PODCAST · news
Cargo Facts Connect
by Cargo Facts
Cargo Facts Connect addresses all things freighters and aircraft. Connect delves into what's new in freighter transactions, belly capacity trends, conversion activity and aircraft finance. Brought to you by Cargo Facts, long the industry's leading information resource on freighter aircraft, Cargo Facts Connect gets you inside the freighter business. Cargo Facts has been the newsletter of record of the air cargo and freighter aircraft industries for over 40 years. Cargo Facts, published by Royal Media, provides its readers with timely, actionable news and industry intelligence. The deep value in Cargo Facts centers on its detailed coverage of the market and exploration of every nuance of air cargo and freighter aircraft. Cargo Facts offers a Premium subscription service, which includes a digital monthly newsletter, a weekly email Update, exclusive event discounts, and more. The Cargo Facts Premium subscription provides its subscribers with unparalleled coverage of the market. Subsc
Episodes
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Podcast: GSP builds case as alternative cargo gateway
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport is positioning itself as an alternative to congested cargo hubs by offering dedicated handling, flexible facilities and room for expansion. The airport can provide customized services and faster turn times for freighter operators and forwarders moving...
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Charlotte Douglas International Airport sees cargo opportunity in international growth
Charlotte Douglas International Airport expects its express operations to remain steady while new international passenger services create opportunities to increase belly cargo traffic. The presence of other major express hubs nearby limits the potential for freighter growth at Charlotte Douglas...
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Thrust Capital to enter regional freighter lease sector with Dash 8-Q400s
New lessor Thrust Capital is looking to capitalize on the Dash 8-Q400’s speed, range and container capacity by bringing large-cargo-door variants to the regional freighter market. Founder and Chief Executive Nico von Appen established the company after identifying an overlooked opportunity for…
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Merlin New Zealand sheds light on pathway to approval
Boston-based Merlin and its New Zealand-based affiliate, Merlin NZ, are working hard to certify the Merlin Pilot autonomous flight software in New Zealand next year. Merlin NZ is prepared to shoulder the load to ensure Merlin Pilot is put into commercial freighter service after certification by…
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Alpine Air Express Beech 1900D conversion ‘perfect’ freighter for GAM Air
After beginning revenue service with Australia’s first Beech 1900D Super Freighter at the end of May, GAM Air will soon take delivery of another. The carrier signed a deal this year to purchase three aircraft from Provo, Utah-based Alpine Air Express to operate for Team Global Express in…
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Airfreight industry must address people, data, flexibility
The airfreight industry should focus on attracting talent, implementing open data standards and providing flexibility for the rest of 2026 and beyond, according to Flexport. “We have a lot of experienced people today approaching retirement, and the pipeline behind them is very, very thin in all...
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Lessons from Iran war disruption
Freighter operators remain optimistic about the prospects for the industry and its resilience in dealing with crises, drawing from the handling of disruption caused by the Iran war. As the war broke out on Feb. 28, Compass Air Cargo and Atlas Air were among the many carriers that collectively had...
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Chapman Freeborn’s Saska Gerasimova previews Cargo Facts EMEA 2026
Chapman Freeborn has been especially busy fielding charter requests since the outbreak of the Iran war at the end of February, as airspace closures led to grounded aircraft and a sudden drop in capacity. “It is true that aviation is a very volatile industry,” Group Chief Executive Saska…
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PACTL’s Carsten Hernig shares insights on cargo handling in Shanghai
Carsten Hernig, deputy general manager, VP of sales and marketing and production at Shanghai Pudong International Airport Cargo Terminal, has implemented a flexible strategy for the cargo facility as the Iran war continues to shift trade volumes and cargo flight schedules, he says in this week’s...
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Norbert Onkelbach on air cargo growth potential at Lima’s new airport
Lima Airport Partners Chief Commercial Officer Norbert Onkelbach expects his new facility to expand its air cargo market share, he says in this week’s episode of “Cargo Facts Connect.” Onkelbach sat down with Cargo Facts at the IATA World Cargo Symposium in Lima, Peru, this week to discuss the...
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Brandon Fried closes chapter with Airforwarders Association
Brandon Fried may be retiring as executive director of the Airforwarders Association at the end of the year, but he intends to remain active with the industry, he says in this week’s episode of “Cargo Facts Connect.” After leading the Airforwarders Association for more than twenty years, Fried...
