Daily Briefing – June 11, 2025
Good morning, airfreightinsider readers. Today’s briefing covers ongoing disputes over US tariffs, significant changes in aviation markets and fleet strategies, infrastructure updates, and evolving regulatory environments shaping the air logistics and aviation panorama.
US Tariff Turmoil Continues – Shippers Frustrated
Shippers remain in limbo after a US court decided not to halt tariffs on imported aircraft and parts, pending appeal. Despite concerns that these levies cause “irreparable harm” to thousands of businesses and millions in the supply chain, no immediate relief is in sight. The international aerospace sector and multiple countries, including the EU, China, Japan, Canada, Mexico and Switzerland, continue to jointly criticize the US government’s stance, calling for suspension of what they view as unjust national security tariffs. However, the measure also finds some backing domestically, highlighting the ongoing geopolitical tensions affecting supply chains worldwide.
Fleet and Network Moves: Expansion, Retraction and Refresh
- Etihad Airways is boosting its presence in Pakistan with a significant increase to four daily nonstop flights to Karachi from October 1st, raising weekly frequencies to 28 and optimizing connection times towards major global hubs.
- Indigo, India’s largest carrier, is reportedly poised to order up to 50 ATR 72 regional turboprops – potentially announced at the upcoming Paris Air Show – reflecting a strong demand for efficient, smaller aircraft in regional markets.
- Tarom expands its narrowbody fleet, confirming a lease for two brand-new Boeing 737 Max 8 jets from an Irish lessor, signaling fleet modernization ambitions amid fierce competition in Eastern Europe.
- Finnair returns to Toronto after an 11-year hiatus starting May 2026, reinstating three weekly Helsinki–Canada flights, a move aligned with ongoing transatlantic traffic recovery.
- Qantas is shutting down its Singapore-based low-cost arm Jetstar Asia after 21 years, citing rising costs and competitive pressure. The 13 Airbus A320s will be redeployed within Qantas Group, focusing on strengthening domestic and New Zealand routes.
- Icelandic carrier PLAY is pivoting strategy by ceasing all North American flights by year-end to focus exclusively on charter operations, anticipating a management buyout and delisting from the stock exchange.
Industry Leadership and Legal Updates
- Rainer Klee, founder and CEO of flight consolidator Aerticket, steps down after 36 years, with Holger Taubmann appointed as his successor, ensuring continuity and experience at the helm.
- Schenker experiences executive turmoil as a top DSV-related leader departs, amid ongoing transformation and market speculation within the global forwarding giant.
- An Italian court has ordered Aeroitalia to change its name and logo due to confusion with legacy carrier Alitalia (now Ita Airways), underscoring challenges around brand identity in a competitive European market.
Infrastructure Developments and Event-Related Operational Changes
Fraport’s co-leader Gudrun Telöken highlights significant investments at Antalya Airport, one of the world’s largest dedicated leisure airports, with new infrastructure supporting expansion into emerging markets. Meanwhile, the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague will enforce tight security around Schiphol’s Polderbaan runway area. The zone and adjacent plane-spotting sites will be hermetically sealed off, allowing access only to authorized residents and workers, though other popular spotting locations remain accessible.
Policy and Regulation: Supersonic Future & Sanction Prospects
US President Donald Trump lifted the longstanding ban on supersonic flights over the US mainland, paving the way for commercially viable supersonic air travel subject to noise compliance—a shift that could accelerate innovation in fast long-haul passenger flights.
Meanwhile, Iran Air is actively exploring codeshare partnerships and new aircraft acquisitions as it prepares for potential US sanctions relief, according to reports citing informal meetings with international airlines and manufacturers. This development may open new corridors for supply chains and passenger routes if diplomatic progress continues.
Controversies and Customer Backlash
Oman Air’s flash sale offering return flights from Frankfurt to Bangkok for €284 provoked significant consumer anger following mass cancellations of the deeply discounted bookings. The airline has yet to provide clear resolutions, leaving many German customers frustrated amid a tightening competitive environment in Europe-Asia travel lanes.
Green Flying Skepticism
KLM Nederland’s managing director Bas Gerressen expressed skepticism about the feasibility of electric flights on long haul routes such as to Bali, calling such ambitions “never going to happen.” He emphasized the realistic potential for electric aircraft mainly lies in short-distance sectors for now, reflecting broader challenges in decarbonizing aviation.
Paris Air Show Preview
In anticipation of the Paris Air Show next week, turboprop manufacturer ATR has already secured a significant order from Taiwan’s UNI Air—the biggest since 2017—underscoring strong demand in regional aviation markets and setting the stage for major announcements during the event.
That wraps up today’s briefing. Stay tuned for our daily YouTube video, where we will dive deeper into these stories and their implications for the airfreight and logistics sectors.
—
Your airfreightinsider editorial team