In one of the stranger side-effects of the Icelandic volcano’s eruption, the world’s largest freighter – the Antonov An-225 – has performed its first charter from China, carrying a full load of general cargo. The aircraft - owned by Antonov Airlines and normally associated only with the very largest and heaviest outsize loads – transported the cargo from Shijiazhuang Airport (SJW) near Beijing to Vitoria (VIT), Spain on behalf of a major, … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: An-225 helps clear volcano backlog

Cargolux reported a 2009 net loss of US$153 million, nearly triple its $61 million deficit in 2008, with revenue dropping 34 per cent to $1.3 billion as the global air cargo market contracted severely. “2009 was arguably the most difficult year in the history of airfreight,” Europe’s largest all-cargo airline said in a statement. “The industry registered a decline in freight volume of well over 20 per cent during the year compared to 2008,” which led to … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Cargolux reports dire 2009 results

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said its new information web portal www. ethicalcargo.org, would “prevent arms and drug traffickers from accessing significant humanitarian aid and peacekeeping funds.” Some 90 per cent of the air cargo carriers identified in arms-trafficking have also been used for humanitarian aid and peacekeeping operations by the United Nations, EU member states, NGOs and NATO, according to a report published last year by SIPRI. … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Swedish think tank wants to clean up relief

Europe’s largest all-cargo carrier, has begun operating a twice weekly trans-Pacific service from mid-April, a milestone in the company’s history. The flights, utilising B747 freighters fly Luxembourg-Baku-Hong Kong-Chicago- New York JFK-Luxembourg. The second trans-Pacific service flies the route Luxembourg-Beirut-Amman-Hong Kong-Chicago-New York-Luxembourg. Europe’s largest all-cargo airline operates a fleet of 14 B747-400 freighters with one additional … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Cargolux goes trans-Pac twice weekly

An European Union agency says road and air freight within the bloc have increased noticeably since 1997 while the proportion of goods transported by rail is declining. The European Environment Agency says road and air freight transportation increased by 43 per cent and 35 per cent respectively in the ten-year period between 1997-2007, despite growing concern about the environmental impact of carbon dioxide emissions. During the same period, transportation via rail and inland waterways increased … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Road, air freight up over decade in EU

Air France-KLM Cargo has announced it has begun scheduled services between Amsterdam Schiphol and Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport in China from 8 May saying it is the first to offer direct service between Hangzhou and Europe. Flights are being operated with a Boeing 777-200ER, three times a week. Hangzhou, with close to seven million inhabitants, has developed into a major commercial and tourist centre in China, according to AF-KLM. “This fast-growing market offers interesting cargo … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Four new routes for AF-KLM Cargo