NX Group, JAL expand air cargo network

NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS (NX Group) and Japan Airlines (JAL) are set to launch a new air cargo transport partnership covering key routes between Asia and North America, as well as intra-Asia trade lanes.

The partnership will utilise a Boeing 747 freighter (747F) secured by JAL through collaboration with its partners. The service will operate on a round-trip route originating in Los Angeles and connecting Narita, Taipei (Taoyuan), Singapore, and Narita before returning to Los Angeles.

The new service is designed to address strong cargo demand between North America and Asia, as well as growing intra-Asia transportation needs.

The first flight is scheduled to depart Los Angeles on Saturday, October 3, 2026. The service will initially operate once a week in 2026, with NX Group and JAL planning to explore further network expansion in the future.

Demand for AI- and semiconductor-related cargo remains strong, particularly across the Tokyo–Taipei–Singapore corridor. However, the limited availability of large freighter services within Asia has left shippers with relatively few transportation options. The new Narita–Taipei–Singapore–Narita service, operated with a 747F capable of carrying approximately 100 tonnes, aims to address this gap by providing a high-capacity, value-added air cargo network across key Asian markets.

With cargo handling available at each stop along the circuit, the service offers greater flexibility in designing transportation routes and optimizing logistics operations. This enables it to efficiently respond to a wide range of cargo needs between North America—including destinations beyond North America to Latin America—and Asia.

The service will leverage the capabilities of large freighter aircraft to meet growing demand for oversized and heavy cargo, including server racks and data center equipment, as well as high-value shipments driven by the rapid adoption of generative AI and increased investment in digital infrastructure.

Through the partnership, the two companies aim to secure stable and flexible air cargo capacity, provide tailored transportation solutions to meet diverse customer requirements, and support the development of resilient logistics infrastructure for sustainable growth.

Satoshi Otsuji, Senior Managing Executive Officer, President of Global Business Headquarters, NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS said, “Through this partnership, the NX Group will strengthen its ability to provide more stable and flexible transport solutions in response to increasingly sophisticated and diverse air transport needs. Building on our many years of cooperation with JAL, we will further expand our international air cargo network utilizing large freighter aircraft, contributing to the stability of our customers’ supply chains and to their business growth.”

Yuichiro Kito, Executive Officer, Senior Vice President - Cargo and Mail, Japan Airlines, said, “This new partnership further strengthens the long-standing relationship between JAL and the NX Group. In addition to our passenger flights and our own freighter network, this partnership with NX will bring large freighter service to the U.S. West Coast for the first time. We will expand our air cargo network in rapidly growing markets and deliver JALCARGO’s high-quality cargo handling services to even more customers.”