Hermes Logistics Technologies (HLT) and Velora have successfully migrated Velora’s cargo management system from an on-premise setup to HLT’s cloud-based SaaS platform with just four hours of operational downtime.
This move marks a major milestone in Velora’s digitalisation strategy, allowing the company to access real-time software updates, greater scalability, and improved system resilience. Under a renewed five-year contract, the shift reinforces a shared commitment to innovation and sustainable digital transformation in air cargo.
The collaboration sets a new standard for seamless, large-scale digital transitions in the logistics industry.

Hermes Logistics Technologies (HLT) and Velora have successfully completed the migration of Velora’s cargo and logistics management system from the on-premise Hermes deployment to the cloud-based SaaS version of the HLT ecosystem with an operational downtime of only four hours.

This achievement marks a significant milestone in Velora’s ongoing digitalisation journey and its commitment to innovation and operational excellence. By transitioning to the Hermes Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform, Velora gains continuous access to the latest HLT software updates and enhancements, ensuring faster implementation of new capabilities and features. The migration forms part of a broader innovation initiative launched under the recently renewed five-year contract, reinforcing the joint commitment to sustainable digitalisation.

The move to SaaS enables Velora to benefit from a more agile, scalable, and resilient infrastructure that supports the rapidly evolving needs of air cargo operations. Built for performance, the Hermes Cloud environment offers high system availability, optimised data security, and a streamlined upgrade process that allows ground handling teams to focus on operational efficiency rather than technical maintenance.

Yuval Baruch, CEO of Hermes Logistics Technologies, commented:

“We are proud to support Velora in this major step forward. Completing such a complex migration with only four hours of downtime is a testament to the close collaboration between our teams and the robustness of the HLT SaaS platform. This transition will empower Velora with faster access to innovation, stronger performance, and an infrastructure ready for the next generation of digital air cargo.”

HLT’s SaaS architecture provides clients with a fully managed, continuously evolving ecosystem designed to meet the challenges of modern cargo handling. By leveraging cloud technology, Velora can now deploy new modules, analytics tools, and integrations more efficiently while maintaining industry-leading standards for data protection and compliance.

The collaboration between HLT and Velora continues to set a benchmark for digital excellence within the air cargo sector, demonstrating that large-scale operational migrations can be executed seamlessly and with minimal disruption.

The post Hermes Logistics Technologies supports Velora’s SaaS Migration appeared first on Air Cargo Week.

Following the government’s selection of the winning bid for Heathrow Airport’s third runway, Logistics UK welcomed the move as a positive step for long-term economic growth. Jonathan Walker, Head of Infrastructure Policy, emphasised Heathrow’s critical role as the UK’s largest port by cargo volume, handling 1.58 million tonnes in 2024.
He highlighted the need for regulatory and planning approvals to move the project forward and urged the government to view the expansion as part of a broader strategy to strengthen the UK’s logistics network.
Logistics UK continues to advocate for efficient, future-ready supply chains across all modes of freight transport.

Speaking after the announcement of the winning bid for the construction of the third runway at Heathrow Airport, business group Logistics UK’s Head of Infrastructure Policy, Jonathan Walker said:

“Heathrow Airport is the UK’s biggest port, handling 1.58 million tonnes of cargo in 2024, and the announcement of the winning third runway bid will provide growth opportunities for the UK economy in the long term. This announcement is a welcome step towards the implementation of the project, but there are other hurdles to be cleared, including CAA approvals and planning reforms.

“It is vital that this project is seen by government as an integral part of the ongoing development of an effective UK-wide logistics network, which will support and develop the effective supply chains that our economy needs.”

Logistics UK is one of the UK’s biggest business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods.

The post Logistics industry responds to Heathrow third runway announcement appeared first on Air Cargo Week.

Heathrow Airport has welcomed UK Government support for its third runway proposal but is urging swift regulatory clarity from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) by mid-December.
The £33 billion expansion plan includes a 3,500m runway and major terminal upgrades to boost capacity to 150 million passengers annually.
While the government has selected Heathrow’s proposal as the preferred scheme for policy review, the airport says shareholder backing depends on assurance that early planning costs will be recoverable. Heathrow stresses that timely decisions from the CAA and government are essential to avoid delays and keep the project on track for delivery by 2035.

Following the UK Government’s selection of Heathrow Airport’s third runway proposal as the preferred scheme for review under the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), a Heathrow spokesperson has issued a detailed response welcoming the support but urging swift regulatory clarity to maintain momentum.

“We welcome the Government’s support for our scheme to build a third runway at Heathrow – the UK’s gateway to growth,” the spokesperson said.

“Expanding Heathrow will mean more connectivity, increased trade, improved passenger experience and a huge economic boost for the British businesses that will help design and build it. However, we still need further clarity as to how the crucial next phase of the project will be regulated.

