Cargo

Paris, August 18th 2025: ECS Group has been selected by Asiana Airlines as its exclusive global partner to manage the airline’s international belly cargo business. This strategic GSSA agreement reinforces ECS Group’s reputation for delivering seamless, world-class cargo solutions and supports Asiana’s logistics evolution following the divestment of its freighter division. Effective August 1, ECS Group provides end-to-end services—including sales, reservations, customer service, and ground handling coordination—across 33 major locations in 9 countries throughout Europe, the Americas, China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. With a presence in over 60 countries and partnerships with more than 100 airlines worldwide, ECS Group brings the scale, local expertise, and operational excellence needed to support Asiana’s global belly cargo operations at every touchpoint. “We are honoured to partner with Asiana Airlines and proud of the expertise our teams bring to this collaboration. Leveraging ECS Group’s global network, we are committed to supporting Asiana Airlines with reliable, efficient, and tailored cargo solutions worldwide,” said Jean Ceccaldi, CEO of ECS Group. Asiana Airlines has transitioned to a fully belly cargo-based model, utilizing the lower holds of its passenger aircraft—including the A350-900, which offers up to 18 tons of cargo capacity. The airline is strategically focused on transporting high-demand, time-critical shipments such as semiconductor components, fresh food, and small express cargo. According to an Asiana Airlines official, “By combining ECS Group’s global network with Asiana’s expertise, we will respond proactively to the global air cargo market. We will continue to provide systematic and specialized services going forward.” This exclusive partnership enables Asiana Airlines to maintain a competitive edge in international air logistics, even after the sale of its freighter operations—implemented in response to regulatory directives from European and Japanese authorities. In 2024, Asiana Airlines carried approximately 158,000 tons of belly cargo on international passenger flights. With ECS Group now powering its cargo strategy, the airline is well-positioned to expand its global footprint while ensuring operational excellence and customer satisfaction.

Hong Kong, 13th august 2025: DHL Express and the Cathay Group have entered into a new sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) partnership that reinforces their shared commitment to reducing carbon emissions in the air cargo industry. Under the agreement, Cathay will supply DHL Express with 2,400 tonnes of SAF for international flights departing from three airports in Asia namely Seoul Incheon International Airport, Tokyo Narita International Airport, and Singapore Changi Airport. These flights are operated by Air Hong Kong, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Cathay Group, which principally operates express cargo services for DHL Express. Continuing through 2025, the partnership is expected to reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 7,190 tonnes — equivalent to the emissions of over 100 flights from Hong Kong to Singapore with an Airbus 330 freighter. DHL Express Senior Vice President for Network Operations & Aviation – Asia Pacific Peter Bardens said: “Sustainable aviation fuel currently accounts for less than 1% of the total global jet fuel consumption, yet air transport is one of our biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Our decision to expand our SAF usage in Asia with Cathay is another important step that we have taken to drive momentum in SAF production and demand. “DHL Express is at the forefront of SAF adoption, and we look forward to seeing more partners and customers join us on this journey to build a more robust SAF ecosystem in Asia. Our continued investment in this area aligns with DHL Group’s Strategy 2030, which recognises ‘green logistics of choice’ as one of the four bottom lines.” This SAF deal builds on the long-standing partnership between DHL Express and the Cathay Group, including through Air Hong Kong. For more than two decades, Air Hong Kong has played a vital role in DHL Express’s Asia Pacific network. This latest collaboration builds on that strong foundation and paves the way for deeper cooperation in advancing SAF. Cathay Director Cargo Tom Owen said: “This partnership marks the first SAF uplift on Air Hong Kong flights, a key milestone for Cathay as we continue to expand the SAF usage across our global network. SAF remains a core pillar of our strategy to address our carbon emissions, and collaboration is essential to scaling its use. We are excited to be working with like-minded partners like DHL Express to make SAF more accessible and scalable, particularly in Asia.” This collaboration makes DHL Express the latest strategic partner of Cathay’s Corporate SAF Programme, an initiative launched in 2022 to support corporate partners in addressing greenhouse gas emissions from business travel and airfreight through the use of SAF. In 2024, the Corporate SAF Programme enabled the use of over 6,000 tonnes of SAF, with a record 16 partners participating, including HSBC, AIA and Standard Chartered.

