Airfreight Insider Daily Briefing – June 1, 2025
Good morning, logistics professionals! Today’s briefing brings you the latest developments shaping the air cargo and aviation industry, from fleet expansions and labor disruptions to sustainability milestones and strategic moves in global markets. Here’s what you need to know.
Labor Unrest Hits Finnair Again, Forcing Flight Cancellations
Finnair faces fresh disruptions as the Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) has called for a four-hour strike on Monday, June 2. This action follows a similar stoppage just two days prior, resulting in the cancellation of around 50 flights and impacting essential ground handling and catering services at Helsinki Airport. It’s another setback for Finnair’s operations this year as ongoing labor disputes continue to plague the carrier.
Airbus Nears Completion of First A350 Freighter Wings
European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has reached a key milestone in its A350F freighter program with the completion of the first-ever set of wings for the cargo variant at its Broughton, UK facility. Notably, the A350F wings share the same design as the passenger A350, enabling production on the same assembly line and streamlining manufacturing. Air France KLM/Martinair is among the initial customers set to receive three of these new freighters.
Boeing Prepares Dedicated Assembly Line for 737 Max 10
Boeing is establishing a dedicated production line for the 737 Max 10 at its facilities, signaling growing confidence in the model, following positive reports of improved quality. CEO Kelly Ortberg anticipates regulatory approvals for the 737 Max 7 and Max 10 variants within the next few months. Meanwhile, Air Europa is gearing up to deploy its first 737 Max aircraft starting June 3, launching flights from Madrid to Alicante and expanding operations to Palma de Mallorca and beyond.
IndiGo and KLM’s Pieter Elbers Steer New European Expansion
At the recent IATA event in Delhi, former KLM CEO Pieter Elbers made headlines with plans for further expanding IndiGo’s European network. After establishing routes to Amsterdam and Manchester, IndiGo will add three more European destinations, intensifying competition on transcontinental air travel. Building on this dynamic move, KLM itself has bolstered its Airbus fleet with a new A321neo for intra-European routes, complemented by Brussels Airlines’ acquisition of an A330 tailored for Africa operations.
More Cargo and Sustainability Highlights
- Avianca Cargo, The Queen’s Flowers, and Repsol have launched their first Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Book & Claim operation in South America, advancing decarbonization efforts in the region’s air cargo sector.
- Fraport inaugurated a new, significantly larger terminal at Lima Airport, which will see continued expansion through 2025, positioning it as a key hub in South America.
- Cargo-centric airports worldwide are adopting a ‘build it and they will come’ strategy, investing heavily in infrastructure to attract growing volumes of air freight — a trend worth watching closely for supply chain players.
Industry Personnel and Market Moves
The aviation labor market remains active with new openings for ramp agents, crew optimization managers, and mechatronics experts featured this week in the Luftfahrt-Stellenmarkt. On the leadership front, André Viljoen is set to take charge at Air Mauritius starting October 15, aiming to steer the financially challenged carrier toward stability after a decade of success at Fiji Airways.
Miscellaneous Updates
- Brazil’s airline bailout package faces further delays amidst political hurdles.
- Switzerland’s Federal Administrative Court has overturned fines against Swiss Airlines over alleged passport control lapses, confirming the airline fulfilled its duties correctly.
- Embraer has launched a subsidiary in India to expand its presence across defense, civil aviation, business jets, and urban air mobility sectors.
- Italy now allows heavier dogs to travel with their owners in the cabin, lifting the previous 10-kilogram weight limit – a welcome change for pet owners.
- Africa’s Kenya Airways is expanding its London operations by adding Gatwick as a new destination, complementing its existing Heathrow service with three weekly flights starting July 2.
That wraps up today’s overview. Stay tuned for our YouTube video briefing later today where we’ll deep dive into these stories with expert commentary.
Until tomorrow,
The Airfreight Insider Team