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28/05/2021 13:03
The weekly newspaper for air cargo professionals No. 1,134
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31 MAY 2021
CODEX: a trusted data ecosystem for the industry
UK Government: Airlines should avoid Belarusian airspace
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INSIDE
THE RISE OF THE PREIGHTER
Cargo has undeniably been a lifeline for the aviation industry during COVID-19. Before the pandemic, cargo typically made up around 12% ... PAGE 2
MENZIES HITS A MILESTONE
Menzies Aviation announced that it has surpassed the milestone of 50 stations in its cargo handling network. This follows a number of significant cargo ... PAGE 3 TO CEIV OR NOT TO CEIV
Andrea Gruber, head of special cargo, IATA spoke to ACW about the ins and outs of their Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) ...
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he UK government has told airlines to avoid Belarusian airspace after a Ryanair flight was diverted to Minsk and an opposition journalist arrested on Sunday. A military plane diverted the flight after a bomb threat was communicated. The Ryanair flight landed in the Belarus capital and dissident journalist Roman Protasevich, 26, was removed from the plane and arrested at the
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airport. UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told MPs the interception of the flight had been a “shocking assault on civil aviation”. He added that further sanctions were being considered against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s regime and that the country’s ambassador in London had been summoned so the UK could convey its “condemnation of these acts”. Belarusian airlines have been
banned from the UK airspace. The foreign secretary also called for the release of Protasevich from the “spurious charges” he faces. “Mr Lukashenko’s regime must be held to account for such reckless and dangerous behaviour,” Raab said. Belavia, Belarus’ flag carrier and national airline, wrote in a statement May 25: “Due to the decision of the British and French governments, we are forced to cancel flights to London and Paris from May 25 to October 30,
2021. “We are saddened by the current situation, which we cannot change. We apologise to our passengers.” The European Union also urged all carriers based in the Union to avoid Belarus, following in the footsteps of the UK’s aviation body. Protasevich has since given a video confession to the charges against him, though those close to him have stated they have strong reason to believe this was filmed under duress.
FLYING TO THE FUTURE
In the spotlight now more than ever, the industry must move forward with the lessons learnt from the past year in an efficient and sustainable way ... PAGE 8
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The rise of the Preighter Cargo has undeniably been a lifeline for the aviation industry during COVID-19. Before the pandemic, cargo typically made up around 12% of the sector’s total revenue; that percentage is believed to have tripled last year, considers Sav Aulakh, managing director at Freightline. In fact, recent data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) shows that demand for the global air cargo market has recovered to pre-pandemic levels, With January being up 1.1% compared to 2019, February up by 9% and March by 4.4%. This is partly because many airline companies have utilised ‘preighters’ to address capacity issues. However, with the return of international travel last week, all that is set to end, as seats are once again occupied by passengers and belly supply will increase.
ation, saying it expects the industry to have negative cash flow through 2021 after previously estimating airlines would collectively break even in the fourth quarter. Roughly 50% of the world’s air cargo goes by belly supply, and while demand for cargo may be up it is estimated that while passenger flight numbers remain at a reduced amount,
AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE
PASSENGER PROBLEMS As airlines refocus on passengers over products and cargo returns to mainly belly supply, the question needs to be asked: is there enough demand from passengers to help right the ship? Latest figures suggest forward bookings for the summer are down 78%, and while many are hopeful the ongoing vaccine rollout in developed countries will bring back customers in the second half of the year, is that quick enough for airlines already burdened with debt? The IATA recently downgraded its outlook for the year because of the worsening situ-
If an aircraft is permitted to land in a particular country, depending on where they flew from and where they landed, the crew can be subject to extensive quarantine and testing regulations. Without a crew, there’s no aircraft and without an aircraft they can’t make other vital cargo journeys. As countries are expected to be able to shift from one tier of the system to another, sometimes with minimal warning, these regulations have the potential to wreak havoc on cargo taken by passenger flights.
there will be a shortage in capacity for air cargo of around 12-13%. As travel restrictions ease, so will the predicted shortage but is there another danger waiting in the wings?
