April 2017

More wagons roll for Eurotunnel

Eurotunnel is taking delivery of its first new shuttle rolling stock since 1999, in response to surging freight demand. It introduced the first of three new 35-wagon freight shuttle trains (32 truck carrying wagons and three loading wagons) in February, with a further two due to go into service in the next few months, bringing the total number of freight shuttles to 18 and boosting the Tunnel truck-carrying capacity by ... [+]

Rail operator reaches deal with unions

DB Cargo UK says it has reached agreement with its four trade union partners - ASLEF, RMT, TSSA and Unite – on a restructuring plan announced last October to cut 893 jobs, or almost a third of its workforce. Working arrangements of employees will also be updated and modernised, the ... [+]

Virgin cargo chief to step down

Virgin Atlantic senior vice president of cargo for 30 years, John Lloyd, is to step down from his post in September to pursue other, as yet unnamed interests. In a statement, the carrier said it would “be sad to see John go”. He had built a strong team “with an ... [+]

Alitalia on course for administration

Not for the first time, the future of Italian flag carrier Alitalia hangs in the balance, after trade unions voted against a potential rescue deal on 24 April. Despite an agreement signed in 2014, in which Abu Dhabi’s Etihad took a 49% stake in the auirline, Alitalia has faced continued pressure ... [+]

It just gets worse and worse for United

The bad publicity that has dogged US airline United over the past few weeks has now spread to the cargo arm. Only weeks after an incident in which pictures of Dr David Dao being forcibly removed from an overbooked flight went viral, the carrier is now having to investigate the ... [+]

Bids invited for Welsh port funding

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Denholm buys Africa specialist

Denholm Global Logistics, the forwarding business of the Liverpool-based group’s logistics division, is to acquire Wirral-based Bennett & McMahon Agencies. The company, formed in 1994 by Mike McMahon and Ralph Bennett, is one of the leading UK forwarding businesses in the African market. Mike McMahon has been appointed managing director ... [+]

Ireland must be top priority in Brexit, says FTAI

Freight transport group FTA Ireland (FTAI) has called on both sides in the Brexit negotiations to make sure that Ireland’s unique circumstances and links with the UK are prioritised. It says that avoiding uncertainty and a cliff edge for businesses should be a priority for both negotiating teams. FTAI general manager, Aidan ... [+]

Heathrow wins direct link to Qingdao

Hainan Airlines subsidiary Beijing Capital Airlines is to launch a three times a week service from Heathrow to Qingdao this summer – the first direct link from the airport to one of the fastest growing cities in China. It follows last year’s agreement between the UK and the Chinese Government ... [+]

Ekol moves to a new level

Turkish-owned Ekol has unveiled a Logistics 4.0 strategy  which, it says,will revolutionise the traditional business model. It promised more integrated, interconnected, and innovative solutions for its customers It has also revamped its corporate identity. At a meeting to unveil the new strategy chairman Ahmet Musul said: “Industry 4.0 offers limitless opportunities for ... [+]