American Airlines strengthens its cold chain

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September 4, 2025

American Airlines Cargo has enhanced its ExpediteTC cold chain service for life sciences shipments. It has extended 24/7 live tracking and monitoring to include shipments transported in active temperature-controlled units. In the event of disruptions, the control tower proactively intervenes to uphold the delivery commitment made at the time of booking, ensuring shipments arrive on time. New and existing team members are also receiving enhanced ExpediteTCtraining.

In July, the carrier introduced online booking for ExpediteTCpassive shipments cooled by dry ice or gel packs.

American Airlines’ 25,000sq ft CEIV-certified life sciences-handling facility at Philadelphia International Airport offers Controlled Room Temperature space maintained between +15°C and +25°C, refrigerated space between +2°C and +8°C and deep-frozen space from -10°C to -20°C. It also has an Active Container Management area, advanced monitoring technology validated to an accuracy of 0.25°C and full backup power generation.

Other CEIV-certified hubs include Miami, Luis Muñoz Marín (Puerto Rico), Dallas Fort Worth and New York JFK.

FedEx opens Istanbul super-hub

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Chris Lewis

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September 4, 2025

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Federal Express has officially inaugurated its new global air transit facility at Istanbul Airport (IST). Operational since August, it connects Türkiye with 30 weekly FedEx flights to and from the US, Europe and the Middle East and provides capacity for future network growth.

The 25,300 sq. m facility brings together key operations under one roof, including air gateway functions, integrated customs clearance teams, and essential office support. It also features an automated sorting system with three times the previous able to process up to 7,000 packages per hour, high-speed security screening, and capabilities to handle dangerous goods.

DHL’s new site open for business in Finland

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Chris Lewis

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September 4, 2025

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DHL Express Finland has inaugurated its new logistics gateway at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. It boasts direct access to the apron , an automated sorting system capable of processing 6,500 parcels per hour and 90 direct loading bays with electric vehicle charging.

The facility will be carbon-neutral with geothermal heating, solar panels, and energy-efficient technologies, alongside robust security measures including TAPA A certification and advanced X-ray scanning equipment. It the largest investment in DHL Express’s history in Finland—totalling approximately €100 million in new facilities and technology.

It will handle international, European, national, and local parcels transported via air or road, ranging from urgent to less urgent deliveries. The first customer deliveries from the facility are set to begin in October 2025.

Silk Way takes delivery of freighter number three

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Chris Lewis

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September 2, 2025

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Silk Way West Airlines has taken delivery of its third Boeing 777 Freighter at Heydar Aliyev International Airport from Boeing in Seattle. It is part of an order for ten similar aircraft, to be fulfilled by 2030 which will gradually replace older models in the fleet.

Founded in 2012 in Baku, Silk Way West Airlines operates to over 40 destinations worldwide. Its current fleet includes Boeing 777F, 747-8F, and 747-400F aircraft. It expects the delivery of two Boeing 777F, two Boeing 777-8F, and two Airbus A350F aircraft by 2030.

Korean Air signs five-year JFK contract with Swissport

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Chris Lewis

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September 2, 2025

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Korean Air has signed a five-year contract with Swissport to operate its freight facility at Cargo Building 9 at New York JFK.

The handler will take on full management and sublease responsibilities for the terminal and will extensively modernize Korean Air Cargo’s 232,500 square-foot freight facility. Investment will include automation and infrastructure upgrades including an ETV system overhaul and new temperature-controlled storage , and increasing the site’s annual throughput capacity from 200,000 to 295,500 tons. Dedicated Korean Air Cargo operations will begin with a team of around 80 staff, eventually growing to over 390 employees once Cargo Building 9 reaches full capacity.

Swissport is investing in new electric GSE and working closely with the Port Authority to equip the building with a strong and reliable charging infrastructure, making Swissport the first handler at JFK to operate an all-electric fleet for all freighter operations from warehouse to ramp. Swissport is also introducing Bionatur biodegradable products across North America to reduce plastic waste in day-to-day cargo operations, including packaging and handling.

