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WORLD AIRPORTS .COM ACW Digital is sponsored by FREIGHTERS.COM
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The weekly newspaper for air cargo professionals No. 1,185
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20 JUNE 2022
A lifetime in Airfreight ...
CAL CARGO IS RENAMED CHALLENGE AIRLINES IL
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LATEST – ACW WORLD AIR CARGO AWARDS 2022 WINNERS & SPONSORS Airfreight Forwarder of the Year 2022 Winner - DHL Global Forwarding Sponsored by Air France KLM Martinair Cargo Air Cargo Handling Agent of the Year 2022 Winner - HACTL Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Ltd Air Cargo Charter Broker of the Year 2022 Winner - Air Charter Service Airport of the Year 2022 Winner - Hong Kong International Airport
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hallenge Group’s rebranding and harmonisation strategy brings it a new look, new fleet, new office, and a new name to its legacy carrier, CAL Cargo, says the
company. “There is something quite poetic in an airline originally set up to fly agricultural produce, actually becoming the seed that grew to form the roots of our Challenge Group, today,” says Yossi Shoukroun, chief executive officer of Challenge Group, and new chief executive officer of Challenge Airlines IL. “CAL Cargo has built up an excellent reputation over the past 46 years, as an expert in uplifting complex, outsize shipments. Hence its tagline ‘Your non-standard is our standard’. We felt that the time is now right to reward CAL Cargo’s contribution, both by investing in renewing its fleet and facilities, as well as by firmly establishing it within our group. We have therefore decided on a new
brand name that reflects CAL Cargo’s untiring hands-on attitude and connects it to the other airline subsidiaries within our group. With our new look and new name, we will continue to build on our expertise and strive to offer our dedicated customers in Israel and abroad the best service in alignment with ever-changing market conditions.” As part of its rebranding and Group revamp, Challenge Airlines IL will soon be moving into a new headquarters building in Tel Aviv, Israel. It currently operates a fleet of two B747; however two B767 are in the process of being converted to freighters and these will constitute Challenge Airlines IL’s new fleet on delivery.”
Growing from a seed For more than four decades, CAL Cargo has faithfully served the Israeli market, becoming the country’s largest and leading cargo airline. With its extensive freighter services to destinations in Europe, the US, Far East, and recently
also to the UAE, CAL Cargo provides expert air logistics solutions to thousands of customers around the world, including manufacturers, importers, exporters and the Israeli Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Health and Defence. Founded to transport Israeli agricultural exports to Europe, the airline has since proven itself as a significant contributor to Israel’s international business connectivity in a much wider field. When in 2010 CAL Cargo was acquired by its subsequent chairman of the board, Offer Gilboa, the foundations were laid for what would develop into Challenge Group in 2020. He introduced a commercial approach to the airline’s activities, opened new destinations, and established it as a key pillar within the growing global aviation and logistics group. The airline’s strong business attitude and its efficient and professional approach to handling all kinds of shipments, is captured in the group’s slogan, Challenge Accepted! and also now forms part of its new name.”
Air Cargo General Sales Agent of the Year 2022 Winner - Air Logistics Group Sponsored by Awery Aviation Software Air Cargo Industry Customer Care Award 2022 Winner - Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics Services Air Cargo Industry Achievement Award 2022 Winner - Air France KLM Martinair Cargo Information Technology for the Air Cargo Industry Award 2022 Winner - cargo.one Air Cargo Industry Marketing & Promotional Campaign Award 2022 Winner - Qatar Airways Cargo Cargo Airline of the Year 2022 Winner - Qatar Airways Cargo Sponsored by ECS Group Full details of the presenters and comments from the winners in next week’s issue.
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Cargolux and Bolloré Logistics Amazon man to be new sign SAF agreement Flexport CEO
CARGOLUX and long-term partner Bolloré Logistics have signed an agreement for the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in joint operations. The deal, covering 800,000 litres of SAF forms part of the Cargolux SAF programme. This initiative will enable Bolloré Logistics to reduce its Scope 3 Greenhous Gas Emissions by at least 2,200 tonnes of CO2e, a reflection of both parties’ commitment to sustainable operations. “Cargolux is strongly committed to the development and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel and has foreseen investment in SAF-related projects over the coming years. The agreement we signed with our long-term partner Bolloré Logistics is a significant achievement, one we hope to build on in the future. Taking this step with a trusted customer is important for Cargolux and it highlights both our companies’ engagement for environmentally-sound operations,” says Domenico Ceci, executive vice president for sales and marketing. “Sustainable Aviation Fuel is a key solution for Bolloré Logistics to decarbonise transportation and reach our carbon reduction targets set up in our CSR programme – ‘Powering Sustainable Logistics’. Building a strong partnership with a crucial partner like Cargolux is critical to enable the aviation industry to operate a transition towards a more sustainable future. We are very glad to engage in this journey together,” says Pierre Houé, deputy COO of Bolloré Logistics. Agreements such as this one, build on the foundations for cleaner operations and Car-
What is SAF? ACCORDING to IATA, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is “the main term used by the aviation industry to describe a nonconventional (fossil-derived) aviation fuel. SAF is the preferred IATA term for this type of fuel although when other terms such as sustainable alternative fuel, sustainable alternative jet fuel, renewable jet fuel or biojet fuel are used, in general, the same intent is meant.
