Kuehne+Nagel has expanded its Cool Corridor network for temperature-sensitive healthcare logistics, adding four new routes between Frankfurt and Atlanta, Chicago and Narita, Brussels and São Paulo, and Chicago and São Paulo. The expansion increases the global reach of its network to 12 airfreight lanes connecting major healthcare and pharmaceutical hubs across Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. The Frankfurt to Atlanta route strengthens the network with dedicated weekly capacity on Kuehne+Nagel's own Boeing 747-8 freighter, Inspire.

Designed for vaccines, peptides, biologics and other temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, Cool Corridors are dedicated transport routes that combine GDP-compliant handling with tightly controlled transfer processes to minimise Time Out of Range (ToR) throughout the shipment journey.

Traditional cold chain shipments often depend on active containers with built-in cooling systems to manage the risk of temperature excursions. Cool Corridors take a different approach by establishing GDP-compliant, temperature-controlled airfreight lanes where Kuehne+Nagel, airlines, and ground handlers follow strict protocols and handling procedures to keep healthcare shipments within defined temperature ranges.

“Healthcare customers are looking for ways to maintain product quality while improving efficiency and sustainability across their supply chains. Cool Corridors provide greater control across the shipment journey, helping protect temperature-sensitive products. With more confidence in shipment conditions, customers can use lighter passive packaging, creating opportunities to reduce logistics costs and transport emissions without compromising product integrity,” says Dorothee Becher, VP Global Air Logistics Healthcare at Kuehne+Nagel.

This development reflects Kuehne+Nagel’s strategic focus on strengthening healthcare logistics. Through close collaboration with leading airlines and ground handling partners, the company continues to expand its Cool Corridor network in response to customer demand while providing reliable, GDP-compliant end-to-end transportation.

Kuehne+Nagel is collaborating with Google to support the reduction of air freight emissions through the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for Google Cloud’s shipments in 2026. This reinforces both companies’ commitment to advancing sustainable logistics.

The agreement, totaling up to 5.2 million litres of SAF, covers a key set of Google Cloud’s infrastructure shipments, representing a reduction of up to 12,600 tonnes of CO₂e emissions. The agreement serves as a pilot for future collaboration.

SAF is produced from renewable resources that are considered waste, residues or by-products, such as used cooking oil and tallow, and can reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from air transportation by around 80% compared to fossil-based jet fuel. SAF is a key lever for the aviation sector to reduce emissions.

Kuehne+Nagel offers its customers the opportunity to lower their scope 3 emissions through its SAF certification programme. The programme meets strict sustainability requirements while simplifying the process for customers worldwide and contributes to the accelerated scaling of global demand for SAF.

By investing together in sustainability, Google Cloud and Kuehne+Nagel reinforce a long-term dedication to increasing demand for SAF and supporting the transition toward lower-emission air freight operations.

“This agreement builds on Google Cloud's ongoing work to reduce emissions across our logistics value chain and supports our broader sustainability goals. By collaborating with Kuehne+Nagel, we can help advance the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel and support the transition toward lower-emission air freight operations,” says Brian Stewart, Senior Director, Logistics, Google Cloud.

“As leaders in our respective industries, it is important to set a precedent by jointly driving sustainability. It demonstrates the importance of sustainability as a core business priority and as a foundation for strong partnerships. We are proud that Google Cloud has selected Kuehne+Nagel to support the decarbonisation of its supply chains and to jointly advance practical, scalable sustainability initiatives,” says Fabiano Piccinno, Global Head of Sustainability Air Logistics at Kuehne+Nagel.

Kuehne+Nagel has expanded its own-controlled air freight network with the addition of Frankfurt to its Inspire aircraft rotation, strengthening connectivity between North America, Europe and Asia.

As Europe’s leading air cargo hub, Frankfurt handles around 2 million tonnes of cargo annually and plays a central role in the movement of high-value and time-sensitive goods. Its inclusion in the Inspire rotation further strengthens key trade flows between Europe and North America.

The updated rotation now includes a weekly routing from Chicago to Frankfurt, continuing to Atlanta. The connection directly links Frankfurt and Chicago, two major pharmaceutical production and distribution hubs, supporting the movement of time-sensitive healthcare shipments

Inspire is Kuehne+Nagel’s own controlled Boeing 747-8 freighter. The long-term charter is operated by Atlas Air. The Boeing 747-8F is the largest cargo plane manufactured by Boeing, with a cargo capacity of about 140 tonnes, enabling the transport of high-value and complex shipments across key global trade lanes.

Effective June 2026, the updated Inspire rotation enhances connectivity across key transatlantic and Asia-Europe trade lanes, linking Atlanta, Chicago, Frankfurt, Liège, Sharjah, and Taipei. The network is designed to support industries with high requirements on reliability and speed, including pharmaceuticals, aerospace, high-tech, semiconductors and cloud infrastructure shipments.

“Frankfurt is one of Europe’s leading air cargo and pharmaceutical hubs, linking regional production with global markets. The expanded Inspire rotation provides customers with capacity, reliability and greater global connectivity for both healthcare shipments and other time-sensitive cargo, including high-tech and semiconductor flows,” says Martin Schaefer, SVP Air Logistics Germany at Kuehne+Nagel.

Kuehne+Nagel continues to scale its own-controlled capacity, comprising more than 100 weekly charter connections worldwide. Leveraging its scalable network and gateway model, the company further strengthens reliability, speed and service consistency across its air logistics offering, while maintaining the flexibility to adapt to evolving trade patterns and customer needs.

Kuehne+Nagel has signed a lease agreement with Fraport AG for a new 7,600 sqm air cargo facility in CargoCity South at Frankfurt Airport. Developed by Fraport AG, the facility marks a strategic investment in Kuehne+Nagel’s global air logistics network with the aim to strengthen air cargo connectivity across key international trade lanes. Completion and handover are set for the end of 2028. 

Frankfurt Airport is a major global cargo hub. The facility provides airside access within the secure airport zone. It supports efficient cargo movements between the terminal and aircraft parking areas, reduces aircraft turnaround time for handling, and enables seamless transfers across Kuehne+Nagel’s operations.

The layout features 16 gates and truck docks for efficient, scalable operations. It aims to improve logistics efficiency and boost flexibility to meet evolving customer and market needs. 

Additionally, the facility design aligns with Kuehne+Nagel’s sustainability commitments. It has been awarded a German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) gold standard certification, guaranteeing it will meet strict environmental standards. Besides LED lighting, heat pumps, EV charging stations, and smart metering, a large photovoltaic system will also be installed on the roof to generate renewable energy for the airport grid.

With the new facility, Kuehne+Nagel will grow its total footprint in CargoCity South to over 20,000 sqm, confirming the company’s long-term commitment to Frankfurt Airport as a key global air cargo gateway. 

“Frankfurt is a key global gateway in the Kuehne+Nagel air logistics network. As supply chains become more dynamic, our new cargo facility provides the infrastructure, capacity, and connectivity needed to support our growth ambitions and keep goods moving. This enables us to better serve customers in fast-growing sectors like healthcare, semiconductor, high tech, and cloud infrastructure,” says Martin Schaefer, SVP Air Logistics Germany at Kuehne+Nagel. 

Kuehne+Nagel, one of the world’s leading logistics providers, and Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS), Switzerland’s premium airline, are strengthening their strategic partnership to drive more sustainable aviation. With the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, both companies will collaborate on sustainability projects, with a particular focus on innovative technologies to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

The partnership centres on a shared commitment to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced by Synhelion, a Swiss cleantech pioneer that converts sunlight into renewable synthetic fuels like solar jet fuel. To support scaling this technology, Kuehne+Nagel, SWISS, and its air freight division Swiss WorldCargo, have agreed on a long-term offtake agreement of SAF that provides Synhelion with planning security and drives innovation in the sector. This commitment provides producers such as Synhelion with the certainty needed to expand their output and advance new technologies.

Starting in 2027, Kuehne+Nagel will purchase Synhelion SAF from SWISS under a five-year agreement for its cargo shipments by Swiss WorldCargo. This reinforces its commitment to decarbonising logistics and offers customers the opportunity to reduce their CO₂ footprint.

“To meet the aviation industry’s climate targets, we must scale the production of synthetic SAF. At Kuehne+Nagel, we are taking the lead by partnering with SWISS and Synhelion to accelerate these technologies, making them economically viable,” explains Yngve Ruud, Member of the Management Board responsible for Air Logistics. “With it, we can offer our customers the opportunity to reduce their environmental footprint with this innovative technology.”

“Sustainable aviation fuels are a key building block for making air travel more sustainable. They remain scarce and costly—which is exactly why we need strong partners,” says SWISS CEO Jens Fehlinger. “We are pleased to be working with Kuehne+Nagel to implement the first commercial offtake of Synhelion’s fuel. This marks an important step forward and sends a clear signal that we intend to actively shape this path.”

Apex Logistics signed an agreement to acquire the majority of shares of Andes Integración Logística. The transaction will enhance Apex Logistics’ offering in Latin America and support its strategic development goals.

Andes Integración Logística, established in 2008, offers a comprehensive range of logistics services, including international air and sea freight, land transportation, warehousing, and distribution. Over the past 17 years, the company has experienced significant growth and today provides services in Chile, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, the USA, and China.

As one of the leading logistics providers in South America, Andes Integración Logística handles over 90,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit) of ocean shipping containers and 40,000 tons of airfreight annually. The company has a proven track record and extensive experience in the perishables sector, shipping various seasonal fresh products, including salmon, cherries, berries, and mangoes, to Asia and across the world. Additionally, they serve key industries, including automotive, high-tech, industrial, fashion, and retail.

Once the acquisition will be finalised, the two companies will greatly improve their complementary joint value proposition in the Americas. Apex' established charter and commercial flight networks between Asia and North America, combined with Andes' local talent and expertise, are designed to create strong logistics solutions maximizing the strategic potential within Latin America.

Mr. Tony Song, CEO of Apex Logistics Group, says: “This acquisition significantly enhances our presence in the region as part of our growth strategy in Latin America. Andes Integración Logística’s expertise in fresh and cold chain logistics supplements Apex's investments in similar areas in North America very well. We will have a dedicated perishables team of over 100 professionals and expand our cold-chain warehousing capacity, which will include temperature-controlled facilities exceeding 60,000 square feet, across LAX and SFO. A fleet of more than 10 refrigerated trucks supports this expansion.”