OPERATIONAL OBSTACLES Before any cargo can reach its destination, flight operators must navigate several challenges including airport curfews, border restrictions and flight time limitations. COVID has only worsened the situation with the introduction of new country-specific restrictions, such as the ‘Traffic Light’ system in the UK.
It is difficult to overstate just how much the COVID-19 pandemic has devastated airlines and by extension the impact it has played on the air cargo industry. The rise of the so-called Preighter, a passenger plane acting as a freighter, has undoubtedly softened the blow and helped the industry bounce back faster. However, there are still challenging times ahead. “For the aviation industry, in particular, there is a lot of opportunity at the moment to better prepare themselves for that future,” said Aulakh. “As we’ve seen over the last year, passenger aircraft can be used to transport cargo when passenger flights are impossible. Investing in this idea of the ‘Preighter’ now would allow airline operators to investigate short- to medium-term opportunities to boost their cargo services without the risks involved in maintaining a larger dedicated freighter fleet.”
Rock-it Cargo and Sela Sport Company team up Event logistics specialists Los Angeles-headquartered Rock-it Cargo (Rock-it) and Jeddah-headquartered Sela Sport Company (Sela) have teamed up to form a global partnership supporting the growing sports and entertainment market in Saudi Arabia and beyond. The partnership brings together a combined experience of over seven decades in the entertainment touring, corporate live event, sport, television and film, and exhibition industries. Under the partnership, which kicks off this month, Rock-it will act as Sela’s global freight forwarding and logistics provider in all countries outside of Saudi Arabia, with Sela acting as the logistics provider to Rock-it within Saudi Arabia. “Rock-it now has a partner that is unrivalled in its live event experi-
ence across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Sela now has a global partner with an extended network across five continents,” said Paul Martins, chief executive officer and president, Rock-it. “Both companies are already well-established market leaders in delivering time-sensitive logistics solutions for live sporting and entertainment events, industrial projects, and much more. “This new global partnership provides us with a strong opportunity to further grow our business and broaden our service offering for customers.” Rock-it Cargo is a specialty freight forwarding and logistics company that provides custom solutions for the live entertainment and music touring industries, fine arts, sports and broadcasting, corporate events, industrial power projects, and humanitarian relief markets. Sela provides services in event and project management, event marketing and commercial partnerships, having delivered experiences to a total audience of over 20 million in 28 countries. “Sela is going to raise the bar once more in the event management sector in Saudi with our partnership with Rock-it,” said Loai Kamakhi, general manager of business solutions, Sela. Rock-it will act as Sela’s single provider to handle the global logistics of freight movement to Saudi Arabia for Sela’s ever-growing list of shows and events.
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LATAM Cargo and SkyCell partner for pharma SkyCell, the leading manufacturer of temperature-controlled containers, has partnered with LATAM Cargo Group to help ship pharmaceuticals to South America in a secure, safe, and sustainable way. This partnership comes at a crucial time for the pharmaceutical industry in South America, as the volume of pharmaceuticals being transported by LATAM in the first 18 weeks of 2021 increased by 124% compared to the same period in 2020. LATAM Cargo Group has the network and the expertise the pharmaceutical market requires for South America, and its use of SkyCell’s innovative container solutions through this partnership will help ensure these life-saving biologics make it to their destination in pristine condition. LATAM Cargo’s partnership with SkyCell will help increase supply chain reliability and flexibility by ensuring cargo is kept at the optimal temperature throughout its journey, monitored by SkyCell’s IoT and Lane Risk Assessment technology. SkyCell’s highly innovative hybrid containers allow pharma companies to optimise supply chains using data to predict and control risk. Using more than three-quarters of a billion data-points relating to factors including temperature, location, and time, the containers deliver a market-leading and audited failure rate of less than 0.1% – compared to the commonly-accepted rate of up to 12% – while reducing CO2 emissions by almost half. Cristina Oñate, VP marketing and product development at LATAM Cargo Group: “Our new alliance with SkyCell expands our alternatives to continue satisfying our clients’ needs at a critical time for medicine and vaccine transportation. We continuously work to provide the highest cold chain standards, as these goods are delicate and extremely sensitive to temperature deviations. At LATAM Cargo, we are committed to supporting our clients in their daily operations and contributing to the current global health crisis by providing the best pharma experience and ensuring pharmaceutical products’ high quality levels.” Chiara Venuti, head of airline partners at SkyCell: “SkyCell’s innovative containers protect goods from the extreme temperature and seasonal changes that occur when shipping from Europe and North America to Latin America. Mitigating potential infrastructural challenges also, our containers provide additional security in the cold chain. By working with LATAM we can help more people get the life-saving medicines they need.”
