Amsterdam Airport Schiphol joins Pharma.Aero as a Strategic Member, further strengthening a global community of industry stakeholders working together to address the evolving challenges of healthcare and pharmaceutical supply chains.

As one of Europe's leading aviation hubs, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol connects approximately 300 destinations worldwide and plays a significant role in facilitating international passenger and cargo flows. By joining Pharma.Aero, it will contribute its expertise and international connectivity to collaborative industry initiatives focused on innovation, resilience, sustainability, and the future development of healthcare supply chains.

In addition to becoming a member of Pharma.Aero, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol will take an active role in the organisation’s strategic discussions and cross-industry projects, helping shape initiatives that bring together manufacturers, logistics providers, airports, airlines, technology companies, and academia.

Frank Van Gelder, Secretary General of Pharma.Aero: “We are delighted to welcome Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to Pharma.Aero. As one of Europe’s leading connectivity hubs, Schiphol brings extensive expertise, global reach, and a strong ambition to further strengthen its pharmaceutical logistics capabilities. Their decision to become a Strategic Airport Member reflects not only a commitment to contributing to our community, but also a willingness to engage, learn, and collaborate with the diverse network of industry leaders represented within Pharma.Aero.
By taking an active role in our strategic discussions and industry initiatives, Schiphol will help strengthen the collective expertise of our organisation and accelerate efforts to address the evolving challenges facing healthcare supply chains. We look forward to working together to advance innovation, resilience, and best practices across the global healthcare logistics ecosystem”, added Van Gelder.

Eduard Molkenboer, Head of Schiphol Cargo: “Joining Pharma.Aero aligns perfectly with our ambition to work alongside partners in building innovative and future-proof healthcare supply chains. Global demand for reliable pharmaceutical logistics continues to grow, requiring strong collaboration across the entire supply chain. Schiphol offers an outstanding network of more than 300 direct destinations, the expertise of our cargo community, a strategic location, and close cooperation with Maastricht Aachen Airport. Through these strengths, Schiphol aims to actively contribute to the reliability, predictability, and quality of healthcare logistics worldwide. Together with Pharma.Aero, we look forward to contributing to the future of healthcare logistics.”

Through its global network, Pharma.Aero facilitates collaboration between industry, logistics, infrastructure, technology, and academia to accelerate innovation and strengthen healthcare supply chains worldwide.

flydubai has signed a long-term agreement with Unilode Aviation Solutions, one of the world’s largest outsourced fleets of Unit Load Devices (ULDs), to provide full ULD management services, as the airline expands its passenger and cargo freighter operations and prepares for future fleet growth.

The partnership marks another important milestone in the airline’s growth while further strengthening Unilode’s presence across the Middle East. Under the agreement, Unilode will deliver a fully outsourced ULD management programme, featuring specialised boxes and pallets that fit inside aircraft cargo holds, for both passenger and cargo freighter operations for the airline’s forthcoming widebody operations of its Boeing 787 Dreamliners and long-term fleet expansion. This includes ULD supply, maintenance and repair, fleet planning, repositioning and digital asset tracking, supported by its global maintenance and repair network.

Since launching operations in 2009, flydubai has built a network spanning more than 125 destinations across 56 countries, strengthening Dubai's position as a global aviation and trade hub. As the airline continues to expand its cargo capabilities, support freighter programmes and prepare for future fleet growth, access to a scalable, fully managed ULD solution will be key to maintaining operational efficiency and supporting long-term growth strategy.

By managing flydubai’s passenger and cargo ULD fleet, Unilode will help ensure equipment is available where and when it is needed. Supported by Unilode's digital tracking technology and global logistics infrastructure, the solution will improve fleet visibility, maximise asset utilisation and simplify day-to-day ULD operations.

Mohamed Hassan, Senior Vice President of Airport Services & Cargo at flydubai, said: “As flydubai continues to progress, having trusted partners that can scale alongside us is essential. This partnership with Unilode supports our ongoing investment in fleet, network and cargo capabilities while helping us maintain the efficiency and flexibility required to serve our customers and support Dubai’s position as a global aviation and trade hub.”

