Airfreight Insider Daily Briefing – November 25, 2025
Welcome to your daily briefing with the latest and most important developments across the airfreight and logistics landscape. Today, we cover notable shifts in airline partnerships, regional security issues impacting cargo and passenger flows, labor developments, and innovative concepts shaping the future of aviation logistics.
Industry Moves & Airline Developments
MSC’s Artful Play in Ceva & Bolloré Control Tug-of-War
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is quietly positioning itself amid ongoing management battles for control at Ceva Logistics and Bolloré Logistics. While MSC maintains a delicate stance on neutrality in the supply chain, it eyes strategic influence as its rival AP Møller-Mærsk doubles down on container end-to-end solutions – signaling an evolving chessboard in asset-backed logistics deals, as reported exclusively by The Loadstar.
DHL Global Forwarding Appoints Henk Venema as EVP Airfreight
DHL Global Forwarding has appointed Henk Venema, formerly CEO Western Europe, as Executive Vice President and head of airfreight. Venema’s nearly decade-long tenure at DHL primes him to steer the airfreight segment during a critical phase of global market shifts and growing demand for a seamless mix of capacity and sustainability in forwarding services.
Air India Expands European Network with Air Baltic Codeshare
From November 27, 2025, Air India will launch a codeshare agreement with Latvia’s Air Baltic, extending its reach into Northern and Eastern Europe. This partnership opens more options for efficient cargo and passenger flows between Riga and Indian subcontinent markets, enhancing connectivity in a competitive transcontinental landscape.
Operational and Security Disruptions
Sunrise Airways Halts All Domestic Flights Amidst Security Crisis in Haiti
The escalating security situation in Haiti has forced regional carrier Sunrise Airways to suspend all domestic flights following an incident on November 23rd, where one of its aircraft was attacked during approach. This disruption adds mounting strain on an already volatile market and raises concerns about air connectivity for vital cargo and passenger services.
US Jet Fuel Shortage Triggers Cargo Embargo
A jet fuel pipeline leak shut down the Olympic fuel pipeline on November 11, causing a significant shortage in Washington state and particularly impacting Seattle-Tacoma airport operations. As a result, cargo carriers have placed embargoes on certain shipments, putting additional pressure on US air cargo logistics chains struggling with capacity and resource constraints.
Vilnius Airport Faces Repeated Shutdowns Due to Suspected Smuggler Balloons
Vilnius Airport experienced two temporary closures between Sunday night and Monday morning caused by suspected smuggler balloons drifting toward the site. Authorities responded swiftly, but the incidents highlight growing security challenges at European airports where unconventional aerial threats affect overall operational stability.
Noteworthy Aviation Incidents & Investigations
NTSB Releases Interim Report on United Airlines’ Boeing 737 Weather Balloon Collision
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued an interim report investigating the unusual October collision between a United Airlines Boeing 737 and a weather balloon. The incident revealed vulnerabilities in cockpit window resilience which were previously considered robust, prompting scrutiny of aircraft safety standards in unexpected airborne encounters.
British Airways A380 Flight Split to Handle Crew Duty Time and Technical Issues
British Airways encountered a mid-flight challenge on a Johannesburg-to-London route when a technical issue and crew duty time restrictions forced an unscheduled stop in Madrid. Passengers were transferred onto smaller Airbus A321 aircraft to complete their journey to Heathrow, demonstrating the operational complexity of managing long-haul disruptions with minimum impact.
Innovations & Sustainability in Air Cargo Operations
New Egyptian Cargo Charter Airline Boosts Space for Strawberry Shipments
Perishables forwarders face ongoing capacity shortages, but Egypt’s AirMaster airline is proving a welcome relief. Operating two Boeing 737-800 BCFs with a twice-daily connection from Cairo to Frankfurt Hahn, AirMaster supports a growing strawberry export season, highlighting the niche cargo routes that help specialty agricultural products reach European markets efficiently.
Airline MRO Turning to Sustainable Material Management
Lufthansa Consulting experts Sebastian Pleines-Döpke and Yasser Meddaikar emphasize the importance of sustainable solutions within Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) material management. With the aviation sector under increasing pressure to lower its carbon footprint, innovative approaches to inventory, supplier collaboration, and lifecycle management become key to greener aircraft servicing.
Labor Relations & Industry Governance
Swiss Pilots Cancel Collective Labor Agreement, Demand Renegotiations
In a decisive vote, 85% of Swiss Airlines’ pilots agreed to terminate their collective labor agreement signed during the pandemic, demanding fresh negotiations amid evolving industry conditions. The airline sees the move as unnecessary, signaling likely challenging talks ahead that could influence labor stability during the coming high season.
“Frankfurter Erklärung” Coalition of German Sectoral Unions Push Back Against Tarifeinheitsgesetz
Eleven German sector-specific unions united to issue the “Frankfurt Declaration,” defending coalition freedom and criticizing the Tarifeinheitsgesetz (Collective Bargaining Unity Law). The move reflects mounting tensions over trade union influence and competition with the powerful Verdi union, impacting collective bargaining in logistics and aviation sectors alike.
“SARPcheck” Establishes International Oversight Board in Braunschweig
SARPcheck, an entity focused on aviation safety assessment, has formed an international supervisory board including airline and regulatory representatives. The inaugural meeting in Braunschweig marks a significant step toward enhanced global collaboration on aviation safety standards and regulatory harmonization.
Other Highlights
- Vesuvius in Ethiopia Erupts After Millennia, Disrupts Indian Airspace: The volcanic ash plume drifts eastward, causing flight disturbances primarily in India, with potential broader implications.
- Aegean Airlines A320neo Participates in Rotor-Based Exercise at Rotterdam The Hague Airport: Part of the European ALBATROS project focusing on advanced aviation research and emergency response simulations.
- Britten-Norman Islander Tests as Flying 5G Communications Mast: Trial underway to explore airborne 5G infrastructure, potentially aiding disaster relief scenarios and enabling future stratospheric telecom deployments.
Stay tuned for our daily video update covering these stories with expert perspectives. For more in-depth analysis and breaking news, visit airfreightinsider.com.
Sources include The Loadstar, aeroTELEGRAPH, Airliners.de, Luchtvaartnieuws, and cargomagazine.nl among others.