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Aircargo Transport clamp down on theft with Vimcar Vimcar, the fleet management software for small and medium sized businesses, has been working with international transport service provider Aircargo Transport to optimise its fleets’ route and track its vehicles – enabling the identification and tracking of a stolen vehicle in real time, resulting in minimal cost implications. Aircargo Transport is an international transport service provider, responsible for the efficient movement of air cargo and special ‘high value shipments’ via a 13-strong fleet of specially designed trucks. Aircargo Transport initially installed Vimcar’s Fleet Geo to help optimise their fleet’s routes. With a strong focus on improving customer experience, the SaaS plug-and-play solution allowed Aircargo Transport to provide critical, real-time information on the whereabouts of their vehicles and location. Using this information, the team are then able to provide their customers with arrival times, down to the minute – even notifying the organisation when a vehicle had been stolen. Sven Kirchner, managing director, Aircargo Transport says: “A notification came through to my mobile saying a truck was on the move. After speaking to the driver of the truck, we quickly realised it had been stolen. After a quick call to the police, they were able to track and secure the vehicle using Vimcar’s live tracking functionality before too much damage was done.” “The truck had only travelled a small distance, but we would never have been able to find it had we not had the Fleet Geo software installed” Kircher says.
Ronald Clancy, UK country manager, Vimcar comments: “This is another great example of how businesses can benefit from
Vimcar’s easy-to-use solution. As we found in autumn of last year, vehicle misuse threatens to add further economic strain to SMEs in the UK, with vehicle theft costing UK businesses more than £16,000 per year. For those looking into a telematic system, a GPS fleet management system that includes features such as live tracking, geofencing and data exportation would be the best way to curve vehicle theft and misuse.” Kircher continues: “Our aim is to provide our customers with critical, real-time information about the location of their goods, 24-hours a day. Punctuality is the top priority for us, no plane will wait for our trucks’ cargo. Vimcar’s solution has supported us hugely in optimising our fleets routes and making sure we are arriving on time, every time.” Founded in Berlin in 2013, Vimcar is the leading provider of fleet telematics solutions to SMEs in its home country of Germany and introduced its Fleet Geo product to the UK market last summer. Vimcar’s SaaS telematics solutions cover all aspects of fleet management, including cost and document management, outlier analysis, CO2 reporting, real-time vehicle tracking, theft warning and route planning.
Menzies hits a milestone Menzies Aviation announced that it has surpassed the milestone of 50 stations in its cargo handling network. This follows a number of significant cargo contract wins globally and strategic joint ventures which have seen Menzies expand its presence into 17 new airports over the last year. Despite the challenging conditions of the past year, Menzies has achieved significant expansion, offering cargo logistics solutions across the sector. AMI, its cargo wholesale subsidiary, continues to see substantial growth after a record year in 2020 with ongoing investment to boost capacity at existing sites as well as targeting further expansion. Highlights for the cargo handling business include contract wins with Qatar Cargo in the UK, USA, Australia and New Zealand and most recently with United Airlines Cargo in Sydney and Melbourne. At the beginning of May Menzies started up operations on behalf of Avianca at Miami, a contract that will see around 250,000 tonnes of cargo being handled annually.
Caribbean Airlines Cargo ship Sinopharm On May 18, Caribbean Airlines Cargo transported 100,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccines to Trinidad and Tobago. The shipment is the largest number of COVID-19 vaccines brought to the country to date. The temperature-sensitive shipment was moved from Beijing to Trinidad connecting in Toronto through the airline’s cargo charter service. Caribbean Airlines collaborated with Hainan Airlines, which carried the shipment to Toronto where it was transferred to the Caribbean Airlines Boeing 737 aircraft. The carrier has been supporting the region throughout the pandemic through the shipment of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and COVID-19 test kits to 16 Caribbean countries. “Caribbean Airlines continues to contribute to the region’s COVID-19 recovery efforts through our expertise in transporting time-sensitive shipments,” said Marklan Moseley, general manager, cargo and new business, Caribbean Airlines.
