Brazil Freight Forwarding Services
Air & Sea Freight Between Brazil and the UK

Navigating airfreight volatility: rates, capacity & the ecommerce shake-up

Airfreight markets are facing constant disruption, from shifting ecommerce flows and changing rates to tight capacity and growing uncertainty across major trade lanes. Tristan Koch, chief commercial officer at Awery Aviation Software, joins host Charlotte Goldstone to discuss the latest China-Europe ecommerce trends, how airlines and forwarders are responding to volatile demand and why different booking platforms can show very different rates and capacity for the same flight. He also explains how Awery's new AI-powered data search and reporting functionality can help air cargo professionals make sense of an increasingly complex market.

Steve Smith takes helm at Airforwarders Association as Brandon Fried steps down

The Airforwarders Association (AfA) has appointed former Airlink president and chief executive Steve Smith as its new chief executive. He succeeds Brandon Fried, who has led the association for 21 years and will stay on during the transition. Mr Smith spent 13 years leading humanitarian logistics organisation Airlink, building its partnerships with airlines, logistics providers and aid groups. Before joining Airlink, he held a senior commercial role at Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace. "The work of the AfA has rarely been more important, with shifting trade policy, geopolitical disruption, and aging infrastructure adding pressure on supply chains that are already stretched," Mr Smith said. "Forwarders need greater predictability as they navigate these pressures, and investment in the infrastructure that keeps it moving." Mr Fried said his successor brought "extensive aviation and logistics experience, a strong understanding of air cargo, and established relationships across all areas of the industry". Mr Smith will take on the role gradually while Mr Fried supports the handover. Both are due to attend TIACA's Air Cargo Forum in Miami next month.

DSV expands pharma offering in South Korea

DSV has continued the expansion of its Air ThermoDirect service with the addition of a new facility at Incheon Airport. The new facility offers more than 2,000 sq m of 2-8°C storage capacity, direct tarmac access and is GDP-compliant. The Denmark-headquartered forwarder said the addition reflects South Korea's increasingly important role in global healthcare supply chains, strong healthcare manufacturing base and growing export volumes. DSV's Air ThermoDirect service connects dedicated air capacity, end-to-end visibility and reusable thermal packaging solutions. Kenneth Kallström, executive vice president, global enterprise vertical head, healthcare, said: "By expanding Air ThermoDirect into Korea through Incheon, we are connecting two of the world's most important healthcare and life sciences markets with one of Asia's leading pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical hubs. "This investment strengthens the resilience, visibility and control that healthcare customers increasingly need across global supply chains." The addition of the new facility is the second development for the forwarder's pharma air operation in recent weeks. Earlier in September, the company expanded the Air ThermoDirect to include flights between Luxembourg and Shanghai Pudong. The new connection will utilise Eastern Air Logistics' (EAL) specialised ground handling facilities in Shanghai and is further strengthened by ground handling agent partner China Eastern Logistics Cold Chain, which will provide "dedicated cold chain expertise and infrastructure". The company also plans to add a link between Indianapolis International Airport and Shanghai in the future.