Kale Logistics is making software that allows for easier information sharing among the branches of the supply chain. In this episode of “On Air with Air Cargo Next,” Air Cargo Next Senior Consultant Cathy Roberson speaks with Donna Mullins, vice president of Kale Logistics, about technology’s role in improving the airfreight industry — and how more tech is necessary. “During the pandemic, the technology grew three times, like the Grinch’s heart, but it needed to grow 30 times,” said Mullins. “We are still very behind in the technology of the land-side part of the movement.” Listen as Mullins discusses how to streamline logistics, lobbying for government support and industry transformation in the next five years.

Rippey AI has built an AI-powered chatbot with a logistics language library for use in digital booking. In this episode of “On Air with Air Cargo Next,” Air Cargo Next Senior Consultant Cathy Roberson speaks with Matt Motsick, chief executive of Rippey AI, formerly RPA Labs, about the future of AI chatbots in logistics. Listen as Motsick discusses how the Rippey AI bot speeds up the process of booking shipments and obtaining quotes, as well as the future of AI in logistics.

United Airlines’ venture capital arm, United Airlines Ventures, in November became the first U.S. airline to invest in a biofuel refinery with its $37.5 million planned investment into a Houston-based renewable fuel company.NEXT Renewable Fuels will begin production at its flagship renewable fuel refinery in 2026, with an expected production of up to 50,000 barrels a day, according to United’s release.In this episode of “On Air with Air Cargo World,” Associate Editor Ashley Mowreader speaks with Andrew Chang, managing director of United Airlines Ventures, about the carrier’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) investments and carbon-offset initiatives.Listen as Chang dives into United’s sustainability goals and investments into technology-based solutions for sustainable flying and the airline’s historic 200 aircraft order.  

IAG Cargo is gearing up for a return to “normal” in 2023, resuming routes that had been closed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and stepping up digitalization efforts.  In this episode of “On Air with Air Cargo World” John Cheetham, chief commercial officer of IAG Cargo speaks with Senior Associate Editor Ivan De Luce about leveraging digital booking capacity and the carrier’s recent route expansion and sustainability initiatives. The carrier in November resumed flights between London Heathrow (LHR) and Tokyo Haneda (HND), as well as between Madrid (MAD) and Caracas (CCS) and Rio de Janeiro (GIG). It also added digital booking capacity on CargoWise this month, with a direct connection for customers to access schedules, dynamic rates, capacity and allotment bookings. Listen as Cheetham discusses these moves and more, and shares IAG Cargo’s predictions on the airfreight industry in 2023. 

The 2022 peak season, or lack thereof, is becoming more apparent as consumers begin holiday shopping. The Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping sprees gave retailers a much-needed opportunity to clear out warehouses, but inflation and economic uncertainty continue to play into consumer spending habits.In this episode of the “On Air with Air Cargo World” podcast, Associate Editor Ashley Mowreader speaks with Cathy Morrow Roberson, founder of Logistics Trends & Insights, about the holiday retail season and the effects of supply chain disruption.Listen as Morrow Roberson shares her insight into the fourth quarter and predictions for 2023.  

Drone manufacturer Sabrewing Aircraft Company carried a 374-kilogram payload on a record-breaking first hover flight with its RH-1-A Rhaegal cargo drone, and now owns the new world record for heaviest deadlift of any commercial, vertical takeoff, uncrewed air vehicle.In this episode of “On Air with Air Cargo World,” Sabrewing Chairman and Chief Executive Ed de Reyes discusses the flight, drone development and commercial use cases for the Rhaegal. California-based Sabrewing’s drone has a 17-meter wingspan and can carry a maximum payload of 2,454 kg, use up to 50% sustainable aviation fuel and accommodate various types of unit load devices. Listen as de Reyes describes working with the Federal Aviation Authority, sustainability in drone manufacturing and how Rhaegal is beating competitors. 

The airfreight industry remains slow to adopt new technology and to automate and streamline manual processes to create a more efficient supply chain for all stakeholders. In the meantime, developers work to make platforms simple, user-friendly and accessible.  In this episode of “On Air with Air Cargo World,” Associate Editor Ashley Mowreader speaks with Matt Petot, co-founder and chief executive at software developer CargoAi, about the origins of the company, CargoAi’s digital solutions, stakeholder adoption and sustainability within the airfreight industry.  CargoAi launched in 2019 to optimize digitalization within the supply chain for airfreight stakeholders, aiming to simplify processes without overcoming legacy systems. CargoAi offers a software-as-a-service platform and API integration to provide digital booking, payment and analytical capabilities.  Listen as Petot shares his perspective on the industry’s digital adoption and where data can close gaps in sustainability.  

E-commerce is an ever-exploding market in the logistics industry, as more businesses move from a B2B to B2C model, giving customers access to goods faster. But global e-commerce has felt the rising pressures of trade regulations by governments, creating new challenges in the market. In this episode of the “On Logistics: On Air with Air Cargo World” podcast, Craig Strickland, chief sales officer at e-commerce logistics management platform BoxC, joins Air Cargo World columnist Cathy Roberson, president of Logistics Trends & Insights, to discuss e-commerce movements this year and holiday peak season potential.BoxC’s platform uses an API to simplify e-commerce transportation for logistics providers to increase international growth. The company provides access to its open, international shipping network, allowing smaller groups to move goods without the traditional infrastructure needed for e-commerce distribution. Listen as Strickland divulges the current challenges of the e-commerce market and potential growth opportunities for businesses. 

Within the next 28 years, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) will be carbon-neutral — or at least that’s the goal. Other airfreight stakeholders have set their own targets and deadlines for carbon offsets or carbon neutrality, but as the industry continues to prioritize sustainability, supply chain members must balance the costs.In this episode of “On Air with Air Cargo World,” Associate Editor Ashley Mowreader speaks with Soham Chokshi, Shipsy’s co-founder and chief executive, about the key players in sustainability initiatives, the solutions available and where the supply chain is moving in terms of sustainability.Shipsy, an India-based logistics management platform, helps supply chain stakeholders best optimize cargo movements and reduce carbon emissions in a cost-effective way. The company offers solutions for all aspects of the supply chain, from freight procurement and route planning to last-mile delivery.Listen as Chokshi provides insight into supply chain sustainability development and the power of digitalization.

Digitalization has come slowly to the airfreight market as stakeholders in recent years have taken steps to digitalize booking and move to paperless environments.  In this episode of “On Air with Air Cargo World,” Simon Watson, co-founder of booking platform CharterSync, speaks with Air Cargo World columnist Cathy Morrow Roberson, president of Logistics Trends & Insights about the digitalization of the cargo charter sector.  When it first launched in July 2019, the platform’s founders did not foresee they would be navigating global challenges like Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the London-based charter broker offers cargo charter services to freight forwarders in an effort to provide rate transparency and a faster way to book charters.  Listen as Watson discusses the origins of CharterSync, global challenges and digitalization in the charter market.