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Mantle expands capability AmSafe Bridport has further developed the Mantle product line into fire protection products specifically for the airframe structure, meeting the needs identified by major OEM’s. Mantle technology is now being utilised in the form of Fire Protection Liners (FPL), but also as Fire and Smoke Barriers (FSB). FSBs are used in both military and commercial aerospace to protect personnel from cargo fire and the resulting smoke toxins, enabling the aircraft to make a safe landing. Mantle technology is also being developed for use on electric urban air mobility vehicles.
Efficiency improvements for defence operators Mantle FSBs are currently in service with the US Armed Forces and have proven particularly
advantageous for providing a flexible QuickChange solution. These circumstances require a fire and smoke barrier that can be changed out or moved to a different location within the aircraft with both speed and ease, such as with combi operations. This is a notable improvement compared to hard-mounted barriers that either do not allow for a reconfiguration or require excessive time and human resources to do so.
Commercial operators see economic benefits Within a commercial setting, the Mantle FSB offers similar advantages, and the weight savings provided by this flexible, engineered textile solution should also be considered
when comparing them with solid barrier structures in both military and commercial settings. These have both become a key consideration for operators within the context of fuel savings and sustainability. AmSafe Bridport designed the Mantle product range specifically to contain or protect aircraft, cargo, and crew from an on-board fire. Mantle can significantly minimise the risks and losses caused by fires through the transport of un-declared Dangerous Goods (DGs), and add an extra layer of protection during the transportation of declared Dangerous Goods such as standalone Li-Ion battery packs. The first Mantle product was the Fire Containment Cover (FCC), which is available for use with both pallets and cargo containers. In the event of an on-board fire, the FCC (and FCB) allow smoke to escape and trigger active fire protec-
tion systems like alarms and sprinklers whilst still containing fire and allowing the crew the opportunity to commence emergency operations. This system significantly reduces the impact of fire on personnel, passengers, aircraft structure, and other cargo. The FAA and EASA have since awarded the Mantle FCC by AmSafe Bridport a Technical Standard Order (TSO-C203). Full-scale fire tests have shown that an FCC can contain a Class A fire for 6 hours. The FCC has subsequently evolved into Fire Containment Bags (FCB) and Skid Fire Containment Covers for specialised or bespoke requirements. These have been successfully tested with Li-Ion battery fires, generating heat over 1500°C. The Mantle range has grown further, including The FSB and FPLs, providing added layers of protection for your aircraft and personnel.
The Air Charter Excellence Awards makes a live return The Air Charter Association’s Excellence Awards is making a return this year with a faceto-face event on Thursday October 21 2021. After a year of online events, the Awards, held at The Millennium Hotel – Copthorne Effingham Park, near London Gatwick Airport, will be a welcome step to normality. “We are making some key changes to the format, in order to ensure we can accommodate all our members and really re-unite the industry,” said the Association. “We are taking advantage of the hotel-based location by
switching the event to an evening gala dinner. Guests will be able to stay at the hotel, or close by in one of numerous hotel options. With less than a ten minute transfer time from the airport this location is well
placed for our international members.” Tickets will be on sale in a few weeks’ time and more details on the awards categories and voting will be published in due course.
O’Brian appointed CEO Reach Airports Reach Airports, the U.S.-based joint venture between Munich Airport International’s (MAI) US holding and CAG Holdings, has announced the appointment of Andrew O’Brian as the company’s new chief executive officer. As an experienced business leader, O’Brian will assume responsibilities at Reach Airports on August 1, 2021. Having successfully served in a number of key leadership positions in the aviation sector over the past decades, Andrew brings a wealth of expertise. He will guide Reach Airports in providing management, consulting and training services to airports in the North American market. In his new role, he will be responsible for overall company management, business development, and cooperation with airport-related partner firms. “Andrew is a well-respected senior executive
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in the aviation industry. He has a track record of developing best-in-class airport organisations that provide premium service to clients and customers – this is exactly the calibre we are looking for to further build up Reach Airports as a strategic partner to airports, airlines and the public. Together we will bring Munich Airport’s operational expertise and outstanding consulting and training approach to shape the US’s aviation infrastructure for the future demands in mobility,” said Ralf Gaffal, managing director at MAI. O´Brian is currently President and CEO of Quiport, a SPV launched to invest, build and operate the Quito International Airport. He has been part of a global team of lenders, investors, developers and engineers to build a brand new greenfield international airport in the city of Quito.