Ms. Elsie Qian, CEO of Apex Logistics Americas, says: “With our strong customer proximity, relationship, and extensive operational experience in North America, the transaction and partnership with Andes Integración Logística will enable us to complement our customer’s service coverage into South America, broadening our regional network and unlocking exciting new growth opportunities.”

Andes Integración Logística will continue to be managed by its experienced leadership team while maintaining its independent operational capabilities. The global network, resources, and solutions of the Apex Logistics Group will support this.

As part of a joint branding initiative, it is foreseen that Andes Integración Logística will become Andes by Apex. This change will reflect the shared commitment of both companies to grow together as strategic partners.

The transaction is still subject to customary closing conditions and approval by the competent authorities.

Kuehne+Nagel announces its intention to acquire Eastway Global Forwarding Ltd., a leader in aerospace logistics. The acquisition complements Kuehne+Nagel's aerospace logistics offering and supports its growth ambitions in the fast-developing aerospace industry. 

With a network spanning 130 countries globally, Eastway is a family-owned company, headquartered in Limerick, Ireland. It is a trusted logistics provider in the aerospace industry. The company offers time critical aircraft-on-ground (AOG) services, aircraft engine logistics, aviation logistics & warehousing, and customs brokerage services. It also provides full lifecycle services for the aviation leasing industry. The aviation lessor industry owns over 50% of the global aviation fleet and is expected to grow in value from USD 187.1 billion in 2024 to 565.1 billion by 2034, at a CAGR of 11.8% (CAPA, Global Market Insights).  

“Eastway is a good fit for Kuehne+Nagel. The company brings with it a proven track record of success and a strong customer base,” says Yngve Ruud, Member of the Management Board, responsible for Air Logistics. “The acquisition supports our targeted bolt-on acquisition strategy by strengthening our aerospace logistics offering globally and accelerating our growth ambitions in the fast-developing aerospace industry.”  

“By partnering with the world’s leading logistics company, we are taking our family-owned business into an exciting new chapter. Through combining our deep expertise in aerospace logistics with the global reach and capabilities of Kuehne+Nagel, we can extend our footprint and deliver world-class supply chain solutions to clients across the aerospace industry.” says Frank McNamara Jnr, Managing Director of Eastway. “This partnership creates new opportunities for Eastway to enhance our service offering and explore fresh avenues for growth with our international customer base. It also opens doors for professional development within our exceptional team, the heart and driving force behind Eastway’s continued success.”  

The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Completion of the transaction is expected by the end of 2025. Upon closing, Eastway will become a fully owned subsidiary of Kuehne+Nagel. 

Kuehne+Nagel has launched a new air logistics gateway in Bengaluru, India, underscoring its commitment to adapt quickly to shifting market conditions and evolving customer requirements while expanding its global network.

The gateway handles consolidation and deconsolidation of cargo, streamlines customs processes, and provides temperature-controlled handling to ensure reliability and efficiency. Integrated with Kuehne+Nagel’s digital platforms, including the customer booking tool myKN, it also offers real-time visibility and seamless customer experience.

Bengaluru was selected for its strong connections to major regional and international hubs such as Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Dubai and Chicago, its role as a centre for technology and trade, and its increasing relevance in cross-border logistics. The location strengthens Kuehne+Nagel’s ability to improve load efficiency, lower costs, enhance routing flexibility and manage capacity across commercial and charter networks, while remaining close to customers in one of India’s fastest-growing regions.

With direct access to trade lanes spanning Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and North America, the Bengaluru gateway will also serve high-growth sectors such as high-tech and semicon, healthcare, automotive and new mobility.

Yngve Ruud, Executive Vice President, Air Logistics, Kuehne+Nagel Group, says: “With the opening of the Bengaluru gateway, we are giving customers greater connectivity, efficiency, and resilience as part of our global Air Logistics strategy. Together with our recently inaugurated gateways in Milan, Madrid and Toronto, this development strengthens our network to better serve time-critical and high-growth industries. India’s rapid development makes it a key market, and this investment reflects both our commitment to its industries and our ambition to expand Kuehne+Nagel’s global footprint.”

The story of the British company started 28 years ago with an idea from the founder, Anthony Pile, who was dissatisfied with the quality of imported fruit. The problem? Fruit was picked unripe to survive the long transportation—at the expense of taste and nutritional value. Moreover, the transport was not efficient—even foliage and peel, as with pineapple, went on the boat. With cut fruit, only the edible part remains. Pile came up with a solution: let the fruit ripen locally, cut and pack it directly where it is grown, and then transport it by plane to Europe in a cooled state. Skin and pits remain in the country of origin where they are turned into compost for growing even better fruits.

Blue Skies collaborates with Kuehne+Nagel for the transportation of their products from tropical locations to Dutch supermarkets. “Kuehne+Nagel is flexible, is reliable and thinks about sustainability—exactly what we need in this chain,” says Paul van Breukelen, Sales Director at Blue Skies.

Social Impact

Blue Skies collaborates closely with local farmers in countries like Ghana where finished products are made where the food is grown. This local activity ensures that benefits go directly to the communities. “Adding value at the source means that economic benefits stay with the people at the beginning of the chain, fostering employment and development,” adds Paul.

This approach has helped regions like the Ghanaian village of Nsawam, where many Blue Skies employees live. The village has seen significant development, with improved incomes, better education, and enhanced infrastructure.

Reliable supply Chain

Blue Skies' products are transported in the bellies of passenger planes. “People often don't realise that we use the capacity of passenger planes that are flying anyway,” adds the Commercial Director. “We avoid using cargo planes unnecessarily and in contrast to most others, we are not transporting the skin, pits and other waste from fruit processing”.

Once the products arrive at Schiphol Airport, Kuehne+Nagel transfers the containers immediately to their refrigerated storage facilities, where the fruits are palletised for further distribution. “Most of the fruits go from tree to shelf within 48 hours,” says Paul. “That speed is important for quality, something to be proud of. It's nice that Kuehne+Nagel offers us a dedicated team of specialists. They are the last ones to see our fruits before they go to the supermarket, so they play an important role in quality.”

Working together for sustainability

Blue Skies and Kuehne+Nagel are working together to make the supply chain more sustainable, including reducing and recycling packaging materials. For example, they have optimised transportation processes to use less cardboard, focusing on transporting as cost effective and climate friendly as possible. “Partners like Kuehne+Nagel support this sustainability drive, ensuring transparency and continuous improvement in the supply chain,” concludes Paul.

Advancing the strategic objectives of their 2023 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on value chain optimisation and sustainability, Kuehne+Nagel and SATS Ltd. have introduced an expedited delivery service for urgent aircraft parts in Singapore. The two companies are also expanding their partnership to strengthen resilience and enhance efficiency in global air cargo logistics supply chains.

Time-critical shipments

SATS Ltd. and Sterling, a Kuehne+Nagel company, have launched the new solution at Singapore Changi Airport to address aircraft-on-ground (AOG) emergencies - critical situations where aircraft are grounded due to technical or mechanical issues. These disruptions can result in significant operational and financial impacts, making quick access to spare parts a high priority for the aviation industry. The new solution reduces delivery times and provides enhanced real-time shipment visibility, enabling faster return to service.

Sea-Air multi-modal services

The companies launched Sea-Air logistics in Los Angeles and Singapore hubs which offers faster connectivity, reducing transit time, costs, and carbon emissions by streamlining shipment handling directly from port to airside facilities. 

Trucking & warehouse efficiency

Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a SATS company, and Kuehne+Nagel have successfully launched a service at Frankfurt Airport to accelerate import cargo clearances. The initiative aims to optimise operational capacity and reduce delays by streamlining cargo pick-up and delivery by truck, ensuring customers’ requests are fulfilled immediately.

Further joint projects are planned at Frankfurt Airport to improve airfreight processes at the hub.

“Our partnership with SATS proved vital during the Red Sea crisis, supporting our Sea-Air solutions to mitigate disruptions to our customers’ supply chains,” says Yngve Ruud, EVP Air Logistics at Kuehne+Nagel. “We’re excited to expand this collaboration with SATS to enhance value in supply chains through trucking, warehousing, and time-critical shipment solutions.” 

Concurring, Francois Mirallie, Deputy CEO Gateway Services Global, SATS Ltd., said, “This expanded collaboration with Kuehne+Nagel underscores our shared commitment to building smarter, more resilient global supply chains. By combining SATS’ deep expertise in air cargo handling with Kuehne+Nagel’s global logistics network, we are accelerating innovation across critical touch points. Together, we are delivering agile, customer-centric solutions that meet the evolving needs of our ecosystem partners.”

The companies said they are committed to expanding their global collaboration to include solutions for the healthcare and aerospace sectors. 

Kuehne+Nagel, one of the world’s leading logistics providers, and Natilus, an aerospace manufacturer of blended-wing-body aircraft, today announced a strategic partnership to study the environmental, economic, and operational impact of integrating Natilus’s hyper-efficient blended-wing-body aircraft into commercial air logistics operations.

Leveraging its knowledge of the air logistics industry, Kuehne+Nagel will collaborate with Natilus to explore the operational feasibility of implementing its aircraft within the industry, focusing on route modelling, environmental impact assessment, operational cost analysis, and engagement with the aviation industry.

The first to commercialise blended-wing-body design, Natilus is developing a family of aircraft designed to unlock improved aviation economics by reducing fuel consumption by 30% while increasing payload capability by 40%. Together, the companies will assess how blended-wing-body aircraft will operate within existing fleets to improve logistics efficiency, enhance service offerings, and reduce carbon emissions in freight forwarding.

Kuehne+Nagel is actively exploring opportunities to implement more sustainable business practices for their customers. The logistics partner for 400,000 customers worldwide, Kuehne+Nagel is pursuing innovations, such as looking into new airframe designs to reduce the environmental as well as the economic impact of air freight.

“At Kuehne+Nagel, we have consistently led the way in making air freight logistics more sustainable and this collaboration with Natilus is another example of how we continue to explore new technologies for more environmentally friendly and cost-effective air cargo solutions,” said Holger Ketz, SVP Network and Carrier Management Air Logistics at Kuehne+Nagel.

Committed to delivering a comprehensive assessment of the potential CO2e emissions saved, Kuehne+Nagel and Natilus will partner with select air freight carriers to demonstrate benefits of complementing existing fleets with blended-wing-body aircraft.

"Our partnership with Kuehne+Nagel is a meaningful step in helping the industry better understand the powerful advantages of blended-wing-body aircraft, which will become a blueprint for other logistics companies over the next decade,” said Aleksey Matyushev, Co-Founder and CEO at Natilus. “We look forward to collaborating with Kuehne+Nagel and integrating our family of blended-wing-body aircraft into its world-class global logistics network to redefine efficiency and sustainability in freight.”

