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Polmans to join handler Swissport

By
Chris Lewis
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Steve Polmans will join handling company Swissport as global senior vice president cargo in mid-November.

He was most recently an independent air cargo consultant, and before that was vice president business development at Abu Dhabi Airports, director of cargo and logistics at Brussels Airport Company, where he played a key role in developing BRUcargo into a leading pharmaceutical logistics hub. He was also the founding Chairman of Air Cargo Belgium and served as chairman of The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA).

In his new role, Polmans will lead Swissport’s global air cargo operations with a focus on developing and driving the global cargo strategy and enhancing commercial performance. He will be responsible for identifying key growth opportunities through both organic expansion and strategic mergers and acquisitions.

Chapman Freeborn opens Zhengzhou office

By
Chris Lewis
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Chapman Freeborn has opened an office in Zhengzhou – currently its sixth in China, alongside Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Shenzhen. It follows the recruitment of a team in September, led by Ms. Huizi Zhao (Bella Zhao), who has joined as manager for Central Greater China. Her responsibilities involve leading Chapman Freeborn’s charter and freight forwarding operations, driving commercial development, and ensuring high-quality delivery across the region.

Zhengzhou was chosen due to its strategic location and its proximity to Xinzheng International Airport, which has a strong track record in handling outsized, irregular, and heavy-lift cargo, as well as standard e-commerce parcels and express shipments.

Cargojet launches freighter service to Liege, Belgium

By
Chris Lewis
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Cargojet is to launch a direct B767-300 freighter service between Halifax, Canada and Liege Airport in Belgium from 1 November. It will operate initially once a week and will be integrated within Cargojet’s domestic overnight network, offering connections across Canada including Toronto, Hamilton, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, Winnipeg and Edmonton.

Cargojet provides time-sensitive air cargo services to all major cities across North America, including dedicated, ACMI, and charter services on a fleet of all Boeing aircraft.

In a joint statement, co-chief executives  Pauline Dhillon and Jamie Porteous,  said: “This service allows Cargojet to be at the centre of transatlantic trade, supporting the forwarder community’s evolving needs with faster transits, reliable service, and enhanced flexibility for shippers across both continents.”

FedEx pumps $126 billion into world economy

By
Chris Lewis
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FedEx contributed $126 billion in direct and indirect impact to the global economy in 2025, according to its annual Global Economic Impact Report. Produced in consultation with data and analytics company Dun & Bradstreet, the study demonstrates the impact FedEx has on businesses and communities around the world.

In FY25, FedEx directly contributed 0.3% to net economic output in Europe’s transportation, storage, and communications sector and indirectly contributed $2.8 billion to the region’s overall economy — including $870 million to its transportation, storage, and communications sector and $259 million to manufacturing. Together, the combined direct and indirect contributions from FedEx to Europe’s economy totalled approximately $11.1 billion.

FedEx also spent $8.5 billion with suppliers in Europe during calendar year 2024, 71% of which went to small businesses. Across the region, 86% of FedEx suppliers are small enterprises, underscoring the company’s commitment to supporting local entrepreneurship and supply chain resilience.

Other investments included the completion of an automated secondary sort facility in Memphis, a new Life Science Center in the Netherlands, a freight and parcel facility with advanced automation in Thailand, and a new international service station in Brazil.

President and chief executive, Raj Subramaniam, said: “For more than 50 years, FedEx has shaped global commerce by offering innovative shipping services that bring communities closer together. Our culture of innovation, paired with our team’s steadfast commitment to outstanding service and bold ideas, enabled the FedEx network to continue fueling worldwide progress this year through a rapidly evolving trade landscape and shifts in supply chains.”

fedex.com/economicimpact.

Turkish Airlines wins Chinese finance

By
Chris Lewis
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Turkish Airlines has completed a financing deal with Bank of China, for 2.9 billion Chinese Yuan (equivalent to US$412 million). It will support the airline’s core development, including fleet expansion, construction of new facilities and infrastructure projects at Istanbul Airport. 

Chicago Rockford adopts Belgian sister

By
Chris Lewis
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Chicago Rockford International (RFD) signed a sister airport agreement with Liege Airport (LGG) in Belgium at the Air Cargo South East Asia event in Singapore on 30 October. Under the deal, the two gateways aim to increase freighter traffic between the two airports, launch joint marketing and sales initiatives to attract new cargo operators and logistics partners and collaborate on operational and digital projects to streamline processes and enhance service quality.

Rockford executive director, Zachary Oakley, said: “Liege and Rockford are both cargo-centric airports with complementary strengths. This partnership formalizes our collaboration and sets the stage for exciting new opportunities.”

Liege vice president of sales and marketing of said Torsten Wefers, added: “This agreement is a testament to our shared vision for the future of air cargo. Together with Chicago Rockford International Airport, we are building a robust transatlantic corridor that will benefit shippers, carriers, and the global supply chain.”

