Daily Briefing – August 19, 2025
Welcome to your daily update from airfreightinsider.com, bringing logistics professionals the most relevant news and trends shaping the air cargo and aviation sectors.
Labour Disputes Eased: Air Canada Resumes Operations
After a weekend-long strike by Air Canada’s cabin crew, the airline has reached a preliminary agreement with the flight attendants’ union CUPE, effectively ending the walkout and enabling a phased restart of flight operations. The strike had led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights, causing significant disruption. The resolution was achieved through mediation led by William Kaplan. As reported by multiple sources, operations are now gradually returning to normal.
Leadership Changes and Strategic Moves in Airlines
- AirBaltic has announced that Erno Hildén, the former CFO of SAS, will take over as CEO starting December 1st, following Martin Gauss’s departure earlier this year. In the meantime, interim CEO Pauls Čalītis continues to lead the company.
- Condor continues its fight to grow market share in Germany’s Lufthansa-dominated market. Industry veteran Jaan Albrecht, now advisor to Condor’s owner Attestor, emphasized the need for Germany to have a strong second carrier to bolster competition and offer viable alternatives for customers.
- Assaia, a leader in AI-based airport operations, has promoted Jan Willem Kappes to Chief Commercial Officer. Kappes brings experience from his prior role as Senior VP of Global Sales and will be pivotal in expanding Assaia’s market presence.
Network Expansions and Fleet Updates
- Wizz Air is set to enhance Maastricht Aachen Airport’s route portfolio with a new weekly service to Tuzla, Bosnia & Herzegovina starting December 2025. Flight frequency will double in January 2026, expanding affordable connectivity from this regional airport.
- Bermudair expands on the U.S. East Coast with three new winter routes to New York (Newark and LaGuardia), launching October 26 with twice-weekly flights.
- Air Europa plans to launch a double daily service between Madrid and Geneva in summer 2026, operated with Boeing 737-800 aircraft, signaling growing demand between these two key European hubs.
- Austrian Airlines will upgrade its Vienna-Mauritius route from a Boeing 777-200ER to a more modern Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner for the period of January to February 2026, enhancing passenger comfort and operational efficiency.
- Vueling has scheduled Airbus A321 Neo aircraft for multiple German routes during the 2025/26 winter season, boosting capacity and fuel efficiency across these connections.
- Armenia aims to boost international traffic by adding new European flight connections out of Gyumri airport, with talks nearing completion involving a yet-to-be-named airline.
Innovations in Air Mobility and Infrastructure
The U.S. eVTOL manufacturer Archer Aviation has set a new milestone with its “Midnight” model, achieving the longest manned eVTOL flight so far – 89 kilometers in 31 minutes at their California test site. This progress underscores the potential for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft to revolutionize urban air mobility in the near future.
Meanwhile, the Gary/Chicago International Airport (GCIA) is ramping up its cargo capabilities through fresh grants and new contracts as part of its “Phase 1” expansion efforts. This development is a key step in strengthening the Midwest’s air freight infrastructure and further establishing GCIA as a cargo growth hub.
Humanitarian Air Cargo Makes Lifesaving Impact
Over the past five years, Qatar Airways Cargo has been a major player in humanitarian logistics, transporting a total of 720 tonnes of essential aid free of charge in partnership with Airlink and multiple NGOs. This initiative has reached more than 15.5 million beneficiaries across 34 countries, illustrating the important role air cargo plays in crisis response.
New Partnerships and Policy Developments
- American Airlines and the Taiwanese carrier Starlux have announced a new interlining partnership. After launching a nonstop route between Taipei and Phoenix, this cooperation will offer smoother connecting travel options for their respective passengers.
- On the regulatory front, Dutch political coalition GroenLinks-PvdA is advocating for substantial increases in aviation-related fees, including VAT on airline tickets and excise duties on jet fuel, aiming to curb emissions by raising costs also for transfer passengers. This ambitious green policy effort could significantly reshape flying in and through the Netherlands.
Airport Fees and Market Environment
The Vienna Airport plans to reduce its charges by up to 5% in 2026, following the expiration of special COVID-19 relief measures. This fee cut is expected to benefit airlines and cargo operators alike, aiding in the region’s continued recovery and growth post-pandemic.
That wraps up today’s key news items shaping aviation and air freight. Stay tuned for detailed insights in our video update later today, and thank you for relying on airfreightinsider.com to keep you informed.