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The weekly newspaper for air cargo professionals No. 1,101

5 October 2020

Air cargo, a factor in India’s economic recovery

Record-breaker

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INSIDE ETIHAD CARGO’S PHARMALIFE

ETIHAD Cargo has reinforced its pharmaceutical logistics expertise with the launch of PharmaLife, a specialised pharma and healthcare ... PAGE 2

GEODIS AIRFREIGHT CAPACITY

AS part of its AirDirect service, which is an own controlled network (OCN), leading global logistics provider freight forwarder ... PAGE 2 KIRSTEN DE BRUIJN JOINS QATAR

AG Cargo, the cargo division of the International Airline Group (IAG) uplifted 50 tonnes of cargo on a single flight on its long haul route from Mumbai to London operated by a B777300ER aircraft in September – a record for IAG Cargo from India. The record cargo consignment comprised of a mix of products including perishables (fruits and vegetables), pharma and courier. However, it was the large amount of high dense engineering goods, destined for Europe and North America, that made the difference on weight. Capacity on the aircraft was optimised by carefully planning the weight and volume on the ULDs. In August, IAG Cargo completed

its 200th cargo-only flight out of India since May – a major milestone for the business and a testament to its work to keep vital goods moving in and out of the country during the pandemic. Speaking about the achievement, area commercial manager for South Asia, Ankush Chawla at IAG Cargo commented: “Air cargo is a vital part of the business here at IAG and at the start of the pandemic, to support our customers, we were one of the first airlines to offer dedicated charter and cargo-only flights. “This milestone demonstrates dedication to our customers, highlighting the commitment from the IAG Cargo India team on the ground. “The achievement would not have

been possible without the unconditional support from our business partners. We’ve been incredibly proud to be supporting Indian businesses during this time.” Since the start of the pandemic, IAG Cargo has established a network of over 340 scheduled cargo-only flights

per week, now operating daily services out of Mumbai and Delhi and multiple weekly services out of Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. The business offers cargo-only and charter flights and has reconfigured aircraft to maximise cargo capacity for its customers.

QATAR Airways Cargo has appointed Kirsten de Bruijn in the capacity of senior vice president, cargo sales and network planning. ... PAGE 5

CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS PIT SERVICE

CATHAY Pacific Airways has launched a temporary expansion of its operations in the Americas, with a 12-week cargo service ... PAGE 7

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ETIHAD CARGO REINFORCES PHARMA WITH PHARMALIFE ETIHAD Cargo has reinforced its pharmaceutical logistics expertise with the launch of PharmaLife, a specialised pharma and healthcare product which replaces the carrier’s TempCheck product. As the first carrier in the Middle East to gain IATA’s Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) certification for pharmaceutical logistics, the PharmaLife launch highlights Etihad Cargo’s prioritisation of the pharma and healthcare sectors. The specialised product will serve the anticipated global demand ahead of a COVID-19 vaccine. “The pandemic prompted a reassessment of our top-level services to ensure we can address the specific requirements for shipping high volumes of in-demand product in very short timescales,” explained Andre Blech, head of operations and service delivery at Etihad Cargo. “To avoid last minute pressure once a vaccine is approved, we have established a dedicated COVID-19 vaccines workforce composed of a steering committee and a working group to manage all anticipated elements.” Available at 54 stations on the Etihad network, PharmaLife will focus on key gateways including Abu Dhabi, Barcelona, Chicago, Paris, Dubai, Frankfurt, Hyderabad, London, Milan, Melbourne, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore and Sydney. The PharmaLife offering is hallmarked by two tailormade, sector-specific shipment solutions: global lease Active and Hybrid containers with PharmaLife Active solutions for premium, sensitive products. PharmaLife Passive Solutions will provide the right equipment and right storage conditions with three specific temperature ranges (+2° to +25°, +2° to +8°, and +15° to +25°). PharmaLife will enhance the already available industry-leading services and features offered by Etihad Cargo, says the Middle Eastern airline.

