center demand surge
DHL has expanded its North America data center logistics (DCL) infrastructure with 10 dedicated warehouses totaling more than 7 million square feet of capacity set to go live in 2026. Designed for operators racing to deploy new capacity, they will offer white‑glove handling, rack configuration services, and specialized warehouse‑to‑site transportation.
White‑glove handling ensures servers, power modules, and networking systems are moved under tightly controlled conditions to prevent damage. Rack configuration services move critical integration and testing out of the live construction zone and into secure warehouse environments, reducing the need for complex on‑site operations and reducing the risk of installation delays. Specialized warehouse‑to‑site transport addresses the practical challenges of moving oversized or sensitive components through congested areas, active construction zones, or remote greenfield locations. By relocating critical work into controlled logistics hubs, operators can maintain build speed and safeguard high‑value infrastructure programs.
Global chief executive of DHL Supply Chain, Hendrik Venter, said: “We offer a single accountable partner that connects global supply flows with precise on‑the‑ground execution. That’s what keeps large‑scale data center projects on schedule and resilient. And this marks only the beginning of our group‑wide expansion in this fast‑growing sector. North America – home to more than 40% of the world’s data centers – is a first major step, with additional regions already scheduled for further capacity upgrades.”
Business as usual as ECS staff relocate
ECS Group says it relocated all personnel located in high-risk regions, particularly Dubai and Lebanon, to secure locations from the outset of the crisis. However, thanks to IT solutions developed in-house, the GSA’s teams were able to switch immediately to remote working mode, with no disruption to operations.
Partner airlines, including Middle East Airlines in Europe and Royal Jordanian in the United States meanwhile ensured flight continuity to deliver essential goods including pharmaceuticals and food.
With scheduled capacity full and significant shortfalls on certain routes, ECS Group set up targeted charter operations to meet urgent market needs.
IAG Group’s British Airways arm has meanwhile cancelled flights to Bahrain, Dubai, Tel Aviv, Amman until at least the end of May 31, Doha until late April 30 and Abu Dhabi until October due to safety concerns and airspace closures.
Virgin Atlantic has also cancelled services to Dubai and Riyadh for two weeks due to the crisis.