WFS gains CargoiQ in EMEAA

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June 16, 2025

Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a SATS company, has achieved Cargo iQ certification for its cargo handling operations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia (EMEAA).

The accreditation covers some 50 major airport stations in the UK, Ireland, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Italy, the Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and Thailand.

Supported by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Cargo iQ is composed of some 60 major airlines, freight forwarders, ground handling agents, trucking companies, and IT solution providers globally. The group’s mission is to create and implement quality standards for the worldwide air cargo industry through a system of shipment planning and performance monitoring based on common business processes and milestones.

Cargo iQ’s Master Operating Plan (MOP) describes the standard end-to-end process of transporting air cargo and introduces standardized performance monitoring for the duration of shipment movements from consignor to consignee.

These include key export milestones such as shipment acceptance into the warehouse, confirmation that shipments are ready for carriage and have been manifested, and departed.

DHL celebrates 40 years in Lyon with new gateway

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Chris Lewis

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June 16, 2025

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DHL Express is celebrating its 40th anniversary at Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport by inaugurating a multi-service site to Time Definite International and Day Definite International shipments, the first of its kind in France. The hub, with direct access to the airport runways, will start operations this summer and will handle international, European, national, and local parcels, transported via air or road, ranging from urgent to less urgent deliveries. The site will host the regional commercial and support functions and 400 employees will work there, accounting for more than half of DHL Express’s 750 employees in the region. It is built on a 50,000 m² plot equivalent to seven rugby fields.

DHL to invest half a billion in Middle East

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Chris Lewis

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June 13, 2025

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DHL Group is to invest more than €500 million in the Middle East, focussing on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The investment spans all four DHL divisions – DHL Express, DHL Global Forwarding, DHL Supply Chain, and DHL eCommerce – and will strengthen logistics operations in the region. DHL already provides a broad portfolio of services in the Middle East, including express parcel delivery, air, ocean and overland freight, warehousing, fulfilment and distribution, customs brokerage and specialized operations for sectors such as life sciences, healthcare, e-commerce and battery logistics.

It says the region is emerging as a trade hub, and is not only due to attracting investments from multinationals but also from Gulf- and Middle East-based businesses growing and increasing their exports.

DHL Group recognizes the growing opportunities in the energy sector, encompassing traditional oil and gas as well as renewables and electrification. The company also sees potential in the life sciences and healthcare markets, alongside e-commerce.

DHL will invest in hub and gateway facilities, its fleet – including electric trucks – and pursue joint venture initiatives such as the recent joint venture with Etihad Rail.

It will also expand its contract logistics offering in the UAE and Saudi with more warehouse capacity, upgradedg equipment and advanced technology.

The acquisition of the delivery provider AJEX in Saudi Arabia will meanwhile enhance DHL’s e-commerce capabilities.

Geodis opens up in Guadalajara

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Chris Lewis

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June 13, 2025

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Geodis has opened an office in Guadalajara in response to growth of its freight forwarding activities in Mexico. The French-owned company will now centralize its freight forwarding services including air, maritime and land, as well as customs and foreign trade, project logistics and supply chain management at the location.

Geodis operates twice-weekly flights from China and Hong Kong to Guadalajara and sea connections are available at the port of Manzanillo. The new office brings its total footprint in Mexico to 14 buildings and more than 148,000sq m.

It was 40 years ago today…

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Chris Lewis

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June 13, 2025

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FedEx Express, the world’s largest express transportation company, is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its scheduled transatlantic service. On June 15, 1985, a fleet of seven Federal Express Boeing 727s took to the skies, establishing links between New York, London, and Brussels, redefining global commerce and connectivity.
Federal Express, founded 14 years previously in Little Rock, Arkansas, was laying the groundwork for a new era in global trade.
The new transatlantic route wasn’t just about moving packages; it was about laying the groundwork for an era of unprecedented economic integration. Faxes were phased out, PCs appeared, and air freight of everything from pharmaceuticals, to machine parts, and perishable foods flourished.
From its small beginnings in 1973, FedEx is now a global network handling over 17 million shipments every single day.
Initially serving just 25 cities – all in the US – in 1973, FedEx now connects more than 220 countries and territories, enabling a level of global commerce previously unimaginable. Its workforce has grown from 389 employees to half a million globally.
Regional president, Wouter Roels, comments: “In 1985, the concept of rapid, reliable transatlantic shipping was just coming to the fore, as groundbreaking as the first commercial internet connections that would soon follow. Our commitment to connecting Europe and North America then, and now, has played a crucial role in the evolution of modern supply chains. Just as personal computers began to revolutionise offices, the FedEx effect established the physical infrastructure to allow the global trade we all rely on today to flourish.”
Today, FedEx’s operates two air hubs in Europe alone, and 28 road hubs connecting 45 countries daily, It sorts an average of 2 million packages daily at over 500 pick-up and delivery stations in Europe.
It connect 90% of Europe to most US business centres next day. European e-commerce traders particularly benefit from day-definite international shipping services.
Roels adds: “The transatlantic trade relationship continues to be a cornerstone of the global economy. While the dynamics have certainly evolved – from the rise of e-commerce to the focus on sustainable logistics – our mission remains the same: to provide certainty in an uncertain world. We are proud to have been a part of European trade for four decades, and look forward to facilitating ever greater growth, and innovation in the years to come.”

