UAE-based logistics operator, DP World, is focusing on expanding its air cargo movements and to that end, has now also secured IATA certification for its freight forwarding operations in Panama, following on from Brazil’s certification in 2025. The certificate is awarded once IATA has assessed that a company meets all of its global standards for safe, secure, and efficient air cargo handling. This milestone achievement fits into DP World’s broader strategy of building fully integrated, end-to-end logistics solutions that connect air, ocean, and inland transport across major trade corridors. Panama is a natural fit for this ambition, sitting at one of the world’s most strategically important crossroads for global trade. Which is why DP World also recently launched a customs-bonded warehouse in Panama to improve cargo consolidation and distribution. With these infrastructural investments, customers can now enjoy greater flexibility and speed in shipment handling across multimodal supply chains throughout Latin America.

Earning the certification required a thorough assessment of DP World’s infrastructure, safety and security protocols, traceability systems, and regulatory compliance. The evaluation specifically confirmed adherence to IATA Resolution 813zz (the Cargo Intermediary Agreement for Latin America), Resolution 833 covering “Ready for Carriage” requirements, and IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulations governing hazardous materials.

With Panama now IATA-certified, DP World can offer customers direct access to major airlines and global trade routes across the Americas – reinforcing its position as a trusted, internationally compliant logistics partner supporting regional trade growth.

Manuel Martínez, CEO of DP World in the Dominican Republic, said: “This certification reflects our continued focus on building a reliable, standardized, and highly competitive logistics platform across the Americas. Aligning our freight forwarding operations with IATA’s global standards strengthens our ability to support customers with secure, compliant, and efficient air cargo solutions that complement our broader port and logistics ecosystem.”

Volvo Autonomous Solutions (V.A.S.) and global logistics provider, DSV have launched autonomous freight operations in Texas, marking a notable milestone for self-driving freight in the United States. The partnership kicked off with the first commercial truckload hauled by the Volvo VNL Autonomous – a truck built from the ground up for autonomous long-haul operations and powered by the Aurora Driver self-driving system. Initially, V.A.S. is running autonomous transport services for DSV on the Dallas-to-Houston corridor, connecting Aurora’s terminals along one of the country’s busiest freight lanes. The trips are being integrated directly into DSV’s existing logistics flows, with a safety driver present in the cab during this early operational phase – consistent with V.A.S.’s current deployment standards.

Central to the collaboration is V.A.S.’s Autona/freight solution, an end-to-end autonomous transport ecosystem that combines the Volvo VNL Autonomous truck with self-driving technology from both Aurora and Waabi, alongside the operational systems needed to manage autonomous freight at scale. V.A.S. brings substantial real-world experience to the table, having logged over one million miles in regional and local freight operations since 2023.

For DSV, the partnership demonstrates how autonomous transport can be woven into large, complex logistics networks to boost efficiency, improve asset utilization, and build supply chain resilience. Both companies share the ambition of expanding to additional lanes over time, using day-to-day operational learnings to guide responsible, performance-driven growth in autonomous freight.

Helmut Schweighofer, CEO, DSV Road, stated: “Autonomous driving is moving towards real-world operations. Our collaboration with Volvo in Texas represents a production, depot-to-depot setup. We see clear opportunities to improve safety and driver comfort, help mitigate a growing driver shortage, and unlock better asset utilization through 24/7 operations for the benefit of our customers.”

Sasko Cuklev, Head of On-Road Solutions at V.A.S. explained: “Logistics providers like DSV are an important customer group for Volvo Autonomous Solutions, and DSV is at the forefront of how autonomous transport can be applied in real logistics networks. Starting between Dallas and Houston, we plan to move freight together in a way that supports round-the-clock operations and creates a scalable foundation for adding more lanes over time.”

Qatar Airways Cargo published its latest network enhancements last week, which show that it is significantly strengthening its worldwide reach, not only in resuming operations on certain routes, but also announcing new destinations and frequency increases. Together, those changes amount to a 12% increase in cargo capacity across the carrier’s network.