golux is proud of embarking on this journey with Bolloré Logistics. Sustainability is a crucial focus for air cargo and Cargolux is engaged in the industry’s commitment to more environmentally sound operations. The development and availability of SAF ranks high on Cargolux’s agenda. The airline has a dedicated SAF programme securing the acquisition of current and next generation sustainable fuels. These initiatives, aimed at reducing both parties’ emissions, position Cargolux as an advocate for sustainability within the air cargo industry and hence global supply chains. In line with its “Powering Sustainable Logistics” CSR program, Bolloré Logistics committed to cut 30% by 2030, compared to 2019, of its Scope 3 CO2 emissions generated by the execution of transport. The ambitious goal, well-below the 2°C trajectory, involves making a sustainable offering central to its operations. Since then, the company launched AIRsaf, an offer based on the use of SAF that also incorporates an end-to-end approach, with low-carbon pre-carriage and postcarriage transportation, as well as management of reusable packaging. It also made various partnerships with airlines to promote the use of SAF to decarbonise air freight and enable its customers to meet their emission reduction targets. Cargolux, based in Luxembourg, operates a fleet of 30 Boeing 747-8 freighters and Boeing 747-400 freighters. “‘Biofuels’ typically refers to fuels produced from biological resources (plant or animal material). However, current technology allows fuel to be produced from other alternative sources, including non-biological resources; thus, the term is adjusted to highlight the sustainable nature of these fuels. “The chemical and physical characteristics of SAF are almost identical to those of conventional jet fuel and they can be safely mixed with the latter to varying degrees.”
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AMAZON CEO worldwide consumer director Dave Clark will become CEO of the Flexport logistics technology platform on September 1. Flexport founder and current CEO Ryan Petersen will serve as co-CEO for six months after Clark’s appointment to ensure a smooth transition and in March 2023 will then assume the role of executive chairman to focus on the company’s long-term vision and strategy. Clark brings more than two decades of global experience. He joined Amazon in
operation. Over the last two decades, Dave helped scale Amazon into the technology and supply chain juggernaut it is today. He is a builder and an entrepreneur at heart, with the leadership experience that will shepherd Flexport into the most exciting phase of our journey He added: “In my new role as executive chairman, I will focus on what I do best: setting Flexport’s long-term vision and strategy to leverage technology to solve the most pressing problems in global commerce.”
1999 and helped transform the company from an online bookstore to a global retailer. Ryan Petersen said: “The opportunity for Flexport grows bigger every day. The right leader will unlock our full potential by building the most productive and efficient
Flexport was founded in 2003. In 2021, the company recorded $3.3 billion in revenue, more than doubling its previous annual revenue, and had its first EBIT positive year. It now has nearly 3500 employees across 23 offices worldwide.
Gatwick launches second runway consultation GATWICK airport in the UK is to launch a focused statutory public consultation on plans to bring its existing northern runway into routine use alongside its main runway. It will run until 27 July. The revised plans include redesign of major roads around the airport. The airport’s proposal would see the Northern Runway brought into routine use, for departing aircraft, by repositioning its centre line further north by 12 metres – enabling dual runway operations with the airport’s Main Runway. The Northern Runway could be operational by summer 2029, it says. Gatwick is a major gateway to London and the UK and was until recently the world’s busiest single-runway airport. Stewart Wingate, CEO, Gatwick Airport
said: “When we launched our initial public consultation last September, we wanted to hear from people and interested groups on our plans to bring our existing Northern Runway into regular use alongside our Main Runway. Following feedback on our proposals, we have listened and taken the decision to amend several aspects of these plans, particularly our highways designs, so we are keen to get further feedback from local people and other stakeholders on these updated changes.” An agreement with West Sussex County Council forbidding the simultaneous use of both runways expired in 2019. The project will be delivered in a sustainable way which helps the airport to meet its goal of zero airport emissions before 2040.
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The Volocopter takes flight
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VOLOCONNECT’S fixed-winged aircraft completed its first flight in May at the UP.Summit transportation innovation gathering. The urban air mobility (UAM) pioneer says the Volocopter is the only eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft) developer worldwide to have an entire fleet of distinct aircraft configurations undergoing flight tests. VoloConnect is its third solution, and offers further and faster journeys than any other Volocopter aircraft to date, with a range of over 60 miles and flight speeds above 155 mph, the company claims with a target of a 2026 entry into service. Volocopter CEO “Florian Reuter said: “Having a whole family of electric aircraft in the test flight phase is a pioneering feat. Volocopter’s leadership in the industry stems from announcing plans and then delivering on them visibly with public test flights. “Our technology platform is the foundation for our family of aircraft approach and has proven to deliver results at an astounding speed. Volocopter is bringing these innovative
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designs off the ground, into the air, and then to cities worldwide.” Chief engineer Sebastian Mores, added: “Seeing the VoloConnect soar to the sky marks the achievement of one of our key milestones and demonstrates just what we are capable of in line with the company’s overall strategy for crewed and uncrewed aircraft. Furthermore, new technologies will be tested that will gradually be implemented during the overall programme development.” Volocopter says it has designed the VoloConnect and its other eVTOL aircraft to meet EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) standards. The VoloConnect is a lift-and-cruise aircraft optimised for missions beyond the urban and suburban space. Keeping moving parts to a minimum, its six rotors facilitate vertical takeoff, while two electric fans in combination with uplift-creating wings ensure high forward speeds. Its prototype is currently undergoing flight tests to verify that the aircraft and its systems are in line with performance limits and prepared for the subsequent development.
