Reji John
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Journalist. Editor @ STAT Media Grp. Current obsessions - transport, logistics, air cargo, ocean freight, supply chain, warehousing, technology, India & Africa.
Articles by Reji John
Airbus A350F nears first flight after key milestones
The Airbus A350 Freighter (A350F) programme has made significant progress in recent months as it moves toward its first flight, with engineering, assembly and flight test teams converging on a series of critical milestones. Last month, Airbus unveiled the first A350F test aircraft in its striking “flying parcel” livery.
Freightos founder Schreiber demands board, strategy revamp
Freightos founder Zvi Schreiber has launched a shareholder advocacy campaign seeking changes to the company's board and a return to platform-led growth, arguing that the freight technology company has lost momentum under its current strategy. Schreiber, who founded Freightos in 2012 and led the company for 14 years before resigning from its board in February 2026, is launching the campaign as a shareholder. He is seeking shareholder support ahead of Freightos' 2026 annual general meeting.
NMIA welcomes Queen of the Skies, its first B747 freighter
Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) gave aviation’s most iconic freighter a ceremonial water cannon salute in the early hours of Monday, August 24, as a Boeing 747-400F touched down from Frankfurt Hahn, the largest aircraft to land at India's newest airport since it opened. The quad-engine widebody, registered N569CA and operated by Orlando-headquartered National Airlines, arrived from Frankfurt Hahn Airport, a key European freight gateway.
HKIA busiest cargo airport for 15th time, 5.1 million tonnes
Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) becomes the world's busiest cargo airport for the 15th time since 2010, after handling 5.1 million tonnes of cargo and airmail in the fiscal year ended 31 March 2026, up 2.7% year-on-year, according to the Annual Report 2025/26 released by Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK). The growth came despite ongoing geopolitical trade tension, reinforcing what AAHK describes as Hong Kong's "pole position" as the world's undisputed air cargo hub.
Mammoth to display FAA-certified 777-200LRMF at Farnborough
Passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversion specialist Mammoth Freighters will display its FAA-certified B777-200LRMF (Long Range Mammoth Freighter) for the first time at the Farnborough International Airshow, running July 20-24. The aircraft on show is the unit converted for DHL Air UK. DHL Air UK is a UK-registered, all-cargo airline that operates for DHL Express and the wider DHL network. Wholly owned by DHL Group, it is based at East Midlands Airport.
Asok Kumar named Expolanka Group CEO; continues as Morrison CEO
Asok Kumar has been appointed Group Chief Executive Officer of Expolanka Group, while simultaneously retaining his position as Global CEO of Morrison Express. Expolanka Group is a Sri Lankan conglomerate comprised of the freight forwarding arm represented by EFL Global, and leisure and other sectors represented by Expolanka Holdings Limited.
FedEx's $90 billion machine: data, digital twins and the AI edge
"The Information About the Package Is Just as Important as the Package Itself.” That famous dictum, uttered by FedEx founder Fred Smith in 1978, is the philosophical bedrock on which the modern FedEx has been built. What sounded radical nearly five decades ago is now the engine of a $90 billion enterprise that moves 18 million packages a day across 700 planes, 200,000 vehicles and a workforce of roughly 800,000 people, including contractors.
Pharma supply chains are performing, but not yet optimised
The LogiPharma Playbook: 2026 Supply Chain & Logistics Insights is prepared and released by LogiPharma Insights in partnership with Blue Yonder, GXO, project44, tulanā, and TraceLink. The report is a comprehensive look at where the pharmaceutical supply chain stands today and what leaders must do next to build genuine, future-ready resilience.
Pharma supply chains are performing, but not yet optimised
The LogiPharma Playbook: 2026 Supply Chain & Logistics Insights is prepared and released by LogiPharma Insights in partnership with Blue Yonder, GXO, project44, tulanā, and TraceLink. The report is a comprehensive look at where the pharmaceutical supply chain stands today and what leaders must do next to build genuine, future-ready resilience.