Headline additions include two new passenger destinations – Caracas, Venezuela, and Bogotá, Colombia – launching 22JUL26, with twice-weekly flights. Qatar Airways becomes the first airline to operate belly-hold cargo flights from the Middle East to both South American capitals, offering 20 tons of capacity each way per week.

On the freighter front, Boeing 777 freighter services to Vienna are recommencing, integrated in the Doha–Budapest–Vienna–Doha route. Warsaw (via Budapest) is being increased to two B777 freighter flights. Vienna grows from 4 weekly flights to 7 passenger flights per week (73 tons), plus 100 tons of weekly freighter capacity, while Warsaw now offers 273+ tons of combined weekly capacity each way. Other route resumptions further bolster the network. Helsinki returns on 25JUL26, and Tokyo Haneda on 16JUL26 – each launching with four weekly passenger flights before scaling to seven weekly from 01AUG26.

Capacity ramp-ups are happening in every region. São Paulo reaches 479+ tons of combined weekly capacity with 14 passenger flights and four freighters. Hong Kong commands a dominant 4,474+ tons weekly through 42 freighter rotations and boosted passenger services. Amman and Beirut each double their passenger frequencies to 14 weekly flights, while Dammam, Dhaka, and Kathmandu see sharp frequency increases across Asia and the Middle East.

“Strategically located at the crossroads of global trade, Hamad International Airport serves as a critical hub connecting East and West,” the carrier noted, emphasizing its position as the world’s leading air cargo carrier. All capacity is bookable via Qatar Airways Cargo’s Digital Lounge e-booking platform or through local sales teams.

The carrier was involved in the return of a piece of Hawaiian History: the ‘Ahu’ula. This is a centuries-old, traditional Hawaiian feathered cape belonging to Chief Keaoua Kekuaokalani, who fell during the Battle of Kuamo’o in 1819. Long held at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., the cape was finally returned to Kona, Hawaii, in MAY25 as part of a broader repatriation process governed by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act – a significant moment for the Hawaiian community and its living connection to that history.

Transporting the cape was never going to be straightforward. Cultural protocol was non-negotiable: the ‘ahu’ula had to travel directly to Kona on Hawaii Island, with no inter-island transfers that could introduce additional handling or risk. United Cargo was the only carrier able to deliver on that requirement, routing the shipment from Washington Dulles through Denver and onward directly to Kona – an extraordinary itinerary deliberately chosen to keep touchpoints to a minimum.

The cape traveled under United Cargo’s UASecure service, a specialized solution built for high-value and irreplaceable shipments. Real-time coordination, secure handling, and close collaboration with all stakeholders kept the artifact protected and accounted for at every stage. “UASecure was developed to manage what cannot be replaced,” noted the team – a principle that found its clearest expression in this particular shipment, where precision wasn’t simply a professional standard but a cultural obligation.

Ben Scott, Cargo Sales Account Executive at United Airlines, admitted: “We happened to have the perfect routing at the time – it fitted exactly what was needed. For protocol reasons, it was important for the shipment to go directly to Kona rather than through Honolulu. This wasn’t just another shipment. It was about returning a piece of history to where it belongs. Being part of that was incredibly meaningful. It reminded us that, at United Cargo, we don’t just carry cargo, we connect cultures and communities. Every shipment tells a story.”

Cold chain specialist, Envirotainer, and airline, Cathay have taken a concrete step toward greener logistics, by opting for SAF on pharma shipment routes. The agreement sees Envirotainer join Cathay’s Corporate Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Program – one of Asia’s most established initiatives of its kind. Under the deal, Envirotainer commits to purchasing a minimum of 100 tons of verified emissions reduction claims, the equivalent of roughly 12,000 US gallons of SAF used within Cathay’s flight operations. Cathay’s program works by deploying certified SAF across its network and then allocating the associated environmental benefits to corporate partners according to a recognized industry attribution model. For Envirotainer, this is a meaningful way to begin tackling the Scope 3 emissions tied to its global shipments – the indirect footprint that comes from transporting temperature-sensitive medicines across continents on behalf of pharmaceutical clients.