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Amerijet bullish on Latin American market
Amerijet will continue to focus on Latin America as a major source of growth for its scheduled and charter business in 2026. “More volume is going into Central and South America versus the U.S., and with de minimis, trade patterns certainly have changed,” Chief Executive Joe Mozzali says in this...
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Columbia Airport seeks larger role in air cargo segment
Columbia Metropolitan Airport wants to play a larger role in the air cargo industry and serve as a less congested alternative to airports including Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International and Charlotte Douglas International. The South Carolina Department of Commerce awarded Columbia…
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EnComm Aviation’s Jackton Obuola discusses BAE lawsuit
EnComm Aviation’s regional freighter operations came to an abrupt halt in September 2025, causing the carrier to write off more than $100 million after BAE Systems surrendered its ATP aircraft type certificate to the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority. EnComm had made multiple investments...
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Experts weigh in on UPS 2976 crash
Airlines lose control when they outsource heavy maintenance, and that could be the root cause of the fatal crash of UPS flight 2976, according to a former FAA airworthiness inspector and NTSB major accident investigator. UPS’ CF6-powered, 1991-vintage MD-11F (48417) failed to maintain its climb…
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Chex Air plans A300-600F launch in 2026
A new A300 freighter operator is entering the market next year. Chex Air, which has offices in Dubai and Miami, expects to begin flying an A300-600F around March 2026 to connect Africa and the Middle East with South America, Head of Operations Sebastian Bolivar says in this week’s episode of…
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777 conversions, narrowbody freighters among CFS 2025 highlights
With the thirty-first annual Cargo Facts Symposium less than a week away, Cargo Facts checked in with four event speakers to discuss some key industry developments that attendees will hear about at the event. A highlight will be a panel discussion on the various 777 conversions, Anna Kopinski,...
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Using digital twin tech to protect aircraft from cyberattacks
Aircraft cybersecurity is a vital — but often overlooked — part of protecting commercial aviation from bad actors, which is why Cyviation specializes in aircraft risk assessments and solutions. Herzliya, Israel-based Cyviation, founded in 2021, offers intelligence and monitoring solutions to map...
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New multilingual AI agent tracks air waybills, search rates, more
Airfreight technology provider CargoAi is using advanced AI software to automate quoting, tracking, emailing and payments. The company this week launched a unified AI agent to integrate multiple AI functions and tools into a single autonomous software solution. “The next stage of this AI…
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An inside look at startup 7Air’s operational launch
Miami-based startup carrier 7Air Cargo is entering its third month of full commercial operations and gaining experience that is benefiting its parent, The Xtreme Group. 7Air Cargo, formed by The Xtreme Group (TXG), received FAA Part 121 approval in February and began air cargo service in May. It...
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Motu Link to support French Polynesian community with local backing
French Polynesia-based Motu Link Airline will soon provide dedicated freighter service across the French Polynesian archipelago as part of the startup’s strategy to align with local ocean shippers and freight forwarders to establish a reliable logistics support system for businesses and…
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Cargolux CEO Forson pursuing operational changes to fly 777s with 747s
Cargolux will change its operations to field a mixed fleet of large-widebody freighters when its new 777-8Fs come online later this decade to begin replacing its older production 747-400Fs. Introducing the 777-8F platform to Cargolux’s uniform fleet of fourteen 747-8Fs and sixteen 747-400Fs will...
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Awesome Cargo enters A330P2F era
Awesome Cargo is on the cusp of putting its first A330-200P2F into service, joining a small group of carriers operating the type. “We’re going to paint the aircraft — that’s going to take a couple of weeks — and then the aircraft is going straight into service as soon as we get it registered.,”...
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Freeze tariffs, not trade, AfA’s Fried says
U.S. tariffs against other countries and the elimination of de minimis exceptions are the greatest concerns for the freight forwarder community right now, according to Airforwarders Association Executive Director Brandon Fried. “We need to freeze tariffs, not freeze trade,” Fried said at CNS...
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BBN Turkey keen to expand into widebody freighters
BBN Airlines will soon become the newest widebody-freighter operator in Turkey when it starts flying the first Mammoth Freighters 777-300ERMF conversion. The carrier ventured into the freighter market in 2023, shortly after it got its AOC, with an A321-200P2F (2005, ex-Red Wings) on lease from…
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Astral’s Gadhia to share optimism at Cargo Facts EMEA
Despite increasing restrictions on global trade and the potential effect on the market, Astral Aviation founder and Chief Executive Sanjeev Gadhia believes new opportunities will emerge in Europe, the Middle East and Africa amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. Gadhia will join a panel discussion…
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Astral preps for widebody growth
Astral Aviation is kicking off the next phase of its fleet expansion with the imminent arrival of its first 767-300 freighter. With two more 767s potentially following in 2025, Astral has obtained its own aircraft maintenance organization certification and will soon conduct its own C check on its...
