Frankfurt-based IT specialist, allivate GmbH, has appointed Matthias Hupka and Niklas Petri as Joint Managing Directors. The two previously senior consultants at allivate, assumed their new positions on 01JAN26, taking over from Denis de Farias Duarte who had led the company in the interim, since Martina Schickorr’s departure in AUG25.

Hupka’s responsibilities include IT, project and product management, driving the technical and strategic development of the FAIR@Link platform, and integrating new digital modules and services. His background is in computer science, and he has held positions with Fraport, cimt, and WSP, thus he has accrued strong experience in both IT development, air cargo, and consulting.

Petri manages sales and the operational design of digitalized cargo processes, with a focus on market expansion, strategic growth, and new business/service models. An economist and qualified forwarding agent, he previously held roles at DB Schenker (air cargo) and DB Cargo (strategy and project management).

Both gentlemen will collaborate closely with DAKOSY and Fraport, allivate’s joint venture partners. Hupka liaises with DAKOSY on platform operation, while Petri connects with Fraport to leverage its airport network and cargo community expertise.

Founded in JAN24, allivate, a 50:50 joint venture between Fraport AG and DAKOSY AG, develops and operates digital air cargo systems, centering on the FAIR@Link Cargo Community platform supporting over 1,100 companies. The new managing director duo commented: “Our unique selling point is how we work closely with the community on the digital transformation to achieve the best possible result for the air cargo industry. We want to apply the very successful concept of an established and shared Cargo Community System that has been developed at FRA to other airports.”

Liège Airport has announced the start of a new regular cargo service operated by Suparna Airlines, linking Liège directly with Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport. The first flight took off on 05JAN26, launching a regular schedule of flights connecting the two airports for the first time ever, and providing a direct cargo route to the major Western Chinese city. This launch marks a strategic step in expanding Liège’s global cargo network and positions Chongqing as a vital new gateway, feeding goods from Western China through Europe’s largest freighter hub.

Over the past years, Chongqing’s importance as a global supply chain facilitator for e-commerce and industrial products, has grown significantly. e-commerce parcels, high-tech goods, automotive parts, and industrial freight will be carried on board of Suparna Airlines from China via Liège, into the Western world.

In welcoming Suparna Airlines, Liège Airport has again grown its Asian network and reinforced long-term collaborations with international cargo carriers, aligning with the growing demands of global logistics and cross-border trade.

Torsten Wefers, Vice President Sales &Marketing at Liège Airport, commented: “We are proud to welcome Suparna Airlines to Liège Airport and to launch our first direct scheduled connection with Chongqing. Chongqing is an important new addition to our network and further confirms Liège’s role as the most trusted and efficient gateway between China and Europe.” A representative of Chongqing Airport management added: “The launch of this direct scheduled service to Liège marks an important step in expanding Chongqing’s international cargo network. This new connection strengthens trade links with Europe and enhances Chongqing’s role as a key logistics hub in Western China.”

Royal Air Maroc Cargo has introduced a new all-cargo route connecting Casablanca with Dakar (CMN-DSS). The weekly Friday service, operated by a Boeing 767 freighter with a 45-ton payload capacity, further strengthens the carrier’s position as a key logistics link between North and West Africa. Dakar’s inclusion enhances the airline’s dedicated freighter network which serves Brussels three times a week, and Istanbul, Ouagadougou, and Bamako twice weekly each. The dedicated freighter services run alongside a wide-ranging passenger network which serves Africa, Europe, the Americas and Asia.

In addition to its Boeing 767 freighter fleet, Royal Air Maroc provides daily cargo capacity aboard its Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Boeing 737 fleets, thus ensuring responsive and efficient transport options for both regional and long-haul markets. Casablanca hub, the center of its network, is capable of handling up to 200,000 tons of freight annually. It features dedicated facilities for perishables, pharmaceuticals, and high-value shipments, enabling fast connectivity to over 30 African destinations.

The new Casablanca–Dakar route is the latest in the airline’s growth plans, following on the heels of its recent expansions to Beijing, São Paulo, and Toronto, aligning with its goal of reaffirming RAM’s strategy 2026, and a short time later. Rita Chraibi, Vice President Cargo at Royal Air Maroc, commented: “This new freighter route marks another milestone in our long-term vision to reinforce Africa’s logistics ecosystem and bring markets closer together. Senegal is one of West Africa’s most dynamic economies, and our dedicated Casablanca – Dakar service directly addresses customer demand for reliability, capacity, and speed while advancing our goal of building sustainable and efficient air bridges across the continent.”

Global GSA Group’s Spanish subsidiary, Mondial Airline Services Spain, has been appointed as general sales and service agent (GSSA) for China Southern Airlines Cargo in Spain. The company secured the tender and coordinated the successful launch of China Southern’s new direct freighter connection between Madrid and Guangzhou, which began operations on 02DEC25. The service uses a Boeing 787‑9 aircraft offering 15 tons and 80 m³ of cargo capacity per flight and operates three times weekly – on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Each flight carries a mix of general cargo and temperature‑sensitive goods, supporting regular exports such as pharmaceuticals and seafood.