Rashed Albashri, Vice President of Cargo at flydubai, added: “We have a longstanding commitment to investing in the latest technologies and adopting best practices. As we introduce our dedicated freighter operations and prepare for our future Boeing 787 passenger and cargo services, improving the visibility and availability of our cargo equipment becomes increasingly important. Unilode’s digital capabilities and global network will help us optimise operations, improve ULD utilisation and support reliable service delivery across our expanding network.”

Ross Marino, Chief Executive Officer of Unilode Aviation Solutions, said: “We’re proud to welcome flydubai to the Unilode customer portfolio. flydubai has established itself as one of the Middle East's most dynamic and ambitious airlines, and this partnership reflects our shared commitment to supporting its continued growth.

As flydubai expands its passenger network, strengthens its cargo freighter operations and prepares for future fleet development with the expected delivery of its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, our outsourced ULD management solution will provide the flexibility, visibility and operational resilience needed to support every stage of that journey. We look forward to helping flydubai focus on growing its business while we manage its ULD operations.”

The partnership comes as flydubai expands its cargo operations, including the introduction of its dedicated freighter operations from October 2026. With three Boeing 737-800 freighter aircraft operating from 01 October 2026 at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), the freighter operation will complement the airline’s existing belly-hold cargo capabilities across its fleet of nearly 100 Boeing 737 aircraft.

The partnership reinforces Unilode’s position as a trusted ULD management partner for airlines across the Middle East and the world, delivering flexible, digitally enabled solutions that improve asset availability, operational performance and long-term efficiency.

An aircraft’s cargo hold may be below the passenger cabin, but its commercial potential deserves attention at the top table.

Turning that space into dependable revenue takes sales talent, operational discipline, digital intelligence and specialist knowledge. AERION brings these capabilities together, giving airlines a single commercial gateway to a group built around making cargo work harder.

Adrien Thominet, Chairman of the holding company behind ECS Group, Global GSA Group, TCE, CargoTech, Mail and More and HealthC’Air and Founder of AERION sees the brand as the expression of a strategy developed over several years.

Thominet said: “Air cargo is evolving, and airlines need partners who can support every part of their growth. Airlines need more than cargo sales. They need partners who understand how commercial decisions, operational discipline and digital intelligence work together to produce sustainable returns.

“The next phase of air cargo growth will reward businesses that connect expertise across markets, anticipate customer needs and turn reliable data into decisive action. AERION brings that thinking together. Our role is to help airlines build stronger cargo businesses with the specialist skills, technology and commercial reach growth demands.”

That ambition starts with understanding how the constituent businesses complement one another. Each addresses a different challenge; together, they connect the commercial promise with the practical work required to deliver it.

Thominet said: “For several years, our group has had one clear goal: to become a fully integrated commercial partner for airlines, with services that cover the whole cargo value chain.”

ECS Group provides the historical foundation. Its general sales and service agency expertise connects airline capacity with freight forwarder demand, combining local market relationships with international reach. Its network has grown through acquisitions and market development, bringing established businesses and their customer knowledge into a broader organisation. For airlines, that means access to commercial expertise without building an extensive overseas sales infrastructure themselves.

Global GSA Group brings another substantial layer of airline representation. Founded in Amsterdam in 1995, it combines local commercial relationships with centrally coordinated support. Its teams bring dedicated expertise in specialist cargo segments including live animals, healthcare, e-commerce and express, and perishables. Its services extend beyond sales into marketing, administration, operations and the management of ground handling and road feeder suppliers. Crucially, its approach preserves each airline’s identity while supplying the expertise needed to develop business across markets.

