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UK’s East Midlands Airport closes in on pandemic-era record

By
Chris Lewis
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East Midlands Airport (EMA) moved 413,664 tonnes during the 2025/6 financial year (April 2025 to March 2026) – the highest total since the global Covid pandemic when freight peaked 448,000 tonnes.

It said that the 12.5% increase – 46,000 tonnes up on the previous year – represented over a third of all air cargo growth in the UK.

The pandemic supercharged EMA’s cargo operation as it played a crucial role to keep goods including vital pharmaceuticals. Since then, cargo has dipped but remained above pre-pandemic levels. It said the latest results show the airport’s recent cargo growth is bringing it close to its busiest-ever period.

With DHL, UPS and FedEx already using EMA, the welcomed seven new operators in the last half of 2025.

The airport has invested in extra stands for cargo aircraft and developed new larger gatehouses. Handler Swissport has moved into a larger facility to meet increased demand and a new handler, YunExpress, has recently opened a new facility.

Last year, EMA unveiled plans to develop four sites near the runway for cargo operations to meet an expected 54% rise in demand in the coming two decades.

Despite this growth, the number of freight aircraft movements has gone down by 3.1% to just above 60,000 annual movements. This is driven by a drop in shorter flights to Europe, meaning larger aircraft are carrying more freight per flight on longer inter-continental routes.

East Midlands Airport’s commercial director, Adam Andrews said: “We’ve had a bumper year for cargo, bringing us back towards the previously unprecedented levels achieved during the pandemic when the operation was running flat-out. It’s great that we have built up to this being our new normal and is an encouraging sign for our long-term growth plans.

“We’ve been making sure that key players in the sector are aware of our unique proposition. Our strategic central location that gets goods quickly onto the road network, coupled with specialising in cargo-only aircraft and offering 24/7 access, offers certainty for time-critical businesses. This contrasts with other UK airports which mostly carry cargo on passenger planes, leading to slower turnaround times.”

Emirates launches weekly Dubai-Toronto freighter

By
Chris Lewis
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Emirates SkyCargo has launched a weekly freighter service between its Dubai hub and Toronto Pearson Airport. It departs Dubai World Central (DWC) at 07.10hrs local time on Fridays arriving at Amsterdam (AMS) at 12.15hrs local time. The flight then departs Amsterdam and continues to Toronto arriving at 16.55hrs local time. The return flight departs from Toronto airport at 19.15hrs local time on Fridays, arriving at Dubai World Central (DWC) at 16.15hrs on Saturdays local time. It offers 100 tons of capacity every week over and above belly hold cargo capacity on Emirates passenger flights.

Toronto Pearson chief commercial officer Kurush Minocher, said: “The launch of Emirates’ freighter service to Toronto Pearson is a significant milestone for our airport. As Canada’s largest air cargo hub, handling approximately 45% of the country’s total, we play a critical role in fueling the economy by connecting Canadian businesses to global markets. This new service provides shippers with direct, reliable access to one of the world’s most expansive cargo networks and reflects continued confidence in Toronto Pearson as a strategic gateway for global trade.”

The service is expected to boost exports of commodities such as pharmaceuticals, fresh produce, electronics and components.

Saudia signs deal to enhance medical supply chain

By
Chris Lewis
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Saudia Cargo has launched an initiative with the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) to enhance supply chains for pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. The initiative includes facilities and a price reduction of up to 50% on shipping costs.

It is expected to lower shipping costs for medicine importers and ensure the uninterrupted flow of these essentials.

Saudia Cargo’s facilities have a range of IATA CEIV Pharma and CEIV Fresh certifications.

Swissport to take majority stake in Atlantic island handler

By
Chris Lewis
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Swissport is to acquire a majority stake in CV Handling, the main ground handling provider at seven airports in Cabo Verde (Cape Verde) in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. It enhances the Swiss-based handler’s presence in Africa, where it already operates 30 stations in six countries. It was selected as the preferred bidder and purchaser of a controlling stake in CV Handling as part of a competitive privatization process led by the Cabo Verdean government.

My Freighter signs up ECS Group for cargo sales

By
Chris Lewis
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My Freighter signs up ECS Group for cargo sales

ECS Group has signed partnership with central-Asian carrier My Freighter, which launched operations in January. My Freighter operates a network of Boeing 767-300 aircraft from major European gateways including Liège, Maastricht, Basel, Tallinn, and Paris CDG, connecting directly to its Tashkent hub with onward connections to Central Asia, including Almaty.

ECS will market its capacity through its subsidiaries Globe Air Cargo France, the Netherlands and Belgium.

ECS Group chief executive, Jean Ceccaldi, said: “Within weeks, we activated multiple European markets and generated tangible commercial momentum. This is not about representation, it is about delivering measurable revenue and competitive positioning at speed.”

AfA condemns capacity cuts

By
Chris Lewis
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The Airforwarders Association (AfA) has criticized the Federal Aviation Administration’s decision to cut hundreds of flights a day at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, a move which it says reflects long-standing failures to invest in aviation infrastructure and air traffic control.