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CODEX: a trusted data ecosystem for the industry Hong Kong- based Virtual Control launched it’s its new CODEX Data-as-a-service (DaaS) platform this month at the online Collision technology conference. CODEX will provide shippers with a comprehensive understanding of their cargo’s entire journey from start to finish. “Under the systems presently in place, containers can be tracked by Bluetooth tags,” said Virtual Control’s president Thomas Gerstner. “You may be able to track where your cargo is physically, but you have zero transparency who’s in charge of it and what are the current conditions of that container and its precious cargo at any point in time. With our CODEX platform, we answer all those questions in real-time.”
Minimise risk, maximise efficiency But it’s also more than just tracking. The data CODEX will generate allows airlines and other shippers to determine who might be their most trustworthy partners at various hubs, in order to minimise risk and maximise efficiency. Plus, this system is not intended to supplant existing infrastructure. Rather, CODEX is designed to work in conjunction with current technology. According to Gerstner, the process begins through the simple use of a mobile application, deployed on the tarmac when cargo is loaded into ULDs. The app captures information from the ULD, storing everything from content information, weight distribution and load configuration while the smartphone camera captures a digital
Employee facing apps: All they’re cracked app to be? Logistics businesses worldwide are harnessing the latest technologies and software to optimise operations along the supply chain. Applications, both customer facing and business facing, have become integral to everyday processes. But what happens when app tap-
record of the unit and its physical condition. Throughout the delivery process, the system tracks, then delivers information automatically, recording any product damage while also identifying all hand overs of cargo custody. “Through a combination of AI and Blockchain technology, CODEX will essentially create the world’s most trusted data ecosystem for the air cargo industry,” Gerstner said. “But as an added benefit CODEX will also provide a financial advantage to airlines and shipping companies by reducing liability from safety risks while instantly identifying the party who may be liable for damages, thereby adding an additional layer of discovery to any potential insurance claim.”
Demand is high The need for this service, Gerstner told ACW, has never been greater.
ping goes wrong? New research by mobile data capture specialist WorkMobile, has shown that many face regular reports of issues from their workforce. The report, which explores the rising case for ‘no coding’ app development, revealed that 75% of CIOs in the logistics sector have received complaints from end users about their apps’ functionality. The two most commonly reported problems are that apps are not updated frequently enough (38%) and that they are not sufficiently tailored to employees’ needs and roles (25%). Exploring the reasons behind these issues, the report found that while 48% of logistics
“The value of all goods transported by air freight, nearly 50% of which travels on passenger aircraft, is more than $18 billion, representing 35% of the world’s trade,” he said. “And that number is only going to continue growing, as the demand for cargo air freighters is expected to increase roughly 60% over the next five years. “We are the only company able to provide data insights into the end-to-end shipment process which can be 100% trusted. Everybody out there is able to answer the question “WHERE is the cargo”. However until today, there is no answer to the question: WHO is in charge of the cargo at any point in time during the shipment process. Is it the airline, the ground handler, the freight forwarders, etc.? “Damages to cargo and the cargo containers are one of the major concerns in air cargo logistics and a significant security concern for airlines. Therefore, this is an important question as up to 12 custodian parties can be involved. Providing trusted data to the air cargo ecosystem and showing the conditions of cargo, the cargo container and pallets from all hand-over points will help to protect shipments like never before.” ULDs are the key to the entire air cargo supply chain. There are presently more than a million such containers in service worldwide worth a replacement value of over $1 Billion. “Through CODEX, we are essentially creating a new data economy for the air cargo industry by providing the platform of trust and transparency around these ULDs that has never existed before,” Gerstner said.
