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FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX) transported two giant pandas, six-year-old male Ping Ping and five-year-old female Fu Shuang, from Chengdu, China to Atlanta, Ga. Working with Zoo Atlanta, the pandas traveled aboard a FedEx Boeing 777-F, known as the “FedEx Panda Express.”
For decades, FedEx has worked with the Chinese government and zoos worldwide to provide safe, specialized transportation for giant pandas. FedEx is proud to donate the full transportation cost of this move as part of its ongoing corporate social responsibility and environmental conservation efforts. The company is committed to keeping supply chains moving and connecting communities around the world by enabling global trade.
Throughout their non-stop flight from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang traveled in custom-built travel crates under the care of Zoo Atlanta animal specialists. The pandas were the sole cargo aboard the aircraft, accompanied only by fresh bamboo, water, and an assortment of their favorite treats.
“We have had the privilege of transporting giant pandas for more than two decades, and every time the FedEx Panda Express is called into service, our entire team feels the significance of the mission,” said Richard W. Smith, chief operating officer, International, and chief executive officer, Airline, FedEx. “Safely delivering Ping Ping and Fu Shuang to their new home in Atlanta underscores our long-standing commitment to global conservation and our network’s ability to securely transport high-priority, precious cargo.”
Before their trip, the bears spent time getting accustomed to their enclosures to ensure a safe and comfortable journey. Following their arrival at Zoo Atlanta, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang have begun their quarantine ahead of their public debut later this year.
FedEx also provided trucking and logistical support in Atlanta to safely transport the pandas from the airport to Zoo Atlanta. Including this move, FedEx has had the privilege of transporting 23 pandas to and from China since 2000.
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Photo: Johnson541
Marjan Rintel, President & CEO of KLM: “We’re delighted to welcome our first A350 to Schiphol. This is an important milestone for KLM and for the Netherlands. Fleet renewal is one of the most effective ways we can make our operations cleaner, quieter, and more fuel-efficient. We already have 17 A321neos flying on our European routes, and with the arrival of the A350, we’re taking the next step in renewing our intercontinental fleet. That means more comfort for our passengers, while also reducing our impact on our surroundings.”
Dutch Masterpieces Inspire Aircraft Names
For more than a century, KLM has connected the Netherlands with the rest of the world The airline has chosen well-known Dutch works of art as the inspiration for the names of its Airbus A350 aircraft. The Night Watch by Rembrandt van Rijn is an iconic work of art and perhaps the Netherlands’ best-known masterpiece, attracting visitors from around the world to the Rijksmuseum. The first A350 carries a name that is deeply rooted in Dutch culture and instantly recognizable around the world. The second aircraft will be named Girl with a Pearl Earring.
Quieter and More Comfortable
Over the coming years, the Airbus A350 will replace part of KLM’s current intercontinental fleet. The aircraft uses approximately 25% less fuel than previous-generation aircraft. Its noise footprint is also approximately 40% smaller, meaning that people living near airports experience less noise from aircraft taking off and landing. For passengers, the A350 offers a new level of comfort, with one of the quietest cabins in its class and an improved onboard environment.
Certification of World Business Class Seats
The A350 has 331 seats: 271 in Economy Class, 26 in Premium Comfort Class, and 34 in World Business Class (WBC). EASA has now approved the test results for the WBC seats, allowing the certification process to begin.
Fleet Renewal
KLM is investing €7 billion in fleet renewal. In addition to the Airbus A350 for intercontinental routes and the A350F for cargo operations, the fleet renewal program includes the Airbus A321neo, the Embraer E2 fleet operated by KLM Cityhopper, and Boeing 787 aircraft.
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The acquisition represents another important expansion of Stratolaunch’s fleet of carrier aircraft and complements the company’s existing carrier assets, the Spirit of Mojave and Roc. With three carrier aircraft, Stratolaunch will be well positioned to maintain continuous launch readiness, boosting overall flight capacity by 35%.
The addition of the Boeing 777 carrier aircraft also increases the company’s global deployment capabilities, supporting operations wherever needed around the world. This expanded fleet supports broader mission profiles, reduces scheduling constraints and accelerates the ability to scale flight operations, including conducting parallel missions.