To lead the way to a more sustainable future, Kuehne+Nagel announces the launch of its carrier engagement sustainability programme. As part of the programme, Kuehne+Nagel has signed individual Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) agreements with fourteen global airline carriers to advance sustainability initiatives and innovations around the world. This first-of-its-kind collaboration in the air logistics industry aims to reduce the environmental impact of airfreight transportation for customers. 

Kuehne+Nagel has signed individual MoUs with American Airlines, Air Canada, Air France Cargo and KLM Cargo, Atlas Air, Azul, Cargolux, Cathay Cargo, Delta Air Lines, LATAM Airlines Group S.A., Lufthansa Cargo, Swiss International Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, and United Airlines. 

By signing individual MOUs with airlines on four continents, Kuehne+Nagel is expanding its geographical reach for sustainability collaboration. The collaboration will focus on several key areas to achieve its sustainability goals: 

• Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) use and decarbonisation: Sourcing and promoting the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) as well as other optimisation measures to reduce the carbon footprint. SAF, which is derived from renewable resources, can reduce lifecycle CO2 emissions by an average of 80% compared to conventional jet fuel. 
• Transparency and impact tracking: Regular exchanges of data and information between Kuehne+Nagel and each airline to improve the understanding and quality of emissions, track the progress of reductions, and track the impact of the carrier engagement programme overall beyond carbon emissions. 
• Holistic sustainability approach: Expanding efforts to address broader sustainability challenges. 

Fabiano Piccinno, Air Logistics Global Head of Sustainability at Kuehne+Nagel, comments: “As an asset-light company, it is crucial for us to collaborate with our carriers to reach our ambitious science-based targets while also sending a clear signal. The signing of these MoUs represents a milestone for the industry and marks our joint commitment to supporting a sustainable future. We are very excited about the new initiatives that will emerge out of this, ultimately, benefiting our customers.” 

The current individually signed MoUs are with carriers that cover approximately 50% of Kuehne+Nagel’s emissions from air freight (based on emissions for full year 2024). The company aims to continue expanding its carrier sustainability engagement with major carrier partners to increase the amount of emissions covered.

While red roses dominate the global scene, the ways people celebrate Valentine’s Day vary widely, reflecting cultural nuances and traditions. This celebration has taken on unique characteristics in China, blending global influences with local customs and creating a distinctive market for imported blooms.

China's modern love affair with roses
In China, love isn’t confined to just one day. Alongside the globally recognised February 14, China also celebrates the Qixi Festival “七夕” in August, often called Chinese Valentine’s Day. The Qixi Festival is a traditional celebration of the annual meeting of the cowherd and weaver girl in Chinese mythology, and it has become a significant day for expressing love.

However, the sight of imported red roses around February 14 has become increasingly common in modern cities. This trend is driven by the rising demand for premium floral products facilitated by professional trade and booming e-commerce platforms.

The allure of imported blooms
Imported roses from equatorial regions like Ecuador, Colombia, and Kenya dominate China’s market. These roses are prized for their long stems, large blooms, vibrant colours, and extended freshness. The phenomenon known as the ‘Matthew Effect’, where the popularity of a product or service grows exponentially as it gains recognition, amplifies its popularity. As these roses gain recognition, their demand grows, reinforcing their status as the preferred choice for romantic gestures.

Logistics: The hidden hero behind every bloom
Behind every fresh-cut rose lies a complex, meticulously coordinated supply chain. From the moment a rose is harvested in the fields of Ecuador or Kenya, it embarks on a journey that spans continents. Cold chain management ensures the roses are kept at optimal temperatures throughout transit. Seamless handling at airports, efficient quarantine process and customs clearance, and reliable last-mile delivery are critical to maintaining their freshness.

At Kuehne+Nagel, our expert perishables team ensures that every step of this journey is handled precisely. This year, our FreshChain solution, a comprehensive and efficient logistics system designed specifically for perishable goods, transports a quarter million delicate rose stems to China just in time for Valentine’s Day, preserving their beauty and freshness for the special moment. 

E-commerce: A game-changer in the China floral market
The rise of e-commerce in China has revolutionised the floral industry. Consumers now enjoy the convenience of browsing a diverse range of floral products online, with competitive pricing and efficient delivery. E-commerce platforms leverage data-driven insights to anticipate demand, allowing for pre-sales planning even before the roses are harvested. Robust last-mile logistics ensure timely delivery, making it easier than ever for consumers to surprise their loved ones with fresh roses.

Yunnan: China’s rising star in the floral market
While imported roses are highly sought after, China is also emerging as a significant player in the global floral market. In Southwest China, Yunnan Province hosts Asia’s largest fresh-cut flower trading market, with an annual trade volume of over 13 billion stems. In 2023, Yunnan exported fresh-cut flowers worth US$80 million to destinations across Asia, including Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Delivering love, one rose at a time
Valentine’s Day marks a special occasion dedicated to celebrating love, connection, and heartfelt moments. Whether it’s a single rose or a lavish bouquet, Kuehne+Nagel is proud to play a role in delivering these moments that matter, ensuring that every bloom arrives fresh and complete of life, ready to convey the deepest emotions.

Drawing on its experience of delivering logistics solutions for server and data centre customers, Kuehne+Nagel announces the global launch of a specialised logistics solution for the growing cloud infrastructure industry. The strong growth of this sector has further accelerated with the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI). Gartner forecasts that spending on public cloud services will grow by 20.4% in 2024 and by 22.1% in 2025 due to AI growth.   

"Customers of cloud infrastructure demand reliable, secure, and scalable solutions that cater to the specific needs of their industry and enhance the resilience of their supply chains. The introduction of this dedicated solution underscores our commitment to supporting the global expansion of customers in this rapidly growing sector," states Yngve Ruud, Member of the Management Board of Kuehne+Nagel International AG, responsible for Air Logistics. 

The comprehensive solution addresses the specific needs of an industry that demands reliability, predictability, security, and visibility throughout the entire supply chain. It offers access to Kuehne+Nagel’s extensive global air logistics network with continuous pickup and delivery services, including last-mile white glove road transport solutions. A worldwide network of certified logistics experts is trained to deliver sensitive and oversized servers to data centres with consistent quality and security. 

The solution offers real-time visibility of essential shipment information, enabling customers to make quick and informed decisions. Digital tools reduce risks and identify optimal shipping routes suited to operational needs. GPS capabilities track and monitor shipment movements in real time, offering detailed data reports to verify temperature, light exposure, and chain of custody at all touchpoints.  

Kuehne+Nagel further offers a breadth of sustainable transport solutions to complement the service, which reduces shipment emissions and contributes to reaching environmental targets.  

As a long-standing airfreight partner of Mercedes-Benz, Kuehne+Nagel has also been supporting Mercedes-Benz's logistics chains to the USA since 2019, for example for the plant in Alabama. For over a year, sustainable fuels have been used in this strategic partnership in the area of transport logistics. Sustainable aviation fuel is used for the vehicle manufacturer's air freight transport, thus, actively supporting Mercedes-Benz in the decarbonisation of their supply chain.

Thanks to the use of SAF, Mercedes-Benz has been able to reduce around 11,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions in the past twelve months, in comparison to only using conventional fuels. SAF was used on charter flights with Kuehne+Nagel's own Boeing 747-8F cargo aircraft ‘Inspire’ on the route from Stuttgart (Germany) to Birmingham (Alabama, USA).

"Our vision of becoming the most trusted logistics partner for a sustainable future by 2030 means that: As an industry leader we take our responsibility to support our customers in reducing their CO2 emissions seriously", says Heiko Schuhmacher, Senior Vice President Global Air Logistics at Kuehne+Nagel. "We are proud that this pilot project has developed into a long-term collaboration in the spirit of decarbonisation with a strong partner."

Mercedes-Benz and Kuehne+Nagel have set themselves the goal of avoiding and actively reducing emissions in transport logistics. "Transport logistics is a key part of the automotive value chain. By using sustainable aviation fuel for air freight transport, we can reduce emissions along our value chain and take an important step towards net carbon neutrality. We are delighted to reach another milestone in sustainable logistics together with our partner Kuehne+Nagel," says Jörg Burzer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Production, Quality and Supply Chain Management.

Kuehne+Nagel, the Elite Group, and a subsidiary of LATAM Group reached another joint agreement to reduce emissions associated with the air freight of flowers for Mother's Day. Together, the three companies procured 34,615 litres of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), to transport more than 1.6 million flower stems for this year's peak season. The amount of SAF used on these flights helped to reduce around 55 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Kuehne+Nagel has made reducing emissions in the logistics industry a central element of its strategic Roadmap 2026 and Vision 2030. Yngve Ruud, Executive Vice President Air Logistics at Kuehne+Nagel, comments: “It is crucial to drive actions in the industry that emphasise the importance of establishing a sustainability strategy. Based on long-term collaboration, the impacts of the initiatives developed increase over time. The decarbonisation challenges faced by logistics companies are ambitious, and the only way to achieve them is by leading the conversation and actions around the ESG agenda at a global level”.

Andrés Bianchi, CEO of LATAM Group subsidiaries, mentioned: “This alliance deepens the LATAM group's commitment and efforts against climate change, with which we challenge ourselves to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Collaboration between the different actors in this industry is essential to advance at the pace necessary to achieve our goals. We hope that examples like this will help to generate more solutions that contribute to decarbonisation and encourage the development of this type of fuel in South America where there is great potential.”

For Elite Group, a well-known group of companies in the flower industry, “this initiative aligns perfectly with our broader environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives, underscoring our goal of net zero emissions while maintaining a positive impact on the environment and the communities in which we operate. Adopting SAF protects our environment and enhances the reputation of air transport, ensuring the longevity of numerous jobs throughout our supply chain. As a leader in our industry, we remain steadfast in our mission to unite innovation with responsibility, driving progress while upholding our commitment to the planet and our global community”, adds Galo Sánchez, Executive Vice President at Elite Group.

The SAF was produced from used cooking oil, which, after being treated, is mixed with traditional jet fuel. One of the particularities of SAF, is that it helps to reduce on average, 80% of the carbon footprint when compared to conventional fuel.

In the current context of limited SAF production worldwide, these collaborative agreements are of the most significant relevance. This is the second collaboration between cargo subsidiaries of LATAM group, Elite Group, and Kuehne+Nagel in less than 12 months in reducing the carbon footprint of their joint operations as part of a long-term sustainability agenda. 