Emirates flies freighter to Bangkok

By
Chris Lewis
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Emirates SkyCargo has deployed a weekly freighter from its Dubai hub to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. Thailand has invested significantly in innovation and is emerging as world leaders in next-generation automotive, smart electronics, medical and biotechnology and robotics.

Emirates SkyCargo has also boosted freighter frequency in and out of Hanoi, Vietnam to four-weekly services. and deployed a sixth weekly freighter to Guangzhou, China. The airline now serves 43 global destinations with its dedicated freighter fleet, 11 of which are in East and Southeast Asia.

Tariffs build cost, not resilience, forwarders’ chief tells Canadians

By
Chris Lewis
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Airforwarders Association (AfA) executive director Brandon Fried was warned that the US’s decision to impose an additional ten percent tariff on imported Canadian goods will drive up costs.

He told delegates at the Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFFA) annual conference in Toronto on October 29 that the measure would “punish American businesses and consumers more than it protects them,” and called for a pause on escalating trade barriers.

“Tariffs don’t build resilience; they build cost,” said Fried. “Every additional charge ripples through the supply chain, from warehouse floors to retail shelves. To encourage growth, we need smarter policy and more cooperation, not higher walls.”

Fried said higher tariffs risk derailing recent progress in restoring air cargo capacity, and urged policymakers to focus on predictable trade conditions that support long-term investment.

He also pointed to the role of innovation and infrastructure in sustaining growth.

“Artificial Intelligence is reshaping logistics, from forecasting to security screening,” he added. But its full potential depends on better data sharing between airlines, forwarders, and airports, with delivery of initiatives like the International Air Transport Association’s ONE Record being key.”

Fried added that Canada’s airports need greater investment in cargo infrastructure, calling it “a shared responsibility, with the industry leading on operations, and government supporting capital improvements.”

Chapman Freeborn poised to support Hurricane Melissa relief effort

By
Chris Lewis
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Charter specialist Chapman Freeborn says its Aviation Emergency Services team is ready to support emergency evacuations, first responder transport, and humanitarian aid deliveries to regions affected by Hurricane Melissa. The major storm reached Category 5 strength yesterday but has since weakened to Category 4 as it continues moving toward Jamaica, with recent projections indicating it will eventually approach Cuba and the Bahamas.

Senior vice president of sales, Americas, Aniko Mersek, commented: “Chapman Freeborn is able to mobilize aircraft and crew within hours or, in extreme cases – within 60 minutes or less. This is made possible by leveraging the company’s long-standing, 24/7 network of partner airlines and suppliers.

In addition to fixed-wing aircraft, Chapman Freeborn has access to short take-off and landing aircraft and helicopters, allowing it to reach remote or inaccessible areas where conventional runways may be unavailable or damaged.

Chapman Freeborn also maintains relationships with governments, NGOs, aid agencies, ground handling and trucking agents, shippers, and other key players, which speeds up approvals and makes communication more efficient.

Mersek added: “Our team is closely monitoring developments and stands ready to mobilize aircraft at short notice. Ensuring the safe movement of people and critical supplies is our top priority.

Chapman Freeborn has already contracted a wide array of aircraft, ranging from small regional jets to airliners and larger helicopters for surveillance. It is currently on standby to provide urgent air charter solutions, including evacuations of civilians and personnel, deployment of first responders, and post-storm operations delivering relief supplies and equipment.

WestJet-set vets reach the parts other carers can’t

By
Chris Lewis
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WestJet Cargo has supported a volunteer veterinary mission in the remote Arctic community of Pangnirtung, Nunavut by Canadian Animal Assistance Team, a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving animal welfare in underserved communities.

The airline worked with CAAT’s volunteer veterinary team to move 12 cases of surgical tools, saline and medical supplies from Vancouver to Ottawa via Calgary for delivery by part6ner carrier Canadian North for the final leg to Pangnirtung. After several days of surgery, follow-ups, and community animal care, the equipment returned safely to Victoria on September 16 by WestJet.

CAAT’s “MASH-style” (mobile army surgical hospital) clinics bring fully equipped, temporary veterinary hospitals directly into communities where access to veterinary services is limited or unavailable. It also works with local leaders to create Community Animal Care Plans, long-term strategies that promote sustainable animal health and welfare.

“Every community deserves access to basic veterinary care — no matter how remote,” said Taylor Nadeau, Cargo Sales Representative at WestJet Cargo. “These animals are family, workers and part of the community. We were honoured to assist CAAT by transporting the specialized equipment that makes their work possible.”

“CAAT’s volunteer teams have tight schedules, with flights and accommodations arranged around community needs,” added Nadeau. “Any delay in the cargo’s arrival could impact the entire mission. We worked closely with Chris from CAAT to prioritize and monitor the shipment at every stage, ensuring it arrived exactly when needed.”

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