Generosity of its customers help to transport 160 tonnes of vital aid and supplies MORE than a month after the Beirut blasts left behind devastated communities, Emirates continues to do its part to help turn its customers’ collective generosity from all corners of the globe into essential humanitarian cargo to support recovery efforts on the ground and help those affected rebuild their lives. Contributions are continuing to pour in from Emirates customers around the world as cash or Skywards Miles, bolstering Emirates SkyCargo’s ability to scale up resources and provide vital airlifts to Lebanon. Over 12,000 donations from 140 countries have come in as cash or Skywards Miles, through the dedicated, secure and convenient Emirates Airline Foundation portal as well as through the Emirates website. Countries that accounted for a significant portion of the

donations include UK, India, Australia, Germany, US, Italy, New Zealand, Japan and South Africa. Additionally, a number of Emirates Sk y wards members demonstrated their overwhelming generosity and commitment to Beirut disaster relief efforts through individual contributions of close to 250,000 Miles each. In total, over 120 million Miles have been donated so far by Emirates Skywards members. The airline will be dedicating

donations to Beirut relief over the course of the next two months. The donations have prov i d e d cargo capacity for humanitarian organisations to effectively transport medical equipment and supplies, food and other emergency relief goods directly to Beirut through Emirates SkyCargo. Additionally, Emirates SkyCargo is contributing further by providing a 20% reduction on air freight transportation charges for approved shipments.

Since August 13, Emirates SkyCargo has carried 160,000 kg of medical supplies and food on several missions to Beirut, working with local and international NGOs that provide relief to impacted communities. More missions are in the pipeline, with another six consignments planned to fly medical necessities, non-perishable food, clothing, PPE, hygiene products and veterinary supplies to Beirut over the course of the next few weeks. Through the Emirates Airline Foundation, the airline supports over 30 humanitarian and philanthropic projects in 18 countries, including four countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Emirates has been flying to Lebanon for almost 30 years and currently serves Beirut with two daily flights.

AirBridgeCargo organises round-trip with 12 SkyCell containers

irBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC), one of the leading cargo carriers in the transportation of specialty cargo, has completed complex transportation of 12 SkyCell containers from Hong Kong to Amsterdam. The transportation was organised in partnership with UPS Healthcare, a provider of global supply chain solutions and expertise to pharmaceutical, biopharma and medical device companies. Working together, the transportation was planned well in advance as SkyCell 1500C containers needed to be shipped from Europe to Asia in pre-conditioned mode. Once they arrived in Hong Kong,

they were loaded with vaccines to be flown back under temperature range +2 to +8°C. AirBridgeCargo keeps on testing its capabilities for vaccine transportation, trying various loading options. This time SkyCell 1500C containers, weighing more than 10,500 kg, occupied six lower forward deck positions and approached an al-

AS governments around the world fast-track plans for COVID-19 vaccine distribution, global aviation services group Air Partner is preparing to aid in the quick and efficient delivery of these critical supplies, along with other essential cargo during the anticipated tight peak season. Drawing on its expertise carrying out hundreds of cargo flights thus far in the fight against COVID-19, the leading freight solutions specialist is available to provide unique charter arrangements at a moment’s notice, even to the world’s most hard-toreach, remote destinations. “Careful advance planning is well underway in the air transport industry to ensure that capacity needs can be met for any large-scale delivery of potential COVID-19 vaccines around the world, in addition to the high de-

ACW 5 OCTOBER 2020

EMIRATES CONTINUES BEIRUT RELIEF EFFORTS

AIR PARTNER GEARS UP FOR COVID-19 VACCINE

mand of commodities that surge in the fourth quarter due to the holiday season and end-of-year contracts,” said Jack Burt, vice president of US cargo at Air Partner. With access to any size cargo aircraft, including those ideally suited for the shipment of pharmaceutical and medical supplies, Air Partner’s global freight team is well-equipped to meet the specific transport needs for sensitive and time-critical items such as COVID-19 vaccine-related supplies, materials and equipment. This includes adhering to highly regulated and temperature-controlled specifications, as evidenced by the company’s recent work in the urgent transportation of more than 5,000 experimental COVID-19 test kits from South Korea to Washington, DC.