Dimerco delivers test kits to Covid-hit Taiwan
AS COVID-19 infections continuing to climb in Taiwan, a rapid diagnostics company turned to Dimerco to deliver self-test kits from Hong Kong. The forwarder used commercial airfreight to transport 165 pallets weighing nearly 50 tonnes from HKG to TPE in just four days, even though the required delivery date directly followed the busy Hong Kong Easter holiday. Dimerco also achieved significant savings for its customer by consolidating the cargo into a single flight rather than the usual two to three passenger flights after the airline agreed to prioritise the freight. It also avoided the express freight charges generally levied on the Friday peak. To further expedite the shipment at destination, Dimerco co-ordinated the customer’s assigned customs clearance and trucking vendors onsite at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to complete the import procedure and enable seamless onward transportation.
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It continued to report status of the freight to the customer live in real time. Despite the shortage of truck drivers across the industry, Dimerco also managed to pick up all 165 pallets from the shipper at origin and transport the freight to HKG airport. Concluding, Dimerco’s CSC said: “Dimerco’s powerful combination of a global network, covering 300+ offices in 67 countries including 160+ company-owned freight forwarding offices and 80+ logistics centres, with strong carrier and partner relationships, and leading-edge IT systems enables us to connect Asia with the world like no other global 3PL. As 3.5 million people, or about 15% of the population of Taiwan, are estimated to be at risk from being infected by COVID-19, this project was critical and we are proud to have been able to play our part, delivering vital Self-Test Kits to where they were needed, when they were needed, whilst also saving costs for our customer.”
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Seko Logistics name first global head of sustainability
SEKO Logistics has named Kai Lincoln as its first Global VP of Sustainability, taking a major step forward in its ongoing drive and commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG). Particularly, in 2022, SEKO will be declaring an ambitious goal to have all their owned and controlled facilities and activities, including road linehaul and parcel final mile, be carbon neutral by 2050. In his new position, Lincoln will oversee all efforts in support of this goal. Based in Sydney, Australia, Lincoln joined SEKO in January 2014 as Managing Director of SEKO Omni-Channel Logistics, where he spearheaded the growth and development of SEKO’s international ecommerce capabilities for brands, while also introducing their first sustainable packaging options for brands looking to reduce their carbon footprint within ecommerce. As part of his work directing ESG efforts for the global company, Lincoln will call upon the expertise of SEKO’s newly formed ESG committee and regional business leads in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia and New Zealand. To date, this group developed SEKO’s sustainability roadmap, which contains set milestones and timelines with key targets in the coming years. “Our clients want to work with responsible partners who do more than talk about making a difference – partners that actually show progress against their commitment to ESG. In fact, we see sustainability as a growth generator. It will take strong focused leadership, which Kai has repeatedly demonstrated over the past six
years, to achieve success, but creating a more sustainable global supply chain is a non-negotiable,” said James Gagne, president and CEO, SEKO Logistics. “This is going to be the ‘reality check’ for future client relationships. While we do not have all the answers yet, we are taking steps forward with tangible goals, and we have the ambition and determination to achieve them.” SEKO has been taking progressive steps to accelerate their sustainability commitment since completing their first “Green Audit’ a decade ago. SEKO’s sustainable procurement policy works to build partnerships with like-minded airlines, shipping lines and road freight vendors. It also provides clients with carbon calculator tools to improve the visibility of shipping impact and increase carbon offsets. In addition, five SEKO facilities in North America and Europe are now operationally equipped to capture and use solar energy. Plus, across their facilities worldwide, SEKO is now measuring energy and emission impacts to help identify operational areas for reduction. SEKO has also joined industry-led initiatives such as the Sustainable Air Freight Alliance (SAFA) to learn and contribute within its partner community, and sourced home compostable ecommerce packaging which breaks down in less than 180 days into completely non-toxic elements. In 2022, SEKO also introduced sustainability training internally for its more than 2,000 employees. Lincoln noted that logisticians must become actively involved to reform the industry and reduce their direct and indirect use of fossil fuels. “Better utilisation of supply chain capacity, working with ‘greener’ vendors, utilising home compostable packaging, implementing energy saving solutions within facilities, and driving growth in recommerce are all practical steps to begin reducing the logistics industry’s carbon footprint,” said Lincoln. “This isn’t an overnight journey, but one that will require sustained commitment beginning with myself, our executive team and every employee at SEKO, to ensure that we see continued material improvement over the short, medium and long-term. I am excited and grateful to be given this opportunity to redirect my efforts, knowledge and passion toward the changes that absolutely need to happen.”