The FAA has ordered airlines to reduce operations at O’Hare to 2,708 daily flights during the summer season, down from more than 3,000 planned peak-day movements to reduce delays and congestion at one of the busiest cargo and passenger hubs in the US.

AfA executive director, Brandon Fried, said: “This is not a surprise, it is the consequence of years of underinvestment in airport infrastructure and a failure to adequately staff the air traffic control system. When demand outpaces what the system can safely handle, the result is disruption, reduced capacity, and higher costs that ripple across the supply chain.”

AfA warned that the cuts would constrain air cargo capacity, increase delays, and add further pressure to already strained supply chains, particularly for time-sensitive shipments.

It also reiterated its call for an immediate resolution to the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown, warning the situation is approaching a critical point for aviation security. More than 780 Transportation Security Administration officers have resigned during the shutdown and funding for the twice-monthly payroll is expected to end in early May.

“While aviation security remains robust, the longer-term impact of workforce disruption is real,” said Fried. “We urgently need a resolution that restores stability, including a sustainable, long-term approach to pay for Transportation Security Administration personnel.”

AfA is calling on federal authorities to take coordinated action to address the issues.

Eithad goes double daily to Chicago

By
Chris Lewis
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Etihad Airways is to increases services from its Abu Dhabu hub to Chicago to double-daily , while Charlotte will increase to from four times a week daily flights from 15 June until 8 September.

The enhancements significantly expand Etihad’s US footprint.  Both routes will be operated by Etihad’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

The carrier offers a range of connections at Abu Dhabi including 11 gateways across India –as well as Asia-Pacific destinations such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Manila.

Aerospace logistics at your fingertips

By
Chris Lewis
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Aerospace logistics company B&H Worldwide has launched a Case Study Library.

The new library (available at https://bhworldwide.com/case-studies/) is a digital compendium of the company’s specialist capabilities. It features a diverse range of real-world scenarios, including critical Aircraft on Ground (AOG) logistics, time-sensitive Onboard Courier (OBC) assignments, complex aircraft engine shipments and large-scale international helicopter transport.

It also includes B&H’s aircraft parts warehousing and the intricate logistics involved in aircraft teardown projects.

The digital architecture and integration of the library were led by B&H Worldwide’s digital marketing manager, Darren Lim who said: “Our goal was to create a seamless, user-centric platform that allows our customers and partners to easily navigate the breadth of our global operations. This library is more than just a collection of stories; it is a high-performance digital tool that reflects the innovation and technical precision we apply to our physical logistics services every day.”

The editorial development and curation of the technical content within the library were managed by content marketing manager, Kevin Casey Goh who added: “Aerospace logistics is a highly specialised field where precision is paramount. By documenting our successes in engine movements, teardown logistics and urgent AOG responses, we are providing transparent evidence of our expertise. These case studies provide a behind-the-scenes look at how we solve the industry’s most demanding logistical challenges through meticulous planning and a deep understanding of aviation requirements.”

“Aerospace logistics demands the highest level of precision and expertise and that’s exactly where we thrive,” said Goh. “Every engine movement, teardown logistics and AOG response is a testament to the planning, skill and quick thinking our team brings to the table. These case studies provide a behind-the-scenes look at how we tackle aviation’s most complex logistical challenges and we want our clients to see firsthand the depth of expertise B&H Worldwide delivers.”

Ethiopian to fly freighters from Hong Kong to Prestwick

By
Chris Lewis
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Glasgow Prestwick Airport has secured three new weekly cargo flights from Hong Kong, operated by Ethiopian Airlines. The service will operate on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, to handle increasing e-commerce volumes.
The airport already handles 15 flights to and from mainland China and earlier this year celebrated its 25 millionth e-commerce parcel.
Business Development Director, Nico Le Roux, said: “New routes to South Korea and Vietnam also give Scottish exporters more direct access to high growth markets and a more efficient routing model for global logistics partners.
Scottish salmon exporters, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, and other perishable industries benefit from Prestwick’s dedicated cool chain facilities and specialist import and export services.

United and partners deliver aid to stricken Hawaii

By
Chris Lewis
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United Cargo, humanitarian aid organization Airlink and US-based charity Good360 have delivered relief supplies to thousands of people affected by the Kona Low storms in Hawaii.

On April 10, a United Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner left Chicago O’Hare International Airport bound for Kahului Airport with tons of essential items such as generators, baby wipes and hygiene supplies.

United managing director – cargo, Americas, Chris Busch, said: “When disaster hits, the speed at which emergency aid supplies are brought in, is crucial to mitigating further consequences. Our long-standing partnership with Airlink Inc. means that we now have a well-orchestrated response process whenever crisis occurs. United Airlines ensures that the cargo capacity is made available and supplies are quickly built up, cleared for transport, and loaded.”

Airlink president and chief executive, Paloma Adams-Allen, added: “Critical shipments are reaching families in Hawaii faster and more efficiently thanks to United generously airlifting the cargo we coordinated with Good360. This shipment of generators and baby wipes will make a tangible difference for affected families.”

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