The European Union recently convened in Brussels the first meeting of the High Level Group on Logistics, a 14-member assemblage devoted to advancing European transport policy measures, headed by European Commission vice president Siim Kallas.

Singapore Airlines Cargo and China Cargo Airlines have inked a deal to begin operating joint freighters services between Singapore Changi Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport on June 26.

South American carriers LAN Airlines and TAM have banded together, forming the LATAM Airlines Group, reportedly the largest airline group in South America. The combined LAN Cargo, which has three smaller affiliate carriers, and TAM Cargo will now be able to offer routings to 169 cities around the world.

After grounding its fleet of six Boeing 747-400ERFs on Dec. 31 due to depressed demand, Jade Cargo International has officially shut down. The liquidation of the Chinese carrier - of which Shenzhen Airlines, Lufthansa Cargo and German investment firm DEG hold a 51-percent, 25-percent and 24-percent stake, respectively - comes on the heels of numerous capacity cuts in the Asia-Pacific region.

Two months after the U.S. Transportation Security Administration and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection revealed that they're moving forward with their joint Air Cargo Advance Screening pilot program, the TSA announced that it set a December 3 deadline for screening all cargo on U.S.-bound passenger flights.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced that the city has reached a lease agreement with developer Aeroterm, launching construction of the Chicago O'Hare International Airport Northeast Cargo Center. The nearly $200m center, which will sit on approximately 65 acres of property, will be built in three separate phases.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are moving forward with their joint Air Cargo Advance Screening pilot program, according to John Pistole, TSA administrator.