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Skyway Airlines plans further growth after 1st international flight
New Philippines-based carrier Skyway Airlines hopes to expand its fleet and network after stretching its wings with its first international flight earlier this month. Skyway obtained its AOC in July 2024 after leasing a 1998-vintage 737-400BDSF (29208) from AerCap. It is the first 737-400…
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123Carbon on importance of accurate SAF data collection
IATA and carbon-inset platform 123Carbon are developing interoperability between their sustainable aviation fuel registries to increase transparency, avoid emissions reporting errors and streamline certificate management. The IATA SAF Registry, scheduled to launch in April, aims to help create a...
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Hanwha Aviation explores freighter growth opportunities
New lessor Hanwha Aviation is exploring adding freighters to its portfolio as part of its growth strategy. Hanwha Aviation, a subsidiary of South Korea-based conglomerate Hanwha Group, launched in May 2024 and appointed Laura Ivaskaite as vice president of commercial and investments in September....
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Azul steps into next-gen era with A321P2F launch
Azul will become the second carrier based in Brazil — and all of Latin America — to operate an A321 freighter when it launches scheduled commercial flights this weekend. The airline plans to put its two A321-200P2Fs into service on Feb. 15, it announced last week. The two 2006-vintage,...
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Vaayu Group finds niche in A320P2F
Vaayu Group is capitalizing on the capabilities of the A320P2F to develop its cargo business. The group’s own airline, Fly Vaayu, obtained its AOC in October 2024 and is flying the Middle East’s first A320 freighter around the region as well as to India and Vietnam. “We’ve been really pleasantly...
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SolitAir to expand with own narrowbody freighter fleet
SolitAir plans to take delivery soon of its first dry-leased 737-800 freighter to grow its narrowbody operations after it receives its United Arab Emirates AOC. SolitAir’s own freighter will add to three ACMI 737-800BCFs operated by ASL Airlines Ireland. “The 730-800 was the best of its class to…
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Dedrone targets illegal drone flights
The FAA imposed additional flight restrictions over parts of New Jersey and New York last month in response to increased reports of unauthorized drones. But merely telling drone operators that they cannot fly in certain airspace does not solve the problem, as these restrictions lack enforcement....
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Texel Air to continue fleet growth in 2025
Chisholm Enterprises will proceed with its plans to grow its fleet of 737-800BCFs in 2025 after hitting several important milestones in 2024 with its two airlines, Bahrain-based Texel Air and New Zealand-based Texel Air Australasia. While Texel Air Australasia obtained its AOC in 2023, Texel Air…
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RwandAir sees growing demand for dedicated freighters
RwandAir continues to see growing demand for dedicated freighter operations after taking delivery of its first 737-800SF two years ago. \The 2007-vintage unit 35131 (ex-TUI Airways) joined the RwandAir fleet in November 2022 on lease from Merx Aviation, marking the airline’s entry into the...
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Crestone strengthens freighter, engine footprint
Crestone Air Partners plans to continue enlarging its presence in the freighter and engine markets. The Denver-based lessor has grown its portfolio to about $500 million in assets under management since becoming an independent subsidiary of Air T in July 2022. That portfolio includes freighter…
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ATSG’s Berger bullish on expansion strategy
ATSG Chief Executive Mike Berger is looking forward to receiving the group’s first A330P2F even as demand for 767 freighters remains solid. Over the past year, carriers in countries including Georgia and Uzbekistan have entered the medium-widebody market and grown using 767s from ATSG’s leasing...
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Lessors navigate narrowbody freighter market challenges
Prolonged strong demand from the passenger segment for narrowbody aircraft and engines is still creating a challenging freighter leasing market, especially on 737-800s, speakers on a panel agreed at Cargo Facts Symposium 2024 in San Diego last week. The panel on freighter aircraft and engine...
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TAAG Angola eager to grow with African cargo market
TAAG Angola Airlines is keen to capitalize on the potential of the African market to grow its cargo business, having brought on an industry veteran and introduced its first 737NG freighter into operation less than a year ago. TAAG took delivery of a 2003-vintage 737-800BCF (33552, ex-Ryanair) on...
