Central Asian cargo airline Silk Way West has signed a digital partnership agreement with the CargoAi platform. The Baku-based carrier will integrate its services with CargoAi’s digital platform, providing freight forwarders worldwide with enhanced access its widebody freighter capacity. The integration is expected to improve rate visibility and, at a later stage, enable digital booking capabilities.
Lufthansa completes first phase of Frankfurt scheme
Lufthansa Cargo has completed the first phase of its hub expansion at Frankfurt Airport. The EUR600 million LCCevo project at the 80,000sq m site aims to transform the Lufthansa Cargo Center (LCC) into Europe’s most modern air cargo hub by 2030, while maintaining 24/7 operations.
The new infrastructure will have intelligent material flow and conveyor for a significantly more efficient flow of caargo. The facilities include a fully automated, 42-meter-high high-bay warehouse with nearly 3,000 storage slots for large cargo pallets and an automated pallet warehouse for temperature-sensitive and specialized shipments. The high-bay warehouse alone will enable more than 300 storage and retrieval operations per hour, doubling capacity.
Lufthansa Cargo chief executive, Ashwin Bhat declared: “LCCevo is one of the most significant investments in our company’s history and a clear commitment to Frankfurt as an air cargo hub. Lufthansa Cargo handles nearly every second tonne of air cargo at Frankfurt Airport. That is why we are making targeted investments in our hub and its long-term performance capabilities. With intelligent cargo flows, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and automated processes, we are creating the conditions necessary to continue meeting the demands of global markets. In doing so, we are strengthening our and Germany´s competitiveness, laying the groundwork for further growth.”
Two further phases are due to be completed by 2030.
Turkish Cargo offers fast car service
Turkish Cargo has introduced a TK Auto service for the time-critical needs of the automotive industry. It is divided into two segments, TK Auto Part and TK Auto Finished.
TK Auto Part is for transportation of critical automotive components for manufacturing or aftermarket operations, including engine and transmission components, braking systems, airbags, and electric vehicle equipment. Shipments within this service scope enjoy priority loading.
TK Auto Finished is for cars, electric vehicles, prototype and test vehicles, as well as luxury and premium segment automobiles, in addition to special vehicles such as motorcycles, ATVs, Sea-Doos, or Ski-Doos. High-value automobiles are stored in specially secured areas at the SmarkIST facility at Istanbul Airport.
Saudia and Cargo.one deploy first airfreight AI sales rep
Saudia Cargo is to deploy what it says is the industry’s first AI sales worker in partnership with Cargo.one. Built using cargo.one’s AI-native operating system, the AI workers handle inbound requests for quotations and formulate quotes within seconds. Airline customers will receive quotes much faster, while sales teams can focus on specialist shipments and value-adding activities.
AI workers can also handle routine requests automatically while escalating exceptions, and within parameters defined and controlled by the carrier. Every action from an AI worker is logged and auditable.
Saudia Cargo fields a large volume of inbound rate requests every day from email. Every request requires up to date research across dates, alternative airports, and service tiers, and the diligent formulation of a quote against the clock.
Cargo.one says its AI workers commonly deliver carriers like Saudia Cargo a 68% reduction in quote turnaround time, and deliver 89% accuracy on first-generated quotes.
Emirates ups Far East freighter flights
Emirates SkyCargo is expanding its freighter services in East and Southeast Asiawith more frequencies and new destinations in response to demand currently growing at around 5% a year.
It is doubling freighter capacity from its Dubai hub to Narita Airport, Tokyo, from one to two weekly flights. It is also increasing flights to Hong Kong with 37 weekly freighters andd has expanded flights in Central China with three weekly flights from Zhengzhou to Dubai.
It has also restarted freighter flights from Singapore with a once weekly flight connecting to Dubai via Mumbai and boosted its to Taipei from once to twice weekly.
Emirates SkyCargo says it continues to experience robust demand for its weekly freighter service to Bangkok and is maintaining its four weekly freighters to Hanoi.
Emirates SkyCargo divisional senior vice president, Badr Abbas, said: “East and Southeast Asia are key manufacturing zones for the global economy making major contributions in the production of high-tech goods, the export of perishables as well as being an important origin for global e-commerce flows. By deploying additional freighter flights and by expanding our freighter footprint in response to customer demand, we are providing the rapid connectivity that ensures that exporters can get their cargo quickly and safely to their end customers across the world.”