UPS files for $500mn tariff refund, vows to pass it to customers
UPS has been at the centre of the US tariff storm, processing 16 million International Emergency Economic Powers Act or IEEPA-related entries and remitting over $5 billion to the US Treasury since the tariffs were initiated. UPS Chief Executive Officer Carol Tomé was unequivocal about the company's role: "We are just a pass-through.
The doctor's son who's rewiring pharma's supply chain
When Joydeep Ganguly took the stage in Vienna last week to deliver the opening keynote at LogiPharma, he brought with him something rare in the world of supply chain leadership: a perspective shaped not by spreadsheets and logistics textbooks but by a childhood surrounded by doctors, dinner table conversations about medicine, and a lifelong fascination with how science can be made to work better for people.
Technology transformation and a tight market
LATAM Cargo CEO Andrés Bianchi described 2026 as a “transformational year” for South America’s leading cargo carrier. The airline’s plan is to grow capacity between 5% and 7%, with revenues expected to rise faster. “That’s basically going to be driven by additional belly operations,” he explained. The freighter fleet remains stable at 19 aircraft, with a 20th undergoing certification in Victorville, California. January started slow, but by February and March volumes were above plan.
Global disruptions demand a new supply chain playbook
At the opening plenary of the 26th edition of LogiPharma in Vienna, Oscar de Bok, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding, Freight, delivered a stark message to the global healthcare and pharmaceutical logistics community: resilience, not efficiency, must define the next era of supply chain design.
Riyadh Cargo Charts Vision: Pravin Singh on vision, digital growth & strategy
In his first public on‑stage interview since unveiling Riyadh Cargo’s brand identity, Pravin Singh, Global Head of Cargo at Riyadh Air, presented a clear and ambitious roadmap for the airline’s cargo division. Speaking exclusively to Reji John, Editor of The STAT Trade Times, Singh candidly discussed strategy, digital transformation, fleet plans, and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
DFW eyes direct Air India flights as cargo growth strengthens
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), the world’s third busiest commercial airport, is keen to establish direct connectivity with India as part of its expanding long‑haul network. Chris McLaughlin, CEO of DFW, revealed in an exclusive interview during the air cargo India exhibition and conference in Mumbai that the airport is actively exploring the possibility of Air India launching nonstop services from Delhi or Mumbai to Dallas.
DFW Airport CEO charts bold cargo and infrastructure growth strategy
At the recently concluded Air Cargo India exhibition in Mumbai, Chris McLaughlin, CEO of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), outlined his vision for the airport’s future, emphasising cargo expansion, infrastructure investment, and technological innovation. In a wide-ranging conversation with The STAT Trade Times, McLaughlin highlighted DFW’s scale, its $12 billion capital programme, and the growing importance of cargo in shaping the airport’s economic impact.
Combining multimodal fatigue fracture surface images for analysis with a CNN - Scientific Reports
Abstract This work uses three different modalities, namely SEM, BSE and scanning white light interference (SWLI) to image fatigue fracture surfaces of Ti-6Al-4V. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) that were pre-trained on images of the natural world were used to predict values such as distance from load line and crack growth rate.
Jason Berry named COO of Alaska Airlines, retains group cargo role
Jason Berry, currently President of Horizon Air and Executive Vice President of Cargo at Alaska Air Group, has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Alaska Airlines. He will continue to lead the cargo business for the group. Berry succeeds Constance von Muehlen, who is retiring after nearly 15 years with Alaska Airlines. Von Muehlen joined the company in 2011 and became COO in 2021, steering the airline through a period of significant growth and transformation.
Can SGL’s customer-first culture win in India’s logistics race?
Scan Global Logistics enters India with country HQ in Mumbai, expanding from 3 to 8 cities by year-end with experienced logistics teams. Danish freight forwarding company, Scan Global Logistics (SGL), has entered the Indian market with offices in Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai, making Mumbai its national headquarters. The company, founded in 1975 as Mahé Freight, has undergone major ownership changes, including a sale to AEA Investors in 2016 and CVC Capital Partners taking a majority stake in 2023.
dnata’s new $70M automated Amsterdam cargo facility runs into trouble
Global ground handling services provider dnata’s new $70-million, fully automated, 61,000 m² cargo facility at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is facing serious operational challenges, disrupting cargo flows and prompting customers to queue up at rival handlers Swissport, Menzies, and WFS. The facility, known as dnata Cargo City Amsterdam, was designed to handle over 850,000 tonnes of cargo annually and featured a highly automated system with reduced reliance on manual labour by 30 percent.