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Pascan Aviation enters freighter market with Saab 340BF
Canadian regional carrier Pascan Aviation will soon become the first Saab 340B freighter operator in the country after recently entering the dedicated cargo segment. Pascan began a fleet changeover to passenger Saab 340Bs during the pandemic and has carried cargo on its passenger flights since...
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Aeros dirigible platforms to serve as aerial drone hubs
Airship manufacturer Aeros plans to launch two multi-role airships to deliver large payloads globally while serving as aerial hubs for cargo drones. The smaller of the two airships, the Aeroscraft ML866, can carry up to 66 tonnes of payload up to 3,100 miles, while the larger ML868 is expected to...
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De Havilland’s bulk and LCD Dash 8 freighters to come in 2025
De Havilland Aircraft of Canada is progressing past the engineering phase for its bulk and large-cargo-door conversions for the Dash 8-400, and plans to certify the programs in 2025. The two new products build on De Havilland’s Dash 8-400 Quick Change conversion, for which it recently obtained...
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AeroUnion, Avianca on freighter fleet upgrade
AeroUnion in June started flying its first A330-300P2F as part of a fleet renewal and collaboration strategy between it and Avianca Cargo. AeroUnion has based the 2006-vintage unit 791 (ex-SmartLynx) in Mexico City (NLU) for flights within Mexico and to Colombia and the United States, including...
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ATSG leadership on group’s new direction
ATSG is bullish about its growth strategy after a series of changes that culminated with Chief Executive Mike Berger’s appointment June 4. As part of the leadership change, Jeffrey Dominick became ATSG’s president June 4 after more than seven years as a board member, bringing his Wall Street...
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Modern Logistics’ Koga at Cargo Facts LATAM 2024
Brazil added its second 737NG freighter operator this year when Modern Logistics began flying the type, even as some of the country’s other carriers take on more Classics. Modern Logistics is undergoing a transformation to grow its presence in the logistics industry. “Part of this investment plan...
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Hamden Aviation discusses LatAm’s freighter appetite
Hamden Aviation is focusing on Latin America as it looks to grow its presence in the freighter segment. The Hamden, Conn.-based lessor began supporting the industry by providing CFM56-3C1 engines to cargo operators with 737 Classics. “It was just sort of an organic entry [into the freighter…
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Singapore Airlines’ Tan at Cargo Facts Asia 2024
Singapore Airlines is preparing for the arrival of its first A350F as it continues to manage the hurdles challenging the freighter market. The airline will gradually retire its 747-400Fs as Airbus starts delivering its new large-widebody in 2026, but no estimate has been given for when the...
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Airbus’ Hamilton on A350F, plus CFA 2024 preview
Airbus is making steady progress in the industrialization phase of its new A350F program as components come together and test rigs take shape. “We’re sorting through and finalizing the processes for assembly ready for next year, into final assembly and then first flight,” Airbus Head of Freighter...
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Emirates’ Nadeem Sultan on cargo growth
Dubai-based Emirates is due to start taking delivery of some of its five new 777Fs this year as part of a 2022 order with Boeing. The carrier has returned four 777Fs to lessor DAE Capital over the past five years but also added two new units in May and June 2023, bringing its fleet back to eleven...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Cargo Facts Connect addresses all things freighters and aircraft. Connect delves into what's new in freighter transactions, belly capacity trends, conversion activity and aircraft finance. Brought to you by Cargo Facts, long the industry's leading information resource on freighter aircraft, Cargo Facts Connect gets you inside the freighter business. Cargo Facts has been the newsletter of record of the air cargo and freighter aircraft industries for over 40 years. Cargo Facts, published by Royal Media, provides its readers with timely, actionable news and industry intelligence. The deep value in Cargo Facts centers on its detailed coverage of the market and exploration of every nuance of air cargo and freighter aircraft. Cargo Facts offers a Premium subscription service, which includes a digital monthly newsletter, a weekly email Update, exclusive event discounts, and more. The Cargo Facts Premium subscription provides its subscribers with unparalleled coverage of the market. Subsc
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How many episodes does Cargo Facts Connect have?
Cargo Facts Connect currently has 169 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Cargo Facts Connect about?
Cargo Facts Connect addresses all things freighters and aircraft. Connect delves into what's new in freighter transactions, belly capacity trends, conversion activity and aircraft finance. Brought to you by Cargo Facts, long the industry's leading information resource on freighter aircraft, Cargo...
How often does Cargo Facts Connect release new episodes?
Cargo Facts Connect publishes regularly with 169 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
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Cargo Facts Connect is created and hosted by Cargo Facts.
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