Kuehne+Nagel, one of the world’s leading logistics companies, has expanded its John F. Kennedy International airport (JFK) facility with a 4,500 sq. ft. stand-alone, GxP-compliant, temperature-controlled area, as well as an additional 10,000 sq. ft. warehouse space. The expansion of their 78,763 sq. ft. warehouse also includes a modernized office space and enhanced capabilities.

The temperature-controlled space features two separate areas to support a range of climate requirements from +2°C to +25°C and is specifically designed for healthcare and perishable operations. The site is both GDP and IATA CEIV compliant as part of Kuehne+Nagel’s own HealthChain certification. 

“We are pleased to offer enhanced and expanded capabilities at JFK – one of the top hubs for international flights – to support current and future customers in healthcare, aerospace, semicon, perishables or otherwise, with an extraordinary facility from the company they rely on for quality assurance,” said Greg Martin, Senior Vice President, Air Logistics at Kuehne+Nagel in North America. “I’m particularly proud of the investment we have made to further enhance the temperature-controlled supply chain with end-to-end temperature handling in our facility, as we continue to expand our healthcare footprint and support across North America.”

This bonded, container freight station (CFS) site is ideally situated close to JFK airport, has 24/7 availability, features 20 loading and unloading gates, and is both GDP and C-TPAT compliant. The site features enhanced 24/7 CCTV monitoring for added security and offers upgraded unit load device (ULD) capabilities allowing cargo to be kept together with less touch points, bringing added peace of mind for maintenance of cargo integrity. Additional certifications for the site include Kuehne+Nagel’s own EngineChain certification, as well as solutions for battery logistics and finished vehicle logistics.

Healthcare and Semicon are part of the growth areas in Kuehne+Nagel’s Roadmap 2026, a four-year strategic plan towards the company’s vision for 2030: becoming the most trusted supply chain partner supporting a sustainable future.

Kuehne+Nagel, one of the world’s leading logistics companies, announced the opening of a new facility near Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to support a new partnership with MHI RJ Aviation Group (MHIRJ) a worldwide leader in offering superior maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for airline fleets worldwide.

The relocation of supply chain operations from Des Plaines, IL to Haltom City, TX will bring operations close to DFW, a major gateway providing cargo lift for both domestic and international shipments.  At the new Dallas facility, MHIRJ will be utilizing the space to better meet their global customers’ needs through a state-of-the-art, technology-enabled distribution facility.

“This is an exciting new partnership, that builds on our strategic focus in the aerospace industry and further expands our growing presence in the Dallas/Forth Worth area,” Eduardo Razuck, Senior Vice President, Contract Logistics Americas for Kuehne+Nagel. “The investment in a new facility in the area is the latest step in growing our network focused on supporting our customers.”

Kuehne+Nagel has installed three Vertical Lift Modules in this new facility to enable a more effective storage configuration while providing enhanced efficiency during the picking and put-a-way process.

“We are thrilled to announce our partnership with the Kuehne+Nagel, a world-renowned logistics provider. Through this collaboration, MHIRJ will establish a new spare parts distribution center of over 110,000 square feet, providing ample space for our entire inventory and future expansion. The strategic location of the distribution center, which is only 15 miles away from the Dallas Fort Worth airport, makes it the perfect spot for global distribution of all our aircraft parts and components. The investment in this infrastructure is intended to maintain our superior service standards and cater to our customers' operational requirements,” emphasized Erick Legros, Senior Director, Distribution Network and Warehouse Transition.

On November 28, 2023, the world's first 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) transatlantic flight by a commercial airline successfully landed at New York JFK after its departure from London Heathrow. Kuehne+Nagel, a leader in sustainable logistics, actively engages in projects that encourage and promote the use of sustainable fuels within the logistics sector. As part of its efforts, Kuehne+Nagel secured the available cargo space on this SAF-powered flight and utilised the corresponding amount of SAF for the transported goods.

Yngve Ruud, Member of the Management Board of Kuehne+Nagel responsible for Air Logistics comments: “This is a historic moment in our collective journey towards sustainable aviation and we are very proud to represent the air cargo industry on the world's first 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel transatlantic flight by a commercial airline. It is an honour to support this Virgin Atlantic led consortium, pushing the boundaries of decarbonisation in aviation.”

Kuehne+Nagel is committed to the science-based targets to decarbonise the logistics sector and drive the change towards a zero-carbon future. This flight represents the next step in sustainable aviation by demonstrating the potential of using SAF as a 100% drop-in replacement for fossil fuel.

The Virgin Atlantic led consortium, joint funded by the UK Department for Transport, includes Rolls Royce, Boeing, University of Sheffield, Imperial College London, and Rocky Mountain Institute.

The SAF used to power the two Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is produced by Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) and Synthetic Aromatic Kerosine (SAK) at an 88% HEFA and 12% SAK blend ratio.

Kuehne+Nagel recently completed its third consecutive IATA CEIV Pharma certification of its entire air logistics healthcare network. This important milestone also positions Kuehne+Nagel as the first logistics company to achieve over 100 CEIV Pharma-certified stations.

IATA created CEIV Pharma alongside aviation industry stakeholders and regulators to address the industry’s need for safer, secured, compliant and efficient pharmaceutical product handling in the air cargo supply chain. The re-certification reinforces Kuehne+Nagel’s commitment to quality and its ability to meet the highest compliance and regulatory requirements via the world's largest CEIV Pharma-certified network currently covering 66 countries across all seven continents.

Harsha Ranasinghe, SVP Global Head of Air Logistics Products & Services at Kuehne+Nagel comments: “In 2017, Kuehne+Nagel became the first to attain CEIV Pharma certification for its healthcare air network. Since then, we continue to collaborate with IATA to drive superior quality and compliance by setting new standards for pharmaceutical handling excellence within air freight.”

Kuehne+Nagel’s dedicated healthcare solutions for Air Logistics are part of the company's global healthcare portfolio including multimodal transport options and contract logistics. Earlier this year, Kuehne+Nagel announced its Roadmap 2026, of which healthcare is a key growth area.

"Kuehne+Nagel achieving CEIV Pharma certification for its HealthChain certified healthcare Air Logistics network is a significant milestone. It not only gives its customers assurance that their time and temperature-sensitive healthcare products will be transported to the highest standards, but also elevates global supply chain standards. As the pharmaceutical sector expands, both IATA and Kuehne+Nagel are committed to meeting the industry’s need for safety, security and efficiency in the transportation of pharmaceutical products,” said Brendan Sullivan, IATA’s Global Head of Cargo.

Kuehne+Nagel has introduced three new charter connections between the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Starting on October 23, Kuehne+Nagel’s own freighter, the B747-8 “Inspire.”, conducts two additional weekly routings from Atlanta and Chicago to Amsterdam and from there to Taipei.

This flight will serve key industries such as healthcare, perishables and semicon. As one of the world's leading microchip manufacturers, Taiwan accounts for approximately 20% of the global semiconductor industry. By connecting Taiwan with the Benelux region, Kuehne+Nagel can offer fully owned and controlled capacity for its semiconductor customers while adhering to the strictest quality standards. Earlier this year, Kuehne+Nagel announced their SemiconChain quality standard in response to the market's increased need for secure and reliable semiconductors transportation.

Yngve Ruud, Member of the Management Board of Kuehne+Nagel responsible for Air Logistics comments: “Developing and offering logistics solutions for the semiconductor industry is part of our strategic Roadmap 2026. By introducing these three new connections, we can support our customers better and facilitate future growth in the sector.”

From now on, the B747-8 freighter connects the three regions through around-the-world flights as part of its regular schedule.

Kuehne+Nagel France has inaugurated a new air logistics hub at the heart of Cargo City at the Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. With this new location at one of Europe’s best-connected airports, Kuehne+Nagel increases global air freight capacities and strengthens its healthcare logistics solutions in the region.

The hub has a capacity to handle 300 air freight pallets a week. Its processing surface is 2.5 times larger than the previous space and has direct access to runways. With over 320 destinations worldwide and a TAPA-FSR A security certification, the new air logistics hub facilitates access to new markets in high-tech, luxury, aerospace, industrial and automotive.

Kuehne+Nagel continues to increase its healthcare cargo capacities in Paris by dedicating 4,500 m² to cold rooms and temperature-controlled zones. The healthcare area is GDP and CEIV-compliant as part of Kuehne+Nagel’s HealthChain certification, ensuring optimal conditions for storing and transporting sensitive goods. The hub also focuses on R&D and personalised medicine, supported by QuickSTAT, a Kuehne+Nagel company with expertise in personalised supply chain planning.

The new hub has been awarded with BREEAM Excellent certification, attesting to its energy efficiency and reduced carbon footprint. In addition, the hub is equipped with 1,332 photovoltaic solar panels placed on the roof, saving approximately 26.4 tons of CO2 per year.

Heiko Schuhmacher, Regional Head of Air Logistics Europe, commented: “The inauguration of the new hub, located at one of Europe’s best-connected airports, reinforces Kuehne+Nagel's leading position in air logistics and strong ambition on our healthcare focus, as part of our Roadmap 2026.”

Kuehne+Nagel and SATS Ltd (“SATS“) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enter into a strategic collaboration to drive value chain improvements and sustainability efforts within the air logistics industry.

Together, the two companies have initially collaborated on several successful Proofs of Concept to optimise ground handling for e-commerce shipments, air charter hub and spoke operations, as well as to improve shipment visibility and cargo processing speeds for time-critical shipments. The aim of the collaboration between Kuehne+Nagel and SATS, which acquired Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) in April 2023, the world’s largest air cargo logistics provider, is to co-develop and implement solutions for customers throughout Asia, Europe and North America. The first Proofs of Concept have produced encouraging results, demonstrating time savings and reducing touchpoints for Kuehne+Nagel shipments at SATS’ airside facilities.

Yngve Ruud, Member of the Management Board of Kuehne+Nagel responsible for Air Logistics commented “Collaboration is at the heart of what we do at Kuehne+Nagel and we are very excited to partner with SATS. By leveraging our combined expertise and global footprints we improve our service offering and continue to create value for customers around the world.”

“We are always looking at ways to bring extra value to our customers to serve them better, and to benefit from the new opportunities our growing global network offers. Kuehne+Nagel shares this progressive approach and this is why our companies are moving from a conventional customer-vendor relationship to a strategic collaboration to drive improvements and efficiencies in the supply chain” said Kerry Mok, President and Chief Executive Officer of SATS.

Kuehne+Nagel, one of the world’s leading logistics companies, announced the opening of its Chicago facility’s expansion with a new GxP compliant area.  