Flying flowers without carbon
KUEHNE+NAGEL and LATAM Airlines have compensated all their carbon emissions for flower shipments managed during the latest Mother’s Day season, where thousands of tonnes of flowers were transported from Colombia and Ecuador to North America and Europe. They allocated resources to environmental care projects in Chile and Peru. The Photovoltaic Solar Park, in Chile’s Atacama Desert, aims to generate clean and
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renewable energy. In Peru, the offset focused on Community Forest Management, on the edge of the Amazon rainforest. President of Kuehne+Nagel for South and Central America, Ingo Goldhammer, said: “The partnership with LATAM fills us with optimism as we develop nature-based projects within the region and protect the place we live in while delivering value to our like-minded customers and the community.” CEO of LATAM Cargo, Andrés Bianchi, added: “We capped a record-breaking Mother’s day season in terms of volume with this landmark achievement. Collaborating with Kuehne+Nagel in offsetting these shipments carbon emissions is a significant milestone for our Let’s Fly Neutral Program, and we look forward to continuing offering our customers more options to jointly reach our sustainability goals”.
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K+N to India airport transfers go electric GLOBAL forwarder Kuehne+Nagel is to use electric vehicles for airport transfers in Mumbai, India to reduce its carbon footprint and help create a greener India. The Indian-made Mahindra Treo Zor vehicle will shuttle air cargo between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and Kuehne+Nagel’s Mumbai airport warehouse. It is expected to save 24.7 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. SVP, global head of products and services
develop sustainable solutions for a fully carbon neutral transport journey. The introduction of EV airport transfer is the next phase in our transition to low-carbon, door-to-door air transportation, with more sustainable services to follow.” Managing director for India, Sri Lanka and Maldives, Coen Van Der Maarel, added: “Today the transportation of goods is a major contributor to carbon emissions. Fully electric vehicles have zero tailpipe emissions, but even when
for air logistics, Marcel Fujike, said: “As an environmentally and socially responsible organisation, Kuehne+Nagel is proud to use EVs in India for its airport transfers to offer green logistics solutions and reduce carbon emissions. “Our customers have benefited from the global availability of SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) since last year, and we continue to
electricity production is taken into account, petrol or diesel vehicles emit almost three times more carbon dioxide than the average EV. “Using EVs will not only reduce carbon footprint but will also offer substantial operating cost savings over comparable, conventional, gasoline-fuelled vehicles, allowing us to contribute significantly to the sustainability cause.”
Sweet home Alabama for DSV and LATAM DSV and LATAM are collaborating in a joint charter service from Huntsville, Alabama via Bogota to Viracopos, Brazil as an alternative to more congested routes. Branded LATAM Star, flights are loaded and controlled by DSV Air & Sea lift provided by LATAM with weekly Monday morning departures are scheduled to arrive the same day in Brazil. DSV Air & Sea executive vice president, Mads Ravn, said: “DSV has grown its airfreight competencies and volumes over the last years, and we will continue to build on our strong and growing charter network. The new Huntsville-Brazil-Bogota service is another add-on which expands the DSV charter network to the resurging Latin America region from the uncongested Huntsville
International Airport.” LATAM Cargo CEO, Andrés Bianchi commented: “The launch of the route from Huntsville is proof of the opportunities created by the growth of our B767F fleet. This allows us to provide differentiated solutions to our clients, regarding origins, destinations, and frequencies, and strengthen our connectivity to, from, and within South America.” LATAM Cargo Chile, LATAM Cargo Colombia and LATAM Cargo Brazil are the cargo subsidiaries of LATAM Airlines. They have access to the belly of the Group’s passenger aircraft and have a fleet of 14 freighters that will gradually expand until reaching between 19 and 22 freighters by 2023. They operate within LATAM Group’s network as well as on cargo-only international routes.
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Chennault International Airport is the ideal site for locating air cargo operations. Chennault International Airport in Lake Charles, Louisiana, is an emerging national aerospace hub that has kept military, corporate and personal aircraft in tip-top condition for more than three decades. Much of the industry is already familiar with Chennault and the Lake Charles region because of its first-class tenant partners — including Northrop Grumman, Million Air, LandLocked Aviation Services and Citadel Completions. Chennault serves the needs of business, civilian and military aircraft from around the world with world-class infrastructure, state-of-the-art facilities and an array of tenant partners. It is also home to non-aerospace manufacturing and service businesses. Chennault has a 10,701-foot-long runway, the longest at any airport between Houston, Texas, and Cape Canaveral, Florida. It’s capable of handling all aircraft flying today. There’s ample adjacent ramp space.
