Airfreight Insider Daily Briefing – July 9, 2025
Welcome to your daily update on the latest trends and developments shaping the logistics and airfreight industry. Here’s what’s moving the market today:
Airfreight Volumes and Trade Lanes
Airfreight volumes from Central and South America to North America have seen a noticeable decline, accelerating to a 5% drop in chargeable weight over the last two weeks ending July 4, according to World ACD data. This downward trend follows previous incremental decreases, signaling potential pressures in intra-Americas trade lanes.
Major Investment Boosts Automation at DHL UK
DHL Supply Chain has announced a £550 million (€637 million) investment to expand automation across its UK and Ireland operations. Over 1,000 robots will be deployed to speed up workflows in e-commerce and healthcare logistics, building on an already significant €1 billion investment in automation announced earlier. This move underlines the growing importance of tech-driven efficiency in supply chain management.
Fleet and Airline Updates: Thai Airways, AirAsia, and Ryanair
- Thai Airways has signed a new GSSA deal with Globe Air Cargo Switzerland, a subsidiary of ECS Group, to manage cargo operations out of Zurich starting August 1. This includes daily flights using Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s. Meanwhile, amid ongoing US customs negotiations, Thai Airways is considering exercising options to acquire additional Boeing aircraft, although no US flight resumptions are currently planned.
- AirAsia is nearing the conclusion of talks with strategic investors for a fresh capital injection worth about 200 million euros (1 billion Malaysian Ringgit). The funding aims to support the airline’s growth and modernization plans.
- Ryanair has made clear that it plans to invest approximately 850 million euros in Austria if the government cancels the current air travel tax. Should the tax remain, the low-cost carrier threatens to reduce its presence, potentially impacting passenger growth targets for 2030.
Aircraft Manufacturing and Industry Trade
Airbus has delivered 306 aircraft in the first half of 2025, marking a 5.56% decline compared to the same period last year when it delivered 323 planes. Gross orders stand at 494 after cancellations are factored in, reflecting a cautious market.
On the trade front, the European Commission is reportedly close to a preliminary agreement with the United States that would ease import tariffs on commercial aircraft. Airbus stands to benefit significantly, alongside other industries, as part of the deal, Bloomberg sources reveal.
Operational and Legal Developments
- Lufthansa faced a rare operational challenge when a Boeing 747-8 was forced to divert to São Paulo after two failed landing attempts in Buenos Aires due to poor weather. The crew declared a mayday, but the aircraft landed safely.
- Condor has filed a lawsuit with the European Court challenging the EU’s approval of the Lufthansa-ITA merger, citing five principal grounds in their bid to have the clearance revoked.
- The European Court of Human Rights has ruled Russia responsible for human rights violations in connection with the downing of flight MH17, emphasizing the breach of the right to life under the European Convention on Human Rights.
Airport and Technology Innovations
- Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) now offers direct booking for bus and train travel via its official website, making multimodal access smoother for passengers.
- The Hamburg Airport is piloting a hydrogen-powered baggage tractor converted from an existing natural gas model, signaling progress toward greener airport ground operations.
- French airport Marseille, after a period of disruptions, has resumed full operations as of July 10 but advises travelers to monitor flight statuses closely due to residual delays or cancellations.
- GEODIS has launched a new digital sales platform in France focused on SMEs, streamlining logistics service bookings to drive broader digital adoption in freight management.
Airline Market Performance and Customer Experience
- Jet2 reported a robust 12% increase in pre-tax profits to £593.2 million (€689 million) for the past fiscal year, highlighting strong leisure travel demand.
- A recent review of Asian airline mobile apps found a wide range in quality, from poor user experiences to quite competent apps – illustrating the ongoing digital customer service gap in the region.
Industry Fee Adjustments
Spanish airport operator Aena is seeking a 6.5% increase in airline fees for 2026 to fund continued investment, according to reports in El Pais citing negotiation sources. Airlines and ground handlers will likely scrutinize these hikes closely amid already tight operating margins.
Stay tuned to Airfreight Insider for daily insights that keep your logistics operations informed and ahead.