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WestJet appoints AVIAREPS as cargo GSA in India

WestJet Cargo has appointed AVIAREPS as its general sales agent (GSA) in India, with responsibility for supporting cargo sales, customer engagement and market development across the country. AVIAREPS will focus on developing commercial relationships and supporting WestJet Cargo in strengthening its engagement with freight forwarders, cargo agents and other industry stakeholders across the market. Frederick Overton, global head of cargo, AVIAREPS, said: "We are delighted to support WestJet Cargo as its Cargo GSA in India. Our pan-India presence, local market expertise and established relationships across the aviation and cargo ecosystem position us well to support WestJet Cargo's commercial objectives in the country. "We look forward to working closely with customers and industry partners across India and contributing to the continued development of WestJet Cargo's business in this market." As part of WestJet Cargo's wider GSA structure in India, Airline Services International (ASI) will also coordinate with Rainbow Aviation Private Limited to focus on specific regional cargo markets, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana and Goa. In March 2025, WestJet confirmed its decision to end its freighter operation, which at its height offered capacity on four Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The airline has since been focusing on building its bellyhold cargo volumes. Last month, Etihad Cargo appointed AVIAREPS as its GSA in Uzbekistan following the launch of Etihad Airways' passenger flights between Abu Dhabi, UAE and Tashkent.

One in 10 inspected containers still failing safety checks

More than one in 10 containers inspected by authorities over the course of 2025 were shown to have safety deficiencies, according to new data published by the World Shipping Council. The liner shipping lobby group said that during last year a total of 93,079 cargo transport units - most commonly shipping containers but also ro-ro units and trailers - were inspected at ports and identified 9,645 deficiencies, including "incorrect documentation, marking and labelling, improper packing and inadequate cargo securing, all of which can increase the risk of cargo damage, container losses and ship fires". The deficiency rate thus stood at 10.36%, a level that was slightly down on 2023 and 2024, but still way above where the level should be, the WSC argued. "Finding deficiencies in more than one in ten inspected units is far too high," said Joe Kramek, president and CEO of the World Shipping Council. "Correct declaration, packing, securing and marking are fundamental safety obligations. When these requirements are not met, people's lives are put at risk," he added. Although the IMO formally stopped publishing its annual report into container deficiencies in 2024, the WSC has maintained the programme, "keeping this important safety information accessible to governments and industry". In terms of type of deficiency, the most common form was incorrect marking and placarding of containers, which accounted for 46% of deficiencies; followed by the stowage of cargo side container and road trailers, which accounted for 26% of deficiencies and have often found to be the cause of container stack collapses on board vessels. The third most common type of deficiency was incorrect marking and labelling of packages inside cargo transport units - recently highlighted as key factor in lithium battery fires - which accounted for over 10%. However, the WSC also noted that the data was comprised of reporting by just seven countries - Chile, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, Sweden and the United States - out of the 170 IMO member states, "leaving significant gaps in the global safety picture". "States have a responsibility to enforce cargo safety rules, including through effective inspections," Mr Kramek continued. "The fact that only seven Member States reported results is concerning. More governments need to report their inspections so that risks can be consistently identified and action taken," he added.

Northern Air Cargo adds retro 737-800 freighter

Northern Air Cargo has taken delivery of a second Boeing 737-800 freighter in a retro livery. The freighter arrived in Anchorage last week and received a water cannon salute at the airline's Anchorage operating base. The aircraft will offer around 18 tonnes of capacity and will help the airline "meet customer demand, maintain reliable service, and provide greater flexibility across our Alaska network". "This aircraft represents more than additional capacity," the airline said in a LinkedIn post. "It strengthens our ability to meet customer demand, maintain reliable service, and provide greater flexibility for the businesses and communities we serve across Alaska." According to fleet tracking site planespotters.net, the airline also operates another Boeing 737-800F, one Boeing 737-400F and one Boeing 737-300F. The aircraft (N3160G) is more than 22 years old and is leased from World Star Aviation. The airline recently announced the appointment of Mark Lester as president and chief executive to succeed Dave Karp, who has served as interim president since March 2025. In October 2025, the airline launched a new direct cargo route between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.