17 December, 2025

Production-Ready eVTOL Aircraft Delivered

Posted on 17 December, 202516 December, 2025 by David Priestman

AIR, a leading OEM for dual-use, heavy-lift eVTOLs, today unveiled its production model eVTOL, marking the company’s transition from aircraft development to commercial-scale manufacturing and deliveries. The completed production model follows the prototype aircraft delivered to the launch customer in Q4 of 2023 and advances AIR’s mission to support commercial cargo operations and strengthen logistical capabilities in contested environments. Its first flight will take place in Southern Israel before entering operational service. Subsequent aircraft are scheduled to be sent to AIR’s US-based operation for demonstration efforts and certification advancement.

Drawing from nearly two years of operational deployment with AIR’s launch customer, the new production aircraft was shaped using field insights. Operational activities included sustained BVLOS missions, remote resupply in challenging environments, integration with ground elements, and additional mission profiles. These field-proven milestones demonstrate how eVTOL systems are transitioning from experimental platforms to mission-ready assets, underscoring their practical value and driving adoption across sectors.

AIR’s new cargo production model reflects substantial progress across AIR’s established tier-1 partner ecosystem, featuring an all-new airframe developed by automotive manufacturer EDAG, advanced electric motors, redundant communication and navigation equipment for GPS-denied areas, and a fully updated avionics suite. Capable of taking off and landing vertically while carrying a 550 lb. payload, AIR’s new airframe and next-generation electrical and avionics architecture will support fast-growing uncrewed cargo applications, as well as the overall emerging advanced air mobility market.

These capabilities stem from deliberate design choices that prioritize both operational efficiency and mission flexibility. Enhancements to the design include optimized battery integration and a larger cargo bay, along with foldable wings and motor arms that enable compact storage, easy transport, and greater mission versatility. The aircraft’s streamlined body design and refined airflow management significantly improve both range and overall flight efficiency. These improvements are coupled with an advanced flight control system that provides increased stability, responsiveness, and redundancy.

“This production model represents years of engineering refinement and collaboration with industry leaders, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies,” said Rani Plaut, CEO and Co-founder of AIR. “We’ve moved beyond proof of concept to proven performance and commercial deployment, supported by vital partnerships. We look forward to continuing to deliver on the promise of transforming how cargo moves around the world.”

This latest milestone follows a series of achievements from AIR, including issuance of its FAA airworthiness certificate, a $23 million Series A funding round, extensive nighttime BVLOS uncrewed cargo operations, and successful flight operations across diverse mission scenarios. AIR’s uncrewed cargo aircraft has proven successful in real-world cargo delivery missions, highlighting its status as one of the most advanced eVTOL cargo aircraft currently in production. In addition to cargo aircraft deliveries, AIR also plans to begin fulfilling over 2,900 pre-orders for its piloted, two-seater AIR ONE aircraft in the coming year, following LSA certification.

EU Pushes Supply Chain Resilience Ahead of 2026

Posted on 17 December, 202517 December, 2025 by Will Priestman

The European Union is accelerating efforts to reduce its reliance on China for critical raw materials, following renewed concerns over rare-earth export restrictions and their potential impact on Europe’s semiconductor and advanced manufacturing sectors.

Recent signals from China around rare-earth exports have sharpened focus on supply chain vulnerabilities, particularly as demand for high-tech semiconductors continues to rise. Industry experts warn these pressures are likely to intensify in 2026, bringing long-standing geopolitical, trade and material-dependency risks to the forefront.

Steffen Schulze Selting, Senior Director of Customer Success at Sphera, says the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence is driving semiconductor demand and raising the stakes for supply chain resilience.

With the continued rise of AI, the demand for high-tech semiconductors is growing, and with it the requirements for resilient supply chains,… A potential conflict between China and Taiwan hangs like a sword of Damocles over the industry and global supply chains.

The semiconductor sector remains particularly exposed to geopolitical tensions in the Asia-Pacific region. Any escalation involving Taiwan could trigger sanctions on China, with severe knock-on effects across global supply chains, far beyond electronics manufacturing.

Looking ahead to 2026, Schulze Selting expects companies to intensify scrutiny of their supply chains, examining dependencies and seeking alternative sourcing options. Governments and businesses are investing more in resilience, but export controls, restrictions on critical materials and changing trade relationships continue to limit flexibility.

European exporters are also expected to feel a stronger impact from U.S. tariffs in 2026 than in 2025. Last year’s effects were partly softened by front-loading, as companies shipped goods ahead of tariff increases. By 2026, that buffer will have disappeared, exposing exporters to higher costs without short-term mitigation options.

Despite these challenges, Schulze Selting points to more positive developments on the regulatory front. Greater clarity around European regulations in 2026 is expected to simplify administrative requirements and reduce costs for many businesses.

Lessons are being learned from years of disruption… Risk management will be central to building resilience, with sustainability embedded into decision-making. Those who fail to act will ultimately lose market share.

