Coronavirus

Northwest Seaport Alliance CEO John Wolfe is encouraged by an increase in imports so far this month.

Voluntary redundancy is the term used when an organization has more jobs than it needs — or can afford. It’s a nice way of letting people go compared to forced layoffs. IATA has offered deals for employees to leave early, and cargo chief Glyn Hughes has accepted.

New Panjiva survey reveals extent of coronavirus fallout on global supply chains.

Air cargo capacity is tight out of key areas in Southeast Asia, but Chinese exporters enjoyed a week of flat to lower rates as supply exceeded demand

New medicines and life science products are more valuable and temperature-sensitive than before, requiring special storage and transportation conditions. Will there be enough of this infrastructure to handle a COVID vaccine?

Information sharing is part of Executive Director Gene Seroka’s quest for more efficient operations.

U.S. importers now paying three times more per mile than Europeans for transport of Chinese goods.

After decades of safety improvements, a deadly stretch of casualties for ocean shipping.

Companies that need to move goods by air will need to increase their transportation budgets to get through the fourth quarter as low capacity ignites airfreight prices.

Some people call it the Flying Forehead. The A380 is a double-deck plane that airlines quickly parked when the coronavirus destroyed travel demand. Now, Emirates is starting to fly a few of the mammoth planes.

No part of United Airlines was spared from job cuts announced Wednesday, but the cargo division’s roughly 50 job losses are far fewer than those in other parts of the company.

McKinsey warns that global shocks will become more frequent and shippers must improve the resiliency of their supply chains.

The viability of the airline industry is at stake because COVID has mostly wiped out passenger travel. The group’s global trade association is pleading with governments to help airlines with rule changes and financial aid.

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The air cargo market continued its recovery in July from the depths of the COVID pandemic, but is still far below last year’s results. Demand is expected to shoot up in the next few months because the holidays are coming.

You’ll have to hold your nose if you crush a stink bug. More than a nuisance, the stink bug is a destructive pest that can damage many crops. Australia has put tight measures on air and sea freight to keep the bug out of the country.

In the early days of working remotely, a few key challenges became apparent, with efficient internal communication coming to the forefront.

Price inflation has tapered off for many – not all – air cargo markets during the second half of August. Shippers shouldn’t get used to it.

If you’re an airline with the name Scoot, you’ve got to move fast. The Singapore carrier did that when it transitioned to cargo flights and removing passenger seats.

U.S. importers turn to Chinese sellers in the wake of COVID.

The CARES Act was a Band-Aid for the airline industry, holding tens of thousands of jobs in place for a brief period. Now the Band-Aid is coming off and without a fresh dressing, American Airlines and competitors are planning big layoffs.

Good news: Ocean volumes are recovering from COVID.

Hibernation is good for bears, but not so much for aircraft. When planes sit for extended periods, systems can erode and corrode, and bugs can make nests in key components. That’s a big safety concern airlines need to manage.

International travel is Qantas Airways’ bread-and-butter business, but it has been mostly wiped out by the coronavirus crisis. Now that underutilized side of the company is getting folded into the domestic unit to save money.

Airfreight exports from China slowed a bit in mid-August, allowing shippers to take back a tiny bit of pricing before rates shoot up for the next few months in as retailers build inventory for the holidays.

COVID-19, polarizing political and social climates, explosions and UFOs are just a few of the unforeseen events making 2020 one for the history books.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, two freight-related companies in Texas are eliminating 382 jobs.

Ruan Transportation quickly pivoted to adapt to changing economic conditions brought about by the coronavirus. Find out how they did it.

Tensions between the U.S. and China are high on a number of trade, diplomatic and security fronts but are easing when it comes to air travel. Both governments are now allowing more flights from each country.

Executive Director Gene Seroka does not want to break the 15-month record set during the recession of 2008-09.

COVID-19 could ignite geopolitical clashes and cause “meltdown” in U.S. consumer demand.