Chennault is served by an accredited air traffic control tower. FBO services are provided by Million Air. Even with all the development at Chennault, there’s still room to grow. There are more than a dozen tracts of land totaling nearly 1,000 acres available for development. WHY CHENNAULT? Chennault’s attractive competitive advantages include: • Uncongested airspace. • Landing fee incentives / waived landing fees. • A new 10,000-square-foot air cargo facility, with room to expand. • Significant ramp space with room for oversized cargo, equipment staging, and trucks. • Connected to deepwater port by adjacent rail service. • Adjacent interstate .• South-central location. • Experience in hosting air cargo operations. That’s just the top of the list! The proof of Chennault’s power is best seen by its tenant partners and visitors — from Northrop Grumman to Landlocked Aviation … from Citadel Completions to regular Air Force One arrivals … and from FBO Million Air to ongoing military training exercises.
YOUR NEW FACILITY Construction will be completed this summer on the $4 million air cargo passthrough facility, the newest component in Chennault’s emergence as an aerospace center. Upon its completion, the facility can be certified for international cargo by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. “The willingness to change and look for opportunities outside of the norm is critical to remaining relevant in our dynamic world today,” says Chennault Executive Director Kevin Melton. National consultant David Whitaker, who has more than 30 years of airport and air cargo operations experience, is part of the effort. “Chennault is a very robust airport with enormous potential, and Southwest Louisiana is a cargo-rich region of the world,” he says. TOP HONORS Chennault is Louisiana’s reigning Airport of the Year as judged by the state Department of Transportation and Development. It also earned the designation as the 2021 Southwest Region leader in Louisiana Economic Development’s ranking of top achievements statewide. “The willingness to change and look for opportunities outside of the norm is critical to remaining relevant in our dynamic world today,” said Chennault Executive Director Kevin Melton. “Chennault remains a game-changer — we continue to work toward new tenant partners, more development and more jobs.” THE BOTTOM LINE • Chennault offers relief to airlines and freight forwarders who need space and attention. • Chennault offers value for companies to move goods through a brand-new facility built specifically for air cargo. • Chennault provides a low-cost alternative to the larger markets — where expense, ground delays, and airspace delays limit the efficient flow of goods. • Chennault offers capability, capacity and value. LET’S TALK Contact Chennault International Airport’s economic development team at ciaa@chennault.org or 1-800-272-2422.
Connect with us at: www.afklcargo.com
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NEW CONSTRUCTION, AMPLE ACREAGE, RAMP SPACE ALL MAKE CHENNAULT IDEAL FOR AIR CARGO OPERATIONS
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Kuehne+Nagel to handle Emirates takes delivery of logistics for mega biofuel scheme freighter number 11
KUEHNE+NAGEL is to organise the heavy-lift logistics and module transportation for the hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) biofuels project for Shell in the Netherlands. The project will be one of the largest commercial production facilities in Europe to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel made from waste. The biofuels facility in Rotterdam is expected to start production in 2024. It will produce low-carbon fuels such as renewable diesel from waste in form of used cooking oil, waste animal fat and other industrial and agricultural residual products. Shell’s HEFA biofuels project will be supported by Kuehne+Nagel Project Logistics, new Renewable Energy Logistics solution, tailored to the specific needs of the industry worldwide. It is designed to provide safe and proper transportation of all the components and machinery required to set up and maintain alternative energy projects. Mustafa Sener, global head of project logis-
tics at the forwarder said: “At Kuehne+Nagel, we support the global energy transition and are committed to play an active role in projects such as HEFA biofuels. We are delighted to partner with Shell and assist on producing sustainable fuels, so we can work together on decarbonising energy and transport industry.” Renewable Energy Logistics will focus on delivering supply chain solutions and logistics services for all major modes of transport for the existing and new customers in the renewables industry such as wind (on-shore and off-shore), hydro and solar energy sectors. Kuehne+Nagel offers options to customers who want to start to decarbonise their transport by using low-carbon sustainable fuels to avoid and reduce their emissions by providing alternative transport modes, routes and carrier options. It also invests in nature-based projects as part of its compensation programme in other sectors.
WebCargo unifies rates, bookings and payments ONLINE shipping marketplace Freightos says its WebCargo platform has become the first to unify real-time rates and booking with payments. It follows a pilot of hundreds of shipments for 30 forwarders and two airline groups in three countries. Platform payments are now operational in the US, Europe, and the UK and there are plans to roll out in parts of Asia imminently. Qatar Airways Cargo was the first airline to pilot the solution and is joined by IAG Cargo, with additional airlines expected shortly. Freightos Group CEO Zvi Schreiber said: “Freight and payments are foundations of global trade, but both introduce friction. Until today, forwarders booked cargo on one platform and paid on another, which is like shopping on Amazon but paying on Paypal. “We aim to digitalise both on one platform, improving how forwarders and carriers interact and providing a better experience for importers and exporters.” Chief cargo officer at Qatar Airways Cargo,
Guillaume Halleux, commented: “Integrated payments are a natural progression from digital bookings. By unifying payments with bookings, we can provide more effective and efficient service to a growing base of customers worldwide, safely and securely. This technology opens new frontiers to airlines by allowing them to accept bookings from every freight forwarder in a given market without having to set up or maintain a stock of AWBs.” Nirav Gandhi, managing director of UK freight forwarder Spring World, added: “Since we started using WebCargo, our business has increased significantly. We started with WebCargo six months ago, and it is now our main booking platform.” Peter Roberts, head of distribution at IAG Cargo said: “We are delighted to be part of WebCargo by Freightos’ new integrated payment platform, which supports our objective of streamlining the customer journey. It is an extremely exciting time for the industry.”