Extraordinary Cargo Transports

Posted on 17 December, 202517 December, 2025 by David Priestman

Heavy, complex, and often requiring millimeter precision: even with unusual dimensions, Lufthansa Cargo proved in 2025 that precision and tailored solutions are part of its brand essence. Just as diverse as the transport of large components is the rest of the spectrum of special cargo items that were transported during the year – from exotic animals to medically sensitive goods. A look at selected examples gives an idea of the variety.

Precision for sensitive machinery

Transporting aircraft engines is one of the most demanding tasks in air freight. This year, over 1,000 of these heavy and highly sensitive components were moved worldwide in Lufthansa Cargo’s air freight network. Each transport requires precise planning, specialized equipment, and closely coordinated processes – from preparation on the ground to securing on board.

Special care was also required in the high-tech segment. Several semiconductor manufacturing machines were safely transported to international destinations, equipped with shock and tilt sensors, temperature monitoring, and clearly defined handling rules.

A rare BMW classic car was a special one-off item that was flown from Prague to Tokyo. Only around 150 to 300 roadworthy examples of this model remain worldwide. The restored rarity was carefully prepared and loaded for its journey of more than 9,000 kilometers. The transport is exemplary of the diverse requirements of the automotive industry, whether complete vehicles, spare parts, or sensitive high-tech components such as control units and electronic modules.

Diversity in animal transport

An extraordinary example in the field of species conservation in 2025 was the transport of critically endangered Vietnamese crocodile-tailed lizards (Shinisaurus crocodilurus vietnamensis). Fewer than 150 individuals of this rare reptile are known to exist worldwide. In cooperation with Cologne Zoo and AnimalLogistics FRA, a logistics company specializing in animal transport, Lufthansa Cargo supported the return of twelve animals to their native habitat in Vietnam for the first time. The repatriation is part of the international ‘One Plan Approach’, which combines conservation breeding programs in zoos with field projects on site.

Another example of species conservation is the collaboration with the ‘Save the Rhino’ project. While there were still over 22,000 rhinos living in South Africa in 2012, estimates now put the number at around 13,000. Lufthansa Cargo transported specially trained sniffer dogs to the country, where they are used in anti-poaching units. The dogs come from animal welfare organizations and are intensively trained to detect illegal wildlife products such as rhino horn or ivory before they are deployed. On site, they assist rangers in identifying smuggling routes and improving the monitoring of large protected areas.

In addition, the overall figures underscore the breadth of this transport segment. Around 3,500 horses were transported in 2025, marking significant growth compared to the previous year. The modern infrastructure of the Frankfurt Animal Lounge, with its spacious stalls and specialized teams, forms the basis for transport that is as stress-free as possible and caters to the needs of all equines – from ponies to seasoned sport horses.

Around 12,000 pets traveled safely to new destinations in 2025, while around 80 million ornamental fish – the largest animal group in the air freight portfolio – were transported with the utmost care. In addition, around 200 exotic zoo animals, including pandas, hippos, and other species ambassadors, were transported between zoological facilities and protected areas worldwide.

Restoring vision

Pharmaceutical shipments have been one of Lufthansa Cargo’s strategically important freight categories for years. Certified infrastructure, strict temperature control processes, and specialized handling teams ensure that medicines, vaccines, and other medical goods can be transported safely worldwide. In this environment, the transport of human tissue is one of the tasks that requires special care and where the highest precision and strictly monitored transport conditions are essential.

One example of medically relevant transport is the collaboration with the Lions World Vision Institute (LWVI), which coordinates corneal tissue donations worldwide to restore people’s sight. The transplants are booked as LHO (Living Human Organ) and classified as time-critical cargo – with priority handling, continuous live tracking, and immediate rebooking in case of delays. The following example from Cameroon illustrates the importance of logistics: A patient there received a donated cornea that restored her clear vision. LWVI has already helped more than 500,000 people worldwide to a new life, and as part of its long-standing partnership, Lufthansa Cargo has transported around 10,000 shipments of corneas for the Lions World Vision Institute to date.

Speed, quality, safety

Whether large technical components, rare animal species, or medical goods – the examples from 2025 illustrate the wide range of requirements placed on global air freight. True to its mission of ‘Enabling Global Business’, Lufthansa Cargo supports globally functioning supply chains and takes responsibility where speed, quality, and safety are crucial.

The company will continue on this course in the coming year, investing in infrastructure and expertise to offer customers and partners worldwide reliable solutions along increasingly complex value chains.

Freight Forwarders Urged to Update Trading Conditions Ahead of 2026

Posted on 17 December, 202517 December, 2025 by Will Priestman

With just weeks remaining before new Standard Trading Conditions (STC) take effect, freight forwarders across the UK are being reminded of the importance of ensuring their contractual frameworks are fully aligned with the latest industry standards.

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has issued a renewed call to action for its members ahead of the 1 January 2026 implementation date, warning that failure to properly incorporate the updated STC could leave businesses exposed to significant commercial and legal risk.

Responding to a changing trading environment

The revised STC, first unveiled in September, replace the previous version last updated in 2021. They have been developed to reflect substantial changes in the UK’s trading landscape, most notably a sharp rise in customs-related activities following regulatory shifts and evolving border requirements.

