Collins Aerospace to develop unmanned flight ecosystem in Ireland

Collins Aerospace has received a three-year funding award from the European Climate Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (EU CINEA) and SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking (JU) to develop an unmanned flight ecosystem in Ireland by delivering a Digital Sky Demonstrator on U-Space.

In conjunction with several Irish aviation companies, Collins Aerospace will work to build an end-to-end ecosystem at a vertiport in Shannon that supports safe operations of unmanned flight. The new ecosystem will leverage a variety of products from across the Collins Aerospace portfolios to help both conventional and unmanned aircraft safely integrate their operations.

The ecosystem’s engineering work will be conducted in Ireland and France in conjunction with Future Mobility Campus Ireland, Avtrain, Irish Aviation Authority, Shannon Airport, Manna Drone Delivery, and Deep Blue. These companies from France, Ireland, and Italy have come together with Collins as the ÉALÚ-AER (Irish for Escape-Air, Enhanced Automation for U-Space/ATM integration) consortium to support unmanned aviation and U-Space capabilities to build the future of air-mobility. Those capabilities then will be delivered through SESAR 3 and further collaborative efforts in Europe.

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Mammoth Freighters selects Triumph Interiors for B777 P2F

Triumph Group announced that Mammoth Freighters has awarded a contract to its interiors division for composite air distribution ducts for Boeing 777 Passenger to Freighter (P2F) conversions. Triumph Interiors will offer manufacturing and engineering assistance for the redesigned air distribution ducting system in the cargo compartment of the Mammoth Freighters.

With the industry’s recent growth in Passenger to Freighter conversions, Mammoth Freighters is establishing its position in 777 conversions and has contracts through 2026 and beyond.

“Supporting Mammoth Freighters, an experienced passenger to freighter provider, demonstrates that we can deliver exceptional value solutions to air freight operators,” said Howard Sanderson, General Manager and Vice President of Triumph Interiors. “We complement Mammoth’s unique business model by offering an expanding portfolio of industry-leading P2F solutions, including integrated hydraulic power packs for the cargo door system.”

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DSV and Orsted to test cargo drones in Denmark

DSV, the world’s largest Danish transport and logistics firm, and Ørsted, the world’s largest Danish energy provider, will test long-distance drone shipment of spare parts and tools in Denmark’s Kattegat Sea.

Ørsted has set an ambitious target of becoming carbon-neutral by 2025, and it is always looking for new methods to assure high wind farm availability while reducing carbon emissions from service logistics. DSV is always innovating and optimising its logistics services. As a result, the two main Danish firms have a shared interest in evaluating the role cargo drones may play in sustainable logistics for offshore wind farms.

Fast and efficient alternative
Offshore wind farms are often positioned far from shore, with service technicians and replacement components carried by ship. Technicians bring their tools and the most often needed components for the wind turbines, but if unusual replacement parts are required, they must return onshore. This is both costly and time-consuming, so repairs are frequently postponed until the next day.

Cargo drones, as an alternative, can provide logistical assistance, particularly for minor spare parts, resulting in a considerably faster wind turbine restart.

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Cool Chain Association welcomes Tive onboard

 The Cool Chain Association (CCA) has welcomed a new member, real-time tracking company Tive, to its growing membership as it prepares to host a two-day perishables summit in Rome, Italy on July 6th and 7th.

Boston, USA — based Tive has developed trackers that transmit real-time shipment data across all modes, including temperature and humidity readings. “Cool Chain members are focused on finding ways to collaborate to improve the temperature-controlled supply chain and Tive brings knowledge and experience to help us achieve those goals,” said Stavros Evangelakakis. “Our membership has been steadily growing over the last few months and we are excited to welcome a new member, who brings different skill sets to share with our community.”

Tive’s single-use and multi-use trackers can stream location and condition information for any food or perishables shipment. “Having accurate, real-time temperature tracking helps companies manage and maintain their stability budgets,” said Blerta Lataj, Referral Partner Manager at Tive.

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Bolloré Logistics partners up with IAG Cargo for SAF

 IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG) has announced a collaboration with Bolloré Logistics to reduce its CO2 supply chain emissions by purchasing one million litres of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

About the development, John Cheetham the Chief Commercial Officer at IAG Cargo said, “At IAG Cargo we’re continuing to look at ways to reduce our impact on the environment and so we’re delighted to collaborate with Bolloré Logistics to reduce carbon emissions with the purchase of sustainable aviation fuel. Our partnership with Bolloré Logistics is a great example of cross-industry engagement needed to support sustainable air cargo.”

