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TCE is helping TUI Airline transform the freight potential of its passenger network into a structured cargo business, combining commercial development, customer management, operational coordination and regulatory compliance to unlock opportunities beyond its established leisure operations.
Since January 2019, TCE has provided the specialist organisation supporting TUI Airline’s cargo activities, enabling the passenger carrier to pursue airfreight opportunities without diverting its teams from their core business. Its remit spans sales and marketing, customer service, booking coordination, capacity management, operational support, quality assurance and security compliance.
The partnership reflects a wider commercial opportunity for passenger airlines: aircraft connecting holidaymakers to destinations can also carry airfreight, creating an additional revenue stream from existing network capacity. Realising that potential, however, requires more than available space. It calls for dedicated cargo expertise, established customer relationships and coordination across the entire shipment journey.
“Aircraft capacity creates an opportunity, but expertise turns it into a business. We bring together the commercial relationships, operational coordination and compliance support that TUI Airline needs to develop its cargo activity,” said Sarah Scheibe, Managing Director of TCE. She added that the objective is to make the airline’s capacity accessible to freight customers through a professionally managed service.
Connecting commercial promise with operational delivery
For TUI Airline, cargo represents a way to maximise the value of its network while responding to demand for reliable airfreight solutions. TCE supports this ambition by acting as an extension of the airline’s organisation, linking commercial commitments with the operational processes required to move shipments through its network.
Its responsibilities begin with business development, customer management and booking coordination, and extend to the operational support needed to translate enquiries and confirmed bookings into workable cargo movements. This integrated approach helps ensure that the capacity offered to customers is aligned with the airline’s operating requirements.
The model also provides freight customers and handling partners with a dedicated point of contact and coordinated support. For TUI Airline, it brings together specialist resources across multiple functions under one organisation, avoiding the need to build an equivalent internal structure from the ground up.
“A successful cargo product depends on every part of the operation working together. Customers need clear communication, handling partners need effective coordination and the airline needs confidence that its requirements are being met,” Scheibe said. She noted that managing these activities within one organisation helps maintain continuity from the first enquiry through to operational execution.
Quality and compliance underpin growth
As the cargo business develops, quality assurance and security remain integral to TCE’s role. The company manages cargo quality activities, coordinates audits and supports compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, including ACC3 validation processes where required.
By integrating these responsibilities with commercial and operational management, the partnership places the necessary quality, safety and security considerations alongside business development. This helps ensure that opportunities to grow cargo volumes are supported by the standards and processes required for consistent service delivery.
The arrangement also provides a framework for evaluating performance through verified operational and commercial data. Measures such as cargo volumes, revenue, capacity utilisation and service performance can help assess progress, identify opportunities and inform future decisions.
TCE’s contribution therefore extends beyond sales support. Its market relationships help connect TUI Airline with freight customers, while its operational expertise and compliance oversight provide the structure needed to manage cargo as a coordinated business.
Building on a long-term partnership
The cooperation will continue to underpin TUI Airline’s cargo strategy, with TCE remaining its key partner in developing freight activity and making better use of available network capacity.
“Our partnership with TUI Airline has developed through sustained cooperation and a shared focus on making cargo work within a passenger airline environment,” Scheibe said. She added that the focus remains on identifying commercial opportunities while maintaining the operational discipline, quality assurance and security oversight needed for long-term development.
The partnership highlights the importance of an integrated approach to passenger-airline cargo. By bringing commercial development, customer support, operational coordination and compliance together, TCE provides TUI Airline with a dedicated framework to connect available capacity with market demand and further develop its freight offering across its network.
