Cargo aircraft fleet set to grow
According to Airbus’s Cargo Global Market Forecast 2025, the global cargo aircraft fleet is expected to reach 3,420 units by 2044, marking a 45% increase compared with today. Of these, 2,605 will be new aircraft, while 815 will be existing ones already in service. Among the new units, 1,530 will replace older models and 1,075 will respond to growing global freight demand. The fleet composition will include 1,120 small freighters, 855 medium widebodies and 630 large widebodies. Forecasts also indicate that 1,670 aircraft will come from passenger-to-freighter conversions, while 935 will be newly built. The replacements will introduce more modern and efficient models such as the A350F, while conversions will mainly involve A320/A321 and A330 aircraft. Geographically, around two-thirds of the new aircraft will go to the Asia-Pacific and North American regions, with 850 and 920 units respectively.
Byd strengthens Italian logistics
Chinese carmaker Byd has opened a new spare parts warehouse in Fagnano Olona, in the province of Varese, to serve the Italian market. The facility, operational after a testing phase launched in August, complements the hub in Settimo Torinese and reinforces the after-sales network. Logistics operations are managed by Cierreffe, a company of the Intergea Group and Byd’s official partner, responsible for distributing genuine spare parts. The plant enables deliveries within 24 hours across central and northern Italy and within 48 hours elsewhere in the country for orders placed by 16:00. By the end of the year, the initial stock will be completed, covering about 1,000 cubic metres of components, with an order fulfilment rate close to 95%.
EU app to assess truck parking
The European Commission has launched an initiative to improve working conditions for road transport drivers, publishing a call for proposals to develop a mobile application that allows drivers to rate rest areas, loading and unloading points, and other facilities along their routes. The aim is to gather data useful for both other drivers and infrastructure operators. The proposed app should provide a simple and reliable tool to share information on parking areas, sanitary facilities, restaurants and fuel stations. The rating and comment system will help identify the safest and best-equipped locations, addressing existing information gaps in the sector. Through this project, the Commission aims to encourage improvements in service quality and safety while strengthening drivers’ role in operational decisions.
Fire aboard car carrier Grande Roma
The car carrier Grande Roma, operated by the Grimaldi Group, suffered an engine room fire while transiting the English Channel off the French coast on the evening of 25 October. The blaze broke out around 22:00 local time, causing a blackout and loss of propulsion on the 5,379-Ceu vessel, built in 2003. The crew activated the CO2 extinguishing system and began cooling the bulkheads. No injuries or pollution were reported, according to the captain. Left adrift, the ship was assisted by the tug Abeille Liberté, which took it in tow at 09:36 on Sunday, heading for the port of Le Havre. The Grande Roma, soon to be retired from the Grimaldi fleet, had departed Antwerp bound for Jebel Ali (United Arab Emirates), with arrival scheduled for 25 November.
Ship collision off Guangzhou
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore has reported that at around 20:00 (Singapore time) on 25 October 2025, a collision occurred between the Singapore-registered container ship Wan Hai A17 and the Chinese vessel Hai Li 5 in waters off Guangzhou. According to Wan Hai Lines, the Wan Hai A17 remains stable and none of its 23 crew members were injured. No spills or marine pollution have been reported. Chinese authorities have confirmed that the Hai Li 5 sank and that search and rescue operations are ongoing. Two of the 15 crew members remain missing. The Wan Hai A17 is currently being held in port to assist with the Chinese authorities’ investigation.
