There is no doubt that lithium-ion batteries, when packed together without the proper packaging and handling precautions, can certainly be dangerous. In 2014, the Federal Aviation Administration applied heat to a container packed with 5,000 lithium-ion batteries that resulted in a thermal runaway and subsequent explosion of flammable gases emitted within the container. Even a favorite fire suppressant, when used, was ineffective in extinguishing the fire. The danger appears to be inherent in all aircraft configurations, passenger or all-cargo.
Ireland-based ASL Aviation Group has agreed to purchase airline operations currently owned by TNT Express and is expected to will continue to operate them on behalf of the merged FedEx-TNT entity.
If you have been following the news from the express and e-commerce industries lately, you could be forgiven for thinking that the big U.S. integrators are in serious trouble, trembling at the thought of Amazon not only pulling its business from UPS and FedEx, but also competing for their remaining business.
As we draw toward a close of a volatile 2015 that saw airfreight demand skyrocket in the early months only to cool down and stagnate for much of the rest of the year, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) is predicting continued sluggishness for most of 2016, thanks to continued weak growth in world trade, a slowdown in China, falling commodity prices, and an expected interest rate hike in the United States.
U.S.-based lessor and asset manager Aviation Capital Group placed a firm order for fifteen 737-800 passenger-to-freighter conversions with Aeronautical Engineers Inc (AEI), with options for fifteen additional conversions. The announcement was made at the Cargo Facts Aircraft Symposium in Miami.
What seemed like a sure deal may not be a slam-dunk after all. Regulators in the European Union have said they may consider demanding concessions, including the selling off of some assets, with regard to the proposed takeover of TNT Express by FedEx Corp.
Accenture released a new version of its Air Cargo Suite software with advanced capabilities that can help carriers become more flexible, competitive and efficient through streamlined operations and data integration. The entire suite is now also available for delivery as a service, enabling carriers of all sizes to take advantage of a robust cargo management solution while retaining the agility and cost benefits of SaaS.
In an announcement that sent waves of protest throughout the freight forwarding industry, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed a plan late last month to move most of the air cargo operations out of New York City's JFK International Airport and relocate them about 80 miles northwest to Stewart International (SWF) in the lower Hudson Valley. Negative reaction to the proposal was swift.
World scheduled airfreight traffic, measured in freight tonne kilometers, is expected to grow by 3.7 percent in 2014, according to the International Civil Aviation Organization.