For airlines seeking broader outsourcing, TCE plays a central role in the group’s Total Cargo Management capabilities. Its teams can take responsibility for network operations, quality, safety, security, interline management, marketing, revenue optimization, claims and charter activity. This broader responsibility is supported by specialist operational expertise covering areas such as audits, risk assessments, operating standards, ground handling oversight, customs reporting and trucking arrangements. On-site supervision also gives airlines an informed presence where cargo is handled. Thominet says the group currently manages complete cargo activities for more than ten airlines, demonstrating the depth of responsibility it can assume.

Technology supplies another essential connection. Following investment in digital capabilities since 2018, CargoTech brings together complementary businesses tackling different commercial tasks. CargoAI supports digital airfreight procurement. Wiremind Cargo addresses inventory, reservations, capacity, pricing and revenue optimisation. Rotate combines market data, analytics and software to improve commercial decisions. Aerios focuses on bringing charter operations and communications into a coordinated digital workflow.

HealthC’Air addresses a market where precision carries particular weight: pharmaceutical and temperature-sensitive cargo. Its services include consultancy, auditing, training, process alignment, certification support and shipment management. Led by Global Director Pharma Yulia Celetaria, it offers different levels of support so airlines can develop capabilities appropriate to their ambitions. The opportunity involves building a credible product with the operational discipline to support it.

Mail and More brings dedicated postal expertise to mail and e-commerce. Its offer combines commercial representation, product development and electronic data exchange capabilities, supported by a team familiar with the segment’s networks and technical requirements. It helps airlines approach these traffic flows with a service designed around their specific demands.

Squair tackles the paperwork that keeps revenue moving. Its back-office services include air waybill verification, data capture, sales report checks and invoicing. Centralising these activities can reduce administrative costs, billing disputes and correction work, freeing commercial teams to spend more time developing business.

Marketing and promotion complete the picture, helping airline partners make their capabilities visible and commercially persuasive.

Thominet said: “All these capabilities now come together under AERION, the commercial brand of our Group holding.”

For airline management, the attraction is access to a wider range of expertise through one coordinated relationship. A new market, a pharma product or a charter opportunity can draw on the relevant specialists.

Thominet said: “AERION gives airlines one single platform to access all of our expertise. It goes well beyond cargo sales and representation to offer a complete, connected approach to cargo performance.”

The Americas’ logistics community is gearing up for the return of transport logistic, project cargo & air cargo Americas, taking place in Miami from November 9-11, 2027.

Following the success of its previous editions, the event will once again bring together key players from across the transportation, logistics  and air cargo industries – connecting markets, modes and continents in one of the world’s most important logistics hubs.

At the heart of the 2027 edition is a topic that has never been more relevant: the importance of multimodal logistics for resilient, efficient and competitive supply chains. By bringing road, rail, ocean, air and project cargo together under one roof, the event offers a unique platform for companies to connect across modes and borders and to explore new opportunities throughout the Americas.

The strong participation of international exhibitors and visitors underlines the success of the concept and the growing importance of Miami as a strategic logistics hub. With its unique position as a gateway between North, Central and South America, the city provides the ideal setting for an event connecting the entire logistics ecosystem.

For the World Trade Center Miami, founders of air cargo Americas in 1991, the partnership with Messe München remains a key element in strengthening Miami’s role as an international business and logistics hub. “Miami is uniquely positioned at the crossroads of the Americas, making it a natural meeting point for global trade, logistics and supply chain leaders,” says Ivan Barrios, President & CEO of the World Trade Center Miami. “We are delighted to welcome transport logistic, project cargo & air cargo Americas back to Miami in 2027 and look forward to continuing our strong partnership with Messe München.”

The 2027 edition will also mark an important new chapter for the event. Tradeshow Logic, a leading U.S. trade show organiser with more than 25 years of experience, is now part of Messe München and will play an active role in the organisation and further development of the Americas events.

The combination of Tradeshow Logic’s extensive U.S. market expertise and network with Messe München’s international trade fair know-how will create new opportunities for exhibitors and visitors alike. With more than 25 years of experience in the U.S. events  market, Tradeshow Logic will contribute additional services, formats and offers designed to further enhance the overall event experience.

