The history of
air cargo and airmail
from the 18th century
Apart from this book, there is a suprisingly small amount of published information about the history of air cargo and airmail. However, these links should provide further information about specific areas of interest:
Historical web sites
Air mail pioneers - contains a brief history of the air mail service of the U.S. PostOffice Department. The site contains profiles of the early pilots and also has a number of very interesting photographs.
Air cargo and airmail organisations
The Internataional air cargo association - TIACA are the joint publishers of this book. Their main concern is to support the air cargo industry, but Camille Allaz gave a presentation on the book at at the 22nd Air Cargo Forum and Exposition in September 2004
British International Freight Association (BIFA) BIFA's mission is: "To provide effective representation and support for Britain's freight services industry in the UK and overseas; to promote Best Practice and Total Quality in the provision of freight services by all members, and to encourage and regulate the membership to observe the highest standards of professional competence".
IATA (International Air Transport Association) represents over 270 airlines comprising 95% of international scheduled air traffic. A brief history of the organisation, which was founded in Havana, Cuba, in April 1945 can be found here
The World Freight Group which was formed in April 1992 in Singapore by 11 freight forwarders, has grown dramatically with membership currently standing at 90 members covering more than 82 countries and over 310 air/seaports world-wide.
Air cargo carriers
Emirates SkyCargo was once again declared air cargo carrier of the year at the IFW (International Freighting Weekly) in June 2004. Details of the award are here.
Emirates SkyCargo moved more than 660,000 tonnes of freight in 2003-2004.
Polar Air Cargo is a global air carrier. Its fleet is comprised exclusively of B747 freighter aircraft. Polar was formed in 1993 to fill a void in the scheduled cargo services that US carriers were providing to the international air freight transportation industry.
Volga-Dnepr is an international group of companies with the principal business of providing Antonov AN-124-100 Ruslan aircraft services to transport of outsize and heavy cargo. Some history is here.
Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. is principally involved in the airport-to-airport air transportation of heavy freight cargo through its two operating subsidiary airlines, Atlas Air, Inc., and Polar Air Cargo, Inc. A short history is available here.
Evergreen International Airlines Inc., headquarters is based in McMinnville, Oregon, shipping cargo worldwide with its fleet of 747s and DC-9s
Journals and publications
Air Cargo News is published every two weeks and with over 100,000 readers in more than 170 countries
Air Cargo World News, data, tools and other resources relating to air cargo and airmail. Some historical archives available free online.
Freighters OnlineAccess all the freighter aircraft specifications, utility freighters, operators, charter brokers, ULDs, airline profiles, hushkits and much more, with full cross-referencing of information. List the cargo aircraft and utility freighters, ULDs and pallets characteristics and search for wingspan, loading specifications, structural payload and fuel capacity.
WorldACD Air cargo daily. Online historical information for subscribers.
IFW International Freighting Weekly
FTB Asia News on air cargo in Asia
Payload AsiaThe magazine publishes feature articles on topics covering freight forwarders, shippers, information technology, ground support equipment, airports, finance, airlines and logistics
Air Cargo Consultants and data suppliers
OAG cargo is a leading supplier of comprehensive and accurate cargo schedules data to the global air cargo and forwarder community.
Cargo Facts Air Cargo Management Group (ACMG) offers aviation consulting and airfreight market research services relating to freighter aircraft usage and airfreight and express market strategy changes. Subscription based newsletter available.