Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) subsidiary ABX Air has secured a long-term agreement to operate a Boeing 767-300 freighter for Miami-based Global Aviation Link (GAL), expanding the logistics provider’s reach into new South American markets.

Announced in a September 15, 2026, press release, the Cargo-Aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) contract enables GAL to add scheduled services to Caracas, Venezuela; Medellín, Colombia; and Quito, Ecuador. The agreement builds on GAL’s existing operations, which include seven weekly frequencies between Miami International Airport (MIA) and El Dorado International Airport (BOG) in Bogotá.

Expanding Latin American freight networks

Global Aviation Link has spent the past three years chartering flights on the Miami to Bogotá corridor. The company holds 25 years of experience commercializing Boeing 767-300 aircraft throughout Central and South America. The new ACMI agreement with ABX Air provides dedicated capacity to support a broader regional air freight and cold-chain shipping network.

Juan Pablo Luchau of Global Aviation Link stated the expanded service will strengthen the company’s position as a leader in regional logistics. “We are pleased to partner with ATSG to expand our reach into new markets,” Luchau noted in the release.

ATSG commercial strategy and leadership

The ABX Air contract aligns with ATSG’s broader commercial strategy to grow charter opportunities while providing flexible operating solutions. ATSG President and Chief Executive Officer Greg Mays highlighted the subsidiary’s extensive experience with the Boeing 767 platform as a key factor in supporting GAL’s expansion.

“This agreement demonstrates how ATSG is delivering on its vision as an aviation solutions provider by matching customers with the right combination of airline and service capabilities,” Mays said.

The announcement follows a period of structural realignment for ATSG. On September 16, 2026, the company appointed Mike Hough as Group President Airlines & Services, a newly created role overseeing the company’s airline operating certificates and aviation services businesses as a single integrated group. ATSG has operated as a private entity since April 11, 2025, following a $3.1 billion all-cash acquisition by alternative investment firm Stonepeak.

AirPro News analysis

We view this agreement as a strategic deployment of ATSG’s legacy Boeing 767-300 freighter fleet. While the company recently began integrating Airbus A330 freighters modified from passenger configurations for its Amazon network, the Boeing 767 remains the backbone of regional cargo operations in the Americas. Securing long-term ACMI contracts with specialized logistics providers like GAL allows ATSG to maintain steady utilization of its 767 assets even as its e-commerce partnerships evolve toward larger airframes.

Sources: Air Transport Services Group, Inc.

A consortium led by Air Arabia Group has secured its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and will commence flight operations for a new low-cost carrier based in Dammam on September 20, 2026.

Announced in a press release on September 15, 2026, the launch follows a competitive bidding process concluded in July 2025. The carrier operates with majority Saudi ownership through consortium partners Nesma Group and KUN Holding Company. The airline will base its operations at King Fahd International Airport (DMM), utilizing Airbus A320 aircraft to support the Kingdom’s National Transport and Logistics Strategy.

Initial route network and fleet strategy

GACA officially granted the AOC on September 14, 2026, clearing the regulatory path for revenue flights. Initial operations will focus entirely on domestic connectivity within Saudi Arabia. The carrier will operate two daily flights from Dammam to Riyadh, two daily flights to Jeddah, and one daily flight to Medinah.

Air Arabia Group Chief Executive Officer Adel Al Ali stated the launch marks a strategic milestone for the company and reflects a commitment to expanding affordable travel options across the country.

“Through our value-driven business model, we aim to enhance air connectivity across the Kingdom, particularly in the Eastern Province, by offering customers a wider choice of direct domestic and international destinations from King Fahd International Airport,” Al Ali said.

Strategic alignment with Vision 2030

The establishment of the Dammam-based carrier is a direct component of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which seeks to position the country as a global logistics and aviation hub. The consortium has outlined aggressive growth targets for the end of the decade. By 2030, the aircraft aims to serve 24 domestic and 57 international destinations, projecting an annual passenger volume of 10 million.

GACA Executive Vice President of Aviation Safety and Environmental Sustainability Captain Sulaiman bin Saleh Almuhaimedi noted the economic implications of the new operator. According to Almuhaimedi, the launch will enhance competition in the air transport market while supporting trade, tourism, and local employment in the Eastern Province.

AirPro News analysis

We view the launch of this Air Arabia-led consortium as a calculated step by GACA to decentralize Saudi Arabia’s aviation growth away from the primary hubs of Riyadh and Jeddah. By anchoring a new low-cost carrier at King Fahd International Airport, regulators are stimulating regional economic diversification in the Eastern Province. The consortium structure allows the Kingdom to leverage Air Arabia’s established low-cost operational expertise while satisfying domestic investment mandates through Nesma Group and KUN Holding Company. The target of 10 million annual passengers by 2030 is ambitious but aligns with the broader capacity expansion mandated by the National Transport and Logistics Strategy.

Sources: Air Arabia

IAG Cargo, MASkargo, and Qatar Airways Cargo have successfully completed their first trilateral customer shipment trial, moving 11 tonnes of copper foil from Malaysia to the United States across all three carriers’ networks. The shipment serves as a primary operational test of the integrated routing and handling systems required for the alliance.

Announced in a September 17, 2026, press release, the trial marks a critical milestone ahead of the planned late 2026 launch of the Global Cargo Joint Business. The cargo originated at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) and arrived at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), transiting through intermediate hubs in Doha (DOH) and Dublin (DUB).

Operational integration and network routing

The successful transport of the 11-tonne shipment required coordinated logistics across multiple global hubs. By routing the cargo through Doha and Dublin before its final transatlantic leg to Chicago, the Cargo-Aircraft carriers tested the seamless transfer of goods, data, and handling procedures between their respective operational systems.

Qatar Airways Cargo Chief Officer Cargo Mark Drusch stated the tripartite shipment showcased the operational alignment and connectivity that will underpin the joint venture. He noted the collaboration aims to build a global cargo offering with greater reach and routing flexibility for freight forwarders and direct customers.

MASkargo (MAB Kargo Sdn. Bhd.) Chief Executive Officer Mark Jason Thomas added that the shipment demonstrates the Partnerships potential to strengthen links between Asian production centers and global demand markets. The trial validates the technical and physical handoffs required to move industrial materials across three distinct airline networks.

Building the Global Cargo Joint Business

First announced in 2025, the Global Cargo Joint Business is designed to eventually provide customers access to over 400 destinations across six continents. The alliance requires deep integration of ground handling and terminal operations at key strategic hubs to function effectively.

The carriers have spent the past year aligning their physical infrastructure. In 2025, MASkargo introduced handling operations at London Heathrow Airport (LHR). Earlier in 2026, IAG Cargo was appointed as the ground handling agent for Qatar Airways Cargo in Dublin and at Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD), securing the European transfer points for the network.

IAG Cargo Chief Executive Officer David Shepherd emphasized the ongoing work to align operations, systems, and expertise across the three companies.

Completing our first trilateral customer shipment is a significant milestone as we continue preparations for the launch of the Global Cargo Joint Business, which will redefine international air cargo.

AirPro News analysis

The successful execution of a trilateral shipment involving three major international carriers highlights the complex logistical choreography required to launch a unified global cargo network. We view the strategic placement of ground handling agreements, such as IAG Cargo managing Qatar Airways Cargo operations in Dublin and Madrid, as the foundational infrastructure making this joint business viable. If the late 2026 launch proceeds as planned, the combined network of over 400 destinations will position this alliance as a formidable competitor in the global air freight market, particularly for high-value manufacturing exports moving from Asia to North America.

Sources: IAG Cargo