Our global freight forwarding network keeps our customers freight moving across the world.

First Airbus A350F takes off!

Airbus' A350 freighter prototype has taken off from Toulouse, France for its maiden flight in a milestone moment that brings it one step closer to certification and market entry. The departure of the MSN700 prototype, which was live-streamed by the aircraft manufacturer, is due to take around four hours, with a planned return to Toulouse. The MSN700 prototype, with the test registration F-WXLD, took off at 10:31 local time and was accompanied by a Dassault Falcon chase aircraft. According to information in the livestream, the aircraft is expected to stay in the area around Toulouse, Bordeaux and the Bay of Biscay, as agreed with air traffic control on 28 September. The crew, which comprise two pilots and three test engineers, undertook final cross checks before the flight, including checking computer systems and the flight plan. Speaking about the differences between the A350F and the passenger A350 model, Airbus head of widebody programmes Julien Puyou said: "To build the A350 freighter we took the A350-1000 and we shortened it a bit in the front part and we put a cargo door behind the wing." He said these choices were made to "optimise the balance of the aircraft in the air and so to optimise its performance that's why we made the nose shorter". Puyou pointed out the main deck cargo door was "the largest in the industry" at 175 inches wide. He added: "And we put the cargo door behind the wing to optimise the loading". He clarified that Airbus wanted to ensure companies could simultaneously load "the three cargo areas - the main deck and the two lower deck cargo areas so they are completely unconstrained on their operations". The A350F is now set to undertake a nine-month test and certification campaign and the second aircraft is also now in the final assembly line cycle and is due to take off on its first flight later this year, confirmed Airbus. The company is targeting 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. Airbus has now secured orders for 115 A350 freighters from at least 14 customers.

Slower demand growth emerging in Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific demand last month was dampened by a reduction of e-commerce parcels to Europe, although sustained volumes of AI-related goods helped airlines achieve a healthy year on year growth margin. Preliminary August traffic figures released by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) found that international air cargo demand, as measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK), grew by 1.1% year on year. This reflected a slower emerging pattern of growth since the EU ended the de minimis exemption on 1 July. Demand growth was up 1.1% year on year for July. In comparison, there was a 4.1% increase in April, a 2.5% increase in May, and a 3.2% increase in June. The AAPA said that "air cargo markets continued to benefit from rising export activity and brisk demand for AI-related goods, although e-commerce shipments to Europe showed some weakness following the introduction of charges on small parcels". Meanwhile, offered freight capacity expanded by 1.6%. As a result of the demand and capacity changes, the average international freight load factor fell by 0.3 percentage points to 59.3% for the month. Wong Hong, director general of AAPA, said that international "air cargo demand rose by a strong 5.5%"over the first eight months of the year, However, he added that elevated jet fuel prices, airspace restrictions and weaker Asian currencies are raising costs, meaning airlines have faced profitability challenges. Airlines also have to contend with geopolitical developments and changes in trade policies. Despite this, Hong said regional economic growth and trade activity should continue to support air cargo demand "although growth is likely to remain uneven across markets".

Airforwarders Association names Steve Smith as CEO

The Airforwarders Association (AfA) has appointed Airlink leader Steve Smith as its new chief executive to take over from Brandon Fried. Fried, who has led the AfA for 21 years and announced his retirement in February, will assist Smith during a transition period, allowing him to assume responsibility for the new role gradually as the AfA continues its advocacy work. Smith brings over 25 years of leadership experience spanning aviation, logistics, and humanitarian response, including 13 years as president and chief executive of Airlink, and a senior commercial role with Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace. "The work of the AfA has rarely been more important, with shifting trade policy, geopolitical disruption, and aging infrastructure adding pressure on supply chains that are already stretched," said Steve Smith, incoming chief executive, Airforwarders Association. "Forwarders need greater predictability as they navigate these pressures, and investment in the infrastructure that keeps it moving. "Over the many years that Brandon and I have known each other, he has built a strong association with an influential voice, and I want to thank him for his dedicated service. "I look forward to working alongside the AfA team, meeting more members, and ensuring forwarders continue to have an effective voice in Washington and across an industry that sits at the center of billions of dollars in global trade every day." At Airlink, Smith grew the organisation from a one-person start-up to a non-profit with revenue of almost $20m, working with more than 50 airlines and logistics companies, and 250 humanitarian groups across 100 countries, responding to more than 200 disasters and crises, and helping more than 80m people in need. During his tenure at Airlink, Smith built the operational framework and infrastructure connecting the aviation industry to humanitarian relief that had not previously existed, shaping how airlines, logistics providers, and aid organizations coordinate crisis response. Smith also directed the organization's response during major global disruptions, including COVID-19, the Russia-Ukraine War, the Ebola outbreak, and the 2023 Türkiye earthquake, and has served as a NATO spokesperson and subject matter expert on public and private sector crisis response. "Steve brings extensive aviation and logistics experience, a strong understanding of air cargo, and established relationships across all areas of the industry," said Brandon Fried, outgoing executive director, Airforwarders Association. "He understands the issues affecting the industry and the importance of engaging members, and I am confident he is well-placed to lead the AfA and build on the work we have done over the past two decades." Smith's work has been recognised by former President Bill Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative, and he is an alumnus of the Presidential Leadership Scholars program, a joint leadership initiative of the presidential centers of George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Lyndon B. Johnson. Additionally, Smith serves on the board of InterAction, the largest U.S. alliance of international NGOs, is a Board Trustee of the Aero Club of Washington, and serves on the advisory board of GoCrisis, a crisis management company.