Daily Briefing – September 16, 2025
Welcome to today’s airfreightinsider.com Daily Briefing, your snapshot of key developments shaping the air cargo and aviation industry as we head deeper into Q4. From fluctuating freight rates and strategic airline moves to innovations in airport operations and labor unrest—here’s what logistics professionals need to know right now.
Airfreight Market Faces Lingering Challenges Ahead of Peak Season
After some brief spikes earlier this year, airfreight rates are now facing a subdued peak season outlook, according to Transport Intelligence’s Q3 tracker. The momentum seen post-pandemic is fading, with fragmentation across markets and pressure on rates expected to dominate through the end of the year. Despite sporadic demand pockets, the overall sentiment points to a long-term slump rather than sustained recovery—a scenario logistics providers must factor into Q4 planning. (Read more on The Loadstar)
Airline Industry Updates: Expansion, Recognition and Pricing Moves
- AZAL discounts up to 35%: Azerbaijan Airlines is celebrating the upcoming Tourism Worker’s Day by offering significant fare reductions available until September 30. The specials are already reflected in global reservation systems, providing competitive options for air cargo and passenger transport alike.
- Austrian Airlines and ÖBB expand Airail connectivity: Starting December 14, the Airail intermodal service linking air and rail will include Klagenfurt, thanks to the new Koralmbahn rail link, improving last-mile connectivity for south-east Austria.
- Avion Express Brasil preparing fleet expansion: The wet-lease carrier plans to significantly grow its Airbus A320 fleet, signaling growing demand in Latin America’s charter and short-haul markets.
- Travelcoup launches new winter routes: The semi-private jet operator will operate winter flights from Düsseldorf to Palma de Mallorca, alongside existing departures from Munich and Zürich, targeting premium leisure travel through April 2026.
Leadership and Corporate Moves
- Discover Airlines appoints new CEO: Ulrich Lindner will take over as CEO later this year, allowing Bernd Bauer to focus exclusively on Edelweiss. This leadership change comes after three years of Bauer holding a dual role.
- Kuehne + Nagel faces strategic questions after US layoffs: The Swiss forwarder’s recent workforce reductions in America raise concerns about its long-term approach in a competitive market struggling with margin pressures.
Labor and Regulatory Developments
- Delta and Aeromexico joint venture to end by January 2026: The US government has ordered the termination of the decade-old joint venture, citing excessive market power on transborder routes. This move could reshape competitive dynamics between North American carriers.
- Strike at Amsterdam Schiphol disrupts KLM operations: Around 100 KLM flights scheduled for Wednesday have been canceled due to a strike by ground handling staff, underscoring ongoing labor tensions across European hubs.
- UFO union ends Lufthansa tariff talks: The Unabhängige Flugbegleiter Organisation has halted negotiations for a comprehensive cabin crew agreement across Lufthansa Group airlines, opting instead for separate talks at individual airline levels. This could prolong labor uncertainties in the critical German market.
Innovations & Awards
- Remote tower control center in Lübeck: The airport is establishing a Remote Tower Control Center to manage several northern German airports from a single location using advanced camera technology—an effective response to the ongoing shortage of skilled air traffic controllers.
- ANA and Air Incheon freighter codeshare launched: Enhancing capacity and network reach on Japan–South Korea cargo routes, this new partnership aims to improve service reliability amid rising demand for intra-Asia goods movement.
- Saudia and Air Astana recognized by APEX: Saudia clinched the “World Class Airline” award for the fifth consecutive year, while Air Astana maintained its six-year streak as a five-star major airline, demonstrating consistent excellence in passenger experience.
- Back to the future with Junkers A50: In Swabia, a niche aircraft manufacturer is producing modern planes styled like the 1930s Junkers A50—combining nostalgic design with cutting-edge safety, reflecting aviation’s blend of heritage and innovation.
Airport Traffic & Industry Momentum
Brussels Airport reported a busy summer with over 5 million passengers in July and August—an increase of 3% year-on-year. Notably, the share of departing passengers climbed, indicating a strong outbound travel market heading into autumn.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to track the evolving state of airfreight and aviation.
— The airfreightinsider.com editorial team