Daily Briefing – Airfreight Insider – September 10, 2025
This is your quick update on the most important developments shaping the airfreight and aviation sectors today.
Network Expansions & New Routes
Ajet, the low-cost subsidiary of Turkish Airlines, will launch a new route between Istanbul-Sabiha Gökçen and Prague starting December 15, operating five times weekly with Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Meanwhile, Wizz Air is reshaping its footprint in Europe: it is closing its base in Vienna due to high costs but is simultaneously expanding in Stockholm-Arlanda with a new four-times-weekly service to Tirana starting March 2026, underlining a strategic shift in its Central European operations.
Looking further ahead, Air Canada announced its first Airbus A321XLR route, connecting Montreal with the Balearic Islands starting June 2026, signaling the growing appeal of long-range narrowbodies for transatlantic leisure travel. Similarly, Transavia kicks off its 2026 summer ticket sales with a mix of popular and new destinations across Europe and North Africa, leveraging multiple departure airports.
Fleet and Aircraft Updates
Emirates is set to introduce the Airbus A350 on its daily route to Hangzhou from October 26, reflecting investments in its China network over the past year. In the manufacturing space, Boeing continues its strong performance with 57 aircraft deliveries in August — the highest monthly total since 2018 — bringing their year-to-date deliveries to 385, already surpassing the total for all of 2024.
On the demand side, Air Cambodia has placed an order for up to 20 Comac C909 regional jets, supporting Comac’s ongoing expansion into Southeast Asia’s aviation markets.
Operational and Market Challenges
Labor unrest remains a critical issue in Europe: the Dutch union CNV warns KLM to avert a larger strike following a recent work stoppage that disrupted 100 flights and affected 27,000 passengers at Schiphol. Also, in France, widespread protests and potential sabotage actions could impact airport operations as nationwide demonstrations take place today.
Meanwhile, on the strategic front, Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan acknowledged that entering the Europe market would require substantial fleet investments in long-haul aircraft, marking a significant shift for the US low-cost carrier currently focused on domestic routes.
In the US market, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby publicly criticized the business model of struggling low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines, which is now battling for survival amid industry consolidation.
Industry & Infrastructure Developments
Düsseldorf Airport will become the first German airport to implement the EU Entry-Exit System starting October, streamlining border controls with a phased rollout planned until April 2026 across all air borders in Germany.
Liege Airport reports strong cargo growth with volumes rising 14% in July and nearly 29% in August 2025 year-over-year, highlighting its increasing role in European airfreight.
On connectivity improvements, the Skyhub PAD connection between Paderborn/Lippstadt and Munich enhanced traveller flexibility by signing interline agreements with Swiss, Austrian, Air Dolomiti, Lufthansa City Airlines, and Discover Airlines.
Miscellaneous Insights
In a noteworthy trend, Flexport — a leading digital freight forwarder — is exploring banking services, hinting at the profitability and synergy between logistics operations and financial services, much like historic moves by American Express transitioning from freight to finance.
On the military front, Dutch F-35 fighter jets successfully intercepted Russian Shahed drones that violated Polish airspace, underscoring ongoing regional security concerns.
Lastly, airBaltic celebrates 30 years with a special promotion giving passengers a 30% discount on all economy class fares, supporting demand during the autumn travel period.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s briefing and our daily YouTube update to keep ahead in the dynamic world of airfreight and aviation.
— Your airfreightinsider.com Editorial Team