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most maximum possible number of containers per section, which is 14. “It is amazing to be part of this complicated process and work under cost-efficient and safe logistics solutions together with our experienced team of logistics practitioners. “Powered by a diversified fleet of freighters within Volga-Dnepr Group, we are now analysing and mapping out all possible scenarios for vaccine transportation, even using technical capabilities of An-124-100 and Il-76TD-90VD,” commented Yulia Celetaria, pharma director, AirBridgeCargo Airlines.

Qatar Airways releases 2019-20 annual report QATAR Airways has published its Annual Report for 2019-20, highlighting the airline group’s resilience in the face of the continued “illegal” airspace blockade against the State of Qatar and the most challenging period in global aviation’s history. Qatar Airways is familiar with facing exceptional challenges; however, 2019-20 has been one of the most difficult years in the airline’s history. The combination of the ongoing illegal air space blockade against the State of Qatar, the liquidation of Air Italy by the majority shareholder, changes to accounting policy and reporting standards and the COVID-19 pandemic crisis has resulted in the Qatar Airways Group reporting a net loss of QAR 7 billion for the year 2019-20. Excluding these exceptional items, the Group’s results at both operating and net levels would have been better than that reported in the year before, clearly demonstrating the Group’s improving performance.

GEODIS commits airfreight capacity to Asia/Europe A s part of its AirDirect service, which is an own controlled network (OCN), leading global logistics provider and freight forwarder GEODIS has confirmed a two-way schedule of flights from China to Europe and back through to early 2021, guaranteeing its customers a regular and reliable service. GEODIS originally instigated its full aircraft charter arrangements on this route in March with ad hoc flights and introduced a weekly timetable in June to meet the urgent need for air cargo capacity which had diminished due to the effects of the pandemic. Now, with both freighter and passenger belly-hold space still in short supply, the logistics provider has announced a permanent schedule reaching into next year. Weekly direct flights will depart from Shanghai (PVG) every Monday and from Amsterdam (AMS) each Sunday to service what is expected to be a post-COVID resurgence in demand during what is traditionally a fourth quarter peak season. The advent of the China-Europe-China service brings the company’s total investment in GEODIS’ OCN to over €70 million. More than 400 flights have been successfully completed across Asia, Europe, North and Latin America to date. Among the customers requiring such a service are, in particular, a European auto manufacturer

equipping its plant in China with sub-assembly parts. In addition, Lenovo, a global leader in the manufacturing of personal computers, smartphones, workstations, computer servers and smart IoT devices, is one of GEODIS’ customers of its AirDirect Mexico service (Hong Kong/Guadalajara) as well as its weekly direct flights from Shanghai-Amsterdam. GEODIS ensures the transportation of Lenovo’s products are safely and securely handled, helping Lenovo to deliver its components to factories and finished goods to customers in a timely manner. “It is vital for our customers in China to be not only assured of regular capacity but also that their

freight partner is controlling the transport service network, including flight operations,” says Onno Boots, GEODIS’ regional president and CEO for Asia Pacific. “As a growth partner for our customers, GEODIS understands this need well. “The “Own Controlled Network” initiative is a prime example of how we are extending control of our multi-modal network. In addition, we are exploring options to establish a connection between China and India, as well as linking Hong Kong and Singapore in the network. These efforts aim to provide a hub that will seamlessly link with our GEODIS Asia Road Network.” Stanislas Brun, SVP global airffeight says: “Both the Amsterdam and Shanghai hubs are ideal for co-ordinating multi-origin and destination cargoes. Our network of operations in Europe, as well as Asia is designed to maximize connectivity, giving our customers full flexibility in terms of pick-up and delivery points. The regularity and reliability of this newly-established service, coupled with the visibility provided by our IRIS systems technology will help manufacturers and retailers rejuvenate their business as the global economy recovers post-COVID. We hope to help them prevent further supply chain disruption and reduce the inevitable temptation to increase buffer stock, with its consequent costs.”

