Lufthansa pilots threaten strike over pensions
Lufthansa pilots have threatened to go on strike after talks on the pension plan broke down. The Vereinigung Cockpit union said its board would decide in the coming days whether to call a ballot among members. “From the very start the other side has shown no genuine willingness to strengthen pensions,” said union president Andreas Pinheiro. The airline has reiterated its aim of finding a negotiated solution but has not disclosed details of the discussions. Any industrial action would revive memories of the major strikes in the previous decade, which grounded thousands of flights and cost the German group hundreds of millions.
Dhl enters the Saudi market with Ajex
Dhl eCommerce has completed its entry into Saudi Arabia by acquiring a minority stake in Ajex Logistics Services, backed by Ajlan & Bros Holding. The deal, first announced at the start of the year, marks a strategic move to capture the fast-growing Saudi delivery market and strengthen Dhl’s footprint across the wider Middle East. Ajex operates more than 60 facilities, 1,200 vehicles and employs 2,000 professionals. Following the transaction, the brand will operate as “Ajex, a partner of Dhl eCommerce”. Already present in the region through its Express, Supply Chain and Global Forwarding divisions, Dhl will invest more than 500 million euros in its Middle Eastern operations, with an option to increase its stake to a majority share in the future.
Icelandair Cargo debuts in Turkey
From 5 September 2025 Icelandair Cargo will launch four weekly flights between Istanbul and Keflavik using Boeing 737 Max aircraft, opening up new opportunities for Turkish exports and imports. The move marks the Icelandic carrier’s entry into the Turkish market through its partnership with Globe Air Cargo Turkiye, part of the Ecs Group. The alliance combines strong local market knowledge with Ecs’s international network and digital expertise, targeting key sectors such as textiles, automotive components and machinery.
Shein and Lufthansa Cargo pursue sustainable air freight
Shein and Lufthansa Cargo have signed a memorandum of understanding to promote sustainable cargo solutions. Within six months, the agreement foresees the roll-out of concrete initiatives, including a programme to expand the use of sustainable aviation fuel (Saf) on Lufthansa Cargo flights handling Shein shipments. The deal is part of the Asian group’s wider commitments to reduce the carbon footprint of its transport activities. Lufthansa Cargo will also provide externally verified sustainability certificates that transparently confirm emission reductions compared with conventional fuels.
Clip Group doubles Barcelona–Swarzedz link
Clip Group has announced it will double rail freight services between Barcelona’s Can Tunis terminal and Swarzedz’s Clip terminal, raising frequencies from two to four weekly rotations from mid-September. The route, launched last October and hauled by Captrain on the French section, has recorded load factors of over 90 per cent. It is used 60 per cent by Clip itself and 40 per cent by external customers. Thanks to T3000 wagons and the Nikrasa system, the service can carry swap bodies, containers and semi-trailers. New Wednesday and Friday departures will supplement the existing schedule, giving carriers greater flexibility. In response to strong demand, Clip is also planning to open a new Spain–Germany line with two weekly rotations by the end of the year.