The SAF will be delivered in two shipments, in July 2022 and November 2022 and will reduce approximately 2,400 tonnes of CO2 on a net lifecycle basis. The SAF will be manufactured at Phillips 66 Humber Refinery in North Lincolnshire UK from sustainable waste feedstocks.

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Menzies wins new deals in Indonesia, China

 Menzies Aviation, the global aviation logistics specialist, has signed three contracts in South East Asia and China with Rimbun Air, My Indo and Raya Air.

“A new three-year contract with fast-growing Indonesian cargo and regional passenger airline Rimbun Air will see Menzies handle up to six daily cargo flights for the airline’s two 737–300F aircraft at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK). The win will add an additional 40 flights per week to Menzies’ Jakarta ground services operations, significantly increasing the volume handled by the team,” according to an official statement.

Malaysian cargo carrier Raya Air has selected Menzies to support its operations, starting with four weekly flights, at CGK. Raya Air is a new customer for Menzies, the statement added.

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Diversity is Chapter 4 of Qatar Airways Cargo's WeQare

Qatar Airways Cargo has launched Chapter 4 of its ‘WeQare’ sustainability initiative, dedicating it to its 2,873 diverse individuals, who in Qatar’s own words represent “the face and heart of the airline”.

The operator further attributed its success to its diverse workforce. Celebrating diversity, Qatar Airways Cargo stated, “For Qatar Airways Cargo diversity is a strength. Its employees, are all different in skills, age, race, gender, religious beliefs, experience, and much more but are serving the commune values of the carrier. United in their individualism, they strive to give their customers the top quality service that makes Qatar Airways Cargo the world’s number one cargo airline.”

Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways, said, “Strength in numbers is one thing — whether this is revenue figures or number of employees. Yet, the true strength, the core, and the success of a company is made up by the individual attitudes and aptitudes of its people.”

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FedEx reports $93 billion revenue for FY2022

NYSE-listed FedEx reported a 11 percent increase in consolidated revenue at $93.5 billion for the fiscal ended May 31, 20222, and an operating income increase of 6 percent to $6.25 billion.

“Our fiscal 2022 financial performance was a result of our team’s ability to adapt to a number of unexpected challenges and is a testament to the FedEx value proposition and the execution of our long-term strategy,” says Raj Subramaniam, president and chief executive officer, FedEx. “Our foundational investments have set the stage for a strong fiscal 2023. As we move forward, our focus will be on revenue quality and lowering our cost to serve. I am honoured to lead our dedicated global team, who enable FedEx to lead the industry from a position of strength.”

For the fourth quarter, FedEx reported an 8 percent increase in revenue to $24.4 billion and operating income increase of 7 percent to $1.92 billion.

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FedEx to launch picture proof of delivery in time for busy holiday shipping season

FedEx Corp. will soon bolster the power of its e-commerce services by offering Picture Proof of Delivery for express and ground residential deliveries in the U.S. and Canada that are released without a signature. Customers will receive a photo showing the exact location of their package once it’s delivered to their doorstep, by simply tracking their package. FedEx Express and FedEx Ground are the first nationwide carriers to announce they will provide Picture Proof of Delivery, without requiring an account or log in.

“This is something e-commerce merchants and customers have been asking for, and we are proud to be the first to announce this service will be available to residential customers,” said Brie Carere, Chief Customer Officer, FedEx. “Receiving visual confirmation that the package has arrived gives peace of mind to both merchants and consumers, and we are thrilled to give them that confidence.”

Picture Proof of Delivery will be free, easily accessible through FedEx tracking tools, and will not require enrollment, making it ideal for large retailers and small businesses to compete and win in today’s challenging environment.

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Nordic Unmanned and Equinor to commence offshore drone operations

Nordic Unmanned has been selected for the second phase of the Equinor Drone Offshore Logistics contract in Norway. The offshore activities will begin on August 15 from the Gullfaks C offshore site in the North Sea. The operation represents a significant milestone for the drone industry and Equinor, since it is the first operator to use drones for offshore logistical services.