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IAG CARGO LAUNCHES NEW DIRECT LAHORE ROUTE

AG Cargo has started a new direct service from the UK to Lahore, Pakistan, starting from October 2020. The service will run year-round, four times per week from London Heathrow. The new service will strengthen IAG Cargo’s existing presence in Pakistan, which since 2019 has also included flights to Islamabad, which resumed service on September 14 2020 operating daily between the two capital cities. The new route will be operated by British Airways B787-8 wide-body aircraft. Shameer Nasarulla, area commercial manager for Middle East, Pakistan & Bangladesh, IAG Cargo, said: “We’re very pleased to be opening this new route and to add Lahore to our network of over 350 destinations. Lahore is home to many manufacturers of important goods and is an important market for computer equipment, electrical machinery and auto spares and parts from Europe and the US. IAG Cargo will now also be able to play a bigger part in the mango harvesting season – an important moment in the year for Pakistani exporters." Eligible customers seeking to use IAG Cargo’s services into Pakistan will be able to benefit from IAG Cargo’s loyalty programmes.

ACW 5 OCTOBER 2020

THE Board of Airline Representatives in Germany (BARIG), the association of international and German airlines operating in Germany, expressively endorses the European Commission’s plans to reform the European airspace. The “Single European Sky,” an endeavour that has long been advocated by BARIG and other international aviation associations, as well as a more efficient, uniform air traffic control in Europe may finally be achieved with this reform. In the current practice, aircraft in Europe usually cannot fly a direct and straight route; due to an inefficient system, they have to take unnecessary detours to reach their destination. The envisaged standardisation will eliminate such excessive zig-zag courses – with positive consequences in various areas. Experts assume that the shorter flight routes will reduce CO2 emissions by several million tonnes per year. In addition to that, flight durations are lowered and system-related unnecessary delays, as well as waiting loops can be avoided. BARIG secretary general, Michael Hoppe, comments: “We welcome the project of EU Transport Commissioner Adina Vălean as it revives the dynamics of this important topic for climate protection and efficiency.

BARIG endorses EU Commission’s reform plans for European airspace Volga-Dnepr Airlines supports Moria refugees

VOLGA-DNEPR Airlines has operated a dedicated charter flight to assist Moria camp refugees in Greece, on the island of Lesbos. The flight was organised in cooperation with Chapman Freeborn Airmarketing from Vienna to Athens a week after the fire destroyed almost the whole camp and neighbouring territories. Volga-Dnepr’s AN-124-100 landed in Athens with 55 tonnes of humanitarian cargo onboard which is aimed to provide essentials to over 12,000 refugees left without shelter. Ekaterina Andreeva, commercial director of Volga-Dnepr Airlines, commented: “It is heartbreaking to see so many people losing their homes, especially families with kids. We feel that it is our duty to help those in need and guarantee at least the provision of daily

necessities. With aligned procedures in place and well-tuned teamwork, we managed to get flight approvals within three days, to operate the flight without delay with fast and flawless loading/offloading of cargo”. For over 30 years Volga-Dnepr has been responding to humanitarian missions delivering various types of cargo, starting from food supplies, clothes, instruments and medicines up to mobile hospitals, water purification equipment, heavy trucks, cranes and other vehicles. In 2020 the company has prioritised humanitarian airlifts as a commitment to support the world in its battle against COVID-19 spread and delivered almost 6,000 tonnes of related cargo onboard for the first eight months of 2020, which represents over 1000% surge. With the peak cargo season coming closer, Volga-Dnepr is ready to support its customers worldwide working under solutions to leverage general cargo, e-commerce shipments, high tech products, and even sophisticated vaccine doses.

