Air Cargo World News

After five years of delays and 23 temporary extensions, the U.S. Senate passed the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 on February 6. Airlines for America President Nicholas Calio praised this development as a critical step in boosting the American aviation sector and accelerating the deployment of NextGen air-traffic management technologies. read more

A strike by SNPL, France’s largest pilot union, grounded nearly one-quarter of Air France’s flights from February 6-9. All flights are expected to resume as scheduled on February 10, but the four-day disruption is said to have cost the carrier between €8 million and €10 million a day. read more

With the recent U.S. announcement that a military drawdown will start as early as next year instead of 2014, as originally planned, there could soon be a heavy demand for airlift out of Afghanistan. This business from the U.S. military has the potential to benefit commercial contractors, but other countries may move their goods back home with in-house equipment. read more

The past year ended with a whimper for wide-body cargo aircraft, with two pure freighter outfits, Cargoitalia and Jade Cargo, exiting the market. Combination carriers were also bracing for rough skies ahead. Cathay Pacific deferred delivery of two of the six B747-8Fs due this year to 2013, and EVA decided to sell two, if not three, of its MD-11 freighters. read more