Aymeric Chandavoine, Chief Executive Officer at Envirotainer, emphasized: “Reducing emissions across our supply chain isn’t a future ambition – it’s an immediate responsibility. This partnership with Cathay allows us to actively accelerate the use of sustainable aviation fuel, proving that you don’t have to choose between sustainability and the safe, reliable delivery of life-saving pharmaceuticals.”

Kuntal Baveja, Regional President APAC at Envirotainer, commented: “Asia Pacific is more than a key market for us – it’s a region of growing focus for sustainable pharmaceutical logistics. By joining Cathay’s Corporate SAF Program, we’re taking a decisive step to reducing emissions at scale, while continuing to deliver the precision and performance our customers depend on.”

Dominic Perret, Director Cargo at Cathay, added: “We view sustainable aviation fuel as one of the most effective levers available today to support aviation’s decarbonization, but scaling it meaningfully requires more than just airlines’ efforts – it requires collaboration across the entire air cargo value chain. Through our Corporate SAF Program, we work with like-minded partners like Envirotainer to support the adoption of SAF, helping to accelerate progress towards a more sustainable future for air cargo.”

DHL Express rolled out three significant developments this spring. Launched in MAY26, across eight markets, DHL Express’ new AI-powered item identification tool is a first for the global express industry. Shippers simply photograph their item on any smartphone, and a computer vision model instantly generates a customs-compliant description – no specialist knowledge required. The result is cleaner data at the point of entry, fewer customs holds, and faster clearance. No DHL account is needed to use the feature, keeping the experience accessible to occasional shippers and high-volume customers alike. A broader market rollout is planned throughout the rest of 2026.

Dirk Olufs, EVP & Global CIO at DHL Express, said: “Computer vision is now live for customers across multiple markets, but what matters most is the impact. […]: cleaner data [,] fewer holds, faster clearance, and a better outcome for the customer.”

Enna Zarate, Senior Vice President, Digital Customer Solutions at DHL Express added: “The item description field was not a minor inconvenience – it was a critical moment where the customer experience broke down. This AI feature is a direct response to customer feedback.”

Also announced in MAY26, Heavy Weight Express (HWX) extends DHL Express’ Time Definite International portfolio to shipments up to 1,000 kg per piece and 3,000 kg per shipment – served across more than 220 countries. The service targets industries where delays carry serious financial consequences, including automotive, life sciences, technology, and energy. Dedicated Heavy Weight Priority Desks provide proactive monitoring and direct customer communication for every shipment, while all-in pricing eliminates the rate volatility that often plagues conventional air freight. With DHL managing its own aircraft, hubs, and last-mile delivery, the promise is end-to-end reliability even during periods of constrained capacity.

DHL Express CEO, John Pearson, commented: “As industries face rising volatility, increasingly complex production cycles, and significant financial exposure from delays and supply chain disruption, DHL’s ability to offer express-level speed, access to capacity and higher reliability for shipments up to 3,000 kilograms fundamentally changes the service levels that customers can expect from their logistics provider.”

Rounding off the news trio, DHL Express signed a ten-year offtake agreement with Dubai-based SAF One, securing 25,000 metric tons of unblended sustainable aviation fuel annually from a new production facility in Bahrain – the first of its kind in the Middle East. Production is scheduled to begin in 2028, contributing toward DHL’s target of 30% SAF usage by 2030. The fuel volumes will be integrated into DHL’s GoGreen Plus decarbonization offering via a book-and-claim model, allowing customers worldwide to offset Scope 3 emissions regardless of which routes their shipments actually travel.