At what is now one of Kuehne+Nagel’s largest healthcare facilities globally, the expansion features 21,000 sq ft of temperature-controlled space with separate areas to support a range of climate requirements – from +2°C to +25°C – specifically designed for healthcare operations. 

“This investment allows our customers and future customers to further improve the quality of their temperature-controlled supply chain with end-to-end temperature handling in our facility,” said Greg Martin, Senior Vice President, Air Logistics at Kuehne+Nagel. “As we continue to expand our healthcare footprint across North America, we are committed to investing in next-level facilities for our healthcare customers who need a company to rely on for quality assurance in the storage process.” 

The opening follows the company’s move from Elk Grove Village, IL to Bensenville, IL earlier this year, which doubled available warehouse space and allowed import and export to take place in one facility, increasing efficiency for operations spanning sea, air, road, and customs. 

Healthcare is one of six primary growth areas in Kuehne+Nagel’s Roadmap 2026, a four-year strategic plan towards the company’s vision for 2030: becoming the most trusted supply chain partner supporting a sustainable future.  

Kuehne+Nagel signed an agreement to acquire Morgan Cargo, a leading South African, UK and Kenyan freight forwarder specialised in the transport and handling of perishable goods. During 2022 the company handled more than 40,000 tonnes of air freight and more than 20,000 TEU of sea freight globally, managed by approximately 450 logistics experts.

The acquisition of Morgan Cargo ideally complements Kuehne+Nagel's perishables logistics service offering, while improving connectivity for customers to and from South Africa, the UK and Kenya, which includes state-of-the-art cold chain facilities.

Yngve Ruud, Member of the Management Board of Kuehne+Nagel, responsible for Air Logistics, commented: “With Morgan Cargo, we acquire a reliable logistics service provider for the benefit of our customers. Expansion in high-growth markets such as Africa clearly ties into our Roadmap 2026 and reinforces our commitment to the Middle East and Africa Region. We have been active in Africa for many years, but this acquisition is an ideal addition to our regional presence.”

Schalk Bruwer, CEO of Morgan Cargo, added: “We wanted to expand our successful family-owned business and took the opportunity to become part of one of the world leaders in logistics. This new development will provide greater opportunities for our customers in terms of global reach and allow our team to advance their careers beyond the realm that was previously possible. Morgan Cargo is extremely excited to become part of Kuehne+Nagel.”

Closing of the transaction is expected during the third quarter of 2023 and is subject to customary closing conditions, including clearance by the competent merger control authorities.

En el marco de las celebraciones del Día de la Madre, Kuehne+Nagel, LATAM Cargo y Elite Group se unieron para comprar más de 25.000 litros de Combustible Sostenible de Aviación (SAF). La cantidad adquirida permitiría reducir el equivalente al total de las emisiones generadas por un vuelo carguero en la ruta Bogotá- Miami, período en que se transportó un gran cargamento de flores, en su mayoría rosas.

El SAF es un combustible que proviene de materias primas alternativas como residuos, grasas y aceites, entre otros. Al utilizarlo en un vuelo, es mezclado junto con el de tipo convencional para producir una operación con menores niveles de CO2.

En este caso, el Combustible Sostenible de Aviación adquirido fue producido a partir de aceite de cocina usado, materia que luego de ser tratada, es mezclada con combustible jet fuel tradicional. Teniendo en cuenta que el SAF cuenta con un factor de reducción atribuido de alrededor del 80% del CO2 en su ciclo de vida en comparación al convencional, las compañías compraron una cantidad necesaria que permitiría la reducción equivalente al total de las emisiones generadas por un vuelo en la ruta anunciada.

Para Kuehne+Nagel, esto representó un hito en su meta por desarrollar soluciones tangibles para todo tipo de clientes e industrias, con el objetivo de reducir las emisiones de CO2 en las cadenas de suministro y su impacto medioambiental. En esta línea, Ingo Goldhammer, presidente de Kuehne+Nagel para América del Sur y Central, comenta: “No cabe duda de que el cambio climático es uno de los mayores retos a los que nos enfrentamos. En Kuehne+Nagel lo sabemos y, como sector, tenemos que acelerar el camino para limitar el calentamiento global. Esta alianza que hemos logrado junto a Elite Group y LATAM Cargo, refleja que la colaboración entre empresas es el mejor camino para llevar a cabo acciones concretas, cada uno aportando desde su experiencia y sus conocimientos especializados para colaborar bajo una meta común, que nos mueve a todos”.

Por su parte, el CEO de LATAM Cargo, Andres Bianchi, enfatiza que “Esta iniciativa marca otro hito más para el grupo LATAM en nuestros esfuerzos contra el cambio climático. Queremos hacer un aporte significativo al desarrollo sostenible de la región y, para ello, nos hemos comprometido, entre otras cosas, a ser carbono neutral en 2050. Esta compra está alineada con eso ya que nos permite seguir avanzando en nuestra agenda de SAF, siendo además, un reflejo de la importancia que tiene la colaboración a lo largo de toda la cadena logística para conseguir grandes cambios. En esa línea, esperamos que ejemplos como este ayuden a capitalizar el potencial de Sudamérica en la generación SAF”.

Elite Group, reconocido grupo del mundo floral, agrega “La sustentabilidad se encuentra en el centro de nuestros valores en Elite Group y en cada una de nuestras unidades de negocios. Es así que entendemos la urgencia de abordar los desafíos ambientales que plantea el flete aéreo para el transporte de flores desde Colombia y Ecuador a los Estados Unidos, Canadá y partes de Europa. Nuestra incesante búsqueda de reducción de emisiones continúa, trabajando hacia nuestro objetivo de net zero. Al invertir directamente en SAF, estamos avanzando hacia la reducción de nuestras emisiones y contribuyendo a un mejor futuro para el medio ambiente. Esta iniciativa está alineada con nuestra estrategia de sostenibilidad más amplia, en la que exploramos soluciones innovadoras para lograr una cadena de suministro más sostenible” dice Galo Sanchez, Vicepresidente Ejecutivo:
 

Acorde a la IATA, actualmente el uso de SAF marca una gran diferencia en la descarbonización de la industria aérea. Sin embargo, las cantidades de este combustible disponibles a nivel mundial son limitadas, debido principalmente a la falta de condiciones necesarias para su investigación, desarrollo y producción. Por ello se hace necesario un trabajo colaborativo entre los distintos actores involucrados en la industria.

Compromiso con la sostenibilidad

En marzo, Kuehne+Nagel comunicó su nueva estrategia de negocio de cara a los próximos cuatro años y, para cumplir su meta, establecieron los siguientes pilares prioritarios: Experiencia Kuehne+Nagel, Ecosistema Digital, Potencial de Mercados y Living ESG. Este último con foco en desarrollar acciones concretas que contribuyan a disminuir el impacto ambiental, junto con trabajar a nivel social con las comunidades contando con el soporte de estructura de gobernanza consolidada. En su compromiso con descarbonizar la industria, la empresa ha logrado importantes acuerdos a nivel global para poder ofrecer SAF en los 100 países en donde opera.

Adicional a esto, Kuehne+Nagel cuenta con plataformas para sus clientes como myKN y SeaExplorer, capaces de proporcionar visibilidad sobre las emisiones de carbono de las operaciones, además de brindar reportería que busca medir, evitar y reducir la huella de carbono en torno a los procesos logísticos.

Por su parte, el grupo LATAM lanzó, en mayo de 2021, su renovada estrategia de sostenibilidad en la que estableció desafiantes metas: que el SAF represente el 5% de todo el consumo de combustible en sus operaciones a 2030, lograr la carbono neutralidad al 2050, eliminar los plásticos de un solo uso en 2023; y convertirse en un grupo cero residuos a relleno sanitario en 2027.

Today, at the MRO Americas 2023 conference in Atlanta, Georgia, Kuehne+Nagel, Atlas Air, Inc., a subsidiary of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: AAWW), and SR Technics Group introduce the “Sustainable Engine Alliance”. Representing a wide range of the aerospace industry, the Alliance pledges to set new industry standards for low-carbon aircraft engine supply chains in line with the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).

The alliance members aim to reduce their collective environmental impact through networks for sustainable engine supply chains and a portfolio of sustainable services. Some of the first joint initiatives carried out by the alliance include the deployment of sustainable fuels, engine stand management solutions and a global digital interface for emission transparency, reduction and avoidance. The initiative is expected to reduce engine supply chain related scope 3 emissions ahead of the aerospace 2050 sustainability targets.

Erik Goedhart, SVP Global Head of Aerospace at Kuehne+Nagel, comments: “Collaboration is key to industry-wide improvements in aerospace sustainability. With the “Sustainable Engine Alliance”, we will set new standards for responsible sourcing and engine transportation, while creating further awareness within the industry to minimise environmental impact of engine supply chains jointly. I am confident that together with Atlas Air and SR Technics we will pave the way for future sustainability efforts in aerospace. And we invite other value chain companies to join us”.

Jean-Marc Lenz, Chief Executive Officer at SR Technics states: “Sustainability is a strategic pillar of SR Technics’ organization and service portfolio. By extending the engine life cycle and delivering best-in-class on-wing performance, SR Technics contributes to the environmental impact of airline operations. We are very pleased to be joining with the leaders in this growing market, and we look forward to working with them to pilot this zero-emission journey together. With Kuehne+Nagel and Atlas Air, we have experienced partners on board who support our major cornerstone in our company development to sustainable growth in future.”

James Forbes, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Atlas Air Worldwide said: "We look forward to working with Kuehne+Nagel and SR Technics to accelerate decarbonization in our combined value chain. Through our partnership, we will be developing maintenance and supply chain best practices that will guide us well into the future and help us achieve our environmental stewardship goals.”

This milestone comes on the heels of announcing Kuehne+Nagel and Birmingham Airport Authority are partnering to expand air cargo business in the Southeastern Corridor of the U.S. in February 2023. Starting this week, Kuehne+Nagel will conduct two weekly flights with international cargo coming from Stuttgart, Germany to Birmingham, Alabama.

“As the number-one air freight forwarder worldwide, we are always looking for ways to contribute to the business success of our customers who trust us to manage their logistics,” said Greg Martin, Senior Vice President, Air Logistics at Kuehne+Nagel. “Our vision is to make Birmingham into a long-term gateway to and from the Southeastern Corridor of the U.S. and we’re pleased to be able to provide customers with alternative options that support their supply chain needs.”

