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“Rates are going bonkers on the sea, and crazy rates can lead to unreliable services – which is good for airfreight. The air cargo industry is not really in control of its own destiny, it has ups and downs, but just imagine if ecommerce wasn’t there.”

An airfreight forwarder in Shanghai added: “I have personally not yet seen any declines in the e-commerce business, even after the news that US and EU Customs are checking small parcels out of China more strictly.

Air cargo volumes remain elevated from major Asian and Middle Eastern origins, especially to Europe, amid cascading effects on port productivity resulting from the effective closure of container lines’ Red Sea shortcut because of the Middle East conflict.

According to a new report from BDO, the UK continues to be a top destination for global investment, with renewed interest in logistics and supply chain management businesses.

The India to Europe air cargo market has experienced a surge in volumes since the beginning of this year.

This has been largely due to demand in apparel exports from India and Sri Lanka coinciding with disruptions to ocean freight services in the Red Sea region, which saw shippers switch transportation mode to air for some of their cargo.

These increased general air cargo volumes drove overall air cargo demand in the week ending 25 February to sit 40% higher than the 2019 weekly average. While volumes have dipped slightly since then, in the week ending 24 March they remained 24% above the 2019 weekly average.

Logistics UK has reiterated its call for the creation of a dedicated logistics and supply chain minister following the announcement of a general election in the country on July 4.

The business group urged all political parties to include the organisation’s call for the appointment of a minister for logistics and supply chain by the UK’s next government in their election manifestos.

The UK’s freight terminals, airports and seaports have become the unexpected frontline in the battle against the illegal vaping surge, with enough seizures for three to be sold every minute, according to Vape Club.

Recent data from the largest vaping and vape-pod retailer in the UK, Vape Club, found that major London airports, Manchester and the Port of Dover, are being used as supply routes to “further the UK’s illegal vaping epidemic”.

The British government’s aim to have “the most effective border in the world” is a long way off, according to the country’s National Audit Office (NAO), which found that repeated delays have meant ongoing uncertainty, increase in risk and the addition of unnecessary costs.

“Maersk Air Cargo Limited (company number: 06503461) has applied to operate charter and scheduled flights between any combination of points, within the terms of the holder’s Air Operator’s Certificate,” said the document, available on the authority’s website.

According to the application, Maersk Air Cargo Limited has a Manchester-registered address.

Aircraft refuelling handlers working for AFS at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) will initiate industrial action for 72 hours beginning on May 4.

50 staff that are part of the Unite trade union are due to strike for 72 hours. The industrial action could potentially affect large numbers of services into and out of the gateway, including significant numbers of passenger flights with bellyhold cargo capacity, if aircraft are not refuelled as normal.