News in Brief Podcast | Week 23 | Transport Logistic and volatile transpacific - The Loadstar

In this episode of The Loadstar's News in Brief Podcast, host and news reporter Charlotte Goldstone recaps last week's supply chain news and gives an insight of what you might see next week. The Loadstar publisher Alex Lennane gives her overview of Transport Logistic and Air Cargo Europe, and looks at the latest in tariff news. The Loadstar's managing editor, Gavin van Marle, chats to Ms Goldstone about the spike in ocean freight rates, volume volatility on the transpacific and ...

Amazon Air Cargo expands into South America with Avianca partnership

Amazon Air Cargo has expanded its offering to South America following the launch of a partnership with Avianca Cargo. The partnership sees Avianca provide Amazon with a daily Boeing 767-300 freighter charter operation between Miami and Bogotá to enhance airfreight capacity between the US and Latin America. "This new service agreement enables Amazon Air Cargo to bring our customer-obsessed approach to Colombia's airfreight market segment," said Tom Bradley, Director of Global Air Cargo for Amazon Air Cargo. "We're excited to deliver the speed, reliability, and high service standards that Amazon customers expect, while supporting the growing demands of cross-border commerce between Colombia and the US. "This dedicated air cargo service will help businesses of all sizes connect with customers across these important market segments more efficiently." Avianca said that the partnership would facilitate the transportation of flowers and other essential goods. "This milestone reflects our commitment to building long-term partnerships that consolidate mutual benefit to both parties and our customers, extending our network and giving a consistent service," said Diogo Elias, chief executive of Avianca Cargo. Amazon Air last year confirmed that it was selling cargo capacity on its aircraft to third parties, including ad hoc and charter services. The third-party operation is run through the Amazon Air Cargo brand and its network also covers North America, Europe, the Middle East & Africa (EMEA) and Asia. The airline can carry general cargo, pharmaceuticals, perishables, dangerous goods and parcels with its fleet of Boeing 737, Boeing 767 and Airbus A330 aircraft.

Dronamics put forward for a STEP programme equity investment

Dronamics, which designs, builds and operates the only long-range, high payload cargo drones in Europe, has been put forward for an equity investment of up to €30 under the European Innovation Council (EIC) Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) programme. The EIC STEP Scale Up scheme offers financial support in the form of investments of between €10m and €30m to start-ups, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and companies of small mid-cap levels of market capitalisation. Its goal is to 'scale-up' innovation in Europe's strategic technology sectors, thereby enhancing the E's economic and technological competitiveness. A Dronamics statement described the EIC evaluation as having pointed to its technology having the potential to "generate significant societal and economic benefits, aligning with the European Union's priorities for economic growth and territorial cohesion". EIC STEP funding can also be used to leverage private co-investment and thereby achieve financing rounds of €50m to €150m or more, Dronamics pointed out. The EIC Fund will make its final investment decision - in this case of up to €30m -following a process of due diligence, Dronamics noted. Dronamics has previously been awarded a grant of €2.5m under the EIC Accelerator programme, a decision announced in November 2022, while the EIC is also an equity investor in Dronamics, having supported the company with an investment of €10m in early 2024. Svilen Rangelov, co-founder and chief executive of Dronamics, commented: "As the only European company to repeatedly build, test and fly large cargo drones made entirely in Europe, we have proven we can reduce strategic dependencies and strengthen the EU's tech sovereignty. "With this decision doubling down on its previous investment in 2024, the EIC is clearly demonstrating Europe's commitment to taking a proactive role in securing its technological future. "It has never been a better time to build a large cargo drone in Europe," Rangelov concluded. Challenging traditional airfreight Dronamics' Black Swan drone can carry a up to 350kg over a distance of up to 2,500km (1,550 miles)). It can do so, the company said, up to 80% faster, 50% cheaper and with up to 60% lower emissions than alternative modes of transport, including airfreight. Dronamics is Europe's first licensed cargo drone airline and IATA's first worldwide Strategic Partner for drones.