The World Of Cargo Operations

Flying from Kiev to Doha and then on to Jo Burg with seven lions on a passenger 777W and then an A350.

Amazon taking on Fedex and UPS.

SmartLynx Airlines has just announced the addition of two more A321 freighters to its growing cargo fleet of planes. The two new freighters will have the company's fleet of A321F fleet to a total of 8 active aircraft of the type by the end of 2022. SmartLynx CEO Zygimantas Surintas commented, "The addition of two new A321Fs to the SmartLynx fleet is part of a broad expansion strategy designed to consolidate the company’s position at the forefront of cargo carriers and working in support of the demand for increased air cargo capacity. The A321F is the most fuel-efficient narrow-body cargo aircraft available and we have made a conscious decision to follow the market’s demands for a more sustainable air transportation. This choice of aircraft underlines SmartLynx’s commitment to the future, focused on cleaner, environmentally conscious and sustainable air freight transport. We are already witnessing a dramatically increased market interest for this aircraft type."

DHL is looking to actively use SAF blends in their operations. In total, DHL will purchase SAF worth more than €60m by mid-2022, which it claimed would potentially reduce around 70,000 tons of CO2 from its operations. "This is a first step for the Group to reach its ambitious 2030 target of meeting at least 30 per cent of its fuel needs in aviation through sustainable fuels," the company said. It will be a partnership between DHL and Neste to supply the DHL Express division with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at the UK’s East Midlands Airport.

Emirates SkyCargo is experiencing good results as their volume figures are approaching pre-pandemic levels. Volumes have reached 1.1 million tonnes for the first 6 months of the year."This shows Emirates Skycargo’s outstanding agility and ability to meet the requirements of its customers whether it be for the transport of vaccines and pharmaceuticals, essential goods like food and perishables, or champion horses and high performance cars," Emirates said. That represents 39% year on year and 90% of pre-pandemic (2019) levels.

Herfurth Logistics has commenced work on a new large warehouse at the Brussels Airport. Herfurth Logistics will combine a warehouse of almost 5,000 square meters and more than 700 square meters of office space, on a site of more than 8,700 square meters. The new warehouse facility will be finished with six loading bays. It will have decent tarmac access being located in the second row at the airport. The facility is anticipated to open July 2022.

Astral Aviation has signed a deal for further Boeing 757 freighters. They wont be owning them but leasing the three freighters from lessor Aquila Air Capital. Once they take possession of the aircraft Astral Aviation will become the largest B757F operator in Africa and Middle East. Their fleet isn't a large one as they operate 14 aircraft with types ranging from Fokker 27Fs, CRJ 200Fs, B747Fs (more popularly known with this type), B767Fs, DC9s and B727Fs. Astral chief executive Sanjeev Gadhia said: "The aircraft will take over the Nairobi-Johannesburg and Nairobi-Dubai scheduled service with increased frequency for our clients in addition to new scheduled routes to and within Africa and Middle East in 2022".

Freighter market is on fire presently...Here is a run through as to why.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/15/boeing-exec-freighter-markets-are-on-fire-right-now.html

Boeing [NYSE:BA] is bringing a new line of work to its state-of-the-art Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) facility at London Gatwick airport, modifying 737-800 commercial aircraft into Boeing Converted Freighters and increasing its footprint in the Crawley area.

"This new work for London Gatwick not only is a result of the cargo demand we’re seeing worldwide, but also because of the aviation industry’s valued position in the United Kingdom," said Sir Martin Donnelly, president of Boeing Europe and managing director of Boeing in the UK and Ireland. "From Lossiemouth to Sheffield to Gosport to Crawley, Boeing’s footprint in the UK across defense, commercial and services is robust and growing, and today’s announcement is yet another in recent weeks that demonstrates our partnership here." The London Gatwick MRO facility, a £100 million investment completed shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic began, will perform its first freighter conversion for the launch customer Icelease, which announced its first order for 11 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters at the Dubai Airshow today.

Airbus A350F orders. "We are proud to welcome CMA CGM AIR CARGO in the group of operators for the A350F and we are equally pleased to support the company’s future strategic development,” said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International. "The A350F will fit seamlessly into the carrier’s existing fleet of Airbus freighters. Thanks to its composite airframe and latest technology engines, it will bring unbeatable efficiency in terms of fuel burn, economics and CO₂ emissions, empowering the long-term sustainable growth of the Group." Scherer adds: "Having an early endorsement by such an international cargo powerhouse as the CMA CGM Group is very gratifying."

With a boom in cargo work driven by increased e-commerce purchases fueled by the covid-19 pandemic Qantas is about to convert two passenger Airbus A330s to freighter variants to cash in on the increased cargo volumes.

Airbus Transport International... those cargo belugas.

Freight express package specialist UPS has ordered more 767Fs. The latest order comprises of another 19 Boeing 767 Freighters. This is good news for the American airframer as it has been under alot of pressure lately on all fronts even in their once monopolized freighter market.

Atlas Air has ordered four Boeing 777 freighters. The order was placed back in December and now revealed. "We are honored that Atlas Air Worldwide, as a global leader in airfreight, has once again selected to grow with Boeing and our freighter family. These new 777 Freighters provide Atlas with more capacity, fuel efficiency and operational flexibility for its customers," said Ihssane Mounir, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing. "As air cargo demand continues to grow, we're confident that the efficiency, capability and flexibility of our freighter family will meet customer needs now and in the future."

Antonov Airlines recently delivered a Turkish communication satellite onboard one of their Antonov An-124 cargo jets. SpaceX will then put it into orbit. The satellite was housed in a special shipping container made by Airbus.

Aircraft lessor CDB Aviation has committed to a further dozen Airbus A330 passenger to freighter conversions with German aircraft modification joint venture EFW after securing lease commitments with Chinese operators.

Etihad has now signed a preliminary agreement for Airbus A350 freighters. If they go through with the order it would be for seven of the type. This comes when the cargo arm of Etihad has been getting rid of their A330-200F fleet. If they go ahead with this new freighter order Etihad will become the 5th operator for the A350F since it was announced.

Airbus pushing the case for the A350F.

The An-225 has been confirmed destroyed after it was hit while in a hangar yesterday.