Daily Briefing – Airfreight Insider – November 12, 2025
Good morning, airfreight professionals. Today’s briefing offers you a concise overview of key developments shaping the aviation and air cargo sectors. From safety debates at Lufthansa Cargo to emerging fleet expansions and critical environmental commitments, here’s what you need to know.
Lufthansa Cargo Faces Internal Safety Concerns
The recent resignation of Lufthansa Cargo’s Safety Manager has triggered unrest among cockpit crews. More than 300 current and former pilots have raised concerns directly to the company’s board, criticizing the airline’s safety organization. This evolving situation could have wider implications for operational confidence within the cargo carrier. (as reported by AeroTelegraph)
Fleet Expansions & New Routes: Leav Aviation, Austrian Airlines, Azul
The young German carrier Leav Aviation is growing steadily, commissioning its third Airbus A320 (registration D-ADDY) and preparing for 40 new hires. This move signals ongoing optimism despite industry headwinds.
Meanwhile, Austrian Airlines announces new direct flights from Vienna to Bergen starting June 2026, adding valuable connectivity to its expanding European route network.
In Brazil, Azul is ramping up frequencies to several key cities during the summer peak, including Recife, Manaus, and Brasília, underlining efforts to capture rising domestic demand.
Aircraft Certification & Production Updates
Boeing’s 777-9 has passed a major milestone, entering the third of five certification phases with the FAA. This progress draws the program closer to final approval amid ongoing competition with Airbus.
On the other side, Embraer has started building the first of five C-390 military transports for the Royal Netherlands Air Force, a significant step toward replacing the aging C-130 Hercules fleet.
Environmental Commitments & Sustainable Aviation Fuel Progress
A group of 21 airlines has committed to ending misleading environmental claims, aligning public communications with the EU’s stricter regulations on greenwashing. This marks a critical step toward increased accountability in aviation sustainability.
FedEx is expanding its use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with new deliveries at Chicago O’Hare and Miami International airports, following a prior deployment in Los Angeles. These moves signal growing momentum for SAF adoption in cargo operations.
Industry-Wide Operational Impacts
Severe weather is disrupting air traffic in Asia as tropical storm Fung-wong forces multiple cancellations of flights to and from Taiwan, with heavy rains affecting southern regions and raising disruption risks.
Additionally, a series of intense solar flares between November 9 and 11 — including a powerful X5.1-class eruption — have created spectacular polar lights but also pose short-term risks to satellite navigation systems, crucial for air traffic management worldwide.
Other Notable Items
- United Airlines is reducing frequencies on three transatlantic routes from Newark for the summer 2026 schedule, including destinations in Germany, reflecting ongoing network adjustments post-pandemic.
- For aviation enthusiasts and professionals tracking aircraft in service, the Airbus A318 continues to fade globally, with only one airline currently operating the “baby bus” — reflected in a shrinking range of winter routes.
- Thai Airways has equipped its Boeing 787 fleet with new high-speed in-flight internet powered by Skywaves, enhancing passenger connectivity on long-haul flights.
- Consolidation buzz in South America: The Abra Group, parent company of Avianca and GOL, aims to take over Chile’s SKY Airline to strengthen its market presence and challenge regional giant LATAM Airlines.
As always, stay tuned to airfreightinsider.com for detailed analysis and our daily YouTube briefing video covering these topics and more.
— Your editorial team at Airfreight Insider