We need definitive decisions from the CAA and Government by mid-December so that delay to the project can be avoided and we can get on with delivering this vital project for our customers and for the UK.”

Key elements of Heathrow’s expansion plan

Heathrow is already 100% privately financed and expansion will be no different.
Heathrow’s expansion proposal costs £33bn – this includes £21bn for the runway (inclusive of £1.5bn for M25 works) + £12bn for associated terminal infrastructure.
Heathrow will also invest £15bn into the existing airport to modernise and upgrade current facilities – these works are independent of a third runway and will go ahead regardless of a planning decision for expansion.
A north-western runway up to 3,500m. This is the only way to provide full long-haul benefits and deliver reliable noise respite through runway alternation (a shorter runway would not allow noise respite for local communities which is why it was discounted by the Airports Commission).
Increased capacity to serve up to 756,000 flights and 150m passengers. This can only be achieved with our airfield layout and three full-length runways.
A brand-new terminal ‘T5X’, expanding Terminal 2 and three new satellite terminals.

M25 vs M4 – Heathrow has a tested plan to create a wider, safer stretch of the M25 while keeping motorists on the move. A new section would be built entirely offline, approximately 100 metres to the west of the existing motorway, with traffic switched over upon completion. This section will be future-proofed with additional space for new lanes to be added under the runway at a future point. A shorter runway to the east that avoided the M25 was assessed and deemed unworkable years ago for creating more harm for less benefit.

Crossing the M4 spur is actually more disruptive to traffic, requires up to 1,500 homes to be demolished (double Heathrow’s proposal) and is more complex and costly to deliver because of the surrounding infrastructure. Despite the Arora Group’s claims that their proposal would not impact the M25, the revised plans submitted to Government this month showed they would remove Terminal 5’s junction 14A and tunnel under and bridge over the M25.

Next Steps

The Government wants Heathrow’s third runway to secure planning permission by 2029 with flights operating by 2035. That timeline means starting work on a planning application before the Airports National Policy Statement is finalised (Ministers are due to finalise it by the end of 2026). Given the scale of investment we’d need to make in the planning process, our shareholders will only proceed if the CAA provides certainty that early costs spent before Ministers have finalised the ANPS policy framework are able to be recovered in full. The CAA is expected to provide a decision on this issue in December.

The post Heathrow comments on government backing for third runway appeared first on Air Cargo Week.

Rhenus Logistics has expanded its decade-long partnership with Testo Saveris to enhance the precision and reliability of pharmaceutical product storage and transport.
With over 250 measurement points operating across 150 devices at its Strasbourg site alone, Rhenus leverages Testo’s advanced digital monitoring and data analytics to ensure strict temperature and humidity control.
The partnership plays a key role in supporting Rhenus’s pharmaceutical clients by offering tailored quality assurance solutions. As demand and complexity increase, Rhenus credits Testo’s adaptability and robust “Made in Germany” systems for helping them scale and maintain compliance in a fast-evolving healthcare logistics environment.

Rhenus Logistics is deepening its long-standing partnership with Testo Saveris, provider of innovative measurement technology solutions, to ensure precise and reliable storage conditions for pharmaceutical products shipped worldwide.

What began over a decade ago with the installation of temperature and humidity monitoring equipment has evolved into a comprehensive collaboration. Today, Testo provides Rhenus with advanced data storage, monitoring and analysis services, operating more than 250 measuring points across 150 devices at its Strasbourg site alone.

For Patrice Kaps, a licensed pharmacist and Head of Quality Assurance at Rhenus, safeguarding pharmaceutical products is a top priority. This means ensuring that all sensitive pharmaceutical goods are stored and transported under precisely controlled conditions. “We need to maintain our products permanently at the right temperature, in storage as well as during transports,” he explains.

The decision to partner with Testo was driven by the reliability, stability and robustness of its systems. Beyond hardware, Testo delivers a digital quality assurance system that enables tailored data analysis for Rhenus’s diverse healthcare clientele. “Not every quality assurance department is looking for the same data. Thanks to Testo’s innovative software, we can adapt the system to meet each customer’s specific needs,” explains Kaps.

Rhenus has implemented two generations of the testo Saveris 1 system, benefiting from continuous improvements in hardware, software, and services. This adaptability has allowed the system to scale alongside the growing infrastructure at Rhenus.

“Analysing an increasing amount of data for a growing number of customers with rising complexity will remain a challenge,” says Kaps. “Testo is the partner that helps us meet these expectations and ensure the safe storage of pharmaceutical products.

“Testo is ‘Made in Germany’ in the best sense,” Kaps concludes. “The equipment is reliable and of high quality, and so is the data provided by the testo Saveris 1 system. The team is responsive and understands our needs. Over the years, we’ve built a close collaboration and lasting partnership that enables us to meet the evolving demands of our customers.”

