Boeing announced production stoppage of the 747 jumbo jet following news that numerous airlines would be retiring their 747 fleets due to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, data and analytics firm GlobalData stated in a press release. British Airways, Qantas, KLM and Virgin Atlantic have either retired their fleets, or plan to do so ahead of pre-COVID-19 schedules. GlobalData said that shedding Boeing’s ‘increasingly redundant’ wide-body product and focusing on narrow-body aircraft such as … [Read more...] about Boeing’s 747 to exit production as airlines adjust to new reality
Air & Cargo Services
Local carriers cancel domestic flights as Manila braces for yet another lockdown
For the next 14 days domestic flights to and from Manila have been cancelled in line with the Philippine government's announcement of a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) for the area as well as adjacent provinces, as Covid-19 cases breached the 100,000 mark. Philippine Airlines said domestic flights between Clark, Cebu, Davao and cities other than Manila (which are not classified as high-risk areas) are not affected and shall remain operational, whilst international flights shall … [Read more...] about Local carriers cancel domestic flights as Manila braces for yet another lockdown
Asia’s exports show mild recovery as Taiwan swings to expansionary mode
Export powerhouses from Asia are showing nascent signs of turning the corner after months of pandemic pummeling from lockdowns, border restrictions and supply-chain snarls, Bloomberg’s Brendan Murray wrote on Supply Lines.. A purchasing managers index (PMI) for Japan advanced last month alongside many others in the region. Amongst a flurry of IHS Markit figures released on 3 August was a survey that showed Taiwan posted its best reading since January, making it the rare economy in the region … [Read more...] about Asia’s exports show mild recovery as Taiwan swings to expansionary mode
SIA Group posts net loss in first quarter despite cargo picking up slack
Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group posted S$1.12 billion in net loss for Q1 FY2021, reversing the $$111 million net profit in the first quarter of FY2020, an announcement revealed. Revenue also drastically dropped 79.3% to S$851 million from S$4.1 billion over the same period, which was partially offset by cargo activity. SIA said that much of the cargo demand came from urgent movements of personal protective equipment, pharmaceuticals and fresh foods, which boosted the cargo load … [Read more...] about SIA Group posts net loss in first quarter despite cargo picking up slack
Alibaba’s Cainiao boosts fleet with B757s for Russia delivery
Alibaba Group’s logistics arm Cainiao Network is adding new Boeing 757-200 cargo planes to match the surge in cross-border deliveries starting August, announced a press release. This will add to the more than 10 cargo aircraft it uses for parcels bound to Russia. Cainiao said the new fleet will transport AliExpress orders from Chinese online sellers to Russia. With more than 20 weekly flights to Moscow, Novosibirsk, and Alibaba hubs in Europe, the company plans to add routes to Yekaterinburg … [Read more...] about Alibaba’s Cainiao boosts fleet with B757s for Russia delivery
UK freight association tells members to apply for customs training funding
The British International Freight Association (BIFA), the trade association that represents UK freight forwarders, advised customs intermediaries to apply for the £50 million worth of fresh funding from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to extend, train or take in staff, including furloughed ones, confirmed a press release. HMRC, which runs the customs grant scheme, urges BIFA’s members to take advantage of the funding now to increase their capacity to make declarations ahead of … [Read more...] about UK freight association tells members to apply for customs training funding