Air cargo company Teleport announced the expansion of its network with the opening of a new European hub at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW). The new route strengthens connectivity between Asia and key European markets, including Frankfurt and Amsterdam, and aims to improve the efficiency of cargo flows from China, India, and Southeast Asia.
Aviator Airport Alliance signed a multi-year ground handling agreement with China Southern Airlines at Helsinki Airport, following the launch of the new Beijing Daxin – Helsinki route. The carrier operated the inaugural flight on this route on March 29, and since then, Aviator has provided a full range of ground services.
Global air cargo demand grew by 11.2% year-on-year in February 2026, double the January figure, according to the International Air Transport Association. This growth was driven by strong shipments ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday and a recovery in traffic after a seasonal decline in late 2025. The international segment continued to outperform the overall market, with cross-border traffic volumes increasing by 11.6%, driven by robust demand on long-haul routes.
JD Airlines and Beijing Capital Airlines have expanded cargo air service between China and Central Europe by launching regular flights between Urumqi and Warsaw. These flights operate three times weekly and are aimed at strengthening direct logistics links between China and Poland, reducing delivery times, and increasing capacity on this route.
DHL Global Forwarding is expanding its controlled air capacity on the Asia-Europe route by launching weekly cargo flights on the Shanghai-Leipzig and Liège-Hong Kong routes. The new service is being implemented in close cooperation with DHL Express and aims to strengthen the group’s position in the rapidly growing trade corridor between the two regions, providing customers with additional capacity, speed, and supply chain stability.
AirExplore has signed a wet lease agreement with Polish charter airline Enter Air for the 2026 summer season. Under the contract, two Boeing 737-800 aircraft, each with a capacity of 189 seats, will be based in Katowice and operate flights to popular European holiday destinations from May 1 to October 31, 2026.
My Freighter Airlines announced the launch of new scheduled cargo flights connecting Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and Europe. Starting this Sunday, the carrier will begin operating weekly flights on the routes Hanoi – Tashkent – Frankfurt, Bangkok – Tashkent – Frankfurt, Almaty – Tashkent – Frankfurt, and Tashkent – Frankfurt. These flights will be operated on Boeing 767-300F freighters.
Chinese carrier China Eastern Airlines has placed an order for 101 A320neo family aircraft from Airbus. The company announced the order on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. The total contract value is estimated at $15.8 billion and includes deliveries of the A320neo, A321neo, and long-range A321XLR models, though the airline did not disclose the breakdown by aircraft type.
Disruptions to key Gulf aviation hubs have led to a sharp reduction in available capacity and rising airfares on Asia-Europe routes. According to WorldACD, global airfreight volumes fell 4% in the week ending March 8 compared to the previous week, falling 12% year-on-year. The Gulf region saw the most significant decline, with outbound cargo volumes down 62% and capacity declining by 70%.
Japan Airlines and Cargolux Airlines announced a new partnership, effective April 1, 2026. The collaboration will cover the Narita-Luxembourg-Narita and Narita-Chicago-Narita cargo routes and aims to strengthen air cargo connections between Asia, Europe, and North America. Under the agreement, the airlines will combine their networks and offer customers expanded cargo transportation options.