At the same time, ongoing volatility in global trade – driven by geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruption and fluctuating market conditions – has increased the level of risk faced by freight forwarders in the day-to-day conduct of their operations. Against this backdrop, BIFA says the updated STC are designed to provide clearer protections and greater contractual certainty for its corporate members.

Incorporation is critical

BIFA director general Steve Parker has stressed that simply being aware of the new conditions is not enough. What matters is how effectively they are incorporated into contracts with customers.

The importance of BIFA members ensuring that their incorporation of the BIFA STC into their contracts with their customers is effective cannot be stressed enough,

According to BIFA, ineffective incorporation could leave freight forwarders unprotected against potential claims, undermining one of the core purposes of the STC. This is particularly relevant as freight forwarders take on more complex roles across customs clearance, compliance and multimodal transport coordination.

More than a contractual update

Effective implementation of the new STC goes beyond updating terms and conditions on paper. BIFA is advising members to take a holistic approach that includes:

Advising clients of the updated conditions and ensuring they are clearly referenced in all relevant contracts and communications
Informing liability insurers of the changes, so cover accurately reflects the revised risk profile
Training staff on the updated clauses, particularly those involved in sales, customer service and operations
Reviewing internal procedures to ensure operational practices are aligned with the new contractual framework

Parker emphasised that preparation now will help avoid disputes later, particularly as customers increasingly scrutinise contractual terms in a challenging economic environment.

Support available for members

To support freight forwarders through the transition, BIFA has made extensive guidance available to its members, including detailed explanations of the revised clauses and practical advice on incorporation best practice.

There is a huge amount of information about the new STC and how to incorporate them on the BIFA website, and I urge members to visit that section,

Countdown to January 2026

As the January deadline approaches, BIFA continues to encourage all members to review the updated Standard Trading Conditions and ensure they are fully embedded within both contractual documentation and operational processes.

For freight forwarders operating in an increasingly complex and risk-laden trading environment, the message is clear: proactive preparation now is essential to safeguard the business in 2026 and beyond.

Transportation Pulse Report: Inflection Point

Posted on 17 December, 202517 December, 2025 by David Priestman

Transporeon, a Trimble company, has released its annual Transportation Pulse Report, surveying over 230 supply chain and logistics executives across Europe and North America to assess AI’s impact on transportation management and identify how the technology is transforming operations.

The report confirms transportation has reached an AI inflection point: the ways companies respond to the rapid development of AI within the sector may define their competitive edge for years to come.

Adoption accelerates, data quality lags

AI adoption in transportation management is gaining momentum, though most companies remain in early stages:

Shippers are experimenting across multiple areas: 44% of survey respondents are already using AI in transportation planning and optimisation, with additional applications in freight procurement and real-time visibility.
Carriers focus on pricing and tracking: 42% are deploying AI for pricing and lane optimisation, with 39% using it for real-time tracking.

The limiting factor? Data quality. Inconsistent data remains the biggest obstacle to AI success, with shippers and carriers both citing it as their primary barrier to adoption.

AI’s top application: planning, pricing, execution

When asked where AI will have the greatest effect over the next 3-5 years, shippers and carriers are using AI to fine-tune transportation planning, pricing and execution. But their priorities differ:

Shippers prioritise transportation planning and optimisation: 86% expect AI to significantly impact this area.
Carriers focus on pricing and lane optimisation: 59% identify this as AI’s main value driver.

Respondents note a shift from early-stage experimentation with AI to now focusing on leveraging the technology for measurable efficiency gains.

The rise of AI agents

Survey respondents pointed to distinct opportunities for Agentic AI, autonomous software agents that monitor data, make decisions and execute tasks within defined boundaries:

For shippers, opportunities to improve workflows through the use of Agentic AI include real-time ETA monitoring (52%), with route/network optimisation and carrier selection and tendering also emerging as priorities.
For carriers, the priorities are ETA calculation and alerting (59%), with route and fuel optimisation and spot quote negotiation also ranking high on the list.

Despite the potential of automation, two-thirds of shippers and more than half of carriers still see AI’s primary role as augmenting human decision-making rather than replacing it, with most preferring human-in-the-loop approaches.

Still, this marks a turning point: logistics teams are in the early stages of trusting systems to act on their behalf and not just provide insights.

A connected ecosystem boosts AI value

The report emphasises that AI’s full potential emerges within connected ecosystems that enable seamless data exchange, not locked in company silos:

43% of shippers cite enhanced predictive capabilities (ETA accuracy, disruption risk management) as the top benefit of combining AI with network-based TMS, while 55% of carriers see the biggest benefit in smarter load matching.

Jonah McIntire, chief product and technology officer, transportation and logistics at Trimble, commented:

The true value of AI lies not just in the technological innovation itself, but how quickly and effectively it can be operationalised and integrated throughout your supply chains. The companies that embrace AI across their systems, partners, and people, will deliver faster, smarter and more efficient operations and better business outcomes.