Lufthansa Cargo christened the latest addition to its 777F freighter fleet Hola Argentina on 24 April.
D-ALFL continued the ‘Say hello around the world’ theme for the Lufthansa Cargo 777F fleet, highlighting Argentina’s connection to the global airfreight market. The cargo carrier has been flying to South America’s second-largest country from its Frankfurt hub since 1970. This summer, Lufthansa Cargo has increased its schedule with extra weekly flights to Buenos Aires and Curitiba and it also serves Viracopos, Montevideo, Buenos Aires and Curitiba.
Air Charter Service has opened a new office in Cologne, Germany its fourth in the country. Complementing its charter operations in Frankfurt and Munich, and its ACS Time Critical headquarters, also in Frankfurt, the office will be headed by Melanie Hentschel, who joined ACS more than three years ago, bringing a decade of experience in the industry. She said: “I’m excited to get going here in Cologne, the city in which I’ve spent most of my career. Together with Caroline we’re already looking to grow the team, over the coming months, and make Cologne another successful German ACS office.” Chief executive of ACS Germany, Caroline Werf, CEO commented: “We have been looking for some time at opening an office in Cologne – it’s a key hub for the aircraft industry in Germany. Not only are there a great deal of professionals in charter aviation in the city and the surrounding area, but both the headquarters for the German Aerospace Center (DLR), and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) are based here. ACS has always had a strong partnership with Cologne Airport and, with this new office, we are looking forward to even closer cooperation in the future.”
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, investment company Realterm and handler Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) officially opened the first new cargo facility at New York JFK airport in 25 years on 23 April.
The $270 million consolidated cargo handling center will consolidate operations from four separate cargo zones into a single modernized location. It is expected to improve service for high-value cargo such as pharmaceuticals, electronics and perishables.
Operated by WFS, JFK’s primary cargo handler, the 350,000-square-foot facility spans 26 acres and replaces two older facilities. It is the first step in the Port Authority’s broader redevelopment plans for the airport’s north cargo area to accommodate recent and future long-term cargo growth.
Consolidation of cargo facilities in the north area aims to reduce congestion, improve logistics flow, and free up land for future development needs at the airport.
JFK is the busiest US entry point for low-value international e-commerce packages, handling about one-quarter of all such incoming shipments, as well as a key high value international cargo hub. In 2024, it handled 1.67 million tons of cargo, a 5% increase from 2023 and 25% more than in 2019, making it the eighth-busiest cargo airport in the US and 21st globally.
Innovations at include an advanced truck dock management system to optimize the flow of goods in and out of the facility, with real-time scheduling, automated check-ins, and digital communication between drivers and dock operators. The system automatically allocates the most efficient doors based on the size, type, and contents of each delivery. It also ensures that trucks arrive only when a dock is available, greatly reducing wait times and on-site congestion.
The new consolidated cargo handling center includes 3,000 square feet of cooler space for goods requiring 2 to 8°C and 15 to 25°C environments, making it JFK’s first dedicated on-airport facility for temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals and perishables.
It also features electric forklifts, electric vehicle chargers, and an automated unit load device system to optimize power usage.
The project also exceeded its goals for participation by minority and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs), with more than 42% of construction contracts awarded to such firms. The new facility is expected to generate 100 permanent new jobs, with a priority on hiring from the airport’s surrounding community through ongoing and targeted local hiring events and outreach in partnership with the Council for Airport Opportunity and other workforce development organizations.
Kevin O’Toole, chairman of the Port Authority (which manages the city’s main airports as well as seaports) said: “We are in the midst of historic overhauls across all of our airports, and this new cargo center is yet more proof of the transformation that is underway. This new consolidated cargo center reduces truck congestion, lowers emissions and creates good-paying jobs, all while supporting the industries that power the region and the nation.”
“By replacing outdated facilities with a modern cargo center, we’re preparing for the future and improving efficiency and sustainability at JFK,” added Port Authority executive director Rick Cotton. “JFK plays a central role in global commerce, and this modern consolidated cargo center strengthens its position as a key gateway for high-value goods and international trade.”
“We are thrilled to see this project come to life as a showpiece for cargo operations not just at JFK, but for airports worldwide,” said David Rose, managing director of Realterm. “This modern and one-of-a-kind facility exemplifies what can be achieved through strong public-private partnerships and demonstrates Realterm’s commitment to creating infrastructure that meets the evolving needs of the air cargo industry while supporting local economic development.”
IAG Cargo, Qatar Airways Cargo and MASkargo are to launch a global cargo joint business, subject to regulatory approval.
The partners promise “a truly connected, more agile cargo network that will address the evolving needs of global trade and logistics”. They say it will offer a streamlined service, better connections, faster transit times, and new routing opportunities across their combined networks
The partners will also develop harmonised safety and security standards.
Qatar Airways chief officer cargo, Mark Drusch, said the agreement was “a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to redefine the global air cargo landscape. This agreement will bring together three strong players to offer unparalleled service and global connectivity, reinforcing our commitment to customer satisfaction and operational excellence.”