For BJ Enright, President of Tradeshow Logic, the new partnership represents an opportunity to combine deep knowledge of the U.S. market with the global reach of Messe München. “We are excited to bring together our experience and network in the Americas with one of the world’s leading international trade fair organizations. Together, we can create even more value for exhibitors, visitors and partners and further strengthen the event as a meeting point for the logistics community across the Americas.”

This partnership also opens the door to the next stage of development for the event. “Tradeshow Logic will help us take transport logistic Americas, project cargo Americas and air cargo Americas to a new level,” says Robert Schönberger, Global Industry Lead at Messe München. “Their market expertise, experience and strong network are an excellent complement to our international platform. Together with the World Trade Center Miami and our national and international partners, we are building an event that reflects the increasingly interconnected nature of today’s global supply chains.”

Preparations for the third edition in Miami are already well underway, with strong commitment from new national and international partners adding further momentum. At the same time, established partnerships across the Americas continue to provide a strong foundation for the event’s further growth.

Exhibitor applications are now open, giving companies the opportunity to secure their place at the international meeting point for multimodal logistics, project cargo and air cargo in the Americas.

Further details on exhibitors, partners, conference highlights and what's new for 2027 will be announced in the coming months.

CargoAi today announced that CMA CGM AIR CARGO allotments are now bookable on CargoMART, the Rate Management and ebooking platform of CargoAi.

The new functionality enables CMA CGM AIR CARGO and its freight forwarder partners to manage recurring capacity agreements including allotments, block space agreements (BSAs), pre-bookings and other regular capacity agreements, replacing manual, email-based processes with a structured, flight-by-flight digital workflow.

CMA CGM AIR CARGO joins a large number of airlines already using CargoAi to automate recurring capacity management and benefiting from the time saved for its staff. For freight forwarders working across multiple carriers, CargoMART provides a standardized workflow, allowing them to submit one allotment file across participating airlines instead of managing separate processes for each carrier with advanced file upload from their TMS and including advanced tracking. 

The benefits are not only operational. Through the CargoMART Strategic Hub, both CMA CGM AIR CARGO and its freight forwarder partners have access to allotment reporting that gives unprecedented visibility on allocation utilisation, quality via the FAP, and price competitiveness. Sharing the same data enables both parties to hold constructive, fact-based discussions and to manage allocations and pre-bookings more effectively.

Automated, flight-by-flight recurring booking confirmation, removing manual back-and-forth.

Guaranteed, structured capacity access for CMA CGM AIR CARGO’s forwarder partners across allotments, BSAs, pre-bookings and other recurring booking agreements.

One standardized workflow across airlines: freight forwarders can submit one allotment file across participating airlines, simplifying recurring capacity management across carriers.

Reduced operational workload month over month for both CMA CGM AIR CARGO and its freight forwarder partners, eliminating repetitive manual booking and follow-up tasks every month.

Real-time visibility for both parties, with automated status updates reducing the need for manual follow-up.

“Allotment and recurring booking automation are some of the clearest examples of how digitization removes friction from air cargo without changing the commercial agreements airlines and forwarders already have in place. With CMA CGM AIR CARGO now live, we are giving their forwarder partners a faster and more transparent way to manage guaranteed capacity, while reducing repetitive operational workload for both sides month after month but more importnantly a full reporting capabilities so they can transparently manage their allocation with airlines” - Matt Petot, Founder & CEO.

Dutch national carrier KLM, member of the Air France-KLM Group, has taken delivery of its first A350-900.

The milestone marks the introduction of the latest generation widebody for long-haul operations as part of the airline's ongoing fleet renewal. KLM currently operates an Airbus fleet of ten A330 Family aircraft and seventeen A321neos. The A350 will be operated on long-haul routes from its home base in Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to destinations like Toronto, strengthening the airline’s global network.