Caption: On Sunday, April 2, a Boeing 747-8 Freighter Aircraft landed on the runway of Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport marking the first charter cargo flight from Stuttgart, Germany to the Eastern U.S. The location at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport brings Kuehne+Nagel closer to customers in the Southeast Corridor, expanding the company’s commitment to serving this important part of North America.

Caption: In addition to being able to carry 16% more cargo than its predecessor, the Boeing 747-8 Freighter Aircraft’s max take-off weight is 950 lbs. greater. This weekly flight will help the automotive, aviation, and pharmaceutical industries, among others who need faster recovery time than at the major hubs that are experiencing congestion due to heavy activity.

Caption: The nose of the plane opens to allow loading and unloading of large cargo. As the cargo was making its way to the warehouse, VIP attendees had the rare opportunity to tour the plane.

Caption: An official ceremony attended by local elected officials along with Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport and Kuehne+Nagel representatives was held on the airport apron to commemorate the inaugural flight.  
Pictured: Juergen Gentzke, U.S. Southeast Regional Vice President at Kuehne+Nagel, addresses the crowd.

HomeRoots, a B2B e-commerce furniture and home decor platform, partners with Kuehne+Nagel to facilitate logistic services for the hospitality industry. With this partnership HomeRoots’ customers can now benefit from a convenient one-stop e-commerce solution including quoting, booking, and tracking of their sea and air freight services powered by Kuehne+Nagel.

Answering the need for easy and efficient B2B online experience, Kuehne+Nagel and HomeRoots aim to turn complex sales operations into a seamless “B2C like” experience for the hospitality customers. Kuehne+Nagel will facilitate end-to-end processing allowing HomeRoots customers to instantly quote, easily book and track their shipments directly via the logistics provider. Customers will benefit from efficient logistics solutions thanks to Kuehne+Nagel’s global network of experts and portfolio of innovative and sustainable services. Conversely, Kuehne+Nagel’s existing customers importing furniture and home décor items will now have the opportunity to collaborate with an even larger sector of customers that includes HomeRoots ever growing U.S. customer base.

Holger Altvater, Global Head of Hospitality Logistics at Kuehne+Nagel, comments: “Our customers, especially mid-size independent hoteliers expect more efficient ways to purchase furniture, fixtures and equipment. Collaborating with HomeRoots allows Kuehne+Nagel to strengthen its boutique logistics service offering, while increasing opportunities for HomeRoots beyond the typical retail business.”

“HomeRoots' partnership with Kuehne-Nagel puts the two companies ahead of the competition. There are very few selling platforms that provide logistics solutions on such a scale. Our goal is to enable our customers to simply add items to their cart on the HomeRoots platform, complete checkout like an end consumer ordering grocery items and enjoy easy and efficient shipping. The existing process which is highly complex and high touch will be completely transformed. This is a real game-changer,” says Gil Bar-Lev, CEO of HomeRoots.

This partnership supports HomeRoots to become the ultimate one-stop-shop for B2B online sales of furniture and home decor products, but also opens doors to additional industry and logistics opportunities.

Kuehne+Nagel and the Birmingham Airport Authority (U.S.) have announced details of a new partnership that will expand business opportunities for both the company and the region. This is the first time the BAA is partnering with a logistics company and the first time Kuehne+Nagel is establishing a presence at a secondary airport in North America. This partnership allows both organizations to better meet the cargo needs of businesses in the region and helps position Birmingham as an important part of the cargo market in the Southeastern corridor of the U.S. Kuehne+Nagel will begin operating weekly international cargo flights into BHM starting in April 2023. 

This new partnership represents a new era of business development at the airport and positions the Birmingham Airport Authority to build on its role as an important center for business growth in the region and in the state of Alabama. 

“This is a moment that will change the trajectory of this airport,” said Darlene Wilson, Chair of the Birmingham Airport Authority. “The recent enhancements we’ve made to the infrastructure of the airfield, plans for a new Air Cargo facility, combined with this partnership with one of the leading logistics companies is getting us closer to realizing a long-term vision of expanding air cargo business in the region.”

Last year, the Birmingham Airport Authority completed design work on a new $25 million Air Cargo facility. In May, BHM will break ground on the new facility. Initially, Kuehne+Nagel will operate from Kaiser Aircraft Industries’ hangar on the airfield, then move into the new Air Cargo facility at BHM upon completion. Construction is anticipated to take about 10 months.

“Since 1890, Kuehne+Nagel has been shaping the world of logistics with a strong determination to connect people and goods through logistics solutions, and this partnership with Birmingham Airport Authority is helping us continue this tradition in the U.S.,” said Greg Martin, Senior Vice President, Air Logistics at Kuehne+Nagel. “Through this partnership, we will have our first presence in Alabama, bringing us closer to our customers in the Southeastern Corridor. By being the first logistics partner at BHM, we will be able to help our customers get their cargo to its final destination more quickly, affordably and reliably by avoiding the bottlenecks at larger airports.”

This partnership was attractive to Kuehne+Nagel because of the ability to better meet the precise needs of its customers in the automotive, aviation, and pharmaceutical industries through features such as additional cargo capacity, temperature-controlled cargo space, and more. Kuehne+Nagel will subcontract warehouse management to AGI, Alliance Ground International, which is a ground handling company that currently operates at more than a dozen airports in the nation. 

Kuehne+Nagel will begin operations at BHM on April 2, with an inaugural flight that will arrive from Stuttgart, Germany, marking the first cargo flight from Stuttgart, Germany to the eastern U.S. 

Apex Logistics International, a Kuehne+Nagel company, will put into operation the last Boeing 747-8 freighter as part of the long-term charter agreement with Atlas Air, Inc., a subsidiary of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: AAWW). The aircraft will support customers on volatile trade lanes with reliable service, reduced transit times and increased efficiencies. 

After a half-century production run of the jumbo jet, the last Boeing 747-8F under the name ‘Empower.’ was presented to the public during the official ceremony at the Boeing Everett Delivery Center in Seattle. The event marks the end of the ‘Queen of the Skies’ that helped catapult the global air logistics industry with its unique nose-loading capability, payload capacity and fuel efficiency. Following the first Kuehne+Nagel aircraft ‘Inspire.’, ‘Empower.’ will operate on the Transpacific routings strengthening the intra-Asia network with better connectivity.

Yngve Ruud, Member of the Management Board of Kuehne+Nagel, responsible for Air Logistics, comments: "The names we chose for the last two iconic aircraft fit their legacy - ‘Inspire.’ and ‘Empower.’ We look forward to seeing the last 747-8F aircraft taking off to fulfil the versatile needs of our customers worldwide with unmatched capability.”

“In 2001, when Apex was founded, our guiding principle was to empower employees with the common goal of offering customers flexible and reliable solutions to their logistics needs,” said Tony Song, Group Chief Executive Officer Apex. “Twenty years later, as part of Kuehne+Nagel Group, we are proud to introduce ‘Empower.’, the newest and most exciting addition to Apex Logistics. This aircraft will reinforce our ability to provide strategic solutions and unique alternatives with passion. Together with our Apex Logistics colleagues, we are delighted to celebrate this special occasion with Kuehne+Nagel, Atlas Air and Boeing.” 

“We are pleased to operate this aircraft on behalf of Apex Logistics, a Kuehne+Nagel company. This is the second 747-8F delivery as part of our long-term strategic partnership with Kuehne+Nagel, which is reflective of our commitment to provide additional capacity for expanding their air cargo network,” said John Dietrich, President and Chief Executive Officer, Atlas Air Worldwide. "As the world’s largest operator of 747 freighters, Atlas is especially proud to take the last 747 ever to be built. We are grateful to Boeing for their shared commitment to safety, quality, innovation and the environment, and for their partnership to ensure the continued success of the 747 programme as we operate the aircraft for decades to come.” 

“This monumental day is a testament to the generations of Boeing employees who brought to life the airplane that shrank the world and revolutionised travel and air cargo as the first true widebody,” said Stan Deal, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

About Boeing 747-8 Freighter 

The Boeing 747 is a large, long-range, wide-body airliner designed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes in the United States. Often referred to by the nickname ‘Jumbo Jet’, it is among the world's most recognisable aircraft and the first widebody ever produced. 

The first 747 was the result of the work of some 50,000 Boeing people. Called ‘the Incredibles,’ these were the construction workers, mechanics, engineers, secretaries and administrators who made aviation history by building the 747 — the largest civilian airplane in the world — in roughly 16 months during the late 1960s. Since then, over 1,500 planes were manufactured in several different versions.

In November 2005, Boeing launched the 747-8 family — the 747-8 Intercontinental passenger airplane and the 747-8 Freighter. The 747-8 Freighter first flew on February 8, 2010. The airplane is 76.3 meters long, which is 5.6 meters longer than the 747-400 Freighter. The stretch provides 16 percent more revenue cargo volume compared with its predecessor which translates to an additional four main-deck and three lower hold positions.

The Boeing 747-8F serves a crucial role in global air freight, with advanced technology that allows for lower fuel consumption, higher capacity and unique nose-loading capability. 

To support enterprises in their commitment to minimise their environmental footprint and combat climate change, Lenovo is joining forces with Kuehne+Nagel to create a first-of-its-kind logistics service in the technology industry. Through a purchase add-on, Lenovo customers can now ship IT equipment and devices with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), a fuel produced from sustainable feedstocks that when used reduces GHG emissions.

SAF is currently the most effective measure to significantly reduce the environmental footprint of air freight. When opting for SAF, Kuehne+Nagel will provide an emission reduction certificate to Lenovo and its customers indicating the amount of SAF litres per purchased device for any trade lane and carrier handling the shipment. This transparency allows customers to reduce their scope 3.1. emissions for purchased goods and services according to the amount of CO₂e¹ avoided in the transport.

Yngve Ruud, Member of the Management Board of Kuehne+Nagel, responsible for Air Logistics, comments: “Kuehne+Nagel continues to develop easy and value-adding sustainable shipping options for its customers. We are pleased that Lenovo chose our innovative SAF concept which offers emission certificates not only to Lenovo but also to its customers and thus supports all stakeholders across their supply chain in achieving their SBTi² targets. Now, Lenovo customers can avoid CO₂e emissions while shipping air freight regardless of the lane or airline”.

“This innovative approach we have forged with Kuehne+Nagel continues our commitment to delivering sustainable products and solutions. At the same time, we continue to explore, deploy, and champion all opportunities to reduce emissions generated through handling, storage, and transportation of our products,”  said Gareth Davies, Head of Global Logistics at Lenovo.