The launch of offshore operations follows a three-week intensive onshore test phase in which the Nordic Unmanned team successfully validated the preparedness for offshore logistics services. The team collaborated closely with Equinor to carry out a number of groundbreaking testing and demonstrations of drone logistics services.

“Through a step-by-step approach, where risk, maturity and complexity are mapped, we have gradually advanced our operations’ complexity. Together with Equinor, we are pushing the boundaries of what drones can do for offshore logistics, providing solutions that are more sustainable, scalable, and cost-efficient. Nordic Unmanned has proven its capabilities and is ready to provide offshore drone logistics as a standardised service,” said Knut Roar Wiig, CEO, Nordic Unmanned.

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Noida Airport selects ICAD as Master System Integrator consultant

Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL) has selected ICAD Holding as Master System Integrator (MSI) consultant for the development of Noida International Airport (NIA).

ICAD will support NIA with the systems integration design, integration programme management and integration of ICT and Airport Systems. ICAD will also lead the core airport systems implementation and integration,” according to an official release from NIA.

The digital environment to be set up at NIA includes paperless digital processing across all checkpoints in line with the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s DigiYatra Policy, the statement added.

Yamuna International Airport Private Limited, a 100 percent subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG, has been incorporated as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to develop the greenfield Noida International Airport in Jewar. The Uttar Pradesh government signed the concession agreement on October 7, 2020, to commence the development of NIA as a public-private partnership project together with the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority and Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority.

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Lödige develops automated cargo terminal at Chengdu Tianfu Airport

Lödige Industries, the global leader in air cargo terminals, has installed a fully automated air cargo terminal at Chengdu Tianfu International Airport in Chengdu, the capital of China’s Sichuan province. The core of the new facility includes two elevating transfer vehicles (ETVs) with a five-level, three-directional automated unit load device (ULD) storage and handling system for 227 20ft storage positions.

“Since it started operations last year, the airport has become one of the largest in the world, handling up to 60 million passengers and 1.3 million tonnes of cargo and mail annually. In the second expansion phase, three additional runways will be added, and the capacity will increase to 120 million passengers and 2.8 million tonnes of cargo and mail per year,” according to a release from Lodige.

In addition to the international cargo terminal, Lödige also supplied Sichuan Airport Group with state-of-the-art equipment for the airport’s domestic cargo terminal as well as for a special warehouse for hazardous goods and an express distribution centre. It also includes an international export goods supervision warehouse. In total, the contract provides ULD and pallet handling equipment for more than 83,000 square metres of cargo facilities, the statement added.

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CargoAi illustrates solutions for sustainable air cargo

CargoAi places a high value on the planet’s natural ecosystem as well. Magali Beauregard, CargoAi COO, spoke on an expert panel at Air Cargo India 2022 on sustainability goals and responsibilities

“People, planet and prosperity — Making air cargo sustainable for the future” was the title of the expert panel discussion hosted by Adani Group, held on the last day of the Air Cargo India trade fair on 02 June 2022, and featuring a broad spectrum of air cargo industry stakeholders. It aimed to illustrate how technology can support companies in becoming more sustainable, and underline that incorporating sustainable measures are imperative as opposed to optional.

Since its inception in 2019, CargoAi has included this goal into its strategic objectives. Digital solutions give transparency and, as a result, a starting point for development, whether it is in process efficiency and eliminating manual, paper-based workstreams, or in striving for carbon neutrality targets.

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ECS Group to power Moldovan carrier FLYONE's new destinations

Amsterdam (AMS) in The Netherlands, Barcelona (BCN) in Spain, Brussels (BRU) in Belgium, and Dusseldorf (DUS) in Germany, have recently been taken up in FLYONE’s network. It operates A320 flights from these four destinations to Tel Aviv (TLV)/Israel, Istanbul (IST)/Turkey, Sharm el-Sheikh/Egypt, and Yerevan (EVN)/Armenia. Around 3 tonnes of capacity uplift are available every week from each of the new stations, and these are mainly filled with general cargo, e-commerce, and mail.

“We have had the pleasure of providing Total Cargo Management services to FLYONE since one year now, successfully handling all cargo and mail activities across its entire network spanning 13 countries,” says Adrien Thominet, Executive Chairman of ECS Group. “FLYONE, which is in its sixth year of operation, has shown excellent resilience and strength, and we are delighted to participate in its expansion. Given ECS Group’s extensive global coverage, we are also in a position to serve its newest destinations. Our local teams all have access to the same state-of-the-art tools developed by our Cargo Digital Factory, that enable them to optimise pricing, analyse the market, perform revenue management, and automate various tasks. Our TCM service is unique and unrivaled in the industry, and we are proud that it is contributing to FLYONE’s ongoing success.”