Shipping by air got much more expensive when the coronavirus pandemic exploded in March. After moderating earlier this summer, another price spike is brewing.

Taiwanese carrier’s dry bulk business takes a beating.

The coronavirus pandemic remains a “major source of uncertainty for the entire logistics industry.”

There was a marked difference in how Canada and the U.S. reacted to the opportunity of transforming passenger aircraft into twin-deck freighters by removing the seats. One country moved very fast. The other was slow to the party.

“We’re not doing any victory celebrations because the trade outlook remains unclear as long as the pandemic is with us.”

Asia-U.S. ocean freight rates are hitting record highs as import demand outpaces vessel supply.

Operating profit “turnaround” of more than $300 million reported.

Shippers are facing delays at Sydney Airport in Australia because cargo terminals are buried in cargo.

Cargo has always been a top priority at Cathay Pacific, a combination carrier with a fleet of passenger and cargo planes. But the airline is adding some leadership muscle to gain more logistics customers.

Warm, dry weather isn’t just easier on the body, it’s nice for airplanes with metal frames and electronics that can deteriorate when there is too much moisture. That’s why Cathay Pacific is sending its planes to a sunny vacation spot while it waits for the coronavirus to go away and customers to start flying again.

Euronav and Scorpio Tankers highlight attractive fundamentals after floating storage wraps up.

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Atlas Air Worldwide’s big cargo planes have been in flying full tilt since the novel coronavirus metastasized in March. Combine that with high rates and you’ll understand why r revenue and profit grew so much in the second quarter.

Federal government asked to contribute $3 billion to cover projected losses.

Logistics providers are worried that new emergency measures to combat a COVID resurgence in Victoria, Australia, will hamstring deliveries of imports and exports.

To view more FreightWaves infographics, click here.

The cargo divisions at Air Canada, IAG/British Airways and Air France-KLM played dominant roles for their respective airlines in the second quarter, creating cash flow. Typically, they barely register on the financial statement. What happened?

Trade has been destabilized by the pandemic. Can trade credit insurance help de-risk trade to a degree and help solidify supply chains?

The state of Victoria in Australia has declared a COVID-19 emergency and is shutting down nonessential businesses. Qantas Freight is pausing operations at its warehouse because of a health issue.

Airfreight rates from China are on the rise again. The rest of the world is more stable when it comes to air cargo. But China is driving much of the transport activity because of its export of face masks and other goods.

UPS pilots are seeking protections from aggressive health safety measures in Hong Kong but aren’t going as far as their counterparts at FedEx.

Rickenbacker Airport, a low-hassle alternative to some big airports, set cargo records in June handling COVID supplies.

New data reveals just how far ship orders have sunk. The fewer ships ordered, the higher future rates could climb.

“It is paramount that we see progress with crew changeovers,” says The Mission to Seafarers.

Airline industry officials are more pessimistic about a recovery after seeing a decline in consumer confidence and coronavirus surges in some countries. Cargo has more near-term upside, but June volumes were disappointing for carriers.

It’s not an accident that United Airlines’ cargo business in the second quarter dwarfed that of Delta Air Lines and American Airlines.

“Cargo volume reductions related to COVID-19 were offset by the strength of our export markets and record volumes earlier in the year,” says GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch.

Orient Overseas Container Line briefly outlines performance for the second quarter and first six months of 2020.

Airfreight looks like a haven for some ocean shippers that can’t find reliable, affordable transportation, but it probably won’t be that way for long because more businesses will need to move goods by air in the coming months and there aren’t enough planes.

More layoffs in Texas aerospace and freight services companies as coronavirus case numbers climb

Wrecked car carrier, with some 4,200 vehicles on board, has been on its side in St. Simons Sound since September.

Express carriers UPS and DHL helped push Brussels Airport into the black for June’s cargo volume. Most airports during the pandemic haven’t been able to make up for the loss of passenger flights on which so much cargo typically flows.

