Newsletter – November 4, 2021

AIR FREIGHT UPDATES

Air freight rates rising as peak season looms, but flights aren’t full yet

theloadstar.com
Air freight is getting more expensive – but all flights aren’t full, signalling that demand is not yet as strong as expected.
According to the latest figures from Clive Data Services, capacity in October was 17% higher than a year earlier, while the dynamic load factor was 3 percentage points down, at 68%, although it rose 2 percentage points from September. Read more here (login required).

Air freight demand up 9% above pre-Covid levels

lloydsloadinglist.com
Global air freight demand was up by more than 9% above pre-Covid levels in September, with capacity at the same time remaining constrained at 8.9% below pre-COVID-19 levels, according to new International Air Transport Association (IATA) figures released today.
September 2021 data for global air cargo markets show that “demand continued to be well above pre-crisis levels and that capacity constraints persist”.  As comparisons between 2021 and 2020 monthly results are distorted by the extraordinary impact of COVID-19, its comparisons below are to September 2019, “which followed a normal demand pattern”. Read more here.

Vietnam Airlines Aims To Fly To The US By The End Of The Month

simpleflying.com
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has granted Vietnam Airlines clearance to operate scheduled commercial flights from Vietnam to the US, the carrier announced Monday. While still awaiting approval from the FAA, the Hanoi-based national airline plans to begin flying regular services to the United States at the end of November. Read more here.

OCEAN FREIGHT UPDATES

Tough renewed anti-Covid measures limit Chinese seafarer availability
splash247.com
Chinese seafarers, among the world’s largest resources of crew, are facing renewed severe hurdles to get on and off ships, in the latest battle shipping is facing in the ongoing crew change crisis.
The Global Maritime Forum is reporting that many shipmanager members are struggling with the onboarding and repatriation of Chinese seafarers due to stricter Chinese government isolation requirements on seafarers post sign off and prior to repatriation. Read more here.

INTERNATIONAL USINESS – GOVERNMENT UPDATES

Stressed global supply chains becoming a ‘new normal’
lloydsloadinglist.com
Continued high consumer demand is among the main drivers of congestion along international supply chains, as a “new normal” for logistics settles in for the long term, a report claims.
“Fear of shortages, both real and rumoured, is driving consumers to over-buy once again,” the inaugural issue of the E2open Ocean Shipping Index said, adding that the “strain” to clear US east and west coast ports will be a key initiative to help inbound and outbound port dwell times “slowly decline” in the coming months. Read more here.