With 2020 already underway, the Air Cargo News team decided that now is an ideal moment to share our most popular stories from the past 12 months. Despite 2019 being a challenging – and at times, unpredictable – year, there were significant positives, as our list below shows.
So, which stories caught our readers’ attention in 2019?
In September, we shared the news that Volga-Dnepr Group subsidiary AirBridgeCargo Airlines and partner airline CargoLogicAir planned to cancel 11 freighter connections as a result of poor market conditions...
In March, Amazon Air shared a photo of the B737-800 set to join its fleet. The aircraft featured blue livery and has a smaller capacity than the B767 models in the airline's fleet, which led to speculation that it could be used in European services…
In September, FedEx announced that it would speed up the retirement of all 20 of its MD-10-10 aircraft in response to weak macroeconomic conditions. FedEx chairman Fred Smith also said it was "highly likely" that the company would axe its remaining 10 A310 aircraft to exit that fleet type...
In July, freight forwarder Flexport switched its transpacific air charter operations from Western Global to a service run by Plus Logistics, a Nippon Cargo Airlines subsidiary, and Atlas Air. According to a spokesperson for the company, the switch was made without a single missed flight...
In April, Cargolux shared the first image of its latest Boeing 747 freighter – one of three aircraft that joined the fleet last year. The airline told Air Cargo News that the freighters would initially be used to expand capacity rather than replace leased aircraft...
Following the merger of powerhouses DSV and Panalpina in August, the prospect of job cuts arose when the organisation announced the relocation of its headquarters...
In August, EL AL Israel Airlines ended its Boeing 747-400 freighter operations, which had run since April 2010, in favour of partnerships with ASL Airlines and AirBridgeCargo...
In November, investment bank Berenberg explored suitable companies that could next be acquired by DSV, following its merge with Panalpina in August. Berenberg looked at the potential for acquisitions – in particular forwarding companies with a strong road presence – and it identified three companies that could be potential targets…
In March, Amazon Air announced that it would be moving into B737-800 freighter operations, with a potential for up to 20 aircraft. The news came after Atlas Air Worldwide confirmed that its subsidiary, Southern Air, would provide crew, maintenance and insurance services to Amazon for the B737 aircraft...
In August, DSV completed its acquisition of Panalpina in a deal worth $5.5bn. The resulting company, DSV Panalpina, is now the second-largest airfreight forwarder (behind DHL)...
