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Flytrix brings on-board courier service to the people

By
Chris Lewis
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Los Angeles-based time-critical logistics company Flytrix has launched an on-board courier (OBC) service aimed at customers with no logistics background. DocumentJet allows businesses and private customers to book international shipments for urgent documents directly online.

The company, founded in 2023 by German entrepreneur Adrian Kaesberg, says that OBC and hand-carry services have traditionally been used primarily by industries such as aerospace, manufacturing and healthcare, but DocumentJet is designed to make dedicated transport accessible without the quoting process. Customers enter the pickup and delivery locations online and receive a price and estimated delivery window within seconds. The shipment can then be booked directly by credit card.

Flytrix assigns a courier, selects suitable flights and arranges the first- and last-mile transportation and a dedicated courier personally accompanies the document from origin to destination as a passenger.

To keep the process as simple as possible, DocumentJet is limited to documents with no commercial customs value, including contracts, passports, court documents and civil-status records. Shipments involving commercial goods or more complex customs requirements will continue to be handled through regular Flytrix channels.

There are no complicated logistics terms or lengthy account setups and no customer account is required to place a booking. The platform is available in English, German, Spanish, French and Italian. Most shipments are expected to be delivered on the same day or the following day, depending on routing and flight availability.

DocumentJet is currently available for pickups and deliveries across approximately 120 countries.

Kaesberg said the idea for the service grew out of a real-life emergency handled by Flytrix: “A woman in the US called us because her mother was stuck at Zurich Airport after accidentally travelling with an expired passport,” he said. “We had a courier on the way with the correct passport within about an hour. It was one of those cases where a normal courier network simply wasn’t fast enough.”

An automated pricing and feasibility engine combines flight schedules, current courier availability and a matrix built from operational data and experience gathered across thousands of previous Flytrix shipments to calculate pricing and estimated transit times within seconds.

DocumentJet is built on Flytrix’s Ticris platform which it plans to make available to other time-critical logistics providers as a software-as-a-service platform from 2028.

International DocumentJet shipments typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000, depending on distance, flight availability and routing and comfortably arrive one or two days later, and Kaesberg  acknowledges that a traditional express carrier will almost always be the more sensible and much cheaper option. He said: “DocumentJet is for the cases where those options are no longer fast or predictable enough.”

Envirotainer invests in the Americas

By
Chris Lewis
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Cold chain specialist Envirotainer is expanding its network across the Americas with a second station in Los Angeles, increased capacity and capabilities in Philadelphia and a relocated site planned for Montevideo.

The second Los Angeles facility expands local access to ULD and Prooftainer ground handling and repairs, as well as parcel (packaging) rental and sales services.

In Philadelphia, investment in dedicated parcel facilities, additional warehouse capacity, new equipment and increased safety stock will support faster fulfilment and greater product availability.

Envirotainer also plans to relocate its Montevideo operation to a new site in early October 2027.

Regional president, Americas, Barbara Morgan, said: “Our continued investment in the Americas is a direct response to how pharmaceutical supply chains are changing. By strengthening our network and expanding our local capabilities, we are helping customers navigate uncertainty, adapt to changing demand and maintain continuity across their supply chains.”

Chief executive, Aymeric Chandavoine, added: “The Americas is a strategically important region for pharmaceutical manufacturing, distribution and innovation, and our customers are looking for partners that can support them as their supply chains evolve. These investments strengthen our ability to be closer to our customers, provide faster access to solutions and expertise, and deliver the operational flexibility they need. By continuing to invest in our network, we are building the resilience required not only to support today’s pharmaceutical supply chains, but also to help our customers prepare for what comes next.”

Play it again, CMA-CGM

By
Chris Lewis
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Allotments – regularly recurring shipments – are now available for CMA CGM Air Cargo through CargoAi’s CargoMart rate management and booking platform. The carrier and its freight forwarder partners can now manage recurring capacity agreements including allotments, block space agreements, pre-bookings and other regular capacity agreements.

CargoAi says that forwarders working across multiple carriers can use a standardized workflow, allowing them to submit one allotment file across participating airlines instead of managing separate processes for each carrier. Sharing the same data enables both parties to hold constructive, fact-based discussions and to manage allocations and pre-bookings more effectively.

Flydubai marks freighter debut with Unilode deal

By
Chris Lewis
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Low cost carrier Flydubai has signed a long-term agreement with Unilode Aviation Solutions to provide full ULD management services, as the airline expands its passenger and cargo operations.

Unilode will deliver a fully outsourced ULD management programme, featuring specialised boxes and pallets for both passenger and cargo freighter operations for the airline’s forthcoming Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet including ULD supply, maintenance and repair, fleet planning, repositioning and digital asset tracking, supported by its global maintenance and repair network.

Since launching operations in 2009, Flydubai has built a network spanning more than 125 destinations across 56 countries. It has had three Boeing 737-800 freighter aircraft based at Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai since 1 October to complement belly-hold cargo on its fleet of nearly 100 Boeing 737 aircraft.

Air Cargo Americas returns to Miami

By
Chris Lewis
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The Air Cargo Americas, Transport Logistic Americas and Project Cargo events will take place in Miami on November 9-11, 2027. Organizers Messe München says it will bring together key players from the transportation, logistics and air cargo industries  and the theme for the 2027 edition is the importance of multimodal logistics for resilient, efficient and competitive supply chains.

US event organizer Tradeshow Logic, is now part of Messe München and will contribute additional services, formats and offers designed to further enhance the overall event experience.

Exhibitor applications are now open and further details on exhibitors, partners, conference highlights and what’s new for 2027 will be announced in the coming months.

CMA CGM completes acquisition of FedEx Supply Chain

By
Chris Lewis
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The CMA CGM Group has closed its acquisition of FedEx Supply Chain at an enterprise value of $1.4 billion.

