Our global freight forwarding network keeps our customers freight moving across the world.

Korean Air plans new cargo strategy for post Asiana merger era

Korean Air is preparing to reshape its cargo operation around a bigger passenger network, upgraded handling infrastructure, and what it sees as a growing transpacific flow of technology and data-centre equipment. The airline, due to complete its integration with Asiana Airlines on 17 December, told The Loadstar the enlarged passenger fleet would provide additional belly capacity, while its large-freighter network continued to handle heavier and more specialised cargo. Korean Air is also investing in its cargo infrastructure at Incheon and New York airports, with automation and temperature-controlled facilities aimed at increasing throughput and supporting more time- and temperature-sensitive shipments. At Incheon, Korean Air is working with Lödige Industries to introduce fully automated, driverless elevating transfer vehicles (ETVs) and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) for internal ULD movements. The airline is expanding ETV racking and adding dedicated bypass lines to increase throughput and reduce bottlenecks during peak periods. The work is due for completion next month. The carrier is also planning a further upgrade of its cargo terminal at JFK next year, a project that will incorporate additional automation and expanded temperature-controlled facilities. According to Korean Air, the two investments are intended to strengthen its ability to handle cargo requiring faster processing and tighter temperature control, with semiconductors and pharmaceuticals among the target traffic. The changes will also support a deliberate division of roles between belly capacity and freighters, added the airline. Following the merger, Korean Air plans to pair the additional passenger belly space with its freighter network, using the two capacity sources according to the characteristics of the freight. It said belly capacity would be particularly important on intra-Asia routes, where higher-frequency passenger services could support express and parcel traffic. Its main-deck freighters, meanwhile, would be used for heavier, outsize, and project cargo. The approach reflects the different roles the two networks can play, rather than simply adding capacity across the board. Passenger flights can provide frequency and connectivity for shipments where speed and schedule density are important, while dedicated freighters retain the flexibility required for cargo that cannot readily move in the belly hold. Korean Air has identified a growing opportunity in transpacific technology traffic, particularly as investment in data-centre infrastructure drives demand for high-value components. It is seeing increasing flows of AI server racks and semiconductor fabrication equipment between North America and Asian technology centres, as well as specialised components moving in the opposite direction, including server hardware from China and South-east Asia, advanced batteries from Japan, and power-supply equipment from Korea. The airline expects high-density electronic components associated with data-centre construction to become an important driver for its belly cargo capacity. This could give the expanded passenger network a role beyond simply adding capacity to established cargo routes. Korean Air said the higher frequency of the combined passenger network would help synchronise these fast-moving supply chains. The airline's cargo ambitions extend beyond physical capacity, however. Korean intends to build an AI-enabled operational ecosystem, incorporating smart tracking, IoT infrastructure, and API integration to provide greater visibility across the supply chain. That ambition highlights one of the less-visible challenges of expanding cargo operations: additional aircraft and terminal capacity do not necessarily translate into faster or more predictable shipments if the systems connecting airlines, forwarders, ground handlers, and customs authorities remain fragmented. Therefore, Korean Air is focusing on interoperability and standardised data exchange across the cargo ecosystem. The objective is to improve the flow of information between organisations operating with different IT environments and, ultimately, make the physical movement of cargo more efficient. This strategy marks a significant shift in the cargo implications of the Asiana integration. Asiana's dedicated freighter operation has been separated from the merger, leaving Korean Air to build its post-integration cargo growth around its own freighter fleet, expanded passenger belly capacity and upgraded infrastructure. Rather than replacing the Asiana freighter capacity with a like-for-like expansion, it appears Korean Air is positioning its combined operation around a mix of network frequency, main-deck capacity, automated handling, and digital connectivity. With the merger approaching, the focus will likely be on integrating the passenger network. For cargo, however, the more consequential changes may come from how Korean Air uses that enlarged network to capture technology-related trade, while upgrading the infrastructure needed to move it through Incheon and its international gateways.