IAG Cargo’s new flights from Madrid Barajas airport touched down in Dallas and Washington DC to a water cannon salute. The airline’s new routes use the belly capacity of an Iberia Airbus A332 aircraft, four times a week from Madrid, with capacity of about 20 tonnes. These services add to over 120 weekly connections between Spain and the US, with flights already departing twice a day to New York and Miami from Madrid. IAG Cargo also serves Chicago, Los Ange-
les, Boston, and San Francisco from Madrid. The new routes will act allow access to other American destinations by truck, it adds. IAG Cargo’s vice president commercial for the Americas, Pravin Singh, commented: “Two new routes between Madrid and the US provide our customers with further opportunities to move their cargo between the regions. “The launch of the new routes between Madrid and Dallas and Madrid and Washington DC highlights IAG Cargo’s commitment to offering our customers accessibility into new markets and expanding our wide-body network across the globe.” IAG Cargo utilises capacity on 500 widebody and narrowbody aircraft with hubs placed in London, Madrid and Dublin.
IAG launches routes Madrid-US routes
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EMIRATES has received a new Boeing 777F, bringing its 777 freighter fleet to 11 aircraft. Following delivery from Boeing’s Paine Field in Seattle, A6-EFT headed to Hong Kong to pick up its first load before touching down at its new home, Dubai World Central, with a full load of freight consisting of electronics, consumer goods and general cargo.
in 2023 will begin a programme to convert four passenger 777 aircraft into freighters. All converted aircraft will be re-delivered by the end of 2024. He continued: “These investments reflect our commitment to serving our customers with the best possible assets, as well as to enabling the movement of vital goods and
Emirates SkyCargo divisional senior vice president, Nabil Sultan, said: “Our newest freighter adds welcome capacity to our operations, which have been running at full steam throughout the pandemic to serve our customers and keep global supply chains moving.” He added that the carrier was scheduled to receive delivery of a further 777F in June and
trade flows through Dubai. Emirates SkyCargo will continue its journey as one of the world’s largest and best air cargo airlines, by investing in our fleet, our global network, technology, and world-class logistics infrastructure at our Dubai hub.” Emirates SkyCargo was the launch customer for the Boeing 777F and the aircraft has been at the heart of its operations since 2009.
Forwarder goes supersonic to deliver Top Gun plane THE need for speed was critical for the CEVA Logistics Showfreight team recently when they managed the logistics for a full-scale replica of a Typhoon fighter jet in time for the premiere of the Top Gun remake in London’s Leicester Square. The team had seven hours to unload and install the full-sized model for BAE Systems, which produces the real-world aircraft, ahead of the premiere and the arrival of stars and royalty. Following the departure of the VIPs, the CEVA team dismantles the display, vacating the site by 6am the next morning. CEVA Logistics has built, refurbished and transported several scale replicas for BAE Systems over the past 20 years.
The Typhoon model will next be on display at the Farnborough International Air Show in July. One of the Tempest models was on display at the World Defense Show in Saudi Arabia in March and can be seen at the RAF Cosford Air Show in June. CEVA Logistics managing director for Showfreight, Sharon Robinson, said: “This was a textbook exercise by our experienced team, who completed another high-profile and technically challenging project for BAE Systems. Our long-term relationships with our customers allow us to understand and overcome their logistics challenges - even if that means executing the setup in seven hours in the middle of London.”
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Cargolux inaugurates new service to Shannon CARGOLUX has made Shannon, Ireland the latest addition to its global network. The inaugural flight landed in Shannon on June 9 directly from Seattle. The weekly frequency is routed Los Angeles-Seattle-Shannon-Luxembourg, bolstering the airline’s transatlantic services. The introduction of Shannon is an opportunity for Cargolux to meet growing customer demand and expand its presence in the British Isles. “This new frequency is a welcome development for Cargolux to connect with its global customers and expand services in the area. Shannon is a thriving commercial gateway, and we look forward to building our partnerships in the region,” says Domenico Ceci, Cargolux executive vice-president sales and marketing. Cargolux has been operating ad hoc flights into Shannon for several years and this regular service cements the airline’s commitment to business in the region. This additional gateway in Europe offers commercial opportunities for overseas partners, an option that Cargolux is pleased to offer its customers. The service to the Irish gateway follows news of the airline’s financial results for last year. The carrier’s financial performance
was driven by both an increase in tonnage and higher yields. The market dynamic in 2021 continued to be strongly influenced by the pandemic and its consequent repercussions. The capacity shortage and strong yields experienced in 2020, continued throughout 2021 where demand remained strong. Backlog issues on the global supply chain, ocean freight capacity constraints, and limited belly-hold availability led to sustained demand for air cargo services with volumes close to peak season production throughout the year. Operationally, 2021 was more challenging compared to 2020. Quarantine measures introduced in various countries, confinement of crew to hotels, lack of suitably qualified staff and infrastructure, especially in the USA, all compounded by full warehouses and a shortage of trucking services. The temporary blockage of the Suez Canal also resulted in customers further relying on air cargo for their shipments. The resulting capacity shortage therefore remained under pressure, resulting in year-round high volumes and strong yields reflected in the figures.
