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Kalitta Air is reportedly mystery customer behind order for 8 Airbus A350Fs

US cargo airline Kalitta Air is reportedly the mystery customer behind the order for eight Airbus A350 freighters that was made in August. Airbus had recorded the order in its August orders and deliveries data for the new generation model, but marked it as "undisclosed". According to Reuter's sources, Kalitta Air placed the firm order. However, the Michigan-based cargo carrier has not confirmed the order. "Kalitta Air is evaluating the Airbus A350F platform as part of our long-term fleet planning," an airline spokesperson told Reuters. "At this time, we remain in the evaluation phase and have no aircraft order to announce." Air Cargo News has contacted Kalitta Air for comment. Kalitta Air has been expanding its fleet of freighters in recent years. In 2025, aircraft lessor AerCap began delivering converted Boeing 777-300 freighters to launch operator Kalitta Air as part of a seven-aircraft order placed by the airline as it works to modernise its fleet and replace its ageing Boeing 747 freighters. Aircraft tracking site Planespotters.net shows that all seven of the aircraft have now been delivered, joining a further eight production 777Fs, plus 19 Boeing 747-400s - a mix of production and converted aircraft. Meanwhile, Airbus has now secured orders for 115 A350 freighters from at least 14 customers. The company has gained 34 orders for the A350F so far in 2026. The aircraft manufacturer's A350F prototype took off from Toulouse, France for its maiden flight on 29 August. The A350F is now set to undertake a nine-month test and certification campaign, as Airbus targets simultaneous certification from EASA and the FAA under the latest Amendment 27 safety regulations. The airframer said earlier this year that certification is targeted by the middle of next year.

Amazon adds two new China airfreight service offerings

Amazon Global Logistics has added two new service offerings for its airfreight operation between China and the US. Amazon said that the two new options - Air SMP and Economy Air - are aimed at providing customers with faster replenishment, more placement control, and lower costs. The firm's Air SMP option allows customers to split inventory at origin and ship by air directly to a locked fulfilment centre within each of its five US regions. Shipments arrive in an estimated seven to 10 calendar days from origin pickup, with daily flights from Shanghai and Hong Kong. There are no Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) inbound placement service fees and no additional surcharges on apparel, electronics, or lithium battery products. Meanwhile, Economy Air provides a lower-cost air freight option with an estimated 11-15 day transit from Shanghai or Shenzhen to Los Angeles. "You still get air-speed replenishment that outpaces ocean freight by weeks, at rates lower than standard Amazon Global Logistics Air," the company said. "Both services are ideal for peak season preparation, stockout recovery, or time-sensitive product launches when ocean transit is too slow." The new service options come after the company realigned its supply chain operation this year. In the summer, the company reunited its Amazon Air operation with its ground transportation and sort centre teams under the leadership of Raoul Sreenivasan. The company said that bringing these operations together as one team means faster decisions, sharper planning, and a more seamless journey for every package it moves. Meanwhile, in May, the company expanded its third-party logistics offering with the launch of Amazon Supply Chain Services (ASCS). Services offered through ASCS include freight, distribution, fulfilment, and parcel shipping solutions.

Bangladesh backs Mongla expansion as workers protest DP World deal

Bangladesh has signed a $336m loan agreement with China to expand and modernise Mongla port, as workers at the country's main container gateway of Chittagong threaten an indefinite hunger strike over a deal handing a major terminal to DP World. Signed in Dhaka on Sunday, the loan will fund the construction of two container jetties, as well as a cargo and delivery yard, at Mongla, alongside the purchase of modern port equipment, with expectations of an increase in annual capacity of 394,000 teu. Dhaka-based garment exporter Rafayet Ullah said construction of the Padma Bridge would make Mongla a genuine alternative to Chittagong, telling The Loadstar: "The increased number of jetties and modern equipment means the port will be able to facilitate significant volumes." The China-backed expansion comes as authorities in Bangladesh face opposition from port workers over a decision to award DP World a 15-year concession to operate Chittagong's largest container terminal, the New-mooring Container Terminal (NCT). Signed on 8 October, extending the concession, the agreement has seen workers and members of left-wing political parties stage mass "symbolic" hunger strikes outside the port as they demanded the deal's cancellation. And now they plan more drastic action. Humayun Kabir, coordinator of the Port Protection Sangram Parishad, said that, with government authorities refusing to discuss the deal, workers were "giving the government another bout of time. If the deal is not cancelled, we will go on a 'fast unto death' on 19 October". Mr Kabir cited other countries, including Djibouti, where port agreements involving DP World had been cancelled, calling for the same outcome in Bangladesh, while colleague Ibrahim Khokon said they had not been adequately informed about the deal before it was signed.