New Delhi, August 12, 2025: Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI) and The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) signed an MoU during the ACFI Annual Conclave 2025.The primary objective of the MoU is to strengthen cooperation between ACFI and TIACA in promoting the role of aviation – specifically air cargo – in economic and social development within India and the broader region. Key points of this agreement: • Safety Collaboration • Capacity Building & Efficiency • Policy Advocacy • Supply Chain Safety • Sustainability/ESG • BlueSky Program Access • Training Library Access • Climate Action Platform • Knowledge Exchange • Cargo Service Quality (CSQ) • Event/ Conference Collaboration “ACFI is a distinctive nationwide forum representing entire air cargo logistics / supply chain industry which has been partnering in progress with industry and government with strong national and international linkages for propelling progress, harmony and integrated development and economic prosperity of the Indian economy.” stated Sanjiv Edward, President, ACFI. “This MoU marks a significant step in fostering closer collaboration between TIACA and ACFI, reflecting our shared commitment to driving innovation, sustainability, and resilience in the air cargo industry. By combining our strengths, we aim to elevate India’s role in the global supply chain and support broader economic and social development across the region.” stated Steven Polmans, Chair, TIACA “We are delighted to partner with ACFI through this MoU, which underscores our mutual dedication to advancing air cargo’s critical role in economic growth and community development. This collaboration will enable greater knowledge sharing, support capacity building, and accelerate progress on key initiatives like sustainability, safety, and digital transformation.” stated Glyn Hughes, Director General, TIACA.

Gurugram, 29th July, 2025: Transport Corporation of India Ltd. (TCI), India’s leading integrated multimodal logistics and supply chain solutions provider, today announced its financial results for the quarter and financial year ended June 30, 2025. Financial Highlights for Q1 FY2026: – Revenue: TCI reported a consolidated revenue of ₹ 11,506 Mn, marking a growth of 9% compared to Rs. 10,560 Mn in the same period last year. – EBITDA: The company’s Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) stood at Rs. 1,520 Mn, a 11.9% increase from Rs.1,358 Mn in FY2024. – Profit After Tax (PAT): PAT rose by 17% to Rs.1,072 Mn., compared to Rs. 916 Mn in the previous year.       Management Commentary: On the Q1 FY 2025–26 results, Mr. Vineet Agarwal, Managing Director of Transport Corporation of India Ltd. (TCI), said: “We are pleased to report solid progress in the first quarter of FY 2025–26, driven by steady growth across our multimodal, warehousing, 3PL and cold chain verticals. Despite mixed sectoral trends in the economy, our integrated service offerings and customer-centric approach have enabled us to maintain noteworthy operational momentum.”   The manufacturing sector’s revival, particularly in chemicals, engineering and consumer goods, has positively impacted demand for reliable, scalable and sustainable logistics solutions. TCI’s continued investments in multimodal infrastructure, upskilling, AI based SOPs and green logistics have positioned us well to deliver the diverse supply chain solutions that meet the scale of India’s evolving logistics requirements. With continued infrastructure push and steady influx of global players driving multifaceted manufacturing growth, we anticipate a robust order pipeline in the coming quarters. “We remain committed to delivering value through innovation, strategic partnerships, sustainability and operational excellence in serving our customers with agility and efficiency.”