industry CIOs are expected to enable employees to work remotely more easily, more than a third (34%) are also under intense pressure from other senior members of the business to
adhere to restrictive budget constraints. This has resulted in issues both when developing mobile solutions in-house, and when procuring third-party apps. According to the research, 38% of CIOs in the industry have experienced difficulties developing apps within
a designated financial budget, while another 38% have found costs a problem when implementing off the shelf apps. Colin Yates, chief support officer at WorkMobile, commented: “Mobile apps can be a brilliant way to streamline operations and facilitate better remote working – particularly for field-based employees. They can also help to make social distancing easier, by eliminating the need for certain employees to return to the office to complete paperwork. “However, it’s clear that in their efforts not to exceed tight department budgets, many logistics sector IT teams are struggling to find and implement apps that truly make the end users’ roles and responsibilities easier.”
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To CEIV or not to CEIV? Andrea Gruber, head of special cargo, IATA spoke to ACW about the ins and outs of their Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) programme, which was launched back in 2014. CEIV is available to train, guide and support industry stakeholders in Pharma, Fresh and Live Animals.
ACW: What are the benefits of being CEIV certified for businesses and their customers? Andrea Gruber: When transporting temperature sensitive pharmaceutical products, quality is key and cannot be jeopardised. CEIV Pharma certification ensures that companies meet the regulatory requirements, benchmark their activities towards international, national as well as IATA requirements while mitigating the impact and the risks. Companies that have implemented quality-driven strategy programmes such as the IATA Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics (CEIV Pharma) programme have a significant advantage in building confidence
and trust, in a collaborative environment where the integrity of such sensitive products is maintained throughout the handling and transport journey until it reaches its end customer. In addition, visibility and transparency of the existing company’s facilities globally is critical especially for manufacturers to identify the level of infrastructure and trained staff at airports to perform their trade lane risk assessment. To address this IATA developed an industry platform “IATA ONE Source” for validated aviation capabilities and infrastructure information, from specific infrastructure requirements such as temperature-controlled rooms to IATA certifications. This information is accessible free of charge on the IATA website and has currently more than 700 companies registered. ACW: How has the pandemic affected demand for CEIV certification? Gruber: The coronavirus crisis has exposed challenges that the industry faces pertaining to the capacity of organisations to pivot rapidly to the evolving situation and it also shows the necessity of having globally aligned and harmonised standard when transporting pharmaceuticals. Because of the need to count on reliable partners especially in time of crisis, IATA has seen an increase of demand for CEIV Pharma certification. Companies involved in the CEIV programme are very committed in making it right and invest time and resources to enhance their processes, infrastructure or other needs as well as committed to continuous improvement. This cannot be achieved in an “express” way. Though IATA was asked to create a “CEIV Pharma Light” but this was refused as quality cannot be jeopardised and ensuring the visibility of the right players is key in building trust and confidence.
ACW: What are the benefits for companies to earn CEIV over GDP? Gruber: CEIV Pharma incorporates all aspects of GDP and even goes beyond by including other best practices, recommendations, and regulations. The EU GDP chapters and sections remain high level that is why IATA has translated all GDP requirements in detailed questions in the CEIV pharma audit checklist in order to be applicable to the transport industry. In this context being CEIV Pharma certified makes the company GDP compliant. Here are additional elements of CEIV Pharma, it: • • • • •
Incorporates IATA air freight require ments (e.g. TCR) Includes requirements set in regula tions and standards (e.g. EU GDP, WHO) Aims at covering international stan dards and country-specific requirements depending where the certification takes place Focuses on transport, handling and temporary storage that apply to air cargo in areas such as ground/tar mac and aircraft (un)loading, which are not covered by existing GDPs Focuses global, consistent, and standardised validation specific for pharma shipment in air
freight throughout the supply chain • Uses an unique CEIV audit Checklist globally • Is recognised by the industry ACW: Can you explain the process behind awarding CEIV? What is the audit checklist? Gruber: The CEIV Pharma approach is twofold, the first phase is an assessment (pre-audit) carried out to review and evaluate current practices, processes, operations, training, and requirements against the criteria set in the CEIV Pharma Logistics Audit Checklist. This checklist is based on the Temperature Control Regulations (TCR), international pharmaceutical regulatory requirements as well as on best practices in risk-based quality management systems. The non-conformities, gaps and findings identified during the assessment will have to be addressed and closed before the second phase namely the validation (audit) takes place. Therefore, the time needed to close the gaps can vary depending on the findings identified. IATA is following a supply chain approach therefore the CEIV Pharma is relevant to truckers, freight forwarders, airlines as well as to cargo and ramp handlers. The audits are carried out by independent validators with experience in the field of auditing, quality, and operations. Thus, for those shipping pharmaceutical and life science products, the CEIV Pharma programme will provide a reliable quality benchmark.
