Air freight forwarding grew nearly three times faster than ocean forwarding in the first half of 2010, according to a new report on global freight trends from Transport Intelligence (TI). The air freight forwarding market grew 38 per cent in the first six months of the year over the same period a year ago, compared with ocean forwarding which grew only 13 per cent from last year’s severe contraction. The strong rebound in air was attributed to the “drastic steps” by both … [Read more...] about Air freight grows three times faster than ocean

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced international scheduled traffic statistics for July which showed continued strengthening of demand for both cargo and passenger traffic. Compared to July 2009, international scheduled freight traffic showed a 22.7 per cent improvement while passenger demand was up 9.2 per cent. These year-on-year comparisons for July were less than the June growth data of 26.6 and 11.6 per cent respectively. IATA said the apparent slowdown was … [Read more...] about IATA: Recovery enters second, slower phase

“The lack of conversions during this period was quite devastating, but also laid the ground work for an incredible recovery that started in the summerof 2009,” comments Robert T. Convey, vice president of Sales & Marketingfor Westlake Village, CaliforniabasedAeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI).The reason for his optimism is dueto the fact the conversion backlog haslargely burned off and the cargo industry is experiencing double digit gains in fronthaul traffic. Yet barriers to … [Read more...] about Conversions answer call as market rebounds

China nascent narrowbody conversion companies – like their US and European counterparts – were hit hard. But as the industry recovers and as more airlines take delivery of their A380s and Boeing’s Dreamliner 787 reaches customers by the end of 2010, more airframes are expected to become available for passenger to freighter conversions over the next few years. Xiamen-based Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (TAECO), based in Xiamen, sister … [Read more...] about China’s freighter conversion business limps along

Bedek, part of the Israel Aerospace Industries group, has been active in the conversion market with certification for Boeing passenger-tofreighter conversions on B737-300/400, B767-200/300 and B747-400 aircraft for a number of years, but last year was certainly a tough one concedes Jacob Netz, director Analysis & Strategy, Freighter Conversions at IAI Bedek Aviation Group. “The crisis is global and we suffer as the others. We had almost no conversions of B737 and B747 during the … [Read more...] about Bedek sees promising future in B767 conversions

Optimism is not so difficult an attitude these days – at least not when the cargo front is looking better all the time. In a recent television interview Lufthansa’s Chief Financial Officer Stephan Gemkow commented: “The cargo business is currently absolutely booming. For the first time in over 10 years we are seeing not just strong imports out of China, but also strong exports to China. And when he was asked about the immediate future, Gemkow said: “As far as a … [Read more...] about Airframers see huge ongoing market for freighters