A cat rehoming with a difference

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February 26, 2026

DHL Global Forwarding and DHL Express have helped rescue eight big cats from captivity in Honduras and brought them new lives in the US after a complex international rescue.

The animals – five tigers and three lions – had been living in conditions that, despite the care provided, could not meet their long term species specific needs. Now, following months of recovery and preparation, they have been transported from San Pedro Sula to accredited sanctuaries where they will receive lifelong, specialized care.

Around the world, wildlife experts continue to encounter big cats kept in makeshift zoos, private backyards or improvised attractions but when rescued, they cannot simply be returned to the wild. They need places where they can heal.

For Guru, Sultan, Amir, Deborah, Aira, Cyrus, Zephora and Juancito, the mission was a new beginning.

DHL created a transport plan designed entirely around the animals’ well-being. An isolated section of the airport was secured to give the big cats a quiet, calm environment during loading. Specially certified crates were prepared to reduce noise and stimuli. DHL Express provided a dedicated freighter aircraft for a direct flight to Miami, chosen specifically to reduce stress and shorten travel time. On board, four veterinarians never left the animals’ side.

When the aircraft touched down in Miami, the cats were transferred to two accredited facilities: Carolina Tiger Rescue and Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge.

There, they will finally have the chance to stretch, explore, rest in shaded quiet, feel grass beneath their paws, and rediscover behaviors that captivity had denied them.

Mark 3 takes on Tricargo platform

By

Chris Lewis

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February 26, 2026

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US/UK express specialist Mark 3 International has acquired the Tricargo air cargo sales solution.

Created by the independent, non-profit Federation of Airline General Sales Agents (FEDAGSA), Tricargo will continue to allow freight forwarders to search for airfreight capacity and pass booking requests to general sales and service agents (GSSAs) and airlines.

Mark 3 chief executive Matthew Ware, said: “For too long, the air cargo market has been fractured, making it difficult for freight forwarders to easily access the right airfreight options while GSAs have also found it hard to connect with the right forwarders. Our custodianship of Tricargo will ensure it remains a neutral, trusted space where freight forwarders and GSAs connect to ensure best value for their customers.”

FEDAGSA is a neutral, international, not for profit federation representing GSAs who act as local representatives and sales partners for airlines in various markets worldwide, handling sales, marketing, and providing significant service support.

Mark 3 recently announced a partnership with DPD, new warehousing facilities at New York JFK and soon Los Angeles, and a partnership with New York-based Dobby AI, to develop advanced tools for optimising data management.

General Secretary at FEDAGSA, Glenn Shires, added: “We are very happy to see Mark 3 taking on responsibility for Tricargo, which can be trusted by many GSAs and forwarders around the world. “With Mark 3’s backing, we’re confident Tricargo will deliver a neutral window to enable our members to connect with more freight forwarders who need their services, providing one window to view all options.

“Mark 3 has a proven track record of investing in technologies that deliver value, improve productivity, and meet the challenges of a volatile trading environment.”

Picture: Tima Miroshnichenko

It pays to specialise, says Etihad Cargo

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Chris Lewis

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February 26, 2026

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Etihad Cargo said it delivered a strong performance in 2025, increasing revenue by 8% year-on-year while transporting 703,000 tonnes, a 9% rise. It said the results reflect sustained demand across key trade lanes and the continued strength of its specialised product portfolio.

Significant growth was recorded across core verticals. FlyCulture – the transportation of artwork, cultural heritage and museum exhibitions – increased by 89%. LiveAnimals grew 121% year-on-year, supported by specialised handling expertise. PharmaLife expanded by 22% and the luxury vehicle service, FlightValet saw a 174% increase.

With its partnership with SF Airlines, Etihad Cargo became the largest cargo operator between mainland China and the Middle East.

Etihad Cargo achieved a Delivered As Promised rate of 88% alongside an On-Time Performance (OTP) of 81%,.

It expanded freighter services across key global hubs, including Shenzhen, Ezhou, Hong Kong, Riyadh, Paris, and Frankfurt, alongside new deployments from Phnom Penh and East Midlands. It also secured dedicated Boeing 777 freighter capacity operated by Atlas Air, bringing its total freighter fleet to six aircraft.