“As demand for hypersonic technologies continues to grow, we’re building the operational scale to make routine hypersonic testing a reality for our customers around the world,” said Zachary Krevor, President and CEO of Stratolaunch. “Adding the reliability of a Boeing 777 aircraft to our fleet enhances our flight flexibility and strengthens our long-term capacity as we work to provide the nation and our customers with the test cadence needed to accelerate hypersonic innovation. We look forward to operationalizing the aircraft and expanding our capability to serve customers at the scale and speed required to address hypersonic national security needs.”
The aircraft will undergo modifications to enable the air launch of Stratolaunch’s reusable, fully autonomous Talon-A hypersonic test vehicles from its fuselage, with completion expected in 2027.
Stratolaunch’s carrier aircraft take Talon-A to altitude before it is air-launched, effectively providing a reusable first stage for hypersonic flight. Compared with traditional ground-launch systems, this approach offers greater range, lower mission costs, flexible deployment and the ability to execute more representative real-world flight profiles.
The acquisition builds on a series of milestones achieved over the past year. In July 2026, the company announced it had surpassed more than 10 successful hypersonic flights with its Talon-A platform, following its February 2026 announcement of a $90.8M contract award under the Department of War Test Resource Management Center (TRMC) Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonics Test Bed (MACH-TB) for air-launched capability test vehicles.
Together, these achievements reinforce the company’s commitment to enabling faster, more affordable and more responsive hypersonic test development. Serving government and commercial customers, Stratolaunch aims to expand America’s hypersonic testing infrastructure and deliver the vital flight data needed to develop next-generation technologies for national deterrence.
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Trinity Airways (South Korea) will launch a Kobe–Seoul Incheon route on 18 December 2026, with B737-8 and B737-800.
Turkish Airlines will restore its regular service between Istanbul and Caracas starting October 1, 2026, with B787-9.
Photo: Air Greenland
Flair Airlines (Canada) is expanding its winter network with new nonstop flights to Puerto Plata, from Toronto and Montreal in late December 2026
Ethiopian Airlines will begin service from Addis Ababa to Port Harcourt, effective 01 December 2026.
Ethiopian Airlines plans service from Addis Ababa to Nacala starting from 27 October 2026, with B737-8.
Cargojet (Canada) announces the launch of a new service to Liege, beginning 23 September 2026, with B767F. It is part of the Hamilton – Halifax – Liege – Hamilton route
British Airways (UK) will launch a daily non-stop flight between London Heathrow and Buenos Aires starting on 28 March 2027, with B777. The carrier will also launch flights to Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar with B777 from May 2027.
AZAL Azerbaijan Airlines plans to resume Baku – Astrakhan service on 30 September 2026, with E190.
Air Transat (Canada) suspends the Toronto Pearson – Manchester route during 1Q 2027, with A321LR.
Air Canada Cargo schedules Toronto Pearson – Maastricht route on 29 October 2026, with B767F.
Please confirm all flights with your airline.
The agreement reflects the commercial strategy of ABX Air’s parent, Air Transport Services Group (ATSG), which is focused on expanding charter opportunities while connecting customers with operating and support solutions, the company added. ATSG president and CEO Greg Mays said ABX Air’s experience with the B767 platform “makes it well positioned to support Global Aviation Link’s continued expansion”.
Global Aviation Link is a freight specialist based in Miami, Florida. Over the past three years, it has been chartering aircraft for 1x daily services between Miami International and Bogotá and is now looking to expand into Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru.
ch-aviation fleets data shows ABX Air operates one B767-200(BDSF), eight B767-200(SF)s, five B767-300ER(BCF)s, twenty-two B767-300ER(BDSF)s, and three B767-300Fs.
Furthermore, starting next year, ABX Air will launch A330-300(P2F) CMI services for Amazon.com, adding N817CM (msn 1269) to its fleet, news site Cargo Facts reported. The 14.9-year-old aircraft is owned by Cargo Aircraft Management and is currently undergoing maintenance.
ch-aviation has reached out to ABX Air for confirmation and comment on the CMI deal. It was not immediately available.
CH Aviation / Photo: Duncan Stewart - LAX