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.
CEVA Logistics, a CMA CGM company, continues to implement its strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, focusing on reducing emissions in its warehouse infrastructure, ground operations, and by implementing low-carbon solutions with its carrier partners. Alternative fuels, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), remain a key tool, especially given that Scope 3 emissions account for approximately 95% of the company’s carbon footprint.
Kazakhstan plans to launch a project to develop local airlines and create a single low-cost operator. According to Marat Dautaliyev, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Subcommittee of the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs and Advisor to the General Director of Kazlogistics, the Union of Transport Workers of Kazakhstan, the initiative will dramatically reduce travel time between district and regional centers – from 8-10 hours by car to 40-90 minutes by plane. Moreover, the aircraft will be used not only for passenger transportation but also for air ambulances, cargo operations, agricultural work, and environmental monitoring.
Baltic Ground Services (BGS), an international ground handling and aviation fuel services provider, part of Avia Solutions Group, has announced the extension of its partnership with Ryanair, one of Europe’s largest low-cost airlines. The updated agreements provide for the continued provision of aircraft fueling services at several airports in Northern and Central Europe.
Global air cargo demand in January 2026 increased by 5.6% year-on-year, according to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This figure exceeded the 4.3% growth in December. Moreover, the growth in the international segment was even more pronounced, with traffic volumes increasing by 7.2% year-on-year.
Swiss insurance group Zurich Insurance Group AG has agreed to acquire British company Beazley Plc. The transaction is valued at £8.1 billion, equivalent to approximately $10.8 billion.
Logistics company cargo-partner announced the launch of Hong Kong Consol, a new service for expedited cargo delivery from Hong Kong and China to Europe. The solution is targeted at companies in the automotive, high-tech, and electronics industries, where speed and reliability of delivery are key. In partnership with a premium air carrier, the company guarantees cargo space availability even during peak demand periods. The service offers a full range of services, from cargo collection throughout China and Hong Kong to last-mile delivery throughout Europe.
Baltic Ground Services (BGS) has extended its cooperation agreement with Finnish national carrier Finnair, expanding its existing contracts at key Baltic airports. Effective January 1, 2026, the company will continue to provide aircraft refuelling services at Vilnius Airport, Riga International Airport, and Tallinn Airport, and will also retain its status as Finnair’s ground handling provider in Vilnius.
