FlightGlobal
• David Kaminski-Morrow
Airbus booked 204 gross commercial aircraft orders in July, led by leasing deals with Chinese companies, while deliveries reached 67 jets to 39 customers. Year-to-date deliveries rose to 418, but the pace remains below last year and the first A350F delivery has slipped to late 2027.
Air Cargo & Freight Logistics
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Saltchuk Aviation-owned Ryan Air has received its first Saab 340B(F) freighter from Jetstream Aviation Capital. The aircraft will support scheduled and charter cargo services connecting more than 80 communities across Western Alaska, expanding the operator’s capacity in a geographically dispersed and logistically demanding market.
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Airbus booked 204 gross commercial aircraft orders in July, led by leasing deals with Chinese companies, while deliveries reached 67 jets to 39 customers. Year-to-date deliveries rose to 418, but the pace remains below last year and the first A350F delivery has slipped to late 2027.
IndiGo operated Navi Mumbai International Airport’s first dedicated freighter service on Aug. 2, using A321-200(P2F) VT-IKX on a Bengaluru–Navi Mumbai–Sharjah–Delhi rotation. The launch establishes the new airport as an operating point for IndiGo’s cargo network and adds a west India gateway to its freighter schedule.
United Parcel Service has asked the U.S. Department of Transportation to approve the transfer of six weekly fifth-freedom cargo frequencies linking Hong Kong International Airport with Clark International Airport in Angeles City, potentially reshaping UPS’s regulatory authority and operating pattern on the Asia-Pacific route.
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National Airlines says it completed what is believed to be the longest commercial Boeing 777 Freighter flight, operating nonstop from Prestwick, Scotland, to Melbourne, Australia. The ultra-long-haul cargo mission lasted more than 19 hours and covered nearly 9,850 miles, highlighting the range potential of the 777F.
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Leipzig/Halle Airport temporarily suspended flights after authorities found a drone carrying explosives near a Ukrainian An-124 and removed its detonator. The disruption followed a DHL cargo aircraft’s apparent midair collision with an unidentified object, prompting a major security investigation at the German cargo hub.
US-Bangla Airlines plans to establish a dedicated cargo carrier, expanding its business beyond passenger operations. The available reporting does not provide details on the launch timeline, fleet, routes or ownership structure.
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Airbus has completed ground vibration testing on the A350F, exposing the freighter to controlled oscillations to validate its structural and aeroelastic models. The campaign is a mandatory certification step ahead of the aircraft’s maiden flight, with two A350Fs planned for certification work.
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