Brussels Airport welcomed more than 65,000 tonnes of cargo in May CARGO at Brussels Airport declined in May by 9% compared to May 2021. The airfreight volumes showed a slight decline of 4%. The full freighter segment showed a decline of 11% while cargo on board passenger aircraft rose by 57% due to the increase in the number of passenger flights. The share of cargo flights that were operated with passenger aircraft accounted for 34% of the full freighter flights. In May, Air Belgium, in partnership with Hongyuan, started cargo flights with their first Boeing 747 and Virgin Atlantic operated the first cargo flights with an Airbus 321, they are making the transition from the deployment of passenger aircraft for cargo to operations with full freighters. The express services saw a decline of 15% due to the weakening growth of the e-commerce market in Western Europe and the temporary shift of certain flights to other airports. In addition, the trucked volumes decreased by 25%. This month, Asia is again the largest import and export region. Africa is the second import region and the third export region and noted a growth in both segments compared to last year. North America is the third import region and the second export region. Up until now, 1.3 billion COVID-19 vaccines have been transported via Brussels Airport since the start of the worldwide vaccine transport in November 2020, which makes Brussels Airport the main European hub for vaccine transport.
Growing demand In May, to meet the growing demand for storage and handling space, and given the need to modernise several buildings, Brussels Airport revealed it will invest €70 million over the next three years to redevelop a large area located in the heart of the cargo activities. The works have already started, The cargo area at Brussels Airport has been seeing new developments in recent years and in the coming months and years the next step will be taken. The redevelopment of the central area of the cargo zone and the development of new cargo buildings and offices on the airport site will allow the airport to welcome new partners and offer the new and current partners warehouses and offices that are larger, more efficient, more modern and more sustainable. “Accelerating the development of the cargo zone is one of the priorities within the new strategy of Brussels Airport,” points out Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport Company. “We want to further strengthen our position as a global cargo hub and develop the cargo area in a sustainable way in order to offer our logistics partners the most efficient infrastructure and operational processes.”
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he recent announcement by the Biden administration in Washington that air passengers flying to the United States no longer need a negative Covid-19 result saw airline shares rise on the prospect of greater traffic into the country. This, in turn, will create more belly-hold capacity on long-haul routes that terminate in the United States. This note of positivity is music to the ear of Adam Tetz, director of worldwide marketing at Peli BioThermal. The persistence of the COVID-19 virus in North America is allowing Tetz and his team to enjoy business confidence in the future direction of their market. He says: “Business confidence is strong for pharmaceutical distribution, based on continuing vaccines and therapies for protecting against COVID-19.” Pharma packaging and transport solutions company Peli BioThermal has strong competitors in the USA and competitors from overseas that compete against the in North America too, he notes.
FEATURE
NORTH AMERICA LOOKS TO POSTCOVID-19 WORLD
Manufacturing prospects The fact that Peli BioThermal manufactures its entire product range in North America is its USP in dealing with North Americans. Tetz says: “Our product range is wide and deep and so offers the correct solution for all customers and prospects in North America.” In the very digitally-wired continent, Tetz and his team make full use of social media for sales and marketing activity: “It’s a beneficial tool to promote our activities, including published case studies, white papers and other technical content.” Peli BioThermal has a major new launch this summer for the
pharmaceutical commercial distribution market and that product’s initial focus will be in North America. At the same time, it is significantly expanding both manufacturing and services capacity throughout North America in the next 12 months.
Greening the supply chain At the start of the year, in support of Delta’s path to Net Zero, Delta Cargo launched a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) programme for the carrier. This was to help grow the supply and availability of SAF. This programme will help cargo customers reduce their environmental footprint and create a more sustainable future, said the airline. Through customised contributions to the Delta Cargo SAF programme, freight forwarders and shippers can attain their sustainability goals. In 2020 Delta became the first carbon neutral airline on a global basis - committing to carbon neutrality from March 2020 onward, balancing emissions with investments to remove carbon across global operations. Most recently, Delta joined the First Movers Coalition, a coalition spearheaded by the US State Department and the World Economic Forum designed to accelerate and scale the development of breakthrough technologies and fuels, helping hard-to-abate sectors, like aviation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
North of the 49th parallel Above the US-Canada border, in May Air Canada Cargo’s network continued to expand with new 767 Freighter routes and services to Africa and Europe, in addition to added capacity on its existing global network. B767F services to Europe included one weekly flight from Toronto and Halifax to Cologne; two weekly flights from Toronto and Halifax to Frankfurt; and three flights weekly from Toronto and Halifax to Madrid. Internally, there is added frequency to Halifax, Nova Scotia six weekly flights from Toronto. In true long-haul fashion, there is a weekly flight from Toronto and Halifax to Istanbul.
