Daily Air Cargo & Aviation Briefing – August 15, 2025
Good morning, logistics professionals. Here is your concise update on the most significant developments affecting the airfreight and broader aviation sectors as of today.
Labour Strikes Disrupt Operations Across Spain
Ground handling staff at several Spanish airports, including major hubs from Mallorca to Tenerife, have launched strikes impacting Ryanair and other carriers. This labor unrest is causing baggage handling delays and flight disruptions, urging travelers to double-check their flight status and expect possible delays.
As reported first by Luchtvaartnieuws and Airliners, these coordinated strikes highlight ongoing workforce tensions across European airports this summer.
North American & Canadian Flight Disruptions on the Rise
Air Canada anticipates significant operational impact from an upcoming flight attendant strike scheduled for this Saturday, resulting in the cancellation of 500 flights and forcing thousands of passengers to seek alternatives. The union demands a revamped pay structure amid strained labor relations.
Meanwhile, in Israel, an El Al overbooking incident left a 17-year-old passenger stranded in Zurich for several hours after being rerouted. These scenarios underscore continued labor and operational challenges throughout the global network.
Fleet Moves & Financial Maneuvers
TUI strengthens its financial position by prepaying €250 million in aircraft lease debts, aiming to improve operational efficiency amidst a competitive market environment. In a related development, Southwest Airlines divests its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) subsidiary Saffire Renewables to Conestoga Energy, signaling a strategic shift as the company also cuts sustainability-related jobs.
Additionally, Uzbekistan Airways announces the resumption of its Frankfurt–Urgench route starting April 2026, restoring connectivity with Central Asia after a service pause.
Strategic Investments and Expansions
Turkish Airlines acquires a 26% stake in Air Europa for €275 million, a move likely designed to sidestep regulatory obstacles in both Spain and Brussels, while strategically expanding its footprint in the European market.
In a promising sign for urban air mobility, Ambitious Air Mobility Group (AAMG) has leased critical facilities at Oberpfaffenhofen Airport to continue developing the Lilium eVTOL project, maintaining momentum in advanced aerospace technologies.
Air Cargo Market and Aircraft Development
Air freight rates remain broadly stable thanks to tight capacity management by carriers, yet demand growth is slowing, raising concerns about potential rate softening ahead. Notably, China-to-US airfreight saw an 11% rate increase recently, standing out from the overall trend, according to the Freightos Air Index.
Meanwhile, Mammoth Freighters has begun test flights of its Boeing 777-200LRMF freighter conversion, aiming for Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) approval by early 2026. Also, Boeing’s 777X prototype arrived in Victorville to commence FAA-supervised takeoff performance tests, marking key milestones for future fleet modernization.
Airline Network Adjustments and Workforce Changes
Eurowings has prematurely ended its Düsseldorf–Ljubljana service, with the future of the route this coming summer season still uncertain. Meanwhile, Star Air continues fleet expansion with the addition of two 88-seat Embraer E175 jets leased to Indian regional carriers.
In Germany, job cuts are underway at the airports of Halle/Leipzig and Dresden, where approximately 1 in 8 of the total 1,300 employees are expected to lose their positions this year, reflecting broader restructuring efforts across regional hubs.
Travel and Humanitarian Updates
Starting today, Dutch and Belgian nationals can visit Vietnam for up to 45 days visa-free under a new regulation valid through August 2028, simplifying travel and potentially boosting demand in Southeast Asian air routes.
On the humanitarian front, the Dutch Ministry of Defence plans to resume food supply air drops over Gaza after technical issues grounded the original Lockheed C-130 Hercules. A replacement aircraft is being deployed to continue critical missions.
That wraps up today’s briefing. Stay tuned for our daily YouTube video for more in-depth analysis and interviews.
— The airfreightinsider.com editorial team