GLOBAL logistics operator Allcargo is building close collaborations with partners, customers and stakeholders within Africa. “Allcargo’s global aspirations are driven by its aim to create opportunities, drive partner progress, and lend its expertise to projects across geographies that transform economies and boost growth. It is this futuristic approach that has led the company to create a

niche in Africa,” said Rahul Rai, business head – projects and engineering division, Allcargo Logistics, on the sidelines of the 15th CII – Exim Bank Digital Conclave on India – Africa Project Partnership. Allcargo has a presence in most African trade hubs and has worked on key infrastructure projects across six African countries during the Covid-induced lockdown.

Allcargo takes big strides to step up growth in Africa

ACW 5 OCTOBER 2020

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Kirsten de Bruijn joins Qatar Airways Cargo

QATAR Airways Cargo has appointed Kirsten de Bruijn in the capacity of senior vice president, cargo sales and network planning. An air cargo veteran with 13 years of experience in management in the air cargo industry, she shares Qatar Airways’s belief that the pace of change brought about by recent global events demands value centred leadership around revenue and margin management. “The COVID-19 crisis has accelerated the need for flexibility and agility. It has also fast-tracked demand for digitalisation. Optimising the utilisation of freighters, the network, pricing and processes will mean embracing digital as the central vector of change. Qatar Airways is a world leader in this space and our ability to constantly adapt and adjust will continue to be part of the fundamental premise of our air cargo strategy,” said Guillaume Halleux, chief officer cargo at Qatar Airways.

Qatar Airways Cargo inks SkyCell deal Q atar Airways Cargo and SkyCell have signed an agreement to lease SkyCell containers. The addition of these temperature-controlled hybrid containers will provide the cargo carrier’s customers the choice of a wide range of containers in which to transport their pharma-

ceuticals across its global network. Qatar Airways’ chief officer cargo, Guillaume Halleux, said: “The logistics around pharmaceutical transportation is complex, and being at the forefront of time and temperature sensitive transportation we understand the intricacies of a seamless cool chain. Through this

agreement with SkyCell, we are glad to expand our container offer-

ing under QR Pharma and present customers with more options to transport their sensitive products. “The hybrid container establishes an entirely new product offering for our clients that is both safe and sustainable for our businesses and the planet.” Chiara Venuti, director business development

and airline partnerships at SkyCell said: “Qatar Airways Cargo is a leading air cargo carrier with a specialised pharmaceutical offering and an extensive network. The cooperation will meet the growing demand for hybrid containers as safe and sustainable pharma solutions for sensitive and critical drugs such as vaccines.”

According to Halleux, Kirsten was the obvious choice: “We share the same vision of the industry and Kirsten perfectly understands the sector’s demands – as well as its volatility and its extremely competitive nature. She is able to challenge existing processes thanks to a customer-focused vision and extremely high standards. She is a major asset to the airline.” According to Kirsten de Bruijn: “Air cargo is probably one of the most competitive industries out there. It means you have to find ways to avoid being commoditised and you have to think globally – to constantly be aware of the speed with which technology is changing how we do business. “Qatar Airways Cargo represents the cutting edge of change in the global air cargo market. I want to be a part of that movement. Part of my role is to build a sense of team spirit and collective purpose. I like to hire people that are better at what they do than I am, so I can create the best team possible.”

ZEROAVIA, the leading innovator in decarbonising commercial aviation, has completed the world‘s first hydrogen fuel cell powered flight of a commercial-grade aircraft. The flight took place at ZeroAvia’s R&D facility in Cranfield, England.

