Thirteen years after their first partnership agreement, which saw Atlas Air provide flight services for the UAE-headquartered airline, the two carriers have now announced another long-term agreement. This time, Atlas Air will operate a newly delivered and now Etihad Cargo-dedicated Boeing 777 freighter. The move results from increased customer demand for general air cargo, e-commerce, automotive, pharmaceuticals and perishable products across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, and Etihad Cargo’s ambition to serve these segments. The Atlas Air freighter, which began flying on behalf of Etihad Cargo this month already, links the UAE capital with Hong Kong and Madrid to begin with. The press release suggests that more destinations will follow. The freighter can uplift a payload of up to 103 tons and is both fuel efficient and low in noise emissions.

Michael Steen, Chief Executive Officer, Atlas Air Worldwide, said: “We are pleased to again partner with Etihad Cargo, one of the industry’s most respected carriers. This partnership reflects our strong value proposition and the trust we’ve built with customers over time. We are pleased to tailor this long-term dedicated capacity solution to help Etihad capture growth opportunities. With our global scale and flexible, agile network, Atlas Air is enabling Etihad to expand their operations and serve their customers with confidence, […] is proud to be a trusted partner of choice, and we look forward to supporting Etihad’s continued success.”

Stanislas Brun, Chief Cargo Officer, Etihad Airways, stated: “Etihad Cargo’s expanded collaboration with Atlas Air represents a strategic step in scaling capacity and extending our global reach. With Etihad Airways’ passenger fleet continuing to grow, it is essential that our freighter fleet expands in parallel to sustain this momentum and deliver end-to-end network connectivity. By aligning growth across both passenger and freighter operations, Etihad Cargo reinforces its ability to meet evolving customer demand, strengthen high-volume trade lanes, and introduce greater flexibility across key markets. This additional capacity further enhances the reliability and agility of our services, ensuring the delivery of seamless and efficient cargo solutions worldwide.”

DSV’s partnership with Atlas Air dates back to the days of Panalpina in the early 2010s when Atlas Air flew Boeing 747 freighters on key routes such as Hong Kong to Huntsville – something that continued when DSV took over in 2019. Now, Atlas Air has entered into a long-term agreement to operate one of its newly delivered 777-200Fs exclusively for DSV. This arrangement allows DSV to manage freight capacity and utilize Atlas Air’s global operating capabilities, air traffic rights, and operational flexibility. The services will support DSV’s operations in Asia, Europe, and the United States, including a connection between its hub in Huntsville, Alabama (HSV), and Luxembourg (LUX), a key trade route for the company. The 777F is expected to strengthen DSV’s network in major international markets with its extended range, high payload capacity, improved fuel efficiency, and reduced emissions.

Michael Steen, Chief Executive Officer, Atlas Air Worldwide,commented: “This new long-term agreement demonstrates the strategic value Atlas Air delivers to the global supply chain. With the leading fleet of large widebody freighters, an extensive operating footprint and comprehensive traffic rights, we have expertise in tailoring dedicated solutions that enable our customers to serve demand where they see it. We appreciate the trust DSV places in Atlas Air and look forward to continuing to provide them with high-quality service and supporting DSV’s growth.” Stefan Krikken, Senior Vice President, DSV, added: “Our agreement with Atlas Air marks an important step in growing and strengthening DSV’s international operations. The addition of a 777 freighter allows us to further enhance service to our customers, with greater control over capacity, schedules, and connectivity. The Huntsville–Luxembourg corridor is a vital trade lane for us, and this new program ensures we can continue to deliver consistent, high-quality performance across key transcontinental routes.”

On 25AUG25, Korean Air signed a landmark agreement to purchase 103 next-generation Boeing aircraft in a deal valued at approximately USD 50 billion, marking the largest purchase in the airline’s history. The aircraft shopping list includes 20 Boeing 777-9s, 25 Boeing 787-10s, 50 Boeing 737-10s, and eight Boeing 777-8F freighters. It is the first time that the airline has committed to the world’s largest and most efficient twin-engine cargo aircraft. The order will complement Korean Air’s cargo fleet of twelve 777-200Fs, seven 747-8Fs, and four 747-400ERFs.

Scheduled to enter service from around 2028, the phased delivery of these new freighters will enable Korean Air to absorb capacity increases in a measured way, supporting stable growth as it integrates with Asiana Airlines’ cargo operations. The fleet modernization will strengthen Korean Air’s competitive position in global air cargo markets by offering greater cargo volumes, lower costs and emissions, and expanded reach on key trade corridors.

“Korean Air has a long history of fostering close ties between the two countries [US and Korea], beginning with the opening of its first U.S. cargo route (Seoul – Tokyo – Los Angeles) in April 1971 and its first passenger route (Seoul – Tokyo – Honolulu – Los Angeles) in April 1972. This cooperation continues today through its trans-Pacific joint venture with Delta Air Lines,” the release states, going on to confirm that “Korean Air will continue to serve as a vital bridge between the two countries.”

