Southwest Airlines this week reported a record $6.3 billion in operating revenue for the first quarter of 2024, an increase of 10.9% from the same period last year. The carrier also reported a revenue increase from its cargo operations of 2.4% year over year to $42 million.  While this is in line with Southwest’s Q4 ..read more

IAG Cargo is relying on veggies to power its fleet of 160 trucks at London’s Heathrow Airport.  The United Kingdom-based cargo carrier is using hydrotreated vegetable oil instead of diesel fuel to help the airport (LHR) reduce carbon emissions and reach net-zero targets by 2050, according to an April 25 release from IAG Cargo.  Hydrotreated ..read more

Digital logistics solutions provider Logicsols will use the airfreight tracking program interface developed by BlueBox Systems, allowing customers to manage their logistics operations with features including shipment visibility, data analysis and document legalization.  Logicsols will integrate BlueBox’s tracking data into its own platform via API, according to a release from BlueBox this week. Due to ..read more

Qatar Airways Cargo has opened a 5,260-square-meter live animal transport center in Doha, Qatar, that includes temperature control for animal comfort and service enhancements.  The carrier transported more than 550,000 animals, including 10,000 horses, in 2023, according to a release from the airline this week.  The new animal center includes:  140 dog kennels and 40 ..read more

American Airlines Group today reported a record $12.6 billion in operating revenue for the first quarter of 2024, an increase of 3.1% compared with Q1 2023. The carrier’s cargo revenue fell 16% year over year to $187 million.  THE BIG PICTURE: High capacity and low demand continue to have an impact on American Airlines’ cargo ..read more

Swiss cargo and ground handler Swissport said it will exclusively handle forwarding services for Atlanta-based forwarder JAS Worldwide at Frankfurt International Airport.  Swissport will handle all of JAS Worldwide’s cargo that passes through Frankfurt (FRA), Swissport Head of Communications Nathalie Berchtold told Air Cargo Next.  “The new services complement [Swissport’s] existing forwarder and airline handling ..read more

Danish forwarder DSV today reported first-quarter revenue of 38.3 billion kroner ($5.5 billion), down 5% year over year.   Revenue from DSV Air and Sea decreased 11.5% YoY to $3.2 billion.  (Courtesy/DSV) THE BIG PICTURE: While Air and Sea volumes increased in Q1, DSV’s revenue decline was driven by below-average freight rates, according to the company’s earnings statement released today.  “Although spot rates are higher than last year, the average contract rate for the current period is lower compared to [the] same period last year,” according to the statement.  BY THE NUM ..read more

AI is increasingly being used in the air cargo industry and, unlike the much-hyped blockchain, it appears AI is here to stay.  AI can be used for digital booking and pricing optimization, flight information based on real-time data, operating efficiencies and more. Stakeholders across the supply chain are looking at how this technology can improve efficiency and take over repetitive tasks from humans.  Greg Kefer As such, many industry leaders have been investigating and investing in AI. United Kingdom-based intelligent logistics platform Raft raised $30 million in series B funding in ..read more

Swiss forwarder Kuehne+Nagel today reported a net turnover of CHF 5.5 billion ($6.1 billion), an 18% year-over-year decrease.  THE BIG PICTURE: The forwarder’s first-quarter earnings were as expected and in line with decreases seen by other forwarders at the start of the year, Kuehne+Nagel Chief Executive Stefan Paul said during a conference call today.  “Our ..read more

It was a disappointing start to 2024 for UPS, as the company reported a 5.3% year-over-year decline in the first-quarter, a consolidated revenue of $21.7 billion and a 36.5% YoY decline in consolidated profit of $1.6 billion.  “Our financial performance in the first quarter was in line with our expectations, and average daily volume in ..read more