_{¹ CO2e is the internationally recognised measure of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that takes into account the global warming potential (GWP) of the different GHGs, including CO2 and expresses the cumulative effect in a common unit.}

_{²Science-Based Target initiative (SBTi) drives ambitious climate action in the private sector by  enabling organisations to set science-based emissions reduction targets.}

Kuehne+Nagel has launched a new offering for air freight shipments to approach the unique requirements of global semiconductor supply chains. With a robust air freight capacity, security solutions and the new quality standard, “SemiconChain” as the core elements of the offering, all industry stakeholders can establish reliable and agile supply chains.

The increasing need for semiconductors and growing pressure on manufacturing require a faultless supply chain to support continuous operations. Being an outcome of Kuehne+Nagel’s close collaboration with customers and in-depth air cargo and semicon industry expertise, the new air logistics service supports customers with improved visibility, security, reduced risks and automated processes.

The offering is based on the “SemiconChain” quality standard that guarantees process standardisation, continuous improvement, and service excellence across the dedicated Semicon network. SemiconChain is built on a quality foundation tailored explicitly to the Semicon industry and integrates ISO 9001-2015 and IATF 16949, ensuring that shipments are always transported in a standardised, robust manner providing complete tracking visibility. SemiconChain locations are staffed with industry experts that regularly undergo a comprehensive and continuous training programme.

Time-defined services are core to the service offering and ensure predictability; this is especially important for time-critical, out-of-hours situations. Additionally, appropriate handling controls, airside services, prioritised flights and risk mitigation tools provide full visibility to all stakeholders and are geared to minimise potential disruptions, allowing for reliable planning.

Barry O`Dowd, Global Head of High-Tech at Kuehne+Nagel comments: “The expanding global digital ecosystem continues to drive strong semiconductor growth over the long term. However, in case of disruptions and unstable supply chains, many key industries can be severely affected. Our new service will help customers navigate the semiconductor market's volatility and nuances, ensuring an uninterrupted supply chain. The key differentiator of the new offering is the SemiconChain quality standard that provides the utmost reliability and security to our customers. I am pleased that the initial feedback out of validation sessions with leading semicon industry stakeholders is very positive.”

Learn more about the new offering here.

Kuehne+Nagel has entered into a long-term agreement for a new airside facility strategically located in the airport zone of OR Tambo International airport, Johannesburg, South Africa – the largest and busiest airport in Africa. As part of this agreement, Kuehne+Nagel offers customers a set of logistics solutions, including warehousing, transportation, customs brokerage, supply chain management, and airside support to project-specific charter in- and outbound shipments. Core to this offering is a comprehensive cold chain solution, ensuring around-the-clock temperature-control to safeguard the integrity of highly sensitive pharma products.

The new offering is pivotal to supporting Africa’s aim to become more self-reliant in healthcare operations. South Africa, Nigeria, and Algeria are leading the manufacturing charge in sub-Saharan Africa, while imports from Europe, North America, India and China remain crucial to meeting Africa’s demand for medicines and basic healthcare. To support its healthcare customers – both importers and manufacturers – in executing their strategic growth plans for Africa, Kuehne+Nagel’s new facility is designed with healthcare and pharmaceuticals in mind.

“Pharmaceuticals in particular are highly-sensitive, time-critical products,” says Gereon Niemeier, Managing Director, Kuehne+Nagel South Africa. “Every minute these products spend on the tarmac exposes them to temperature fluctuations, physical damage, and loss. Our new facility addresses all these challenges to ensure product stability throughout the journey.”

“Our people have the expertise for plane-side access that other logistics providers don't,” Niemeier points out. “In addition, the facility is so close to the charter parking area that we can provide in-person visibility resources, as well as a unique dollie solution, that greatly reduce the risk of ground handling errors as well as shipment claims. On-site monitoring protects product stability — whether temperature-controlled, high value or time critical — throughout the entire journey.

Kuehne+Nagel has put into operation its first Boeing 747-8 Freighter as part of the long-term charter agreement with Atlas Air, Inc., a subsidiary of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: AAWW). As the global market leader in air freight, Kuehne+Nagel expands its air freight network by chartering the entire capacity of the very last two 747-8F aircraft from their delivery by Boeing.

During the official ceremony at the Boeing Everett Delivery Center in Everett, WA, the Boeing 747-8F under the name “Inspire.” was handed over to Kuehne+Nagel. The most capable freighter aircraft in the world will support Kuehne+Nagel customers with highly reliable service, reduced transit times and minimised risks. In addition to the Transpacific routings, the new service will be linked with Kuehne+Nagel Intra-Asia network to provide customers with better connectivity within the growing region of Asia Pacific.

Yngve Ruud, Member of the Management Board of Kuehne+Nagel, responsible for Air Logistics, comments: "It is a very special moment for us to see Kuehne+Nagel 747-8F “Inspire.” taking off. Together with the very last 747-8F that we named “Empower.”, the aircraft will support our customers with reliable and flexible solutions globally, continuing the legacy of the most incredible aviation programs in history. We are delighted to celebrate this day with our partners Atlas Air and Boeing and looking forward to see our aircraft connecting the world.”

The Boeing 747-8F serves an incredibly important role in global air freight, with advanced technology that allows for lower fuel consumption, higher capacity and unique nose-loading capability.

“This 747-8 delivery underscores the importance of our long-term strategic partnership with Kuehne+Nagel and our commitment to support their continued growth and expansion,” said John Dietrich, President and Chief Executive Officer, Atlas Air Worldwide. “We are very pleased to provide their first dedicated aircraft which will proudly fly in custom Kuehne+Nagel livery. The two 747-8Fs we will operate for Kuehne+Nagel will add more capacity and versatility for their network."

With its advanced design and engines, the 747-8F offers a 16% improvement in fuel use and CO₂ emissions per tonne and a 30% smaller noise footprint compared to the previous generation of aircraft.

"With Atlas Air taking delivery of the final 747s for its customer Kuehne+Nagel, this iconic Boeing airplane will continue to move cargo around the world for decades to come,” said Kim Smith, Vice President and General Manager of the Boeing 747/767 Program. "As we say goodbye to the ‘Queen of the Skies,’ we’re proud of her legacy as an airplane that propelled aviation innovation and later laid the foundation for our family of freighters."

Novo Nordisk, one of the leading healthcare companies in the world, partners with Kuehne+Nagel to drive the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This will be a step towards meeting the ambitious Novo Nordisk target to reach zero CO2 emissions from operations and transport by 2030. With the deployment of 12 million litres of SAF, Novo Nordisk will be able to replace fossil fuel for all Kuehne+Nagel air freight shipments in 2022.

Having set ambitious carbon reduction targets, Kuehne+Nagel actively supports customers with their transition to a low carbon business model by providing various solutions for reducing or avoiding carbon emissions. As one of the key activities, Kuehne+Nagel continues to invest into the adoption of alternative aviation fuels and expand its offering. Novo Nordisk chose the Kuehne+Nagel sustainable fuel solution to reduce the environmental footprint of their air freight shipments in 2022. Use of 12 million litres of Kuehne+Nagel SAF for all Novo Nordisk air freight avoids direct emission of around 30,000 tonnes of CO2.

Such commitment underlines a growing demand for low carbon shipping options, leading to an increase in the production, development and deployment of SAF. In this effort, Kuehne+Nagel has been actively raising awareness across the industry by promoting the importance of sustainable fuels as the most effective measure to reduce the environmental footprint of air freight.

Yngve Ruud, Member of the Management Board of Kuehne+Nagel responsible for Air Logistics, comments: “Novo Nordisk is not only leading the way in driving change to defeat diabetes and other serious chronic diseases, but also in their shipping by using sustainable options. I am pleased that with our global SAF solutions, customers can easily switch to low carbon air transport. It’s another step on the way to the “zero impact” goal and yet another signal for more sustainable fuel production and use globally.”

Dorethe Nielsen, Vice President of Corporate Environmental Strategy at Novo Nordisk comments: “This is yet another step in Novo Nordisk’s continuous support of the development of sustainable aviation fuel. Our air freight accounts for most of our product distribution emissions as we provide life-saving medicines to patients around the world. We want to drive change in this area to help pave the way for other companies to also transition and cut emissions.”

By joining the Science Based Targets initiative, Kuehne+Nagel has set ambitious environmental goals in transitioning to a low carbon business model. This is is done by reducing the company’s own carbon emissions and supporting its customers with their transition. 

Learn more about sustainable fuels here.

Holger Ketz will join Kuehne+Nagel's global Air Logistics management team in Schindellegi (Switzerland) as Global Head of Network and Carrier Management on January 1, 2023. As part of the strategic development of the Air Logistics business, the newly created role will bundle the global management of the company’s own controlled capacities (network and gateways) as well as the cooperation with carriers worldwide.

With Tobias Jerschke, Kuehne+Nagel appoints an experienced successor to Holger Ketz as Managing Director of Kuehne+Nagel Germany, based in Bremen. Tobias Jerschke currently serves as Managing Director of Kuehne+Nagel for Belgium and Luxembourg.

Kuehne+Nagel Ireland will open a temperature-controlled facility to meet the growing demands of the country’s thriving healthcare industry. The site, scheduled to open in late July 2022, is strategically located near the Dublin airport and Dublin port. Along with three existing healthcare warehouses, it expands Kuehne+Nagel’s healthcare footprint in Ireland to  40,000 sqm. 

Ireland is one of the largest exporters of healthcare products globally, with over 50 FDA-approved manufacturing plants. Kuehne+Nagel’s commitment as market leader in healthcare logistics in the country continues with the investment in this new facility. It supports long-term collaborative partnerships with major players in the industry, enabling them to focus on core production and R&D activities. 

The new HPRA-approved facility has been optimised for all storage, distribution, and quality activities. The facility uses energy-efficient equipment to maintain the warehouse at a controlled temperature between 15-25 degrees Celsius, and will house 34,000 Euro-pallet positions with segregated loading and unloading gates. 

Commenting on the expansion, Pamela Quinn, Managing Director of Kuehne+Nagel Ireland, says: “Pharma & Healthcare companies in Ireland are at the forefront of the research and development of advanced treatments and therapies. This new facility enables Kuehne+Nagel to support the incredible progress and we are proud to be the partners for some of the largest multinationals and companies within this industry”. 

Kuehne+Nagel Ireland today employs over 450 people. In addition to Contract Logistics, the company has a strong presence in Road Logistics, Sea Logistics and Air Logistics (with offices in Cork, Shannon and Dublin) as well as an Integrated Logistics team managing regional and global contracts for 4PL customers with a primary focus on healthcare, high-tech and consumer goods. 
 