Kale’s piece offering keeps track of e-commerce shipments

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Chris Lewis

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February 25, 2026

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Kale Logistics Solutions has launched AvSys, a cross-border e-commerce platform to help airlines, retailers, shippers or consignees manage individual or high-volume parcel shipments. It enables piece-level tracking for either individual or consolidated air cargo shipments, allowing them to monitor orders and adhere to customs requirements.

The platform also supports end-to-end operations, with a focus on the middle mile, including first-mile and last-mile visibility, addressing a critical gap in e-commerce logistics.

Kale chief executive, Amar More, said: “The rise of e-commerce has created a need for modern piece-level parcel logistics that traditional airline air waybill-based systems alone cannot support. Legacy infrastructure was not built for the speed, scale, and transparency that e-commerce shippers now expect, it was based on a kilo-based system, not a piece level system that offers end to end control and transparency.

The platform is designed to enable airlines to offer and operate e-commerce-ready services, maximising the airlines point to point direct services without relying on costly extensive hub-and-spoke networks.

The launch follows Kale’s acquisition of AVLOG Systems, a specialist express and e-commerce logistics technology provider.

Trump’s import surcharge disappoints forwarders

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Chris Lewis

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February 25, 2026

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The AirForwarders Association (AfA) says it is disappointed by President Trump’s decision to impose a temporary 10% surcharge on imports, and called on policymakers to prioritize stable, predictable trade policies that support business.

It said that the decision by the White House to impose broad tariffs risks increasing uncertainty.

AfA said its members were already having to manage fluctuating volumes, pricing pressures, and complex compliance requirements, and the introduction of a sweeping tariff measure without clear guidance creates further operational disruption which will ripple across the supply chain.

Air cargo and logistics businesses plan months in advance, commit capacity based on forecast demand, and operate on tight margins, and abrupt policy interventions undermine long term planning and investment.

At a time of growing geopolitical instability, including the continued military build-up in the Middle East, policy uncertainty at home only heightens risk for importers, exporters, and the logistics providers that support them.

AfA urged the Administration and Congress to prioritize consistent, transparent trade frameworks that strengthen U.S. economic competitiveness, support growth, and provide businesses with the certainty they need to operate effectively.

Earlier, the AfA had welcomed the US Supreme Court’s striking down of President Donald Trump’s global tariffs on 20 February, saying that it should bring a degree of clarity for US international traders.

Private jets turbocharge ACS growth

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Chris Lewis

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February 25, 2026

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Air Charter Service turnover increased 10.3% to US$ 1.34 billion in 2025, although its cargo charter division saw only a modest rise. Most of the increase was due to 19.1% growth in private jet revenue.
Chairman Chris Leach, said: “Our Cargo charter division saw a modest increase, with revenues up and growth year-on-year above the industry average, as well as flight numbers increasing. However, despite the backdrop of tariff uncertainty causing industry disruption for much of the year, our Time Critical division saw incredible growth, with revenue up by 76% and jobs increasing by 92%, with huge strides made in onboard courier (OBC) and next flight out (NFO) sales under the new leadership team.”

Six new offices opened in 2025, including the broker’s first in Saudi Arabia and Italy.

Etihad launches airfreight industry’s first training hub

By

Chris Lewis

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February 25, 2026

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Etihad Cargo has launched what it believes is the airfreight industry’s first logistics training academy by an airline.

The Etihad Cargo Excellence Hub aims to ensure consistent operational, safety and compliance standards across its global partner network. As regulatory complexity increases and networks expand, structured capability development is critical to maintaining reliability and customer trust.

The platform provides mandatory and elective training for Etihad Cargo representatives and stakeholders worldwide. The curriculum includes operating standards, products and service framework, safety and compliance modules aligned with international regulations, industry-certified programmes delivered with accredited institutions and targeted soft skills training to strengthen customer engagement.

Chief cargo officer Stanislas Brun said: “The Etihad Cargo Excellence Hub ensures our global partners operate to the same safety, compliance and service standards. As we grow, consistency becomes a competitive advantage. This initiative protects our brand, strengthens performance discipline and directly supports the customer experience we commit to deliver.”

The sky’s the limit for Ukrainian carrier

By

Chris Lewis

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February 23, 2026

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ECS Group’s TCE arm has signed a total cargo management (TCM) agreement with SkyUp Airlines, appointing ECS Group and Global GSA Group, as its subcontracted sales partners.

Ukrainian-owned SkyUp Airlines’ cargo network includes Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Israel, France, Poland, Montenegro, Albania, and Moldova with Chișinău, Moldova, as the central hub.