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ACW 5 OCTOBER 2020

ASIA PACIFIC

STARLUX Airlines deploys IBS Software’s iCargo platform to manage cargo business

TARLUX Airlines, Taiwan’s newest luxury carrier, has deployed IBS Software’s iCargo platform to manage business and operational functions for its entire cargo business. The iCargo management platform was implemented ahead of STARLUX Airlines’ launch in January 2020, which saw maiden flights to Macau, Penang and Da Nang with three A321neo aircraft. Although COVID-19 has significantly impacted flights, STARLUX’s cargo operations have been ramping up quickly during this difficult time. After a rigorous evaluation process, STARLUX Airlines chose IBS Software’s iCargo SaaS-based cargo platform to provide a single, unified platform for all critical functions. iCargo now manages all aspects of STARLUX’s cargo business, including sales, airline operations, US customs, mail, Unit Load Device, cashiering, claims, cargo and mail revenue accounting, portal services, data warehousing and business intelligence modules. “We chose the industry-leading iCargo management platform to achieve our goal of providing the best and seamless cargo service to our customers,” said Glenn Chai, CEO, STARLUX Airlines. “So far, iCargo has proved itself to be well worth the investment. It is an advanced digital solution featuring advanced and user-friendly functions. STARLUX is very glad to have made the right choice.” “We were proud to have been selected as a launch partner for STARLUX Airlines, our first iCargo customer in Taiwan. As a startup airline, STARLUX had strict timelines for implementation and regulatory requirements, and extremely high expectations for the technology and its support of their business model. In IBS Software they found a partner with deep expertise, total commitment to driving business value, and a strong delivery track record. We’re thrilled to welcome STARLUX to the iCargo family and to continue our partnership as the airline continues to thrive,” said Ashok Rajan, head of cargo and logistics solutions, IBS Software. STARLUX plans to expand its network with additional A321neo aircraft scheduled for delivery, plus wide-body A350 XWB aircraft. iCargo is fully enabled to support this future growth and

Kerry Logistics crowned winner of CILT Award 2020 Enterprise Award for Service Excellence

continue to empower STARLUX to deliver on its brand promise to customers. Over the last 24 months demand for iCargo has gained significant momentum around the world, with 18 implementations going live over this period – including eight new customers. STARLUX Airlines was founded in May 2018. Out of his passion for aviation and determination to cultivate the aviation industry, the founder, K.W Chang, established a luxury boutique airline taking safety and quality of aviation service into account to provide

SIA Group to rationalise staff numbers amid global aviation crisis

erry Logistics Network is delighted to be crowned the winner of the CILT Award (the ‘Award’) 2020 – Enterprise Award for its outstanding service. Organised biennially by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Hong Kong (‘CILTHK’) to recognise professional excellence and promote the best practice of transport and logistics, the Award is categorised into two streams – the Enterprise Award and the SME Award. A five-member judging panel, consisting of industry practitioners, academics and professionals, presided over the assessment to laud service excellence. The awardees were selected based on seven criteria, namely, customer satisfaction, achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, infrastructure, innovation, operational effectiveness, quality management and risk management & control. William Ma, group managing director of Kerry Logistics Network, said, “We are very excited to win this award. CILTHK is a renowned organisation that has been making great contribution to the development of professionals for the logistics and transport industry in Hong Kong.

ACW 5 OCTOBER 2020

travellers the safest and most luxurious flying experience. STARLUX Airlines is introducing all 10 A321neos—and three are already in place. The delivery of the 17 A350 XWBs is expected to begin next year. The fleet is planned to have a total of 27 aircraft by the end of 2024 and 50 by the end of 2030. STARLUX Airlines officially launched its first flight on January 23 to Macau, Penang and Danang. With its hub at Taiwan, STARLUX Airlines will initially fly routes in Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia, gradually developing its trans-oceanic routes to North America.

