- Ruslan International carried a power station rotor from Kuwait to Singapore, using an Antonov An-124 aircraft. Loading and unloading the 99-tonne rotor required the use of mobile cranes and the aircraft’s own portable ramp system, the latter adding a further seven tonnes to the total load uplifted.
- Rhenus Logistics and Dutch Customs put a remote scanning of airfreight shipments pilot into operation. Rhenus scans freight shipments selected by Customs using its own X-ray and subsequently makes these scanned images available to Customs real-time. Customs takes care of receiving, reading and analyzing scanned images remotely.
- Boeing and Qatar Airways announced a five-year agreement to provide Boeing Wind Updates services for the airline. Boeing Wind Updates provides customized, real-time wind and temperature information to aircraft. This data allows for more efficient trajectory prediction during pre-flight operations and continuous optimization in-flight. As part of the agreement, Boeing Wind Updates will be integrated fleet-wide, across all Qatar Airways Boeing and Airbus aircraft.
- Momentum Transportation USA Inc. acquired JIX International Freight Specialists, an international freight forwarder specializing in air cargo.
- dnata’s airport operations division has launched aircraft line maintenance to support cargo airline operators. With the addition of these services, dnata provides technical assistance for aircraft landing at Dubai International airport and Dubai World Central Al Maktoum International airport.
- Crane Worldwide Logistics celebrated its fifth year of business by posting a record for revenue, opening new offices and relocating to sustainable offices. Crane Worldwide reported total revenue for 2013 at US$574 million (417 million euros). Compared to 2012, the company increased its revenue by more than 21 percent.
- A 103-tonne turbine rotor arrived in Yekaterinburg, Russia, onboard an An-124-100 Ruslan freighter operated by Volga-Dnepr Airlines. The shipment was delivered from Frankfurt/Hahn.
- Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI) delivered the first of four B737-400SF freighters to FarnAir Europe based in Allschwil, Switzerland. The aircraft is a B737-400SF built in 1996 and was converted at Commercial Jet’s Miami facility. This is AEI’s second of an anticipated more than 30 freighters to be delivered in 2014.
- Dachser USA expanded its operations in Chicago to meet increasing demand. A newly expanded warehouse facility will function as a hub for Dachser in the Midwest, providing cross-docking, warehouse storage, warehouse distribution and buildup and breakdown of air and ocean containers.
- TNT Express reported revenue of 1.7 billion euros for the fourth quarter of 2013, which is a drop of 4.6 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2012.
- Finnair will start scheduled service between Miami International Airport and Helsinki. The new service will mark the Southeastern U.S.’s only non-stop connection to Finland. Finnair will launch two weekly nonstop flights on Dec. 16 using A340 aircraft. Beginning on Jan. 3, 2015, the Miami-Helsinki service will increase to three weekly flights through March 21, when the seasonal service concludes.
- Volga-Dnepr Airlines delivered lifts and escalators for the modernization of the National Belarus Airport from Shanghai to Minsk, Republic of Belarus. Ruslan International operated the flight. The An-124-100 Ruslan aircraft carried eight elevators and four escalators, weighing a total of 85 tonnes.
- SATS’ wholly-owned subsidiaries, SATS Investments (II) Pte. Ltd. and Cemerlang Pte. Ltd., entered into a share sale and purchase agreement to acquire an aggregate of 869,220,800 ordinary shares in PT Cardig Aero Services Tbk (CAS), representing approximately 41.65 percent of CAS. The transaction is in line with SATS’ strategy to grow its food business, which CAS specializes in. In addition, Indonesia is a priority market for SATS. The company expects that the country’s topography as an island nation – which makes air travel the most efficient mode of transportation for cargo – and growing middle class will drive greater demand for food.
- Boeing and SunExpress finalized an order for 15 737 MAX 8s and 25 Next-Generation 737-800 airplanes. The order also includes options for 10 additional 737 MAX 8s. The order is the largest in the history of the Turkish carrier, who is a subsidiary of Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa.
- Avianca selected ATR to maintain and repair its new fleet of ATR 72-600 aircraft for a period of 10 years. The global maintenance agreement covers the supply of spare parts, as well as repair and maintenance services for the new fleet of ATR aircraft being incorporated into the airline.
- Kuwait Airways ordered 25 aircraft, including 10 A350-900 and 15 A320neo family aircraft, as part of the airlines’ fleet renewal strategy.