Air cargo needs to digitalize more quickly

Israeli aircraft developer Air has one rule when it comes to electric aviation: Keep it simple. The startup’s Air One electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft is simple, comfortable and efficient, with eight motors and a user-friendly control system, Air Chief Executive and co-founder Rani Plaut tells Air Cargo Next in this episode of “On Air with Air Cargo Next.”    “The core of the design is trying to keep things as simple as possible,” he said. “We don’t have any moving parts. Our solution is based on smart compromises and a little bit of aerodynamic trickery versus high complexity.” Air One, capable of traveling up to 150 miles per hour with a payload of 550 pounds, debuted in 2022, and Air joined the U.S. Air Force’s Agility Prime program in 2023 to expand technology transition paths for electric aircraft manufacturers.   The eVTOL, which is intended to optimize last-mile cargo deliveries, can also be used recreationally and seats two people, Plaut said. “The cargo unit is the same unit, simply without the seats and the avionics,” he said. “And since we have started testing the aircraft, as all the individual companies are doing by remotely piloting or autonomous piloting, it is already set for cargo use cases. So far, we have $17 million in purchase orders for cargo units.” Air generated more than $1 million in revenue in 2023 and, this year, that number is expected to reach $7 million, Plaut said. In this episode of “On Air with Air Cargo Next,” the CEO discusses how the company was founded, why eVTOL designs should remain simple and Air’s next moves. 

AI, which is increasingly improving operations in the supply chain, may also be a gamechanger for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) looking to broaden their networks, Yikun Shao, head of North America supply chain at Alibaba, told Air Cargo Next.

Digital twin technology allows air cargo operators to visualize how new technologies will integrate into operations in real time while reducing overall costs and improving efficiency — all within a highly accurate and immersive digital space.

After 50 years in the logistics industry, both in sea and air, Cargo iQ Executive Director Lothar Moehle has seen a lot of change, some good and some bad. Reflecting on his five decades of experience in this sector, Moehle discusses how the air cargo industry has changed, what changes still need to happen and what will never change, in the latest episode of “On Air with Air Cargo Next.” 

Raft Chief Marketing Officer Greg Kefer discusses how AI has created a global inflection point, akin to those created by the introduction of the personal computer and the internet, in the latest episode of “On Air with Air Cargo Next.” 

Airforwarders Association Executive Director Brandon Fried emphasizes the need for the U.S. government to invest in airport infrastructure in the latest episode of “On Air with Air Cargo Next.”

Joining Morten Johansen, Carla Montenegro, vice president of commercial freight forwarding for the Americas at DP World, discussed automation integration, globalization trends and nearshoring in this episode of “On Air with Air Cargo Next.” 

Cargo.one founder and co-Chief Executive Moritz Claussen sat down with Air Cargo Next at the World Cargo Symposium in Hong Kong to discuss end-to-end quotation capabilities, digitalization, AI and cybersecurity for the latest episode of “On Air with Air Cargo Next.” 

With emerging technologies and growing demand, this year marks a comeback period for airfreight, Joe Kronenberger, senior vice president of airfreight for the Americas at Geodis, told Air Cargo Next in this episode of “On Air with Air Cargo Next.” 

Aventus founder and Chairperson Alan Vey discusses how Web3 technology works, how it benefits supply chain operations and how the air cargo industry is lagging other sectors in digitalization.