New Delhi,15 July 2025: SriLankan Cargo, the air freight arm of SriLankan Airlines, has achieved the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) Certification for its cargo ground handling operations at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).The certification, awarded by the internationally accredited Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), confirms that SriLankan Cargo’s terminal operations, import and export handling, warehousing and documentation processes meet the highest standards of quality, compliance and efficiency. Chaminda Perera, Head of Cargo at SriLankan Airlines, stated, “Achieving ISO 9001:2015 is a testament to our dedication to maintaining world-class standards in cargo ground handling. It reflects the tireless efforts of our cargo and ground operations teams to ensure efficient and customer-focused service delivery, as well as the strategic process improvements, employee training and strong quality assurance practices we uphold.” The ISO 9001:2015 standard is globally recognised for its focus on quality management principles including customer satisfaction, leadership, risk-based thinking and continuous process improvement. The certification applies to the full spectrum of activities performed by SriLankan Cargo, from export acceptance and import delivery to transit cargo processing, handling of special cargo such as live animals, perishables, valuables and dangerous goods, and documentation control. This achievement aligns with SriLankan Cargo’s broader strategy to enhance its cargo services, build global trust and support Sri Lanka’s position as a regional logistics hub, underscoring the airline’s continued commitment to excellence, safety and customer satisfaction in the global air cargo industry.

Ireland, 30th June 2025: Republic of Ireland based ECT Aviation has acquired its first Britten-Norman BN2T-4S Islander aircraft, expanding its operations into dedicated cargo services between Europe and North Africa. The aircraft will be deployed on high-frequency freight routes, notably linking Lyon Saint Exupéry Airport (LFLL) with key North African destinations. Flights will be operated in partnership with aviation services provider AVICO, with a focus on high-value, time-sensitive cargo including pharmaceuticals, artwork, precious metals, and critical documentation. Headquartered at Lyon Bron Business Airport (LFLY) and registered in Dublin, ECT currently operates a Pilatus PC-12 NGX for business aviation and MEDEVAC across Europe. The BN2T-4S will mark the company’s entry into scheduled freight operations, with service launch expected by late 2025, following delivery of the aircraft this autumn. Operations will be conducted under a German Air Operator Certificate (AOC) via Pro Air. In addition to this initial purchase, ECT has signed a Letter of Intent for a second BN2T-4S Islander, scheduled for delivery in early 2026. This planned expansion reflects the company’s strategic intent to build a dedicated, regionally focused cargo fleet serving markets that require speed, flexibility, and operational resilience. The BN2T-4S is the largest variant of Britten-Norman’s proven utility platform, the Islander. It features twin Rolls-Royce 250 B17F turboprops (400 hp flat-rated), a stretched fuselage, and a 30% increase in internal cabin space. The aircraft has a maximum take-off weight of 8,500 lbs and offers a range of 805 nautical miles (1,491 km), 7+ hours of endurance, and retains the platform’s STOL (short take-off and landing) capability, making it ideal for remote or unprepared strips. The aircraft will be equipped with the latest Garmin G600 TXi glass cockpit, including 10” primary displays, GTN 750/650Xi NAV/COMM/GPS units, and ADS-B Out transponders – supporting enhanced safety, regulatory compliance, and pilot efficiency. Fabrice Jounot, Managing Director at ECT Aviation, comments: “We’ve seen consistent demand from clients needing fast, flexible logistics into regions that are underserved by traditional carriers. The BN2T-4S offers the right combination of rugged performance and modern avionics to deliver reliable cargo operations, even into short or remote runways. It’s a highly capable platform that supports our strategy to grow specialised air freight between Europe and North Africa.”