William Ma, group managing director of Kerry Logistics Network (left), receives the CILT Award 2020 - Enterprise Award. “While we celebrate this honour, we also feel a sense of responsibility and pride in our job as a logistics service provider, at a time when the global supply chain is facing unprecedented chaos. Logistics demands are coming from all quarters, and the role that the logistics industry plays in supporting everyday lives is more important than ever. It is a role that Kerry Logistics is equipped and ready to play well.”

he Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group has taken the difficult decision to cut around 4,300 positions across its airlines. After taking into account a recruitment freeze, natural attrition and the take up of voluntary departure schemes, the potential number of staff impacted will be reduced to about 2,400 in Singapore and in overseas stations. This decision was taken in light of the long road to recovery for the global airline industry due to the debilitating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the urgent need for the Group’s airlines to adapt to an uncertain future. As previously indicated, the Group expects to operate under 50% of its capacity at the end of financial year 2020/21 versus pre-COVID levels. Industry groups have also forecast that passenger traffic will not return to previous levels until around 2024. Relative to most major airlines in the world, the SIA Group is in an even more vulnerable position as it does not have a domestic market that will be the first to see a recovery. In order to remain viable in this uncertain landscape, the Group’s airlines will operate a smaller fleet for a reduced network compared to their pre-COVID operations in the coming years. To prepare for this future, the Group needs to cut around 4,300 positions across Singapore Airlines, SilkAir and Scoot. This has been mitigated

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by a recruitment freeze that was implemented in March 2020, open vacancies that were not filled, an early retirement scheme for ground staff and pilots, and a voluntary release scheme for cabin crew. Collectively, these measures have allowed the Group to eliminate some 1,900 positions. As a result, the potential job cuts across the Group may be reduced to around 2,400 in Singapore and across SIA’s overseas stations. Discussions have begun with Singapore-based unions. The Group will work closely with them to finalise the arrangements as soon as possible for those affected and try to minimise the stress and anxiety on our people. Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong said: “When the battle against COVID-19 began early this year, none of us could have predicted its devastating impact on the global aviation industry. From the outset, our priorities were to ensure our survival and save as many jobs as possible. Given that the road to recovery will be long and fraught with uncertainty, we have to unfortunately implement involuntary staff reduction measures. “Having to let go of our valuable and dedicated people is the hardest and most agonising decision that I have had to make in my 30 years with SIA. This is not a reflection of the strengths and capabilities of those who will be affected, but the result of an unprecedented global crisis that has engulfed the airline industry.”

TRADEFINDER

CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS STARTS 12-WEEK CARGO SERVICE TO PITTSBURGH

athay Pacific Airways has launched a temporary expansion of its operations in the Americas, with a 12-week cargo service linking Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) with Southeast Asia, to supplement the airline’s existing network of 19 cargo stations throughout the Americas, including East Coast cargo services to Boston, Newark, and Washington, Dulles and a dedicated freighter port at New York (JFK). The first arrival touched down in Pittsburgh carrying consumer goods from Asia.

The temporary service will originate in Ho Chi Minh (SGN), stopping at Cathay Pacific’s Cargo Terminal at Hong Kong International Airport, landing in PIT every Monday and Thursday until November 26, 2020. Notably, flight CX8800 will be operated by a reconfigured Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft instead of Cathay Pacific’s go-to ultra-long-haul freighter, the Boeing 747-8, of which there are currently 14 in its fleet. “Cathay Pacific is excited to link Hong Kong, one