Leading today, shaping tomorrow
In 2026, as Hactl celebrates 50 years as Hong Kong’s largest independent cargo handler, it is looking ahead rather than resting on its achievements. With a focus on visionary leadership, advanced processes, and cutting-edge technology, Hactl is shaping the future of the industry. A key initiative driving this transformation is the Elite Management Trainee (EMT) programme — an immersive, hands-on training designed to nurture the next generation of leaders.
“Our magic was to balance demand across the network”
When the Lufthansa Group announced its financial results for 2024 on March 6, the standout performance came from its logistics business segment, which includes Lufthansa Cargo, one of Europe’s leading cargo airlines. Revenue rose by 10 percent, reaching 3.26 billion euros compared to 2.98 billion euros in 2023. The segment achieved an operating profit of 251 million euros for the year, with 199 million euros generated in the traditionally strong fourth quarter for airfreight.
Who will now become the launch operator for Embraer’s E-Freighters?
Astral Aviation, Africa's only all-cargo airline headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, has decided to postpone the acquisition of two E190F aircraft from Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC). The airline had originally signed the agreement with NAC to become the launch operator of Embraer's passenger-to-freighter (P2F) converted aircraft. However, Astral revised its decision in October 2023.
Who will now become the launch operator for Embraer’s E-Freighters?
Astral Aviation, Africa's only all-cargo airline headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, has decided to postpone the acquisition of two E190F aircraft from Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC). The airline had originally signed the agreement with NAC to become the launch operator of Embraer's passenger-to-freighter (P2F) converted aircraft. However, Astral revised its decision in October 2023.
Life of Pilot Captain Jose Rodriguez
I got connected with Capt. Jose Rodriguez, Chief Pilot of National Airlines (National), through the airline’s management. The purpose of reaching out to Capt. Rodriguez was to let readers know what it means to fly planes during the holiday season, especially flying freighter aircraft in the peak season of the year. Think about this. All of us have the luxury of getting on a plane to fly to our favorite holiday destinations or be with our loved ones in different parts of the world.
An examination of 3R (Reuse-remanufacturing-recycling) challenges in the reverse logistics process of the textile and clothing industry
Advanced search International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education Latest Articles Submit an article Journal homepage Full Article Figures & data References Citations Metrics Reprints & Permissions Read this article /doi/full/10.1080/17543266.2024.2426042?needAccess=true ABSTRACT The world without the textile and clothing industry would be unimaginable as it plays an essential role in the lifecycle of human beings.
Unlocking the limitless potential of zero-waste upcycling
Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminal Limited (Hactl) chief executive Wilson Kwong speaks to The STAT Trade Times about zero-waste uniform upcycling, a unique circular economy and sustainable development initiative that turns old uniforms into upcycled cups, demonstrating limitless potential of zero-waste upcycling. When did you think of the zero-waste upcycling project? What drove you to this unique initiative? The project was an integral part of the overall program for uniform redesign and replacement.
Pravin Singh takes charge as Riyadh Air’s global head of cargo
Saudi Arabia’s second flag carrier has appointed British Airways and IAG Cargo veteran to lead its cargo business. Based at its headquarters in the capital city of Riyadh, Singh will build, lead and scale cargo operations for Riyadh Air, which was launched by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud in March 2023. Riyadh Air is a Public Investment Fund (PIF) company and the crown prince is also the chairman of PIF.
MSC Air Cargo launches its own Boeing 777 freighter with a special event
At a special event in Milan Malpensa Airport in Italy, MSC Air Cargo launched its newest aircraft (I-MSCA), a brand new Boeing 777 production freighter. This is the first aircraft fully owned and operated by MSC Air Cargo through MSC Air, the rebranded AlisCargo that was acquired by MSC last year. The aircraft, named after one of the hottest stars in the universe Alfirk, is the first aircraft to be registered in Italy in over 30 years.