DSV launches Luxembourg-Rockford flights
Forwarding and logistics company DSV has launched a new chartered freighter service from Luxembourg to Chicago Rockford International Airport.
DSV already operates a weekly service from Shanghai Pudong International to Rockford., launched in November 2025 through its Shanghai Star Air Freight Charter programme.
DSV is evaluating further opportunities to expand services at Rockford, including plans for a new service linking Incheon International Airport, South Korea later this year.
Rockford International executive director, Zack Oakley, said: “This expansion demonstrates the strength of our partnership with DSV, and reinforces Rockford’s position as a premier cargo gateway for international trade. Rockford offers a unique value proposition for logistics providers through our dedicated, uncongested, 24/7 cargo operations, and we are proud to leverage this in support of DSV’s expanding network.”
DSV’s global head of airfreight, Stefan Krikken, added: “Rockford has proven itself to be a valued partner through its dedicated cargo focus, reliable infrastructure, and operational consistency. The success of our Shanghai operation highlighted the strategic value of Rockford, and we have plans to further benefit from the airport’s flexibility, fast transit times, and dependable access to key markets.”
Ceva adds Hanoi-Chicago freighter
Ceva Logistics is adding routes from Hanoi, Vietnam to Chicago and has reinstated its Wuxi, China to Chicago route launched in 2025.
The Hanoi serve operates three times per week with a Boeing 777 full freighter. The forwarder provides pickup and cargo consolidation across Vietnam including Hanoi, Danang, and Ho Chi Minh City.
The Wuxi-Chicago charter will now use a B777 freighter operated by sister company CMA CGM Air Cargo, on a twice-weekly twice weekly schedule. Ceva has expanded its pickup coverage to key manufacturing and export hubs throughout China.
Shipments on both routes will be processed through Ceva’s Chicago gateway. Which includes a Free Trade Zone, a 6dual-chamber cold storage unit and Certified Cargo Screening Facility.
Customers using the routes can opt for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and additional carbon reduction pathways.
Loic Gay, vice president of global air and ocean operations at CEVA Logistics, said:”The launch of our new Hanoi charter directly addresses the rapid growth of Vietnam as a desired manufacturing hub, while the return of our popular Wuxi service supports our customers’ needs for transpacific supply chain stability.”
Awery signs up China GSSA
Oriental Sky Aviation has joined Awery Aviation Software’s (Awery) CargoBooking, the first Chinese general sales and service agent (GSSA) for the platform. Oriental Sky already uses Awery’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system for its GSSA and charter services. The GGSA provides cargo representation, total cargo management, charter operations, interline services, and a range of value-added solutions for airline partners in 21 countries.
On paper, it’s a great idea says Geodis
Geodis has completed a series of trials of sustainable paper-based thermal covers for pharmaceutical airfreight shipments, developed in collaboration with a global pharmaceutical customer.
Solaris 5 and Solaris 10 are recyclable alternatives to traditional aluminum and foil-based covers. Since September 2025, 86 trial shipments have been ompleted in India, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
The covers maintained temperature within the +2°C to +25°C range, including under extreme weather conditions encountered during airport handling and transit operations. Temperatures ranged from -15°C in South Korea to more than 40°C in India. No critical temperature excursions were recorded during transport.
To support the operation, the forwarder combined several temperature-control measures, including temperature-controlled vehicles, cool dollies and temperature-controlled warehousing.
ECS to handle Vietnam Airlines US sales
Vietnam Airlines has appointed ECS Group as its cargo general sales and service agent (GSSA) in the US. ECS will manage online flights at San Francisco International and develop strategic interline solutions to connect with key Asian gateways, particularly in Korea. The carrier aims to capture increasing demand generated by manufacturing diversification, e-commerce growth and high-value exports. It transports commodities including electronics, semiconductors, automotive components, e-commerce shipments, perishables and pharmaceuticals. ECS already represents Vietnam Airlines in other international markets.
ECS Group chief executive, Jean Ceccaldi, said: “Vietnam has become one of the most important growth engines in global trade and Vietnam Airlines Cargo is exceptionally well positioned to benefit from that momentum. By combining our powerful sales network, digital expertise and operational capabilities with the airline’s expanding cargo offering, we are creating a platform for sustained growth in the United States market. This partnership reflects our shared confidence in the long-term potential of transpacific trade and our commitment to delivering greater value for customers.”