of the world’s key intermodal airfreight hubs, to Pittsburgh. The city is ideally placed between the Eastern Seaboard and the Midwest, home to more than 50% of the population of the United States,” said Fred Ruggiero, vice president Cargo, Americas, Cathay Pacific Airways. “Cargo remains a bright spot for the airline during this challenging time. This temporary expansion underscores Cathay Pacific’s commitment to our freight forwarder partners, who requested an expanded cargo service to meet heightened demand. We are pleased to join forces with Pittsburgh International Airport and Unique Logistics and look forward to assisting with future freight needs.” “Pittsburgh’s history is as a centre for transportation and logistics,” said Allegheny county executive Rich Fitzgerald. “We continue to have that industry as a core part of our economy, which is why I’m proud to welcome Cathay Pacific and Unique Logistics to our expanding air cargo portfolio in the region. We know now, more than ever, how important it is to move products around the world quickly and efficiently, and we look forward to both companies expanding their business in Pittsburgh.” “We are thrilled to partner with Cathay Pacific and Unique Logistics in expanding our air cargo network,” said Pittsburgh International Airport CEO Christina Cassotis. “This is another step in building Pittsburgh International Airport into a global logistics centre with world-class service. Our speed, efficiency and ideal location offer a unique benefit for carriers and freight forwarders looking to serve the North America market.” In an effort to introduce additional cargo capacity where possible and help support global supply chains, Cathay Pacific reconfigured two Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft into ‘preighters,’ with seats removed in the Economy and Premium Economy cabins to enable the airline to carry 12 tonnes of additional cargo under extra safety and security measures. Cargo is currently the stronger performer for Cathay Pacific, operating over 436 pairs of cargo-only passenger flights and carrying over 102,122 tonnes of cargo and mail in August 2020.

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ACW 5 October 2020

7 01/10/2020 11:57

Cargo in the blood Tiphaine Guélou

Cargo and Other Stories by Lemon Queen

Air cargo, a factor in India’s economic recovery

n India, the economic impact of the pandemic has been terrible. According to Bloomberg, the drop in the country’s GDP is “worse than any of the world’s biggest economies.” In Q2 2020, India saw its GDP fall by 23.9%. Figures for Q3 are set to be published soon, but economists estimate that India has already entered recession for the whole of 2020, a situation that has not been seen for 40 years.

ndia’s GDP relies heavily on internal consumption (»60%) and a significant proportion of the country’s wealth is produced by the industrial sector (in particular, manufacturing and pharmaceuticals) – a sector that also supplies the country’s exports and that plays a major role in its trade balance. The suspension of both domestic and international commercial flights, coupled with measures designed to break the chain of transmission (national lockdown followed by cluster-based lockdown), has therefore had disastrous effects on the economy. In particular, this has resulted in a major drop in cargo capacity, as a significant part of capacity traditionally comes from passenger flights due to the limited number of scheduled freighters.

espite one of the lowest case-fatality ratios in the world (around 2.4%), these restrictive measures were not sufficient to prevent India from becoming the country with the most confirmed cases in Asia (and the third-largest number of cases in the world after the United States and Brazil).

he recent opening of internal inter-state borders and the gradual resumption of internal flights brought a breath of fresh air along with an increase in cargo activities at many Indian airports. The country has also benefited from the relaxing of government measures in order to help the manufacturing sector, in particular as part of the “Made in India” policy, which has allowed manufacturing companies and other service industries to return to work to meet the needs of the domestic and global supply chain. From mid-June, demand began to pick up and the market is showing clear signs of recovery.

hile international commercial flights remain suspended, international all-cargo operations and certain flights specifically approved by the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) are exempt

from these restrictions. Some special international flights are also authorised as part of the Vande Bharat Mission, currently in its sixth phase, which works to repatriate Indian citizens from all over the world.

espite these restrictions and the logistical problems that remain significant in India (infrastructure and connectivity, for example), air cargo activity in the country is helping to respond to growing domestic and international demand. India is a leading strategic market in multiple sectors, and in particular in pharmaceuticals. With a majority of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment currently exported from India, many airlines with freighter capacity and passenger flights converted to freighters (ghost flights) are stepping up their flights to India, resulting in a profitable income source and allowing them to expand their networks thanks to the addition of new destinations.

his trend looks set to be confirmed and even strengthened in the near future as a result of foreign investment – but above all, as a result of the resilience, adaptability and strength of India’s talented people.

Lemon Queen is an airfreight industry public relations and communications agency in Paris, France

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