German and Dutch ports braced for strike action

Seaports in Germany and the Netherlands are braced for industrial action this week, with German dockers set to strike from later today (2 September) and their Dutch colleagues joining in on the action on Friday. German trade union ver.di has issued a strike call, its members having yesterday rejected the latest pay offer from the Central Association of German Seaport Operators (ZDS) in what it described as an "escalating" dispute . Contacted by The Loadstar this afternoon, ver.di said it was once again calling on workers at ports in Lower Saxony, Bremen and Hamburg to take part in a warning strike from the Wednesday evening night shift (2 September) to the end of the Friday evening night shift on 4 September. The union staged similar action on 18 August. "The feedback is clear: the offer is not enough," commented one of ver.di's lead negotiators, Sylvi Krisch. In a statement earlier today, Christian Warnke, a ver.di union spokesperson who works at the Port of Hamburg's Burchardkai said: "More than 6,000 employees took part in the feedback round, which lasted just under a week. A large majority voted against accepting the employers' offer. This means that negotiations must continue. We are still waiting for a new date for negotiations. But there has been radio silence from the employers. Anyone who does not want to come to the negotiating table must feel the pressure from the streets. That is why we are now going on strike." In a message issued to customers this afternoon, Kuehne + Nagel (K+N) said that "according to current information, the strike is due to begin today, 02 September, with the start of the late shift at approximately 2200 local time, and it is expected to continue for 48 hours". During this period, container terminals are expected to suspend operational activities. Container deliveries and pick-ups will not be possible while the strike is in effect, it warned. "The disruption may result in delays, cancellations and handling interruptions at port terminals. These developments come at a time when German ports and transport capacities are already heavily utilised, while terminal utilisation remains high," K+N added Meanwhile, tri-modal transport operator Contargo is warning customers of potential disruption to freight traffic and intermodal services on 4 September due to strike action at seaports in the Netherlands, notably Rotterdam. The industrial action is understood to form part of wider union opposition to plans by the Dutch government to reduce social welfare spending. "A strike has been announced in the Dutch seaports for 4 September. Based on the information currently available, we expect terminal operations in Rotterdam to be severely restricted or completely suspended between approximately 1030 and 2000 local time," Contargo said. In addition, a nationwide 24-hour stoppage has been called in the rail sector for 9 September 2026.

Cainiao strengthens cross-border customs clearance capabilities in Mexico

Chinese e-commerce logistics and technology company Cainiao has strengthened its customs clearance capabilities in Mexico for cross-border customers. By combining customs clearance with last-mile delivery, parcels can move through Cainiao's network with better visibility and tighter control over exceptions, helping reduce delays and risks caused by multiple handoffs, said the company. Since entering the Mexican market in 2024, Cainiao has continued to expand its local network and now operates a 20,000 sq m sorting centre and 38 consolidation and delivery stations. Located near Felipe Ángeles International Airport, a major cargo hub in Mexico, the sorting centre supports faster inbound transfer and parcel processing. Cainiao plans to add more automation at the facility to further improve sorting efficiency and peak-season capacity. The company said it has also built strong partnerships with major cross-border and local e-commerce platforms and brands, including Inditex, Mercado Libre, Temu and TikTok. Earlier this month, Cainiao launched a cross-border logistics service that enables parcels to be delivered within three calendar days on 15 international routes. The company has also announced that its local express network in Mexico has expanded from 20 states to nationwide coverage. The company has also launched local pickup services in Mexico City and the State of Mexico. Major areas in Mexico City and the State of Mexico now offer two-day delivery, while key cities in other parts of the country can be served within three days. The company is using AI-powered dispatching, route planning, address recognition and image recognition technologies to improve last-mile accuracy and fulfilment reliability. Shen Jianfeng, vice president of Cainiao, said Mexico's logistics market is seeing growing and more diverse demand. He said cross-border sellers increasingly need stable, compliant customs clearance and a more controllable end-to-end fulfilment process, while the rapid growth of local e-commerce has raised domestic sellers' expectations for broader coverage, faster delivery and more precise service. "Mexico's cross-border and domestic e-commerce sectors are both growing rapidly, making the market a key focus for Cainiao. We will continue to strengthen our local network and team capabilities," Jianfeng added.