The TCM model supports products including General Cargo, Dangerous Goods (DGR), Perishables (PER), Live Animals (AVI), Mail, and E-commerce, giving SkyUp Aentry to high-yield and time-critical market segments. Coordination is led by Globe Air Cargo Ukraine on behalf of ECS Group, with technical support from TCE Germany, while SkyUp Airlines retains operational control at Chișinău.

AfA welcomes Supreme Court action on Trump’s tariffs

By

Chris Lewis

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February 20, 2026

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The AirForwarders Association (AfA) has welcomed the US Supreme Court’s striking down of President Donald Trump’s global tariffs on 20 February, saying that it should bring a degree of clarity for US international traders.

It said its members had seen firsthand how tariff measures negatively impact shipping volumes, pricing, and supply chain planning. Greater stability in trade policy is critical for the movement of goods, it argued.

However, while the ruling may reduce some immediate cost pressures, uncertainty around future trade actions continues to complicate long-term planning for importers, exporters, and the logistics providers that support them, AfA said, adding: “We now need clarity on how any tariff refunds will be processed, including the timeline, administrative requirements, and eligibility criteria, to ensure businesses can plan with confidence and reduce unnecessary costs.”

AfA would continue to work with policymakers to prioritise clear, consistent trade frameworks that support economic growth and strengthen supply chain resilience.

However, on 21 February US President Donald Trump has said he will impose global tariffs on all countries of 10%under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act and then announced a day later that this would increase to 15%, the maximum allowed under the legislation.

Judah Levine, head of research at the Freightos online platform said however that “The shift to a global 15% tariff would mostly preserve the original tariff rates, and would cut the overall US tariff rate by only 2%. It would lead to a 5% reduction for and Vietnam, China, although overall effective tariffs on China remain around 40% due to pre-existing Section 301 duties. There would be no change for the EU, but a 5% increase for the UK. The most significant reduction would be for Brazil, which would see its tariffs cut from 40% to 15%.

Levine added that the biggest impact may be Trump’s loss of IEEPA’s speed: Trump has repeatedly used the IEEPA-based threat of immediate tariffs for leverage across a range of geopolitical issues – most recently Greenland and Iran. Without it, the speed with which Trump’s threats have shifted trade and impacted logistics markets is likely to slow considerably compared to 2025.”

Levine added that significantly lower effective tariff rates are likely to spur shipments out of places like Brazil while some importers out of China and Vietnam may be enticed by the 5% dip in tariffs to increase orders too. But the overall modest reductions and high uncertainty may limit the surge compared to last year’s frontloading waves, with any pickup likely starting in early March as manufacturing resumes post-Lunar New Year.

DHL boosts critical pharma trade lane

By

Chris Lewis

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February 19, 2026

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DHL Group has strengthened its life sciences and healthcare capabilities with an expanded dedicated Airfreight Cold Chain Network. It will first connect the major DHL hubs of Cincinnati and Brussels, with further routes in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America to follow.

To support the expanded network, DHL has introduced a dedicated Boeing 777 freighter operating between Brussels and Cincinnati that features the new DHL Health Logistics livery. Its dedicated routing provides consistent, controllable capacity on one of the most critical pharma lanes.

The US Midwest is home to leading pharma companies while Brussels lies at the heart of Europe’s most advanced life sciences network and the new route provides a seamless, temperature-controlled pathway for high-value biologics and time-critical cell and gene therapies.

In Brussels, the route is supported by 45,000sq m of pharma-only zones at the BRUcargo hub.

Countries prioritized for further expansion of the Network include India, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, other locations in the US, Germany, and Ireland.

DHL says that, by reducing reliance on third-party carriers and commercial airlines, it can improve product integrity and temperature control throughout the journey while increasing supply chain resilience.

Chief executive of DHL Global Forwarding, Freight, Oscar de Bok, said: “Life sciences and healthcare companies expect cold chain solutions that are reliable, compliant, and transparent from end to end — and those expectations are rising fast. At the same time, they’re looking for ways to simplify supply chains and reduce costs.

“Our expanded network brings together DHL Aviation’s global air connectivity, our GDP-compliant station network, and our major investments in modern, temperature-controlled facilities. The result is a more resilient, more efficient logistics backbone for customers who depend on flawless quality to deliver critical therapies to patients.”