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Qatar Airways Cargo clocks record USD 6 billion revenue in FY21-22

Qatar Airways Cargo, the airline’s freight division reported a record revenue of $6.3 billion for the year ended March 31, 2022, an increase of 25 percent, on almost 10 percent growth in freight carried (272,975 tonnes) at over 3 million tonnes.

Qatar Airways Group also reported its highest net profit in its 25-year history by reporting a record net profit of QAR 5.6 billion (USD 1.54 billion) during the fiscal year 2021/22. The overall revenue increased to QAR 52.3 billion (USD 14.4 billion), up 78 percent compared to last year and a remarkable two percent higher than the full financial year pre-COVID (i.e., 2019/20).

Qatar Airways Cargo remained the leading player in the world as its revenue experienced an impressive growth of 25 percent over last year with a growth in cargo capacity (Available Tonne Kilometres) of 25 percent annually.

The Group generated a strong EBITDA margin of 34 percent at QAR 17.7 billion (USD 4.9 billion). EBITDA was higher than the previous year by QAR 11.8 billion (USD 3.2 billion) due to streamlined, agile, and fit-for-purpose operations across all business areas. These record earnings are the result of decisions made during the pandemic to expand the Qatar Airways’ passenger and cargo networks, with a more accurate forecast of the global market recovery, building further customer and trade loyalty and product excellence combined with strong cost control.

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Agility DGS names Anne Bradley to be CEO

Agility Defense & Government Services (DGS), a global leader in logistics and supply chain services for public sector customers, has appointed Anne Bradley as CEO.

Bradley, a senior vice president at DGS, succeeds MG Dan Mongeon, USA (Ret.), who has served as CEO of DGS since 2006. Mongeon will retire and become chair of the DGS Board of Directors.

Bradley joined Agility in 2001 and led the DGS team working with the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) and DGS’s commercial partner, Leidos, on the MOD’s first-ever Logistics Services & Commodities Transformation (LCST) contract. Under LCST, the MOD outsourced much of its commodity supply management, transportation, and other logistics services. DGS provides a number of those freight-related services, including all household relocations for MOD personnel worldwide.

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'20% of our total CEVA revenue could come from eCommerce-related activities by 2025'

In a Q&A with The STAT Trade Times, Peter Penseel, Chief Operating Officer Airfreight at CEVA Logistics sheds light on airfreight volumes, post-pandemic recovery of the industry, transportation of dangerous goods, use of alternative fuel in air freight logistics, and the company’s plans to tap the burgeoning e-commerce business

Are cargo volumes at CEVA Logistics back to pre-pandemic levels? How is 2022 looking when it comes to volumes handled and going forward?
The first quarter IATA industry data showed that the global market was down slightly when comparing year-over-year volumes. March 2022 was down by 5.2% YoY, but January and February were collectively up by 2.7% compared to 2021.

The seasonally adjusted volumes for March, however, were the lowest in 16 months. There certainly are routes and regions that have changed more significantly in recent days, notably LATAM, which recorded much higher volumes — up more than 20% in February and March — compared to 2021. Challenges still remain related to Covid-19 restrictions, which can affect volumes and rates at any point, anywhere around the world.

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Astral Aviation expands presence in India; hires new GSA

Astral Aviation, based in Nairobi, has announced the appointment of Zeal Global as its new GSA in India.

Sanjeev Gadhia, Founder & CEO of Astral Aviation, spoke on the company’s vaccine and pharmaceutical business development, as well as the necessity for a GSA in India, at the Air Cargo India 2022 event.

“We have observed many pharma companies in India are showing interest in working with us under a win-win situation. And now we have a new GSA in India, Zeal Global, who will manage and promote the pharma products,” said Sanjeev Gadhia, Founder & CEO, Astral Aviation.

The cargo airline company has been transporting covishield vaccine on behalf of UNICEF. In collaboration with Scan Global Logistics, Astral Aviation brought Covid-19 vaccinations from UNICEF Supply Division and World Health Organization (WHO) in its DC9F from Nairobi to Juba, South Sudan in September 2021. The vaccines were transported by Network Aviation Group’s B747F from Liege to Nairobi, where they were picked up by Astral Aviation.