IAG Cargo executive officer, David Shepherd, Chief added: “This agreement is a testament to our history of bringing businesses together. With years of experience in forging successful collaborations, we understand the real value they bring. This joint business not only unlocks choice and opportunities for our customers but also enhances connectivity for the businesses and industries they serve, further strengthening the role air cargo plays in facilitating global trade.”
MASkargo chief executive Mark Jason Thomas, said: “This strategic collaboration marks a pivotal moment for MASkargo and the air cargo industry. We are excited to partner with Qatar Airways Cargo and IAG Cargo to deliver a new era of value and innovation to our customers. By leveraging our combined strengths and expertise, we will provide enhanced service offerings, expanded global reach, and cutting-edge solutions that address the evolving needs of the global market, ensuring greater efficiency and connectivity for our partners and customers .”
The carriers expect to implement the agreement in the near future, subject to first obtaining the necessary regulatory clearances.
DHL Express temporarily suspended deliveries of goods worth more than $800 to US private consumers on 20 April, citing concerns over increased customs checks. Business-to-business deliveries will continue, it said, but these may be subject to delays.
The express carrier says that customs checks on packages worth up to $2,500 have been tightened as part of President Trump’s ‘Liberation Day round of swingeing tariff increases announced on 2 April. This had resulted in a surge in the number of parcels requiring full customs clearance.
DHL adds that it will still deliver packages worth less than $800, which currently enjoy de minimus status in the US but this concession is set to end on 2 May.
México Cargo Handling is to digitise operations with Kale Info Solutions’ Cloud-based Galaxy air cargo community system.
The system will streamline export, import, and transit operations by digitising all shipment data and eliminating the risk of incorrect shipment data on paper copies.
Warehouses operators will use hand-held devices to make the entire cargo handling process paperless.
México Cargo Handling chief executive, Mathilde de Rocquigny (pictured, right with Amar More, president of Kale Info Solutions) said: “At Mexico Cargo Handling we are looking at digital innovation to provide better value to our customers. We are happy to partner with Kale on creating the right digital infrastructure at our facilities to become more efficient, sustainable, and provide better visibility to our customers.”
Emirates SkyCargo has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with AirAsia’s cargo partner, Teleport, to develop traffic to and from Southeast Asia, via Dubai.
The partners will work on initiatives including cargo interline options and block space agreements.
Teleport consolidates the bellyhold capacity of all AirAsia airlines, encompassing Malaysia-based AirAsia Berhad, AirAsia X Berhad, Indonesia AirAsia, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia X and AirAsia Cambodia, together with a fleet of three dedicated freighter aircraft and over 40 other partner airlines. The move expands Emirates SkyCargo’s reach into over 100 destinations in Southeast Asia.
Established in 2018, it claims the largest air logistics network in Southeast Asia, covering 80% of the region, moving everything from large palletised cargo to eCommerce parcels.
Teleport will benefit from Emirates’ network of over 145 destinations with a particular focus on Europe, Africa and the US.
In recent years, Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA) have been signed between the UAE and Malaysia, Indonesia and Cambodia, with Vietnam and Thailand expected to follow.
Emirates SkyCargo currently operates five freighters and 176 passenger flights per week to 11 destinations across the region. Further expansion is on the horizon with the upcoming launch of passenger services to Siem Reap, Cambodia and Da Nang, Vietnam in June 2025, both via Bangkok.
General sales and services agent (GSSA) 4RCargo has opened an office in Bratislava. The Warsaw-headquartered company has tripled its team in 18 months and invested in four offices, as well as developing shipper pick-up services, including trucking solutions direct from manufacturing premises across the region, avoiding the need to twice screen cargo transiting to the UK for flights.
Emirates SkyCargo is to deploy a dedicated weekly freighter from Dubai to Narita International Airport in Japan from 24 May. It will be the first direct, scheduled all cargo connection between Narita and the Middle East and will boost capacity between the two cities by 100 tonnes each way. Emirates SkyCargo already operates a twice weekly freighter to Kansai International Airport.
Narita International Airport is the largest air- or seaport in Japan, in terms of value of cargo handled, and, with further investment allocated to the ‘New Narita Airport’ Development Plan, is set to become the region’s foremost cargo hub by the end of the decade.
Meanwhile, handling company Dnata said it moved over 1 million tonnes of cargo through Dubai between April 2024 and March 2025 – the highest volume ever processed by the company in a 12-month period. A 30% year-on-year increase was driven by strong demand at both Dubai International (DXB) and Al Maktoum – Dubai World Central (DWC) airports, where Dnata currently serves more than 120 airline customers.
Texas-based carrier GTA Air has integrated air cargo charter software company Aerios’ Carrier App platform into its operations. It says it has achieved a 66% reduction in quoting time, faster client responses and enhanced quote accuracy. Integrating with flight planning software ensures quoted flight times reflect actual wind conditions and aircraft performance.