“It’s about creating an airline that’s as adaptable as the market we serve”
When MSC Air Cargo was formally launched in October 2022 it started with just five people and it was yet to take delivery of the first of the four B777 freighters that would eventually be operated by Atlas Air. Two years later in October 2024, MSC Air Cargo boasts of a team of 70 plus people and a robust network of four B777 freighters operated by Atlas Air and a fifth B777F operated under its own Air Operator's Certificate (AOC), based in Milan, Italy.
Jannie Davel promoted to CEO of MSC Air Cargo
MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has promoted Jannie Davel to be the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MSC Air Cargo with immediate effect. Davel’s promotion comes as the cargo airline completes two years this month. When MSC planned the launch of a cargo airline in 2022 it appointed Davel with the responsibility of building a brand new cargo airline. He joined the Geneva-headquartered shipping giant as the senior vice president for air cargo.
Boeing builds the 777-8F on the best-selling B-777F
The new generation wide-body production freighter from Boeing is built on the worldwide success of the best-selling 777F and the new 777X. It is positioned as the world’s most capable and fuel-efficient twin-engine freighter for the future. Boeing believes that its highest payload, long-range capability and lowest operating cost per tonne open up new markets and new customers. Boeing has so far received orders for 55 units of this new freighter from five airline customers.
Emirates SkyCargo plans to add two more 747-400Fs on ACMI
With air cargo demand continuing to grow strong and with delays in the delivery of new freighter aircraft, cargo airlines are looking to lease freighters to offer long-term capacity to their customers. Emirates SkyCargo plans to add two more Boeing 747-400Fs to its fleet on ACMI basis as early as next month.
The Big Twin in Kalitta Air livery has emerged
Almost five years after (October 2019) announcing the launch of the freighter conversion of the Boeing 777-300ER by aircraft lessor and financier GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS – now AerCap) in partnership with Israel Aerospace Industries Group (IAI), the Extended Range Special Freighter (ERSF), also called The BIG Twin, has come out in Kalitta Air livery from the Ethiopian Airlines maintenance hangar in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Liege aims to be among top-3 European cargo hubs by 2030
Despite several challenges post the pandemic, Liege Airport (LGG) aims to be among the top-3 European cargo hubs by 2030. The major driver of such an optimistic outlook is the airport’s ambitious Master Plan 2040.
“Long haul freighters are increasingly becoming harder to book”
There is a lot going on in the global cargo charter market. The Red Sea crisis and increasing cross-border ecommerce cargo shipments have created demand for cargo charters like never before. Pierre Van Der Stichele, vice president of global cargo at Air Partner, in an interview to The STAT Trade Times, talks about current global cargo charter market trends and how the cargo charter division of Air Partner is building its capabilities for a strong peak season demand.
Max Conrady to quit Fraport; picks his new job outside aviation
Max Conrady, the current cargo head of Frankfurt Airport, is set to leave Fraport AG by the end of September this year. Conrady leaves Fraport AG, the operator of Frankfurt Airport, among others, after 19 years. He has chosen a new job outside of the aviation industry. "I am venturing out of aviation. My next role will be within the field of public transport. I will join the Regionaltangente West Planning Company Ltd. (RTW GmbH).
Nabil Sultan promoted; no replacement yet for Emirates SkyCargo head
Nabil Sultan, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo, has been promoted to the role of Executive Vice President, Passenger Sales and Country Management, Emirates. Sultan’s promotion is among a slate of senior appointments announced by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, as part of, what the group describes, “getting ready for the next phase of growth”.
Nabil Sultan promoted; no replacement yet for Emirates SkyCargo head
Nabil Sultan, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo, has been promoted to the role of Executive Vice President, Passenger Sales and Country Management, Emirates. Sultan’s promotion is among a slate of senior appointments announced by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, as part of, what the group describes, “getting ready for the next phase of growth”.
“Let’s be bold,” says Mark Drusch
On 31 January, when Qatar Airways formally announced the appointment of Mark Drusch as the Chief Officer Cargo “effective immediately”, Drusch was already into his third week in the new job. He took charge on January 14 at the world’s biggest cargo carrier. Drusch, with over 25 years in senior airline management roles, joined Qatar Airways in December 2019 and led the development and implementation of the company’s revenue strategy as well as managing strategic alliances with key partner airlines.