London, 20th June 2025: Baltic Ground Services (BGS), an international ground handling, aircraft fuel supply and logistics service provider, has entered into a new strategic partnership with AEGEAN, the Greek flag carrier. The company, part of Avia Solutions Group, the world’s largest ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) provider, will supply AEGEAN with comprehensive ground handling services at Vilnius International Airport (VNO). The partnership commenced with AEGEAN first flight to Vilnius this year on June 3, 2025, followed by the first departure from Vilnius on June 4, 2025. AEGEAN operates scheduled direct flights between Vilnius and Athens twice a week, every Wednesday and Sundays, using Airbus A320 aircraft, with services available through the end of October. Launched last June, the Vilnius-Athens route offers Lithuanian passengers seamless access to the Greek capital, while also serving as a gate-away to the Greek islands and other destinations across Europe and the Middle East via Athens International Airport. It is particularly relevant for travelers planning leisure or business trips to southern Europe. “We are excited to support AEGEAN with our ground handling services in Vilnius,” says Vitalis Dudys, BGS Group Head of Commerce. “This partnership allows us to strengthen our presence at VNO, which has shown remarkable growth in recent years – passenger numbers increased by 9% to 4.8 million in 2024 compared to 2023.” AEGEAN, Greece’s leading carrier and member of STAR ALLIANCE founded in 1999 and, over its 25-year history, has grown into the most successful and fastest-growing regional airline. The 2025 AEGEAN network includes 250 direct routes, both scheduled and charter flights (55 domestic and 195 international), connecting 162 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. These routes are operated from AEGEAN’s seven bases in Greece and abroad, with a fleet of 83 aircraft, including the latest Airbus 320 and 321 neo. “We are pleased to establish a partnership with BGS as we commence our second year of operations on the Vilnius-Athens route”, comments Panos Nicolaidis, AEGEAN’s Chief Ground Operations Officer. “Their professional ground handling services and deep local expertise are essential to ensuring the efficiency and reliability of our operations. This partnership enables us to remain focus on our core mission – connecting Lithuania with Greece and the wider Mediterranean region, while consistently delivering high-quality service to our passengers”.

Munich, June 5, 2025: Global GSA Group and Qantas have announced a new pan-European cargo partnership leveraging Qantas’ direct services from Rome and Paris and Global GSA Group’s extensive interline connections.Qantas offers seasonal services from Rome’s Fiumicino airport with three weekly Boeing 787-9 services providing generous cargo capacity during European Summer. The Australian carrier also offers year-round services from Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport with three weekly flights also operated by the Boeing 787-9 and a weekly cargo uplift of around 45 tonnes. Direct flights from France and Italy are available for booking with seasonal Rome-Perth-Sydney services set to commence on 15 June 2025.Aytekin Saray, Global GSA Group’s Chief Executive Officer, and Mallory Logan, Head of Global Sales and Customer for Qantas Freight this week signed the three-year agreement selecting Global GSA Group as Qantas Freight’s GSA in Europe. As one of the world’s leading GSAs with a dense commercial network in 25 European countries and strong interline connections, Global GSA Group will assist in implementing and developing Qantas’ cargo expansion plans for mainland Europe over the next three years. An efficient and flexible mix of direct flights and interline opportunities will give European freight forwarders access to reliable services to Australia and beyond. “As the only Australian carrier providing direct services from two European ports to Australia with connections to broader Oceania destinations, Qantas offers a huge network of opportunity for European freight forwarders to reach domestic and international destinations within Oceania,” said Aytekin Saray, Chief Executive Officer of Global GSA Group. “Global GSA Group looks forward to supporting Qantas as it expands its cargo offerings from Europe, leveraging our solid presence on this continent to provide a broad and long-term cargo network and increased online operations for the region.” Igor Kwiatkowski, Executive Manager of Qantas Freight, said the Australian carrier was looking forward to partnering with Global GSA Group for its re-entry into Europe. “We are thrilled to partner with an experienced GSA like Global GSA Group to offer our customers more efficient and flexible air freight services from Europe. This strategic partnership allows us to make the most of cargo network in the region and make it easier for freight forwarders to access our capacity from Europe to Australia and meet continued global ecommerce demand.” Flight QF34 takes off at 10:25 every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from Paris -Charles de Gaulle to Perth, where it lands at 08:45 the next day. At 10:30, it continues onto Sydney, landing at 16:25 the same afternoon. From Perth, Qantas offers multiple onward connections to Melbourne (MEL) and Brisbane (BNE), while Sydney feeds into key ports like Aukland (AKL), Nouméa (NOU), New Caledonia and more. From 15th June 2025 to 3rd October 2025, three flights per week will set off from Rome via Perth to Sydney. Flight number QF6 departs Italy on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. ________________________________________