The newly delivered A350 for KLM seats 331 passengers in a three-class layout, featuring 34 Business Class suites with direct aisle access, 26 Premium Comfort seats, and 271 Economy seats. The aircraft is equipped with a comfortable and spacious Airspace cabin, designed to improve the long-haul experience for both passengers and crew through enhanced ergonomics and greater comfort, offering larger luggage capacity, advanced ambient lighting, and high-speed satellite connectivity.

The A350 is the world’s most modern widebody aircraft, designed to fly up to 9,700 nautical miles / 18,000 kilometres non-stop, setting new standards for intercontinental travel. The aircraft includes state-of-the-art technologies and aerodynamics delivering unmatched standards of efficiency and comfort. Its latest generation Rolls-Royce engines and use of lightweight materials bring a 25 per cent advantage in fuel burn, operating costs and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, compared to previous generation competitor aircraft.

At the end of August 2026, the A350 Family had won over 1,620 orders from 69 customers worldwide.

CharterDesk has coordinated an air ambulance flight carrying a patient from Nîmes, France, to Beirut, Lebanon, following surgery.

The operation required close contact between the patient’s hospital doctor and the doctor travelling on board, as well as flight permits and arrangements for ambulance access at the aircraft.

A Learjet 45 configured as an ambulance jet carried the patient, one family member, a doctor, a nurse and the aircraft’s cabin crew. Its cabin was fitted with a stretcher and medical equipment. The equipment required for the flight was determined jointly by the hospital doctor and the in-flight doctor in light of the patient’s condition.

Gökhan Kaya, a member of the CharterDesk team, handled the flight, while colleagues managed the operation remotely. The company received the customer’s request approximately a week before departure, when the patient was due to undergo surgery. The team then monitored the arrangements alongside the patient’s post-operative assessment and the doctors’ decision on whether the patient could travel.

“The patient’s condition set the timetable,” said Emir Özdabak, Managing Director of CharterDesk. “We had to wait for the hospital report and the doctor’s approval before we could confirm that the patient was fit to fly. At the same time, we prepared the aircraft and the flight arrangements so the transfer could proceed once that approval came through.”

The flight was scheduled for 48 hours after the medical certificate confirming fitness to fly was issued. CharterDesk said the hospital doctor and the doctor on board remained in direct contact before departure. That communication helped the team plan the patient’s transfer from hospital to ambulance, onto the aircraft and into hospital care on arrival.

“The main challenge was making sure the patient was fit to fly after surgery,” Özdabak said. “The hospital doctor and the doctor on board were in direct contact before the flight. Their assessment guided the medical arrangements and the final decision on when the journey could take place.”

CharterDesk also arranged the permits required for the operation in France and Lebanon. Its partner in France helped secure permission for the flight at Nîmes Airport and coordinated access that allowed the ambulance to reach the aircraft directly. This reduced the distance the patient needed to be moved between vehicles before departure.

“Permits and ground access were essential parts of the plan,” Özdabak said. “Our partner in France helped us obtain the necessary permission at Nîmes and ensured the ambulance could drive up to the aircraft. For a patient transfer, those arrangements have to work alongside the flight plan and the medical team’s instructions.”

The ambulance brought the patient to Nîmes Airport about an hour before the aircraft’s 11.00 local departure. The Learjet arrived in Beirut at 17.30 local time, and the patient was taken directly to hospital after landing. CharterDesk put the flight time at approximately five hours. The transfer was completed during the day.

The operation brought together aircraft availability, medical clearance, flight planning, permits and ambulance movements within the week between the initial request and departure. Each stage depended on confirmation of the patient’s condition after surgery.

“This was planned step by step over the course of a week,” Özdabak said. “We had to bring together a suitable aircraft, the flight approvals and the doctors’ clearance, while allowing for the patient’s recovery. Once the medical certificate was issued, the team was able to schedule the flight for 48 hours later.”

Global air freight volumes delivered another month of steady growth in September, up +6% year-on-year, but shippers remain cautious of long-term capacity commitments and are looking for ‘floating mechanisms’ to manage changing market conditions and their impact on rates, according to industry analysts, Xeneta.