The post Rhenus Logistics strengthens pharma safety with Testo Saveris Monitoring System appeared first on Air Cargo Week.

Despite signs of a slowing Chinese economy, logistics provider Gebrüder Weiss remains bullish on long-term growth in the region. In 2025, its China operations continue to post solid gains, driven largely by booming cross-border e-commerce and expanding warehousing capabilities.
The company closed 2024 with €330 million in revenue—a 24 percent year-on-year increase. With strong air, sea, rail, and multimodal services, Gebrüder Weiss has positioned itself as a full-service logistics partner across key sectors such as automotive, electronics, and machinery.
With 19 locations and over 450 employees in Greater China, the company plans to deepen its footprint through investments in electromobility and automation to support sustainable logistics growth.

While many economists see China’s latest economic indicators as signs of a cooling cycle, Gebrüder Weiss remains confident about its long-term prospects in the country. The logistics company’s China organisation continues to deliver solid revenue growth in 2025. The rapidly expanding e-commerce sector is a key driver behind this momentum.

China’s GDP grew by 4.8 percent in Q3 2025, a slowing from the 5.2 percent growth posted earlier in the year. Trade tensions with the United States, weak domestic demand and a struggling real-estate sector are slowing the economy. The picture looks different for Gebrüder Weiss. By expanding its warehousing operations, including specialised e-fulfillment and e-commerce solutions, the company has secured new customers and strengthened its position as a full-service logistics provider. Key industries include automotive, machinery and electronics.

Gebrüder Weiss Greater China closed the 2024 business year with revenues of around 330 million euros, representing a 24 percent increase year-on-year (2023: 265 million euros). Cross-border e-commerce continues to perform exceptionally well. In 2024, Gebrüder Weiss Express China shipped 25 million parcels for major online retailers to Europe, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The European Union remains the company’s largest market and strongest growth engine.

“Our steady growth underlines the strategic importance of the Chinese market for Gebrüder Weiss and demonstrates how successfully we have evolved in recent years”, says Yongquan Chen, General Manager of Gebrüder Weiss China. “We have strong capabilities in air and sea freight, and are equally well positioned in multimodal transport, rail services, and warehouse logistics, where we deliver tailored solutions quickly and with precision. “

Gebrüder Weiss has been active in China for more than 30 years, opening its first office in Shanghai in 1992. The company rapidly expanded into major port cities and economic hubs. In Qingdao, the world’s fourth-largest container port, the team recently celebrated its 30-year anniversary. Beijing, as well as the port cities Tianjin (largest port in Northern China) and Ningbo (third-largest container port worldwide), mark 25 years in the Gebrüder Weiss network this year.

Today, the organization includes 19 locations and more than 450 employees in Greater China. Over the next few years, Gebrüder Weiss China plans to further invest in electromobility and automation. The goal is to create sustainable logistics solutions and innovative services that fuel continued growth.

The post Gebrüder Weiss: China remains a strong growth market appeared first on Air Cargo Week.

Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), part of SATS Group, has secured a new contract with China Cargo Airlines to handle its resumed all-cargo flights at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
The agreement covers warehouse, ramp, and road feeder services for three weekly Boeing 777F freighter flights, marking the airline’s renewed cargo presence in Paris.
This deal builds on a 25-year partnership between WFS, China Cargo Airlines, and parent company China Eastern Airlines, and extends a handling relationship already in place across several major international airports.

Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a SATS company, has won a freighter handling contract with China Cargo Airlines to mark the airline’s resumption of all-cargo flights to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Commencing with the arrival of the first scheduled flight on 20 November, WFS is providing cargo warehouse services in support of China Cargo Airlines’ three Boeing 777F freighter flights a week connecting China and the French capital. Additionally, WFS will provide full ramp handling for the 777Fs and operate road feeder services for China Cargo Airlines between Paris and regional airports across France as well as to other major airports in Europe.

The new contract extends a relationship between WFS, China Cargo Airlines and its parent, China Eastern Airlines, spanning more than 25 years in Paris. This cargo handling partnership is now also in place in Arlanda, Bangkok, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Marseille and Milan.

As well as the new freighter operations, WFS handles all cargo carried onboard China Eastern’s passenger in Paris.

Laurent Bernard, Managing Director France, is delighted to see China Cargo Airlines’ freighters back in Paris. “We are extremely proud of our longstanding partnership in France with China Eastern Airlines and China Cargo Airlines. They are both extremely important customers of WFS. We greatly value their confidence in WFS,” he said.

The post WFS Wins freighter handling contract as China Cargo Airlines returns to Paris CDG appeared first on Air Cargo Week.

Zim Board Confirms Review of “Strategic Alternatives” After Buyout Proposal

Key elements of Heathrow’s expansion plan

Next Steps