The Incredibles: the story of WestJet Cargo
When The STAT Trade Times met Kirsten de Bruijn for an interview in late September 2022 on the sideline of the IATA World Cargo Symposium in London, de Bruijn was just five months into her new role as the executive vice president for cargo at the Canadian passenger airline WestJet. She joined the WesJet team at the Calgary headquarters and was tasked with the responsibility of building a cargo airline within WestJet.
Be creative with the capacity
Qatar Airways Cargo completes 20 years of freighter operations in 2023. Years before the launch of its freighter operations, Qatar Airways launched its cargo division as part of the company revamp in 1997 with a team of five cargo staff. They sold cargo space on leased passenger planes. From one Airbus A300-600 converted freighter in 2003 to a fleet of 31 freighters in 2023, the Doha-headquartered carrier continues to be the world’s largest cargo carrier since 2019.
Ryan’s new leadership team includes many longtime Flexport loyalists
A day after Flexport’s comeback CEO Ryan Petersen wrote a note to his employees informing them of the decision to reduce the global headcount by approximately 20% he has unveiled a new leadership team that consists of logistics, freight forwarding and technology experts of different tenure, many of whom are longtime Flexport loyalists. The new leadership structure outlined by the CEO and Founder has 12 executives who report directly to him.
Importance of building a robust business continuity plan
Rashmi Iyer has been with Merck, a global science and technology company with a 350-year-old rich history, for more than seven years. Iyer is the Head of Distribution at Merck Life Science with a responsibility for operations at Mumbai Central warehouse, regional 3PLs and domestic transportation.
Amazon Air gets its first Airbus A330-300 freighter
Amazon Air has taken delivery of its first Airbus freighter. This is the first of the ten Airbus A330-300 converted freighters that will join the e-commerce giant’s growing fleet of aircraft. The remaining nine freighters are scheduled to join the fleet later this year and in 2024. Amazon Air leased these aircraft from Altavair and the passenger to freighter conversion is being done by Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH (EFW), a joint venture between Airbus and ST Aerospace.
Halleux reflects on key industry topics as he departs Qatar Airways
The longest-serving chief officer cargo at Qatar Airways reflects on key air cargo industry topics as he makes his exit from the world’s largest cargo carrier to join Swissport The first time I met Guillaume Halleux was in February of 2018 in Mumbai at the biennial Air Cargo India exhibition and conference. He was already five months into his new job as the Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways.
Halleux reflects on key industry topics as he departs Qatar Airways
The first time I met Guillaume Halleux was in February of 2018 in Mumbai at the biennial Air Cargo India exhibition and conference. He was already five months into his new job as the Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways. While doing my first interview with him, it was a challenge for me to get the pronunciation of his French surname. I remember getting it recorded by him at the Mumbai event. He was a kind man and continues to be one.
Air India’s ambitious cargo plans
Tata Group-owned Air India aims to achieve 300% growth in cargo capacity in five years and the national flag carrier is actively evaluating operating both narrow and wide body freighters for domestic and international cargo operations. Air India, under the new ownership of Tata Group, plans to play a very critical role in boosting the freight and cargo ecosystem in India and globally.
Air India’s ambitious cargo plans
Air India, under the new ownership of Tata Group, plans to play a very critical role in boosting the freight and cargo ecosystem in India and globally. “Initiatives taken in recent times will not only enhance the role of Air India as a major cargo carrier, but also bolster the country’s cargo ecosystem and contribute to the development of an efficient air cargo supply chain accelerating exports from India,” the carrier said in a statement.
Wallenborn appoints Ram Menon as Chief Commercial Officer
Europe’s largest air cargo road feeder services (RFS) operator Wallenborn Transports has appointed Ram Menon as its new Chief Commercial Officer. Menon has already taken charge of the new responsibility at the group headquarters in Luxembourg. Menon returns to Wallenborn five years and four months after working with Amazon in multiple roles.
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