The shipping to logistics group said that it significantly expands its subsidiary CEVA Logistics’ North American contract logistics operations and reinforces its investment in the US.

It added that with the integration of FedEx Supply Chain’s assets and nearly 10,000 team members, CEVA Logistics is now one of North America’s leading contract logistics providers. It triples its logistics footprint in the region, adding some 34 million square feet of warehouse space and the combined business operates approximately 150 warehouses, expanding CEVA’s presence in North America to more than 240 locations with a workforce of about 20,000.

CMA CGM said the acquisition would also accelerate the deployment of automation and robotics across its North American network and deepen CEVA’s expertise in healthcare, technology, consumer and retail, enhancing its ability to manage complex, end-to-end supply chains across the US and Canada.

In parallel, the CMA CGM Group and FedEx have also entered into multi-year commercial agreements for air and ocean freight. CMA CGM will become a preferred ocean carrier for FedEx, offering transport and carrier services under a non-exclusive agreement.

The two companies also plan to collaborate on an air cargo capacity agreement on key strategic routes, including Asia-Europe.

CMA CGM chairman and chief executive Rodolphe Saadé, stated: “By significantly expanding our contract logistics capabilities, we are strengthening our ability to offer customers integrated, end-to-end supply chain solutions across ocean, air, land and logistics. It also reinforces CMA CGM’s long-term commitment to investing in the US, a strategic growth market for the Group, and supporting the resilience and efficiency of its supply chain.”

Handler opens second biggest French site in Lyon

By
Chris Lewis
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Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has officially opened its new 25,400sq m cargo terminal at Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport. Aéroport de Lyon DC1 centralises the handler’s Lyon operations at a single site directly connected to the airport’s runways and becomes WFS’ second-largest operation in France after Paris Charles de Gaulle. It has 4,400sq m of cold rooms and 36 door docks including five dedicated to air freight pallet transfers,.

It will meet the needs of sectors such as healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology and the high concentration of companies in these sectors in the Lyon region.

Air Canada hails cargo system success

By
Chris Lewis
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Air Canada Cargo says its new management software and control environment has provided a foundation for the next stages of automation, a year after the go live of the go-live of Lödige Industries’ Cargo Professional software at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

On 30 September 2025, the terminal’s legacy control system was switched over to Lödige Industries technology and resumed, an hour later, using Cargo Professional, with 24/7 maintenance services and remote monitoring provided through the Lödige Industries Customer Care Center.

The project included both the low-level control (PLC) layer and the high-level ULD management system. By bringing system processes together on a single data platform, Cargo Professional reduces manual input, helps prevent errors and provides operators with greater transparency of terminal operations.

In the first ten months following the transition, the system handled over a quarter of a million tonnes of cargo. Planned enhancements include a new Elevating Transfer Vehicle and Mobile Transfer Device, while key areas of the terminal are being prepared for a future Automated Storage and Retrieval System

Awery and Allied execs recognised at Women in Air Cargo Awards

By
Chris Lewis
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Awery Aviation Software chief experience officer Phaedra den Hertog (main picture) has won the IT category at the Women in Air Cargo Awards, presented during Aviation Connect in Athens on 30 September.

The awards recognise women demonstrating leadership across the air cargo sector, with nominees judged on their contribution to efficiency, innovation, sustainability, and support for young professionals.

She joined the air cargo industry over 30 years ago, and currently leads Awery’s Customer Experience team, working with airlines, general sales and service agents, brokers, couriers, forwarders and logistics providers to implement and optimise digital solutions. She is also responsible for providing customer insight to inform the continued development of Awery’s ERP and CargoBooking platforms.

Also at Aviation Connect, Allied Aviation executive director Kritika Seth (pictured below) was named winner of the GSSA Women in Air Cargo Award. She has played a central role in the growth and development of Allied Aviation, helping to strengthen its airline partnerships and supporting the company’s evolution beyond traditional general sales and service agent representation.

Seth joined the family business after gaining international experience at the United Nations in New York. She has since taken a leading role in Allied Aviation’s business development and marketing activities and is a regular contributor to industry discussions on the development of India’s air cargo market.

Steve Smith to lead Airforwarders Association

By
Chris Lewis
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0

The Airforwarders Association (AfA) has appointed Steve Smith as its new chief executive, taking over from Brandon Fried, who will remain with the association during a transition period.

Smith brings over 25 years of leadership experience spanning aviation, logistics, and humanitarian response, including 13 years as president and chief executive officer of Airlink, and a senior commercial role with Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace.

At Airlink, Smith grew the organization from a one-person startup to a nonprofit with revenue of almost $20 million, working with more than 50 airlines and logistics companies, and 250 humanitarian groups across 100 countries.

He serves on the board of InterAction, the largest US alliance of international NGOs, is a Board Trustee of the Aero Club of Washington, and serves on the advisory board of GoCrisis, a crisis management company. 

“The work of the AfA has rarely been more important, with shifting trade policy, geopolitical disruption, and aging infrastructure adding pressure on supply chains that are already stretched,” he said. “Forwarders need greater predictability as they navigate these pressures, and investment in the infrastructure that keeps it moving.

“Over the many years that Brandon and I have known each other, he has built a strong association with an influential voice, and I want to thank him for his dedicated service. 

 “I look forward to working alongside the AfA team, meeting more members, and ensuring forwarders continue to have an effective voice in Washington and across an industry that sits at the center of billions of dollars in global trade every day.” 

 Brandon Fried added: “Steve brings extensive aviation and logistics experience, a strong understanding of air cargo, and established relationships across all areas of the industry. He understands the issues affecting the industry and the importance of engaging members, and I am confident he is well-placed to lead the AfA and build on the work we have done over the past two decades.” 

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