CMA CGM prepares another Indian-flagged vessel
CMA CGM is preparing to register the CMA CGM Semarang, a 2007 feeder containership of about 2,700 TEU, under the Indian flag. The vessel previously flew the Maltese flag. The move would bring the company’s Indian-registered fleet to six vessels, following the first four conversions and the later addition of CMA CGM Vila Do Conde. The decision appears to be linked to the new Age Norms issued on 21 January 2026 by the Director General of Maritime Administration, which set a 20-year age limit for the acquisition or registration of containerships. At 19 years old, the Semarang would therefore fall within the entry threshold. The same rules, together with other quality parameters, also apply to foreign ships applying for a licence under the Coastal Shipping Act, 2026: age is checked on the date the service starts, and vessels outside the limit are not considered. For Indian vessels, the maximum operating age is 30 years, while existing vessels may operate until 31 March 2029 and, after assessment under the new Sustainability Indexing of Ships, possibly until 31 March 2031. Another factor is the reinstatement of cabotage rules, following the repeal of three 2018 general orders that facilitated transhipments, empty repositioning, agricultural products and fertilisers. As coastal trade is reserved for Indian vessels, Maersk has also registered two ships, while MSC and Hapag-Lloyd have plans for 12 and four vessels respectively. On the industrial side, on 18 February CMA CGM ordered six 1,700 TEU LNG-powered containerships from Cochin Shipyard Ltd for about $360 million, the first order of this kind for a local shipyard.
FedEx MD-11s could still return to service
FedEx is preparing to return 28 MD-11 cargo aircraft to service by the end of May, despite the absence of public signs that the ban has been lifted following the fatal crash of UPS flight 2976, according to Eric Kulisch on 28 April 2026. The operator has validated a technical solution developed by Boeing that involves installing a new bearing at the engine-wing attachment point to correct a design flaw. Operations remain subject to approval of the maintenance procedure by the FAA, which has not yet clarified the overall status of inspections or the mandatory interventions required. NTSB investigations identified fatigue cracks in a critical structural section, which led to the fleet’s suspension. FedEx expects a gradual return, with two aircraft initially operating, and a three-day refresher course for pilots to restore operational proficiency. The company has activated internal communications and scheduled a meeting on 6 May at a training centre to explain the analysis, interventions and timeline. The suspension has generated costs of about $175 million, or around €162 million, linked to replacement capacity and third-party contracts. FedEx had previously extended use of the MD-11 until 2032 because of heavy-cargo requirements. UPS has begun retiring its fleet, while Western Global Airlines has not defined its plans.
WFS expands in Frankfurt
Worldwide Flight Services, a SATS group company, has secured a contract from Kuehne+Nagel for shipment handling services at Frankfurt Airport, Europe’s main air cargo hub. The agreement covers WFS’s new e-commerce and Freight Forwarder Handling activities in Cargo City South, where the company has invested in two warehouses and two office buildings on a 24,000 sq m site. The facilities, operational since December, are equipped with ULD management systems and scanners for volume and dimension measurement, with annual capacity of up to 100,000 tonnes of import-export freight. For Kuehne+Nagel, WFS will handle import shipments and, for exports, weight and dimension registration, cargo security and transport preparation. The operation also includes labelling, consolidation of HAWBs into MAWBs, ULD build-up and dedicated shuttles to ramp handlers and airlines. According to WFS, EFFH services are part of the SATS/WFS growth strategy and are designed to reduce customs clearance and processing times. Martin Schaefer, SVP Air Logistics Germany at Kuehne+Nagel, describes Frankfurt as a significant node in the group’s air network. WFS’s EFFH network also includes Amsterdam, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dublin, Liège, London, Madrid, Stockholm and 12 French airports, including Paris CDG.
New container routes between China and Africa
The Chinese ports of Qingdao, Yantai and Tianjin are launching regular direct maritime services to Africa to speed up logistics between the two regions. The most significant case is the new route from Tianjin to South Africa, which cuts transit times by about ten days and brings the average duration to around 40 days. In the first quarter of 2026, Qingdao recorded exports to Africa worth more than $6.37 billion, up 26% year on year. Over the same period, Yantai handled more than two million tonnes bound for Africa, an increase of more than 30%. The acceleration of these routes is linked to the planned entry into force, on 1 May 2026, of China’s zero-tariff policy for 53 African countries with diplomatic relations with Beijing. Flows mainly involve machinery, electronics, high-tech products, manufacturing inputs, consumer goods and infrastructure equipment. The expected effect is a reduction in logistics costs and greater predictability for businesses, with possible repercussions for China-Africa trade volumes. Stronger direct links could affect supply chains and China’s presence in African markets.
Alaska Airlines launches Rome-Seattle flight
Alaska Airlines is launching a direct Seattle-Rome flight, the first non-stop connection between the two cities and the carrier’s first entry into Europe. The daily seasonal service operates from 28 April to 23 October between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Rome Fiumicino. The route is operated with a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and strengthens Seattle as the company’s international gateway, with connections also available to Hawaii via a single stop. For cargo, the new development is the launch from 28 April of the first daily direct cargo service by a US passenger carrier between Seattle and Rome. The connection expands the global cargo network to 109 destinations and strengthens trade flows between the Pacific Northwest and Italy. The flight leaves Seattle at 17.30 and arrives in Rome at 13.15 the following day; from Rome, it departs at 15.25 and arrives in Seattle at 17.45.