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Cargolux and Bolloré Logistics sign SAF agreement

 Cargolux and its long-term partner Bolloré Logistics have signed an agreement for the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in joint operations. The deal, covering 800,000 liters of SAF forms part of the Cargolux SAF program. This initiative will enable Bolloré Logistics to reduce its Scope 3 Greenhous Gas Emissions by at least 2,200 tonnes of CO2e, a reflection of both parties’ commitment to sustainable operations.

“Cargolux is strongly committed to the development and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel and has foreseen investment in SAF-related projects over the coming years. The agreement we signed with our long-term partner Bolloré Logistics is a significant achievement, one we hope to build on in the future. Taking this step with a trusted customer is important for Cargolux and it highlights both our companies’ engagement for environmentally-sound operations.”, says Domenico Ceci, Executive Vice President for Sales and Marketing.

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Amazon landlord Prologis acquires Duke Realty for $26 billion

 Prologis, a global leader in logistics real estate, announces a definitive merger agreement to acquire Duke Realty Corporation, which owns and operates approximately 164.9 million rentable square feet of industrial assets in 19 major logistics markets, in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $26 billion, including debt assumption.

The announcement comes after Duke Realty rejected Prologis’ almost $24 billion takeover offer in May, calling it inadequate.

The deal has been authorised unanimously by the boards of directors of Prologis and Duke Realty.

“We have admired the disciplined repositioning strategy the Duke Realty team has completed over the last decade,” said Hamid R. Moghadam, Co-founder, CEO and Chairman, Prologis. “They have built an exceptional portfolio in the U.S. located in geographies we believe will outperform in the future. That will be fueled by Prologis’ proven track record as a value creator in the logistics space. We have a diverse model that allows us to deliver even more value to customers.”

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CAL Cargo rebrands as Challenge Airlines IL

 CAL Cargo has consistently serviced the Israeli market for almost four decades, eventually becoming the country’s largest and leading cargo airline. CAL Cargo provides expert air logistics solutions to thousands of customers worldwide, including manufacturers, importers, exporters, and the Israeli Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Health, and Defense, with its extensive freighter services to destinations in Europe, the United States, the Far East, and, most recently, the United Arab Emirates.

Founded to transport Israeli agricultural products to Europe, the airline has now proven to be an important contributor to Israel’s international economic connections on a far broader scale.

When CAL Cargo was purchased in 2010 by its eventual Chairman of the Board, Offer Gilboa, the framework for what would become Challenge Group in 2020 was laid. He brought a commercial approach to the airline’s operations, launched new routes, and positioned it as a significant pillar within the expanding global aviation and logistics conglomerate.

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Cargolux launches new service to Shannon

Cargolux added Shannon, Ireland to its global network, and the inaugural flight landed in Shannon on June 9 directly from Seattle.

“The weekly frequency is routed Los Angeles-Seattle-Shannon-Luxembourg, bolstering the airline’s transatlantic services,” an official statement said.

The introduction of Shannon is an opportunity for Cargolux to meet growing customer demand and expand its presence in the British Isles, the statement added.

“This new frequency is a welcome development for Cargolux to connect with its global customers and expand services in the area,” says Domenico Ceci, Executive Vice-President Sales & Marketing, Cargolux. “Shannon is a thriving commercial gateway, and we look forward to building our partnerships in the region.”

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Omicron, conflict push cargo demand lower in April: IATA

 Global air cargo demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTKs), declined 11.2 percent in April compared to April 2021 (-10.6 percent for international operations), according to the latest data from The International Air Transport Association (IATA).

“The effects of Omicron in Asia and the Russia-Ukraine war continue to create a challenging operating backdrop that is driving the decline,” the report said.

Capacity was 2 percent below 2021. “Both global capacity and international capacity decreased slightly in April compared to March. Asia experienced the largest falls in capacity.”

Willie Walsh, Director General, IATA says: “The combination of the war in Ukraine and Covid-19 lockdowns in China have pushed up energy costs, intensified supply chain disruptions, and fed inflation. The operating environment is challenging for all businesses, including air cargo. But with China easing lockdown restrictions, there is cause for some optimism and the supply/demand imbalance is keeping yields high.”