IATA data shows international air cargo demand growing 8.6% year-on-year, while jet fuel prices climb 103.4%, putting pressure on airline profitability despite stronger global trade. Global air cargo demand increased by 7.7% year-on-year in September 2026, supported by stronger international trade and manufacturing activity, according to the latest figures released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). International air cargo demand recorded even stronger growth of 8.6% compared with September 2025. However, the industry continued to face significant cost pressures, with jet fuel prices more than doubling over the year. Global cargo capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometres (ACTK), expanded by 2.7% during September, while international capacity increased by 3.3%. Demand therefore continued to outpace available capacity, lifting the global cargo load factor by 2.2 percentage points to 47.9%. Fuel prices put pressure on airline profitability Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA's Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist, said air cargo demand had grown across all regions, supported by stronger global trade and manufacturing. She also highlighted the contribution of artificial intelligence-related shipments, which helped drive another month of double-digit growth across the Pacific. However, rising fuel prices remain a major challenge for the industry. Jet fuel prices increased by 17.5% month-on-month in September and were 103.4% higher than a year earlier. IATA noted that cargo yields have not kept pace with the increase in fuel prices. Its September market analysis showed cargo yields rising by 25.9% year-on-year, compared with the 103.4% increase in jet fuel prices. The disparity highlights the growing difficulty airlines face in maintaining profitability despite stronger cargo volumes. Global trade and manufacturing support demand Several economic indicators provided a supportive backdrop for air freight activity. Global trade increased by 3.6% year-on-year in August, marking the 42nd consecutive month of annual expansion. Manufacturing activity also improved. The Global Manufacturing Output Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) increased by 0.7 points to 53.8, while the New Export Orders Index rose by 0.5 points to 51.9. Both indicators reached their highest levels in five years, signalling improved manufacturing conditions and continued support for international cargo demand. North America leads regional growth Air cargo demand increased across all six major airline regions in September, although the pace of expansion varied. North American carriers recorded the strongest growth, with demand increasing by 11.8% year-on-year, while capacity expanded by just 0.8%. Asia-Pacific airlines reported 8.6% demand growth and a 4.9% increase in capacity, reflecting continued strength in regional and trans-Pacific cargo movements. Latin American and Caribbean carriers recorded demand growth of 6.7%, alongside a 7.6% capacity expansion. African airlines saw demand rise by 4.7%, while capacity contracted by 1.2%. European carriers recorded a 4.5% increase in demand despite a 1.6% decline in capacity. Middle Eastern airlines reported the slowest regional demand growth, at 3.8%, while capacity increased by 7%. Asia–North America remains the strongest trade lane Performance across major international trade lanes remained mixed in September. The Asia–North America corridor recorded the strongest growth, with cargo traffic increasing by 17% year-on-year. This marked eight consecutive months of expansion on the route. Traffic within Asia grew by 10.2%, while Europe–North America increased by 9.3%. Europe–Asia recorded growth of 6%, extending its expansion streak to 43 consecutive months. Africa–Asia traffic increased by 2.6%. In contrast, Middle East-connected trade lanes remained under pressure. Cargo traffic between Europe and the Middle East declined by 18%, while the Middle East–Asia corridor contracted by 10.2%. Both routes recorded seven consecutive months of decline. Demand growth faces a cost challenge The September figures underline the resilience of the global air cargo market, with demand expanding faster than capacity and manufacturing indicators remaining supportive. However, higher fuel prices and the gap between operating costs and cargo yields are creating challenges for airlines seeking to convert stronger volumes into improved financial performance. For carriers, forwarders and cargo owners, the balance between demand, available capacity and fuel expenditure will remain central to market conditions in the coming months. The latest IATA data points to a growing air cargo market, but sustaining profitable growth will depend on how effectively the industry manages rising operating costs. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) is set to strengthen its international cargo network with the launch of a twice-weekly Boeing 777 freighter service by Challenge Group from 04 November 2026. The new route will originate at Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI), connect through Liège Airport (LGG) in Belgium, and arrive at RFD in the United States. The service will also offer outbound connections from Rockford via Liège, leveraging Challenge Group’s network of approximately 1,500 truck movements per month to provide onward access across Europe, alongside connections to Navi Mumbai. The operation is expected to primarily handle pharmaceuticals, oversized and out-of-gauge cargo, with live animal (AVI) transportation being considered for a future phase. “Chicago is a strategically important market, serving a broad range of industries that depend on reliable international cargo connectivity,” said Or Zak, Group Chief Commercial Officer, Challenge Group. He added