Claesen on the process of gaining certification
Marc Claesen, senior vice president commercial EMEAA, Worldwide Flight Services explains the process behind gaining the CEIV and GDP certifications. WFS recently gained both CEIV and GDP certification at their Madrid facility. “GDP certifications demonstrate WFS’ ability to meet the temperature control and product integrity requirements of the pharmaceutical industry. This is very important for our airline clients in terms of supporting their premium
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products for pharma transportation and, in turn, helps them to meet the shipping standards their freight forwarding customers must meet. So, it’s all connected and critical for patient care. Our investments from a pharma handling perspective show our commitment to upholding end-to-end temperature-controlled cold chains and show we are a responsible partner to the other stakeholders in the chain.
“If you start from scratch - and assuming that the facility is already fully equipped with a cooling system and has on-site pharma-trained staff - you will need approximately one year to create the documentation and perform the required mapping data (Empty, winter, summer). For CEIV it’s similar, you need to allow one year to gain the initial certification. “But if you are planning to obtain GDP certification in a cargo facility which already has IATA CEIV Pharma certification, you can prepare and update the required documentation within a maximum of two months because the documentation and mapping reports will have already been validated during the CEIV certification process. “Our teams of cargo handling specialists at WFS stations around the world understand the important role air cargo plays in the global distribution of pharma products. They have also seen how volumes of these products have increased in recent years, and the strong focus of our customers to also develop solutions for a wide range of pharma shipments. As a global leader in cargo handling, our staff and our cus-
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tomers expect WFS to be at the forefront of changes in our industry to ensure our compliance with global regulations, and to help our airline clients develop premium pharma products with confidence, knowing we have the facilities and highly-trained, knowledgeable staff in place to meet our responsibility. The pandemic and the resulting shipments of vaccines around the world has only heightened this awareness. “Ultimately, it is nearly always the shipper that drives the preference between CEIV and GDP. We also have some airlines that prefer us to have GDP certifications and others which state IATA CEIV as their preference. We are approaching this on a station-by-station basis and in close consultation with customers in these locations. We are showing we can be agile to their needs and that WFS is willing to invest in certification programmes when and where we see opportunities which benefit all parties. Ultimately, at airports where we hold both certifications, we are optimising the growth opportunities for WFS and our customers.”
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Growing in popularity work. In turn, our customers benefit from secure, compliant, and efficient air freight services.” Atlas Air and Polar Air Cargo join DACHSER in recently becoming CEIV Pharma certified. In pursuing the credential, Atlas Air and Polar adopted standard operating procedures to handle temperature-sensitive products. The companies also completed a multistep process to train ground and warehouse personnel, as well as vendors, in these new procedures, which also included an independent audit. “Even as the COVID-19 pandemic has added unrelenting operational complexities to our business, our employees around the world are dedicated to meeting and exceeding our customers’ needs in transporting sensitive medical and
pharmaceutical products,” said Michael Steen, executive vice president and chief commercial officer of Atlas Air Worldwide. “This CEIV Pharma certification reinforces the flexibility and reliability of our outstanding team, unrivalled portfolio of assets and scale of our global network.” Lars Winkelbauer, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, added: “Polar’s CEIV Pharma certification affirms the company’s long-standing track record for successfully transporting temperature-sensitive goods like produce and other perishable commodities. “I am immensely proud of the Polar team for achieving this industry-leading certification, underscoring our ability to maintain end-to-end temperature-controlled shipments across our network.”