Walter Cho, chairman and CEO of Korean Air, announced: “This agreement with our long-standing partners, Boeing and GE, marks a pivotal moment for Korean Air. Acquiring these next-generation aircraft is the core of our fleet modernization strategy, delivering significant gains in fuel efficiency and enhancing the passenger experience across our global network. This investment is also a critical enabler for our future as a merged airline with Asiana, to ensure that our combined carrier is one of the most competitive airlines in the industry.” Stephanie Pope, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, stated: “We are honored to strengthen our partnership with Korean Air through this landmark agreement, which reflects the value and capabilities of Boeing’s market-leading airplane family. As Korean Air transitions to a larger unified carrier, we are committed to supporting the airline’s growth with one of the world’s most efficient fleets.”

Nothing ages as quickly as IT and therefore it is par for the course that cargo carriers work on their digital service channels every now and again. Lufthansa Cargo is one of them. It recently announced that it has enhanced its digital platform to ensure an improved user experience. According to the airline, its digital offering is now more intuitive, clearer and requires fewer clicks – across the entire shipment booking and tracking journey. The improvements all resulted from feedback from its customers and in close cooperation with them during development. As a result, the general cargo eBooking process is now faster as there are less steps involved. “Customers can now book their general cargo shipments in around half the time it previously took. The new function for saving recent searches can even reduce the booking process to just 30 seconds,” the release emphasizes. Routing options are displayed more clearly as are other information sources such as relevant station information. “The integration of additional services, such as CO₂ offsetting, is already in the planning stage,” it reveals.

“eTracking” has also been given a makeover with a new interface design to facilitate shipment tracking. The new version should now be available to users, as it was planned for the end of August: Also, users can opt for proactive email notifications whilst the shipment is on route, should anything not travel according to plan.

Lufthansa Cargo points out, in its release, that it is among the few airlines that allow online bookings of dangerous goods shipments – something it introduced in Spring of this year. “In May, the company also developed an AI solution that processes booking enquiries by email faster and more securely. Numerous other innovations are already being implemented to continuously improve customer experience,” it states. Marcel Kling, Head of Digital Sales at Lufthansa Cargo, explained: “Our new booking process delivers exactly what our customers wanted: fewer clicks, a clear overview, shorter processes and faster communication. It not only makes bookings easier, but also significantly more effective. And we are not stopping there: we are continuing to invest in innovation and focus specifically on AI to accelerate processes, increase transparency and improve service. This puts our customers at the center of everything we do – today and in the future.”

4 decades is an impressive innings when it comes to cargo partnerships. Next year, ECS Group and the French long-haul airline, Corsair, will celebrate just that. They recently launched a countdown to 2026, when they will celebrate their business anniversary which began in 1986. “A Legacy of Innovation, Trust, and Digital Transformation,” the release underlines, going on to state that: “This long-term alliance has not only withstood the test of time but has redefined what a cargo partnership can achieve in the digital era.” And the fact that they have both adapted digital tools is the basis for their ongoing cooperation. The release talks of a “fully integrated digital alliance” and highlights ECS Group’s Pathfinder platform which Corsair relies on to develop and implement its cargo modernization strategy. “Pathfinder has improved transparency and customer satisfaction, reduced manual tracking queries by over 30%, and enhanced shipment resolution times by 25%. With Corsair’s recent fleet modernization and expansion into Africa and the French Overseas Islands, ECS Group’s scalable digital systems have ensured seamless regional integration.”

And here is more to come – both physically, with the opening of new stations planned, as well as digitally, since Pathfinder is being improved to include AI-driven insights and integrated CO₂ reporting in future, alongside other digital developments. The release is clear in its message: “the 40th anniversary celebration in 2026 [will] not just [be] a milestone, but a bold statement of future ambitions.”

Jean Ceccaldi, CEO of ECS Group, commented: “In a world of constant change, very few business relationships remain as resilient and forward-looking as ours with Corsair. We began with shared value, now we share a strategic vision. As we approach this 40-year milestone, we’re not just celebrating longevity; we’re celebrating our joint ability to adapt, innovate, and lead.” Adrien Chauvière, Head of Cargo at Corsair, added: “ECS Group has been a driving force in helping us evolve our cargo business for the digital age. Their agility, innovation, and deep understanding of our operations have made them an essential part of our success story. This upcoming milestone reflects the strength of a future-focused alliance.”

Global GSA Group has achieved a significant milestone by attaining ISO 27001 certification for its IT operations, setting a new standard in cybersecurity within the air cargo and logistics sector. ISO 27001 is internationally recognized as the gold standard for information security management, attesting to the company’s rigorous adherence to robust technical and organizational controls, such as risk assessment, data protection, access management, and business continuity planning. This certification not only assures airline and logistics partners that their sensitive data and operations are securely managed but also strengthens Global GSA Group’s alignment with the strict requirements of GDPR and other global data protection regulations.
Cybersecurity is a growing concern in the air cargo industry, and partners are increasingly seeking evidence of operational resilience and strong defense against evolving threats. The ISO certification process required a thorough review and strengthening of IT policies, transparency practices, and accountability measures for personal data handling. The fact that Global GSA Group went through the auditing process successfully, demonstrates its proactive stance toward safeguarding confidential information. In addition to ISO 27001, the group is also committed to continuous improvement by regularly undergoing SOC 2 Type 2 audits. These further validate the effectiveness of its security protocols and the reliability of its digital infrastructure. Aytekin Saray, CEO of Global GSA Group, summed up: “ISO 27001 certification is a promise to our customers and partners that we are fully committed to protecting their data and ensuring operational resilience. We believe that robust information security is fundamental to building long-term relationships and supporting the growth of our clients’ businesses.”