that the Rockford service would create additional opportunities for customers moving specialised cargo between India, Europe and the United States. For RFD, the launch supports its efforts to attract international freighter operators and develop the airport as a gateway for specialised cargo entering the US market, particularly temperature-sensitive shipments. “This new service is a direct result of our continued efforts to attract international freighter operators to Rockford, particularly the work we have undertaken to establish the airport as a leading cold chain corridor into the United States,” said Zack Oakley, Executive Director, RFD. He said the airport sees potential to expand the partnership beyond the initial twice-weekly operation through higher frequencies and support for AVI shipments. RFD is located approximately 40 miles from animal quarantine facilities, a distance comparable to that of Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). The airport is also in the process of securing approval from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to handle AVI shipments. According to Rene Espinet, Vice President – Cargo Business Development, RFD, the airport’s cargo-focused infrastructure and capacity to accommodate specialised freight offer operators access to the wider Chicago market, with the added benefits of operational flexibility and reduced congestion at a dedicated freighter airport. To support pharmaceutical cargo arriving on the new service, RFD will coordinate dedicated temperature-controlled trucking capacity for onward transportation to destinations in the Rockford area and warehousing facilities in Chicago. This arrangement is intended to extend cold-chain support beyond the airport and facilitate the movement of temperature-sensitive freight. Zak said Challenge Group requires airport partners that can accommodate its expanding operations and develop alongside its long-term requirements, adding that Rockford offers the capacity and flexibility to support the carrier’s growth. The announcement was made during the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) Air Cargo Forum in Miami, held from 26 to 29 October 2026.
Finnair Cargo has launched its first Australian service on 25 October 2026, introducing a daily, year-round connection between Helsinki and Melbourne via Bangkok. The new route expands the airline’s international cargo network, creating additional opportunities for freight movements between Europe, Australia and North America. However, the airline has imposed initial restrictions on temperature-sensitive shipments travelling across the complete route. Daily Connectivity Via Bangkok The new service operates using an Airbus A350 passenger aircraft, with cargo carried in the aircraft’s belly hold. Flight AY145 departs Helsinki shortly after midnight and reaches Melbourne the following morning, with a technical stop in Bangkok. The return service, AY146, departs Melbourne in the afternoon and travels via Bangkok before arriving in Helsinki the next morning. The aircraft offers approximately 23 tonnes of belly-hold cargo capacity, equivalent to around 95 cubic metres, although the actual capacity available on individual flights depends on operational requirements. The schedule is designed to facilitate connections with Finnair’s wider European network through Helsinki, including onward air and road freight services. Anna-Maria Kirchner, Head of Global Sales at Finnair Cargo, said the airline had received strong interest in the new connection. She highlighted its potential to strengthen trade between Australia and Europe while supporting businesses dependent on reliable, time-sensitive logistics. Temperature-Sensitive Cargo Restrictions At launch, Finnair Cargo will not accept pharmaceuticals, perishables and other temperature-sensitive shipments as through cargo between Helsinki and Melbourne in either direction. Such consignments may be accepted separately on the Helsinki–Bangkok and Bangkok–Melbourne sectors, subject to applicable handling requirements and acceptance conditions. The restrictions are part of the airline’s initial operational approach while it conducts temperature mapping across the new route. The assessment is intended to establish the temperature conditions experienced throughout the journey, including during the Bangkok stopover. Finnair Cargo will review the restrictions after completing the exercise. The limitations are particularly relevant to pharmaceutical logistics, temperature-controlled supply chains and Australian seasonal exports, including cherries, which the airline has identified as potential cargo opportunities. Broader Cargo Market Opportunities Beyond temperature-sensitive shipments, the service is expected to support a range of commodities, including general cargo, high-tech products, industrial components, automotive parts, fashion and design goods. Seafood and other perishables may also be considered, subject to the airline’s applicable acceptance conditions and handling requirements. The Melbourne route forms part of Finnair Cargo’s winter 2026–27 network expansion, connecting the Australian market with the carrier’s Helsinki hub and its established European destinations. The addition also provides freight forwarders and logistics providers with another routing option for shipments moving between the two regions. As the service develops, the outcome of the temperature-mapping exercise will be important in determining whether the airline can expand its acceptance of sensitive cargo across the entire journey. For now, the daily connection establishes a new air freight link between Europe and Australia, with cargo capacity and commodity acceptance governed by operational requirements and the restrictions in place at launch. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
