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DHL reveals first Mammoth 777-200 freighter conversion and confirms 13 aircraft ordered

DHL has has unveiled its first 777-200 converted freighter from Mammoth Freighters and confirmed its order for 13 of the type in total. The 777-200LRMF (Long Range Mammoth Freighter) has been on display at the UK's Farnborough International Airshow this week, and DHL said four of the 13 aircraft are planned to enter service this year. These 777-200LRMFs will join DHL Express' global air network as part of long-term fleet modernisation plans. The first aircraft has been placed with DHL Air UK. The aircraft displayed at Farnborough was converted in Manchester and the modification work included the installation of a large main-deck cargo door and advanced cargo handling systems. However, the original airframes and engines were retained. Tom Mackle, managing director, DHL Air (UK), said: "Being one of the first customers and first operator of the Boeing 777-200LR Mammoth Freighter conversion aircraft provides our customers with enhanced delivery capability. "The aircraft, placed with our UK airline, adds to our already tremendous operational reputation and technical expertise. It is a significant enhancement to our long-haul network capability. "The investment in people and growth in infrastructure reinforces our commitment to operating a modern, flexible fleet that delivers a highly reliable service and advances our broader sustainability ambitions. "We are pleased to be working alongside Mammoth Freighters and partners as we move towards service introduction within the DHL Express network." Mammoth Freighters received Supplemental Type Certification (STC) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its 777-200LRMF in April. The certification enabled Mammoth to begin aircraft deliveries to launch customer Qatar Airways Cargo, which has an agreement for five of the aircraft with Texas-based lessor, Jetran.

IATA appoints Saadia Zahidi as director general

IATA has appointed Saadia Zahidi as its new director general to take over from Willie Walsh who is leaving the airline organisation in July. Zahidi, who will begin the role on 1 November, will be IATA's ninth director general and the first woman to hold the role. She joins IATA from the World Economic Forum (WEF) where she is a managing director and member of the managing board. According to her LinkedIn profile, Zahidi has worked at WEF for more than 20 years, having joined in 2004 as an economist. She has held her current role for more than eight years. Sandrine Le Borgne, IATA's chief financial officer and senior vice president for corporate services, has been appointed as interim director general for the intervening period. Walsh is leaving the role to become the chief executive of Indian low-cost carrier IndiGo. Roberto Alvo, chair of the IATA board of directors and chief executive of LATAM Airlines Group, said: "Saadia's long and outstanding experience at the World Economic Forum will enhance and strengthen IATA as the voice of the world's airlines. "Saadia's appointment comes at a moment of significant change in the international environment. Technology and geopolitics, among others, will reshape the industry in the future and Saadia brings the right skills to effectively articulate what our industry needs to continue connecting people and economies safely, efficiently and sustainably." Alvo also thanked Walsh for his "outstanding leadership" as IATA emerged from the Covid years "stronger and with a more representative membership than ever". "Aviation is critical infrastructure for economic growth, trade, tourism, jobs, investment and opportunity," added Zahidi. "I look forward to working closely with our member airlines, governments and the ecosystem of partners to build on IATA's remarkable foundation, ensuring aviation continues to connect the world while embracing innovation, strengthening resilience and advancing sustainable growth." IATA added that Zahidi had also founded and currently heads WEF's Centre for the New Economy and Society and previously led the WEF's Global Communications Group, Global Programming Group, and engagement with academics, civil society and international organisations. Elsewhere, Zahidi also founded and co-authors WEF's Future of Jobs Reports, the Future of Growth Reports, the Global Gender Gap Reports, and Chief Economist Outlooks and has served on the UN Secretary-General's panel for Women's Economic Empowerment and the European Space Agency's High-Level Advisory Group,

Gulf landbridge not a sustainable solution, says K+N CEO

Kuehne+Nagel (K+N) appears less convinced than its peers of the long-term prospects for the Gulf landbridge, which has emerged in the wake of the US/Israeli war against Iran, despite growing belief among other operators that it is here to stay. At the start of July, CEO of the Swiss multinational Stefan Paul told the UK Financial Times that, given the "sheer mass" of regional boxship activity prior to the war, and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, "a trucking solution can never be sustainable". Mr Paul's comments came at a brief reprieve in the conflict and hot on the heels of several forwarders and transport operators telling The Loadstar they thought the landbridge offered "long-term viability" in a region that for three years had proved unstable. Asked if the re-escalation of the conflict had changed Kuehne+Nagel's way of thinking about the landbridge, a spokesperson stressed that while the company believed its long-term prospects were limited, and K+N was offering such a service. "Kuehne+Nagel is operating air-road solutions via airports in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and Oman with cross-border trucking into Middle East countries," a spokesperson told The Loadstar. "This solution is an alternative gateway into the Middle East countries. Should the situation change, we will evaluate with our customers what the best solution is to keep their cargo moving." Together with the sheer capacity available via ocean freight, it appears part of the problem for operators like K+N is that the region's infrastructure limits the volumes that can be handled by the landbridge. Shortfalls in rail and road infrastructure, not suitably equipped to offset even a fraction of the volumes that are moved each week by box ships, is where the concern lies, but sources said cooperation between Gulf states suggested this could be addressed. One haulier source in Saudi Arabia noted that the governments had been swift in ensuring that trucks could transit borders without the usual level of checks. As a result, Saudi Arabia, in particular, experienced a boom in its logistics activities, which has led many to believe that the government is looking for ways to "normalise" the landbridge. One source agreed with K+N to an extent, telling The Loadstar they did not expect to see "full normalisation" of the route, but also believed it had proved itself a viable alternative for those shippers acutely sensitive to disruption. Among those to see a long-term future for the landbridge route, Saudi Automobile & Touring Association's executive manager, Hasan Almanasif, pointed out that one need only consider how the Houthi siege of the Red Sea had reordered sea freight routings. "Bab el Mandab is partially open again and yet the alternative routings developed to get around the trouble there continue to be used, and it is because of this that I believe the Hormuz crisis will see these new routings maintained. "And I think that can only be a good thing. The new routes need to be used. But the issue now is ensuring there is the capacity to provide a balance between supply and demand to address the imbalance, with pricing very, very high at the moment."