Mondial Airline Services Spain now manages all sales, customer relations, and operational support for China Southern Airlines Cargo in the Spanish market, acting as a seamless extension of the airline’s global network. The new Madrid–Guangzhou link not only provides a direct connection between the Spanish and Chinese markets but also enables onward access across China, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand through China Southern’s hub at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport. This partnership reinforces Global GSA Group’s role in bridging major global trade markets and strengthens China Southern Airlines Cargo’s footprint within Southern Europe.

Aytekin Saray, Chief Executive Officer of Global GSA Group, said: “Global GSA Group already enjoys a long and rewarding partnership with China Southern Airlines Cargo in a number of European countries and is grateful to the airline for continuing to place its trust in our services. We are delighted to represent China Southern Airlines Cargo now also in Spain, and will ensure that this new routing very quickly becomes profitable through our access to state-of-the-art digital solutions offering real-time market intelligence, Mondial’s substantial local knowledge and its close collaboration with Spain’s freight forwarding community. Mondial Airline Services Spain is committed to supporting China Southern’s expansion into Spain and its team plays a critical role in aligning the airline’s global strategy with local market realities to ensure long-term route performance.”

Challenge Group has extended its GSSA partnership with ECS Group, adding seven Eastern European countries – Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine – to an existing network that already includes Germany, France, Scandinavia, Singapore and Vietnam. This enlarged remit, managed through ECS subsidiary Globe Air Cargo, expands the feeder catchment into Challenge Group’s Liège hub and strengthens links to major global gateways. Operating a dense Boeing freighter network from Liège to the U.S., China, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific, Challenge Group is preparing to add Boeing 777-300ERSF aircraft to its current 747-400F and 767-300BDSF fleet, opening the door to new routes to Asia and South America and supporting charter activities. The partnership focuses on high-value verticals such as pharmaceuticals, automotives, aerospace, perishables and live animals, with bookings and customer service processed via Challenge Group’s own IT platforms. These are further supported by digital tools from CargoTech, including Apollo for business intelligence, SkyPallet for capacity optimization and Rotate for market analysis, all under the shared “one team, one aim, one drive” philosophy.

Challenge Group’s Chief Commercial Officer, Or Zak, stated: “Challenge Group is unique because we take on the logistics challenges that standard cargo service providers reject. Every transportation project is different, demanding flexibility, speed, an agile way of thinking, and – above all – professionalism, expertise, and trust. In ECS Group, we know that we have a partner capable of matching our corporate mission and network, and we are delighted to have kicked off the next step in our strategic expansion.” Jean Ceccaldi, Chief Executive Officer of ECS Group, added: “Where there is Challenge, there is always opportunity. At ECS Group, we believe in one team, one aim, one drive, and have successfully risen together with Challenge Group to transform complex cargo challenges into sustainable business opportunities across France, Germany, Scandinavia, and Asia. We are confident that our GSSA teams in Eastern Europe will also achieve significant market expansion and commercial growth for Challenge Group – particularly within its core target industries such as industrial machinery, engines, spare parts, and drilling equipment.”

Trans Global Projects has opened a dedicated air freight department in Bremen, operating under its own IATA license to handle time-critical and complex cargo with full operational control. On the personnel front, Tobias Teichmann has taken on the role of Head of Airfreight Germany. He brings over ten years’ experience in charter solutions and engineered transport from roles at Alexander Global Logistics and Kopf & Lübben. He has also been certified as a Transport Specialist by DAV (the German academy for international trade and transport). The new team strengthens TGP’s existing air freight and charter activities in Rümlang, Switzerland, and Brazil, which focus on urgent and oversized cargo with engineered, tailor-made solutions. TGP’s air freight credentials were underlined when it received HLPFI’s Airfreight Solution of the Year for a project moving a 6‑ton slewing ring from Germany to China on a Boeing 777F, cutting more than 30 days versus ocean freight. The Bremen office, now fully operational under IATA number 23475620000, will apply the same engineering-led, problem-solving approach to deliver reliable, efficient air freight services for customers across Europe and beyond.

Tobias Teichmann, Head of Airfreight Germany, explained: “The department in Bremen gives our clients direct access to specialized air freight solutions with full IATA accreditation. It’s about speed, safety, and flexibility – delivered by a team that understands the complexity of project cargo.”

Managing Director Germany and Benelux, Andreas Menzel, underlined: “This investment reflects our commitment to Northern Europe. Bremen will serve as a hub for urgent shipments and engineered solutions, supported by Natco’s air freight and air charter expertise and our global resources.”

Colin Charnock, Group CEO, Trans Global Projects, added: “Air freight is a critical part of our strategy. By combining technical know-how with operational agility, we ensure clients receive reliable uplift and clear communication from booking to delivery.”