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Kuehne+Nagel introduces EVs for transfers in Mumbai

 Kuehne+Nagel announced the launch of electric vehicle service for airport transfers in Mumbai.

“With this service, Kuehne+Nagel aims to switch to electric vehicles in a phased manner to reduce its carbon footprint and progress towards a sustainable future and Greener India,” according to an official statement.

Marcel Fujike, SVP, Global Head Products & Services Air Logistics, Kuehne+Nagel, says: “As an environmentally and socially responsible organisation, Kuehne+Nagel is proud to use EVs in India for its airport transfers to offer green logistics solutions and reduce carbon emissions. Our customers have benefited from the global availability of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) since last year, and we continue to develop sustainable solutions for a fully carbon neutral transport journey. The introduction of EV airport transfer is the next phase in our transition to low-carbon, door-to-door air transportation, with more sustainable services to follow.”

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CMA CGM AIR CARGO orders two more Boeing 777 freighters

 CMA CGM AIR CARGO took delivery of its second Boeing 777 freighter, after the reception of its first Boeing 777 freighter on May 31, at a ceremony signing held in Everett, WA.

“These planes both come from the order CMA CGM AIR CARGO placed in Spring 2021,” according to an official announcement.

The purchase of two Boeing 777 freighters was the first direct order since the CMA CGM Group announced the launch of its dedicated air cargo transportation division in February 2021, the statement added.

CMA CGM AIR CARGO also officially disclosed an order for two additional Boeing 777 freighters. “When delivered, the new planes will complete a fleet of at least 12 Boeing and Airbus aircraft by 2026. This additional order means that the CMA CGM Group will have a total of four Boeing 777 freighters in its fleet.”

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Awery, IBS sign deal to drive air cargo digitisation

 Awery Aviation Software will now offer its CargoBooking and eMagic software platforms to IBS Software (IBS) iCargo customers following a new partnership agreement.

The move is part of Awery’s strategy to drive digitisation across the sector with increased collaboration between all air cargo stakeholders.

“IBS shares Awery’s vision of open access to our products to encourage cooperation that will lead to a truly lasting transformation in the air freight industry, which will benefit all stakeholders,” says Tristan Koch, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Awery. “IBS iCargo customers will now be able to use Awery’s CargoBooking and eMagic solutions and this is to the advantage of all interested parties.”

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Kuehne+Nagel sells Russia business to local MD

 With the war in Ukraine crossing 100 days, Kuehne+Nagel signed an agreement on June 3, 2022 to sell its business in the Russian Federation to its local Managing Director.

“This follows Kuehne+Nagel’s announcement on March 1, 2022, to temporarily suspend all shipments to/from the Russian Federation, except for pharma, healthcare and humanitarian supplies.”

Closing of the transaction is still subject to approval of the competent local merger control authority, an official statement said.

When contacted, K+N officials declined to give any more details about the deal.

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IAG Cargo launches new routes from Madrid to Dallas, Washington DC

 IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG), touched down in Dallas and Washington DC June 1, 2022 from Madrid Barajas airport, marking the inaugural routes with the welcoming of a water cannon salute to commemorate the significance of both new routes.

The new routes will be utilising the belly capacity of an Iberia Airbus A332 aircraft, four times a week from Madrid with the capacity to hold 20 tonnes of cargo.

“These two new routes add to over 120 weekly connections between Spain and the USA with flights already departing twice a day to New York and Miami from Madrid. The additional routes act as a gateway to other American destinations by truck,” according to an official announcement.

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Swoop Aero, Astral Aviation, Skyports collaborate for drone logistics network in Kenya

 Swoop Aero has joined up with Astral Aviation’s drone services business and drone operations partner Skyports to develop a drone logistics network in Kenya. Swoop Aero’s experience operating drone logistics networks in seven countries, combined with their proprietary technology platform, will be used to transport medicines, vaccines, and medical samples between healthcare facilities and patients in need across Kenya, beginning with last-mile delivery by the end of 2022.

These activities are a first for the region, since they include the first Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone flight and operation demonstration approvals, which were launched in close collaboration with the Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority to guarantee safety and compliance with local rules.

Swoop Aero will deploy its entire technology infrastructure and drone logistics experience in this latest venture, with local Kenyan experts Astral Aerial Solutions operating the network in close collaboration with drone infrastructure provider Skyports, to rapidly improve access to routine and emergency medicine, vaccines, and pathology in the region.

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