ACW 20 JUNE 2022
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VIEW FROM THE MAINDECK A LIFETIME IN AIRFREIGHT
Sixty-two years in forwarding and logistics The life and times of airfreight industry stalwart Gerry Burgin began as bombs rained on London. He has lived to see the demise of commercial propeller-powered aircraft, the arrival of jet aircraft services, the rise of the integrators and the launch of that great symbol of the 2020s, Prime Air. He has moved from using Bakelitetelephones on a desk at work to the Apple iPhone in his pocket. He has also weathered oil crises, a number of recessions, Icelandic volcanoes, epidemics and now a pandemic. The grandfather of five was born in west London in 1943, closer in time to the Wright brothers’ historic flight at Kitty Hawk than the modern day. Seventeen years later, Gerry entered the career that would shape his life to this day. Career beginnings Gerry joined the City-based freight forwarder Baker Britt in 1960 as an office messenger. His talent and enthusiasm for freight quickly shone to managers. When he left the company in 1973, he had risen to the role of airfreight director. In that time, Gerry was instrumental in growing the forwarder’s business and profitability considerably. In 1977, Gerry joined forwarder Trans Global Air to start an 18year spell as managing director, then later chairman. In October 1979, just two years into his role at the company, he engineered the merger of three companies that powered Trans Global into becoming the sixth largest UK airfreight forwarder. This was mainly organic growth. While at Trans Global in 1982, Gerry oversaw that it became one of the first forwarders to utilise a complete and bespoke ‘job start to balance sheet’ computer system, including consolidations, agent profit shares and so on. The initial spend was some £280,000 – roughly £1.2 million in 2022 value. Under his watch, turnover increased from £2 million to £34 million by the time he left in 1995 - some £70 million today. That year, he moved as CEO to Wilson Logistics (UK), originally owned by Bilspedition of Sweden. In the three years he was
at the helm, he grew the business with acquisition of Embassy Freight Services to become a top 25 IATA agent in airfreight in the UK. During his career, he was appointed a Fellow of Institute of Freight Forwarders in 1973 and a Fellow of Chartered Institute of Logistics in 2014. Striking out In 1998 at the age of 55, he struck out on his own to start an air freight consultancy. Gerry Burgin Cargo Associates (GBCA) has now been in existence for 24 years. The business soon found itself involved in business matters such as M&A, placements of senior managers and directors, airfreight consultancy and mentoring at board level. When he was in position in the corporate world, Gerry in-
volved himself as much in industry matters as he did on the day job. As long ago as 1971, just a decade after he had entered the industry, in his late-twenties, he served as one of two representatives of the industry at the Institute of Freight Forwarders, now BIFA, on LACES board meetings alongside the Collector of HM Customs & Excise, major airlines including British Airways and NDPS, the computer arm of British Telecomm. LACES (London Airport Cargo EDP System) was the world’s first computerised
automated port Customs clearance/inventory control system. In his time, he has won two BIFA Gold Awards for Airfreight one for Trans Global Air Ltd. in 1992 and one for Wilson Logistics (UK) Ltd. in 1997. Since he has worked as a consultant, on two occasions a major airline has engaged GBCA, In 1999/2001, he began to educate forwarding agents in the UK as to the use and need for FWB transmission and receipt of FSUs and use of 606 Bar Code labels. Some 200 agents were reached with high degree of success A decade ago, acting on behalf of the managing director a major airline, contacted their top 30 global freight forwarding customers, including DHL and UPS and all major multi-national forwarders to encourage the use of the IATA Multi-lateral e-AWB Agreement; again with a very high degree of success. This task also endorsed and fully supported by IATA in Geneva and with the help and support of Des Vertannes and his e-AWB team in Geneva and worldwide. GBCA has had a hand over the last five years in three of the world’s top 10 multi-national forwarders M&As. In 2017, he was invited to become a member of the HAL Steering Group for Cargo. Meetings were held monthly until May 2018. The future Having once been described as a “key influencer” in airfreight, it will be no surprise that, at 78, Gerry is in no mood to sit back and indulge in his main hobbies of collecting antiques, theatre and travel. He feels there is still a lot of work to be done in connection with the wider acceptance of the e-AWB, currently at just 50% in the world-wide industry he is firm in his convictions that the e-AWB is only the first step in the elimination of paper in the industry and will be the foundation of e-Freight. Since the 1980s, Gerry has lived at Hampton, close to Hampton Court Palace, just five miles from London Heathrow; an easy place from which to maintain a watching brief over the global airfreight industry.
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