United Airlines lost $1.6 billion in the second quarter. Given that a pandemic has hammered passenger travel, that’s relatively good. Company officials say maintaining capacity discipline for the foreseeable future is critical to get back to profitability.

Jason Miller, associate professor at the Michigan State University Eli Broad College of Business, paints a bearish picture.

United Airlines got pummeled by the coronavirus pandemic in the second quarter, losing $1.6 billion before special charges. But cargo revenue jumped because of the huge number of cargo flights it operated without passengers to worry about.

PACCAR beat the consensus estimate of analysts, posting second-quarter profits of nearly $148 million despite U.S. plants being closed for five weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic.

British Airways’ decision to retire its fleet of 747 jumbo jets is a loss for aviation lovers, but businesses that ship goods by air will benefit from using more modern aircraft.

Will tanker sector see summer lull or more action ahead?

The global airfreight market contracted during the first six months of 2020, but airlines made much more money from cargo than last year, according to World ACD.

vailable cargo space on outbound aircraft from China is starting to become scarce again. Shippers better hurry to lock up reservations for the late summer and peak season.

Operational lower level essential to movement of goods and economic recovery.

Warehouse operators seize on flexible robotic solutions to address a variety of marketplace challenges.

Total number of TEUs moved in June down 17.1% year-over-year.

U.S. shippers importing cargo from Asia are getting some price relief.

Truckers find themselves inadequately protected against COVID-19. Are you doing the most to protect your fleet?

Transaction volumes in China surged by an incredible 430% when factories reopened at the end of February.

American Airlines and JetBlue plan to enter a strategic partnership to drive more passengers to their respective networks as they struggle with the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.

American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Airlines are planning for mass layoffs unless workers take unpaid leave or separation packages as COVID continues to batter the industry.

CEO Jim Newsome optimistic about economic recovery in 2021.

Virgin Atlantic is recapitalizing without support from the U.K. government thanks to internal and external investors and creditors.

Throughout the pandemic, Echo Global Logistics has remained busy moving goods and giving back to those in need as it contemplates a new normal.

Nordic American Tankers is the best stock performer among larger listed ship owners. Scorpio Bulkers is the worst.

‘There is an increasing risk that fatigue and mental health issues could lead to serious maritime accidents.’

Airlines are leaning heavily on governments for support until they can get back on their feet once the COVID crisis subsides. Next up: KLM.

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The FAA’s ruling allowing airlines to jam more cargo in the cabin by removing passenger seats may be a pyrrhic victory. The incentive to do so may have passed.

The air cargo market is getting closer to equilibrium, but the coronavirus is a wild card that could disrupt economic activity and put a premium on air transport again.

United Airlines said layoffs of more than 4,700 employees at airports in Houston and Dallas could be long term if economic conditions do not change.

Canceled San Pedro Bay calls more than doubled in the first half of the year compared to 2019.

Boost attributed to retailers trying to beat capacity constraints and rate hikes.

Pilots don’t want to fly to Hong Kong because of mandatory crew tests for coronavirus. Some airlines have hit the pause button on flights to avoid crews getting trapped in long quarantines.

International Maritime Organization warns crew change prohibitions during the coronavirus pandemic have led to a growing humanitarian crisis.

Tanker rates haven’t been this strong at this time of year for a half-decade.

Deutsche Post DHL said preliminary second-quarter profits, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, have it less worried about the rest of the year.

With no end in sight to the pandemic in North America, BMWED says railroads should enhance worker safety.

When it comes to airports and cargo, bigger isn’t always better. Shippers are finding the benefits of airports that fly under the radar.

Lori Ann LaRocco illustrates the disruption to global trade by profiling what has happened at the Port of Miami since the coronavirus pandemic began.

Lufthansa Airlines is transforming itself into a smaller airline, while its Cargo division settles on a single company to manage its central warehouse.