Kuehne+Nagel has expanded its Air Logistics services with regular charters, multiple times per week, from Liège (Belgium) to the America, Asia and Africa with a fully dedicated Healthcare operation for customers. The solution, called MedConnex, addresses constraints in terms of air freight capacity, especially for cargo that requires specialised handling and transportation such as temperature-controlled and GDP-compliant shipments.

MedConnex combines the capabilities of Kuehne+Nagel Belgium’s two Air Logistics hubs. This includes an experienced team at Liège airport, Europe’s fifth largest European cargo airport with excellent capacity and landing slots, as well as a state-of-the-art building at Brussels Airport equipped with a GDP-compliant and temperature-controlled warehouse, direct tarmac access and a large stock of special packaging materials.

Geert Torfs, Air Logistics Director at Kuehne+Nagel BeLux, comments: “Europe is a major exporter of healthcare goods, and thus the charters that connect Europe with major continents is in high demand. With this service, we support our entire European network of Kuehne+Nagel colleagues when they need to ship Healthcare products for customers to the rest of the world.”

Torsten Wefers, VP Sales & Marketing at Liège Airport, says: “Liege Airport is delighted about the introduction of these regular healthcare charters of Kuehne+Nagel. We are looking forward to further strengthen our partnership and are fully committed to provide, together with the local handling partners, the best possible framework for Kuehne+Nagel’s own controlled flight program.”

Kuehne+Nagel recently completed its Cargo iQ re-certification, conducted by independent audit company SGS, with a top 3-star rating. The extensive audit process, focusing on the successful implementation and application of quality management standards and processes, was complemented with extra recognition in the areas of “Corporate Social Responsibility”, “Innovative Spirit” and “Contribution to the Cargo iQ Community”. Operating in compliance with the industry benchmark, Kuehne+Nagel ensures highest service quality for air logistics customers from all over the world.

Quality and standards are the foundation of Kuehne+Nagel’s services. All Kuehne+Nagel air freight shipments have a built-in Cargo iQ Route Map, an end-to-end transportation plan, which enables the visualisation and proactive monitoring of every shipment along its journey. Working under such Cargo iQ framework, together with other key industry partners, ensures reliable shipment planning and pro-active monitoring along the customers’ door-to-door transportation supply chain. By achieving once again an outstanding Cargo iQ certification result with three out of three possible stars, Kuehne+Nagel confirmed its focus on quality improvement answering exceeding customer needs and requirements.

“As a founding member we remain highly committed to Cargo iQ,” says Kerstin Strauss, VP Global Air Logistics Operations at Kuehne+Nagel and Vice Chair of Cargo iQ. “The market volatility of recent years and the ongoing disruptions of our customers’ supply chains have evidenced, that their original demands for industry-wide standards and proactive performance monitoring are more relevant now than ever. Successful Cargo iQ re-certification of our services and operations underlines our commitment to customers and industry partners in increasing the quality and timeliness of the information provided for each shipment.”

Cargo iQ is a cross-stakeholder organisation working to create and implement quality standards aimed at enhancing the customer service experience of the worldwide air cargo industry. Operating as an independent, not-for-profit group, members work collaboratively together to develop a system of shipment planning and performance monitoring for air cargo based on common business processes and milestones. Originally founded by leading forwarders and airlines in response to shippers’ criticism of unreliability in the supply chain, Cargo iQ has grown to include more than 60 members from across the supply chain during its 25 years of operation.

Kuehne+Nagel is represented on the Cargo iQ Board and regularly participates in its working groups contributing to the development of the community and improvement of the air cargo customer experience.

Kuehne+Nagel, the global logistics company, today announced the launch of the electric vehicle service for airport transfers in Mumbai, India. With this service, Kuehne+Nagel aims to switch to electric vehicles in a phased manner to reduce its carbon footprint and progress towards a sustainable future and Greener India. 

The Indian-made electric vehicle “Mahindra Treo Zor” will shuttle air cargo between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and Kuehne+Nagel’s Mumbai Airport warehouse. The use of the EVs is expected to result in a reduction of 24.7 tonnes vehicular CO2 emissions each year, thus reducing the company's overall carbon footprint.

Marcel Fujike, SVP, Global Head Products & Services Air Logistics at Kuehne+Nagel, says: “As an environmentally and socially responsible organisation, Kuehne+Nagel is proud to use EVs in India for its airport transfers to offer green logistics solutions and reduce carbon emissions. Our customers have benefited from the global availability of SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) since last year, and we continue to develop sustainable solutions for a fully carbon neutral transport journey. The introduction of EV airport transfer is the next phase in our transition to low-carbon, door-to-door air transportation, with more sustainable services to follow.”

“Today the transportation of goods is a major contributor to carbon emissions. Fully electric vehicles have zero tailpipe emissions, but even when electricity production is taken into account, petrol or diesel vehicles emit almost three times more carbon dioxide than the average EV. Using EVs will not only reduce carbon footprint but will also offer substantial operating cost savings over comparable, conventional, gasoline-fueled vehicles, allowing us to contribute significantly to the sustainability cause”, adds Coen Van Der Maarel, Managing Director - India, Sri Lanka and Maldives, Kuehne+Nagel.

Kuehne+Nagel’s initiative of introducing electric vehicles in India is aligned with the company’s global sustainability goals. The company is taking several initiatives globally to create a sustainable future and reduce its environmental footprint.

Kuehne+Nagel y LATAM Airlines Group, en el marco de sus compromisos con el medioambiente y de sus respectivas estrategias de sostenibilidad, anunciaron la compensación del 100% de los embarques de flores que realizaron juntos durante la reciente temporada del Día de la Madre, donde se transportaron miles de toneladas desde Colombia y Ecuador hacia Norteamérica y Europa. Esto, a través de recursos destinados hacia proyectos que apoyen el cuidado del medio ambiente y que contribuyan a la sociedad dentro de Sur y Centro América.

Las compensaciones estarán enfocadas en beneficiar proyectos ubicados en Chile y en Perú. En ambos casos, las iniciativas cumplen con los más altos estándares internacionales de reducción de gases de efecto invernadero.

En Chile, se trata del Parque Solar Fotovoltaico, ubicado en el desierto de Atacama, destinado a generar energía limpia y renovable con certificación CDM. En Perú, la compensación se enfoca en la Gestión Forestal Comunitaria, en el borde de la selva amazónica, que impulsa la reducción de las emisiones globales, certificado por VCS y CCBA.

Ingo Goldhammer, Presidente de Kuehne+Nagel para América del Sur y Central, comenta: “Tenemos un claro propósito de sostenibilidad. La asociación con LATAM nos llena de optimismo al permitirnos desarrollar proyectos climáticos dentro de la región, protegiendo el lugar en el que vivimos al mismo tiempo que ofrecemos valor a nuestros clientes y a la comunidad”.

Andrés Bianchi, CEO de LATAM Cargo, agrega: “Cerramos una temporada récord del Día de la Madre en términos de volumen con este importante hito: colaborar con Kuehne-Nagel para compensar las emisiones de carbono de estos embarques a través de nuestro programa Vuela Neutral. Desde LATAM Cargo continuaremos ofreciendo a nuestros clientes más opciones para alcanzar juntos nuestros objetivos de sostenibilidad".

Acciones como el ahorro de energía, oportunidades de empleo y desarrollo de nuevos negocios locales, hasta el cuidado de especies de animales en peligro de extinción, conservación de bosques y prevenir la deforestación, son parte de las metas propuestas que ambas compañías aspiran generar con miras a frenar el impacto ambiental y disminuir la huella.

Kuehne+Nagel  North America launches an electric truck service to shuttle air cargo between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Kuehne+Nagel’s airport warehouse Torrance facility. The new offering will also support customers with carbon neutral pick-up and last mile delivery of their goods.

The ‘sustainable airport corridor’ solution is the outcome of Kuehne+Nagel’s close collaboration with customers in the LA area seeking a sustainable pick-up and delivery service from the airport within a radius of 70-80 miles. To answer the need, Kuehne+Nagel has secured battery electric vehicles (BEVs) for short pick-up and delivery services as a zero carbon emissions solution. The electric truck service was further expanded to shuttle air freight from airport warehouses to airlines at LAX. Combined with Kuehne+Nagel‘ Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) solutions, the initiative further reduces CO2 emissions and supports both Kuehne+Nagel and their customers‘ sustainablity goals.

“Today Kuehne+Nagel customers ship their products with sustainable fuel globally. Aimed at accelerating transition to a low-carbon future, last year we launched the first carbon neutral lane between North America and Europe fully powered by Sustainable Aviation Fuel. This new electric truck service, now in operation at LAX, has extended that sustainable service corridor further. This is a tremendous step forward for our clients and Kuehne+Nagel who have a shared sustainability focus,” says Greg Martin, Senior Vice President Air Logistics, North America.  

Kuehne+Nagel plans to expand the new sustainable offering to other major US air freight hubs.  

Kuehne+Nagel enters in a long-term dedicated charter agreement with Atlas Air, Inc., a subsidiary of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: AAWW) to operate two Boeing 747-8F, the most capable freighter aircraft in the world. These two aircraft are the very last two Boeing 747s ever to be produced. 

In response to capacity market developments, Kuehne+Nagel will charter the entire and exclusive capacity of the two new B747-8F aircraft to operate the flights globally from the third and fourth quarters of 2022.  The aircraft will support Kuehne+Nagel customers on volatile trade lanes, such as the transpacific routes. The 747-8F provides 20% higher payload and 16% lower fuel consumption than the very capable 747-400F.

Yngve Ruud, Member of the Management Board of Kuehne+Nagel, responsible for Air Logistics, comments: "As a market leader in air freight, Kuehne+Nagel further expands its dedicated charter network to support customers with solutions for long-term planning and high quality service. We are proud to partner with Atlas Air and include these two new Boeing 747-8F in our already extensive global capacity offering."

Operating the world’s largest fleet of 747, Atlas Air ordered the last 747 production aircraft to capitalise on strong demand and deliver value for its customers, while also bolstering its commitment to environmental stewardship through the reduction of noise, aircraft emissions and resource consumption. 

“We are delighted to expand our partnership with Kuehne+Nagel by providing dedicated capacity for their growing global airfreight network,” said Atlas Air Worldwide President and Chief Executive Officer John W. Dietrich. “The Boeing 747-8F serves an incredibly important role in global airfreight, with advanced technology that allows for lower fuel consumption, higher capacity and unique nose-loading capability. We look forward to taking delivery of these two 747s and operating them for Kuehne+Nagel to support their network for years to come.”