Hellmann’s HEX to go global

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Chris Lewis

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June 11, 2025

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German forwarder Hellmann Worldwide Logistics is to offer a digital express solution, HEX (Hellmann Express Airfreight), globally, starting in the US and Canada at the end of June. Initially launched launches in Germany, the UK and Ireland, HEX is a new platform for international door-to-door express delivery, using courier networks to bundle shipments centrally with smart digital connectivity.

The platform enhances and streamlines access to global express networks. As customs clearance is also managed by the express carriers, the service is particularly aimed at US importers following the imposition of tariffs by President Trump.

HEX is aimed at small and medium-sized businesses that regularly handle national and international express shipments. The platform offers companies access to globally negotiated terms and conditions, removing the need for individual contracts with courier, express and parcel service providers

The digital connection was developed in partnership with the logistics software provider Shipsy. It includes real-time shipment tracking, detailed analysis, and booking and invoicing processing via a central digital user interface.

In the latter half of the year, HEX will be expanded to additional countries in the Americas as well as markets in APAC, IMEA and Europe. The goal is to offer this product in around 50 countries by the end of 2026.

Global Airfreight vice president, Timo Schamber, said: “HEX offers our customers an innovative solution that combines cost savings, reliability and excellent customer service. Our collaboration with Shipsy enables us to deliver a single platform that significantly simplifies and streamlines the entire shipping process. The cross-carrier customer service benefit is especially notable in the volatile and often fragmented courier and express services sector, where customers can use a single, dedicated contact person for all their needs.”

Shipsy’s co-founder and chief executive, Soham Chokshi, added: “At Shipsy, our core mission is to simplify and streamline global logistics. By integrating our capabilities into Hellmann’s Express product, HEX, we are not only enhancing visibility and control across the shipment lifecycle but also ensuring seamless coordination across multiple geographies and stakeholders.”

Sunwing boosts WestJet’s Caribbean capacity

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Chris Lewis

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June 10, 2025

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WestJet Cargo has expanded its network, following the integration of Sunwing Airlines into the group. The addition of Sunwing’s 18 Boeing 737 aircraft into the WestJet fleet brings increased capacity to Holguin, Santa Clara, and Varadero in Cuba, with up to 2.5 tons additional space per flight.

The expansion builds on WestJet’s existing weekly Toronto–Havana service, launched in 2023, and now includes daily service between Toronto and Veradero, four times weekly service between Toronto and Santa Clara, and three times weekly service between Toronto and Holguin.

In addition, daily freight service is also introduced between Montreal and Varadero, and four times weekly between Montréal and Holguin.

Growth is complemented by an increase to daily service between Toronto and Cancun, Montego Bay, and Punta Cana, while service is also increased between Toronto and Puerto Plata to three times weekly, and between Toronto and Liberia to twice weekly.

Air Canada returns to Czechia

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Chris Lewis

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June 9, 2025

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Air Canada launched flights between Toronto and the Czech capital, Prague, on 7 June, the carrier’s first service to Czechia for five years. The summer seasonal route will operate three times per week, departing Prague Monday, Wednesday and Saturday and from Toronto on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. The route will be operated by Airbus A330-300s and Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

Delta joins carriers in India MoU

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Chris Lewis

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June 4, 2025

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IndiGo, Delta Air Lines, Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic have signed a memorandum of understanding to link India with Europe and North America. It will join IndiGo’s domestic network with Delta’s routes in North America and the transatlantic, Air France-KLM in Europe and North America, and Virgin Atlantic’s UK transatlantic routes. The MoU also creates a framework for deeper collaboration between the carriers on a bilateral and multilateral basis including cargo.

Etihad signs joint deal with China’s SF Airlines

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Chris Lewis

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June 3, 2025

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Etihad Airways has signed a joint business agreement with China’s SF Airlines to enhance cargo operations and expand network capacity. The two carriers will collaborate on a metal-neutral basis to jointly market and integrate their airfreight services. They will also invest in improving service quality and operational efficiency. The partnership also enables coordinated pricing strategies and alignment of service standards. The joint business will focus on key cargo product verticals, including Etihad Cargo’s SecureTech and PharmaLife solutions.