Daily Briefing – Airfreight Insider – July 25, 2025
Welcome to your daily update on the most important trends and developments in air cargo and logistics. Today, we focus on strategic moves by key airlines, technological advancements, fleet changes, and geopolitical shifts impacting the global airfreight landscape.
Investor Interest Sparks Forward Air Rally
Shares of the struggling US express carrier Forward Air jumped 11% following reports that several private equity firms are circling a potential acquisition. This move could bring relief to activist investor Ancora, who has been pushing for change amid ongoing operational and financial challenges. Industry watchers will be monitoring closely whether this sparks a turnaround or restructures the company’s future.
Qatar Airways Scales Back Hamburg Frequency, Expands Fleet
Qatar Airways is adjusting its winter 2025/2026 schedule by reducing flights between Doha and Hamburg from daily to five times per week, dropping midweek frequencies on Wednesdays and Thursdays. In a related fleet move, Qatar Airways has completed the takeover of five Airbus A330 aircraft from Oman Air, increasing its widebody capabilities to support growth across strategic markets.
New Cargo Airline Fuels Ezhou’s Growing Global Hub Status
China’s Hubei International Cargo Airlines has officially launched, basing operations at Ezhou Huahu International Airport (EHU). This new player is expected to accelerate Ezhou’s ambitions as an emerging global freight hub, capitalizing on the region’s strong manufacturing and export growth. The airline was established through a partnership involving Hubei’s municipal government and private investors.
Swiss Breaks Ground with Solar-Powered Flight and Route Restarts
Swiss International Airlines made aviation history by becoming the first airline to integrate solar-derived synthetic kerosene into its regular flight operations. Utilizing 190 liters of Synhelion’s solar fuel, the move underscores growing sustainability commitments across the industry. Meanwhile, Swiss is also resuming flights to Tel Aviv from September 29 and will restart Beirut services on August 3, following recent security-related suspensions.
Lufthansa & Fraport Push Ahead with AI-Driven Aircraft Handling
At Frankfurt Airport, Lufthansa and Fraport have partnered to deploy an AI-powered camera system named “Seer” across an increasing number of aircraft stands. Developed in collaboration with Lufthansa’s innovation arm Zero G, the system aims to optimize ground operations and turnaround times through real-time monitoring and data analytics—an important step in digitalizing airport processes.
Fleet Updates & Orders: Euroatlantic, Avolon, Wizz Air, and Transavia
In fleet developments, Portuguese wet-lease specialist Euroatlantic Airways inducted its first Airbus aircraft—a leased A330-200—complementing its existing Boeing fleet and enhancing long-haul capabilities. Leasing giant Avolon confirmed a major order for 75 Airbus A321 Neo and 15 A330 Neo jets, marking a key milestone in fleet renewal and growth.
Conversely, Wizz Air is scaling down its Airbus A321XLR order by two-thirds following the planned shutdown of its Abu Dhabi unit to refocus on European markets. Meanwhile, Transavia is preparing to welcome a retro-liveried A321neo, celebrating its 60th anniversary with a nod to its heritage, with the aircraft set to arrive at Schiphol Airport this Friday.
Mixed Financial Outlooks Amid Market Challenges
Kuehne + Nagel reported a solid half-year performance, though its results were tempered by the weakening US dollar against the Swiss franc, particularly after the announcement of new tariffs in April. On the other side of the Atlantic, Southwest Airlines missed second-quarter profit expectations due to weak domestic demand causing softer ticket prices and higher seat vacancies.
Alaska Airlines, buoyed by rising passenger volumes and improved fares, reinstated its full-year profit forecast despite cautioning about softer-than-expected third-quarter earnings.
Geopolitical & Industry Policy Updates
The European tourism sector voiced criticism over plans to triple the ETIAS travel authorization fee, warning it could undermine Europe’s competitiveness as a travel destination.
Meanwhile, the EU has expressed cautious optimism that the newly inked US-Japan trade deal may help ease some longstanding US-EU tariff conflicts, although the agreement is not viewed as a direct model for resolving all tariff disputes.
Additional News Briefs
- Emirates remains hopeful about expanding its partnership with Condor despite a shortage of around 40 aircraft, signaling ongoing growth ambitions in key markets.
- Swiss collaborates with Lufthansa Aviation Training to continue civil flight training for Swiss military pilots for another five years, supporting dual-use aviation expertise.
- At Munich Airport, plans are underway to build a dedicated deportation terminal by 2028, though the proposal faces opposition from local authorities in the Freising region.
- A recent German survey reveals 58% of respondents would trust AI to fully plan their vacations, reflecting increasing acceptance of automation in travel planning.
Stay tuned for our daily video update on airfreightinsider.com, where we delve deeper into these stories and what they mean for our industry.