African Airlines’ performance updates by AFRAA – August 2023
Airline Performance: In August 2023, traffic carried by African airlines reached 98.4% of the 2019 level. Domestic market share was estimated at 34%, intra-Africa at 29%, and intercontinental at 37%. The total number of intercontinental routes operated by African airlines exceeded pre-COVID levels since October 2022. In some major airports (Johannesburg, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Lusaka, Cairo, Casablanca, […]
Megamax newbuilds idle as carriers try to ‘turn the tables’ with shippers
Giant newbuilds being forced to idle ahead of a maiden voyage for months on end is never a good sign, and is something that is now a reality for the container trades where fortunes have nosedived over the past 15 months. Measuring 399.9 long, the giant 24,346 teu MSC Micol was meant to begin her maiden voyage […]
Education vs. Training: Accommodating AI in the Worldwide Air Cargo Logistics Industry
The potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the worldwide air cargo logistics industry. Among the reviewed studies, one suggested that while AI could affect 10% of the work tasks of 80% of the US workforce (“The future of work, Your new colleague,” The Economist, May 13, 2023, Pg. 56), the use of AI can create numerous […]
Carrier operating margins fall into single digits for first time in 3 years
There’s good news and bad news in the lead article in this week’s report from Alphaliner, the leading container publication from brokers BRS. First, the good news. Analysing Q2 results for the nine global carriers who publish their earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) shows that volumes bottomed out in the first quarter “The first […]
Flying into the future: KLM kicks off Electric Flying Connection Tour
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and the trade association Electric Flying Connection (EFC) offered a group of KLM guests a unique opportunity to experience the future of flying. The eighteen guests received a trial electric flying lesson aboard a Pipistrel Velis Electro, supervised by instructors from the E-Flight Academy. The 18 training flights, which operated between […]
When blue fuels masquerade as green
The Emperor’s New Clothes is a tale written by Hans Christian Andersen in 1837. Disney hasn’t made a film of it; the plot turns on a vain monarch, who is tricked into believing that he has bought a magnificent suit of clothes, when in fact he has bought nothing at all. He is the victim […]
ECA: Pilot fatigue – a new report reveals safety management deficiencies
Microsleeps in the cockpit, insufficient rest opportunities to prevent cumulative fatigue, extending flight duties beyond the legal maximum: a newly released report paints a poor picture of fatigue risk management in European aviation. The report, ‘A fatigue survey of European Pilots’ by the aviation safety management consultancy Baines Simmons, analyses the responses from nearly 6.900 European pilots […]
Corvus Tapped to Supply World’s Largest Electric Ship Battery
Corvus Energy has been selected to supply the battery systems for the world’s largest 100% electric Ro-Pax ferry. With over 40 MWh of energy storage, the battery system will be four times larger than the current largest installation in all of maritime. The lighweight ferry, built by Incat in Tasmania for Buquebus, will be the […]
Major U.S. Retailers Returning to ‘Just-in-Time’ Supply Chain
During the worst shipping delays of the early pandemic, consumer and transportation analysts predicted U.S. retailers would buy more goods than they needed to prevent future disruptions from turning into empty store shelves, but a new analysis suggests they are returning to old habits. With pandemic-related shipping problems in the rearview mirror, major U.S. retailers are no longer buying […]
Supply Chain Hopeful of Container Market Rebound, Survey Shows
A survey of more than 2,500 supply chain professionals has shown that a majority are hopeful of container market rebound. Despite the ongoing market fluctuations, the Container xChange’s Container Price Sentiment Index (xCPSI) witnessed growth in July over June. Container prices have also remained stable in July, indicating a market improvement that offers favorable conditions for shippers […]