Spurred on by the COVID-19 pandemic and the global demand for pharma products, IATA’s CEIV Pharma has grown in popularity. DACHSER Shanghai recently received the CEIV Pharma certification following a successful audit validation process. The logistics heavyweight reported that the audit ran smoothly despite conditions made more difficult by the COVID-19 pandemic. CEIV Pharma certification ensures that infrastructure, equipment, and processes fulfil the standards and regulations that customers in the pharmaceutical sector expect. “In light of the current situation, providing a robust and reliable logistics network for life science and healthcare products is a must,” said Christoph Honermann, department head life science and healthcare logistics at DACHSER. This certification makes DACHSER Shanghai one of the few logistics companies in the region that IATA has approved for transporting temperature-controlled, time-sensitive products. “CEIV Pharma certification shows that DACHSER fulfils the highest standards in the life science and healthcare sector,” Honermann said. “It attests to the highest service and quality standards through uniform processes and a compliant net-
Pharma: CEIV or GDP? Airfreight pharma shipments are on the rise and now, more than ever, the stakes are high to get shipments undamaged from A to B. Problems down the pharma supply chain could risk people not receiving a dose of their COVID vaccine. Having high standards when shipping pharma is imperative but should pharma cargo players choose IATA’s Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) or the European Council’s Good Distribution Practice (GDP) certifications? Can the industry agree on one? Set by the EU, GDP guidelines address many of the initial supply chain needs of European pharmaceutical manufacturers and wholesalers. However, many believe it is not detailed enough on how to properly handle pharmaceutical products at each point in the supply chain, nor does it cover the actions needed to limit any risks. On the other hand, CEIV provides more stringent regulations than GDP regarding both the temporary storage and transport of pharmaceutical goods. It spells out what each party must do to be in compliance with the regulations. As CEIV does incorporate the standards of GDP, by becoming CEIV certified also makes the same business GDP compliant.
ACW 31 MAY 2021
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DAV E CO N N O R
Flying to the future I
n the spotlight now more than ever, the industry must move forward with the lessons learnt from the past year in an efficient and sustainable way. Last month, TIACA called for action to address critical challenges being faced by the air cargo industry. Two of the main topics were the route to digitalising the industry and progressing to make the industry more sustainable. Robert Jubb, director of Freight UK, Air Partner and Dave Connor, board member at The Air Charter Association gave insight. ACW: How is the charter sector responding to the call to digitalise the industry? Connor: Whether it’s market disruptors such as app-based platforms that integrate freight forwarders and air cargo operators, or internal processes, which streamline freight movements and airline operations, the spectrum of digitalisation and changes within this sector is broad. The air charter sector has adapted very quickly to changing circumstances, whether through pandemic-related
consequences or complex trading arrangements and customs processes that emerged post-Brexit. This resilience, and the sector’s vital importance to the economy, continues to solidify as businesses look to leverage data and automation. To an extent, the rapid onset of remote working has forced a re-think of stakeholder/customer and supply chain management, with a view to embracing technology and the further adoption of simplified processes and digital transformation. Jubb: Digitalisation is helping to shape the future of the industry. Reliance on paperwork – and in some countries especially where original paperwork is required, works against the time-saving and effectiveness of the airfreight industry. Freight forwarders, carriers and industry specialists that become more reliant on digitalisation will undoubtedly see advantages in the coming years. The industry is taking great and necessary leaps forward with digital transformation strategies, investing in cloud services and automatic data management. ACW: How is the charter sector responding to the call to make the industry more sustainable?
Connor: The charter industry has been actively working towards sustainability for years. Aircraft and specifically engine design has improved greatly, with big improvements in efficiency and aerodynamics as well as use of technology in more direct routing of aircraft and noise impact of approach & departure profiles. Early initiatives have been focused on carbon offsetting with some companies offsetting double or more of the CO2 generated by their flights. More recently as the availability of quality sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) has increased, air charter operators have been adopting this to make further great strides to improve their overall sustainability. The industry is also well known for its early adoption of new technologies. It is almost certain that as the hybrid, electric and other renewable energy powered aircraft are ready to fly, air charter operators will be the first to bring these through into service. Our Sustainability & Innovation Group, alongside our NextGen Group, is working to educate and create opportunities for our members to support and develop their sustainability initiatives.
ROBERT JUBB aircargoweek.com