Air Freight Service news update part tree

With the return of the Air Freight Service blog, we continue to review a number of critical news and articles affecting the air cargo and air cargo industry. These articles complement our regular updates by providing many more facts, figures and opinions to help you better understand the state of the air cargo industry today. After each recap, all you have to do is click on the link if you want more information, so let’s get started.

United Airlines has tightened restrictions on carrying lithium-ion batteries in the cargo bays of all of its passenger planes in the wake of recent FAA and International Air Transport Association (IATA) fire safety alerts. These changes put the carrier on par with others that have already made such changes, and it is likely that others will follow suit.

The giant ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are still overloaded with cargo traffic, causing delays and customer dissatisfaction. According to this Los Angeles Daily News article, an increasing number of customers are opting for air freight options to ensure cargo arrives on time for the traditional December rush. In addition, air cargo tonnage served at Los Angeles airports increased significantly in October compared to the same month in 2013.

Cathay Pacific and partner carrier Dragonair claim continued strong air cargo performance in 2014, with tonnage up 12 percent year-over-year in November and annual growth of 11.9 percent in 2014. Strong changes in the Asian and North American markets are helping the airline surpass the annual record set in 2010, read more at JOC.com,

Huntsville, Alabama, released November freight data showing a sharp decline in rail shipments, while November’s increase in air freight tonnage was 6.7 percent after a more modest 1.6 percent annual climb the previous month, read all the details at AL.com.

Miami (MIA) expects to take advantage of the growing momentum of trade to and from Latin America by offering air cargo services to new carrier Western Global Airlines, read more at perishablenews.com.

The Ontario Airport (ONT) could once again be taken over by the City of Ontario, California, after years of management by the City of Los Angeles. Officials believe the change in management could improve the overall efficiency of the airport, which has seen a decline in passenger and cargo traffic in recent years, Press Enterprise has more.