Chief executive of Swissport North America and Canada, Nelson Camacho, said: “We are delighted to partner with Korean Air Cargo on this historic contract, marking our first large-scale collaboration at a single location. Swissport is strongly committed to raising and further fine-tuning the standard of cargo handling at New York JFK airport and is therefore investing significantly in establishing high-tech quality automation, transparent systems and enhanced safety measures, while also pursuing IATA CEIV and GDP certifications.

Executive vice president and head of the cargo business division at Korean Air, Jaedong Eum, added. “Air Cargo ground quality comes along with operational excellence beyond efficiency. And continuous investment in state-of-the-art equipment and training is crucial for successful and sustainable operations. Together with Swissport, we will establish a blueprint at JFK for a highly successful Cargo Path Forward over the coming years.”

Icelandair moves into Turkey

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Chris Lewis

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September 1, 2025

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Icelandair Cargo has launched operations in Turkey with four weekly 737 Max flights between Istanbul and Keflavik with ECS Group subsidiary Globe Air Cargo Turkiye as local general sales and service agent. The flights will also provide connections to the US and Europe, for traffic such as textiles, automotive parts, and machinery.

WestJet appoints head of cargo ops

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Chris Lewis

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September 1, 2025

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Canadian carrier WestJet has promoted Sabir Ebrahim to head of cargo operations. His responsibilities include ensuring smooth, effective services while maintaining safety and security compliance. Sabir and his team will identify areas for improvement in day-to-day operations and operational performance.

More freighters for Maastricht

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Chris Lewis

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August 28, 2025

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Maastricht Aachen Airport in the Netherlands has added three weekly cargo flights following new agreements with airlines Turkish Cargo, and My Freighter.

From September, Turkish Cargo will add to its existing twice-weekly service with a Boeing 777 flight connecting Quito, Bogota, Miami, Istanbul, and Maastricht.

Uzbek airline, My Freighter, will operate a new, twice-weekly Boeing 767-300 full freighter service connecting Shanghai, Tashkent and Almaty.

Figures up to July 2025 indicate a 15% increase in cargo volumes at MST compared to the same period last year, driven in part by a series of Atlas Air charter flights, the arrival of Ethiopian Cargo, and the return of Turkish Cargo after a short absence.

Atlas Air signs 777 freighter deal with Eithad

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Chris Lewis

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August 28, 2025

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Atlas Air has signed a long-term partnership with Etihad Cargo in the United Arab Emirates for the operation of a newly delivered Boeing 777 freighter, initially serving Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi and Madrid from August.

It will cater for growing demand for general air cargo, e-commerce, automotive, pharmaceuticals and perishable products across Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

Atlas Air chief executive, Michael Steen (pictured) said: “With our global scale and flexible, agile network, Atlas Air is enabling Etihad to expand their operations and serve their customers with confidence. With our industry-leading fleet of widebody freighters and deep operating expertise, Atlas Air is proud to be a trusted partner of choice, and we look forward to supporting Etihad’s continued success.”

Etihad Airways chief cargo officer, Stanislas Brun, added: “With Etihad Airways’ passenger fleet continuing to grow, it is essential that our freighter fleet expands in parallel to sustain this momentum and deliver end-to-end network connectivity. This additional capacity further enhances the reliability and agility of our services, ensuring the delivery of seamless and efficient cargo solutions worldwide.”

Kintetsu to enlarge Singapore site

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Chris Lewis

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August 28, 2025

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Kintetsu World Express’s Singapore subsidiary KWE-Kintetsu World Express is to rebuild its headquarters warehouse in Changi South. The new facility is scheduled for completion in 2027. In recent years, Singapore’s pro-business policies and tax incentives have attracted a growing concentration of healthcare and semiconductor companies, particularly from Western countries and the country has become increasingly significant as a logistics hub for Southeast Asia.