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The weekly newspaper for air cargo professionals No. 1,075
6 April 2020
Cometh the hour, cometh the solution
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INSIDE GEODIS: MORE GENDER DIVERSITY
GEODIS notes that the logistics industry does not typically have equal gender representation, but wants to prove that diversity ... PAGE 2
Saving the day A report from the airfreight frontline
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ccording to H. Warren Jones, vice president business development at Miamibased Alliance Ground International (AGI), there has rarely been a time in peacetime when airfreight’s importance has been demonstrated. He said: “Air cargo is saving the day and lives here. AGI handled over 90 cargo flights in a 4-day period last week in Chicago, all with medical relief supplies. We had so many flights that we worked with the ORD airport to transform the passenger ramp to an air cargo ramp.” Working on airfreight’s frontline has
put many industry issues in the United States in sharp focus for Jones. He said: “Our industry is experiencing things we have never seen and everyone is affected but also for the first time here in the US, we are seeing a shift in how the airports are treating air cargo. “What I mean is that cargo here has always been something the major airports needed but was second or third when it came to developments, if indeed there was any.”
Focused and committed NYC has become the heart of COVID19 infection in the country. According
to Jones, AGI’s team at JFK “remains focused and committed to support our customer airlines and charter operations to get needed cargo and goods directly into the NY area.” Recently, the company handled several shipments for the New York State Department of Health landed by China Southern Airlines. KN95 face masks arranged by the Governor’s office, arrived from China to supply setting up Jacob Javits Convention Center. AGI worked directly with NYS Department of Health’s import broker and JFK Customs to minimise time to get this shipment cleared and picked up. As of 30 March the Chinese gov-
ernment placed a restriction on all passenger flights into the United States. This has caused a decrease of volume into AGI’s facility. While tonnage from South Korea is in recovery, AGI has the manpower and warehouse space to support necessary additional charter operations, noted Jones. He is proud of the efforts his company has undertaken to ensure the hygiene and safety of his staff: “Exceeding CSC guidelines, AGI has provided all staff gloves and masks, while keeping new standards of social distancing and increased sanitisation of office and warehouse,” he said.
THE news never sleeps. This is the first issue of Air Cargo Week that has ever been put together remotely, with staff on lockdown in Sutton, Dorking, Croydon, Gravesend, Beddington, Maidstone, East Grinstead and Horsham.
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MASKARGO: AROUND THE CLOCK
MASKARGO has been working with Malaysia’s government authorities to ensure the country will have access to much needed medical ... PAGE 6
ACW World Air Cargo Awards Gala Dinner
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ollowing cancellation of the air cargo China 2020 event in Shanghai this June, the Air Cargo Week World Air Cargo Awards Gala Dinner, scheduled to take place at the same time, has also been cancelled. Voting for all categories in the World Air Cargo Awards continues up to and including April 30, 2020 as previously planned.
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COVID-19 crisis as it unfolds ...
UK air cargo handlers sound alarm to No. 10 IN an open letter to the British Chancellor, business leaders from the four main cargo and ground handling companies – Swissport, dnata, WFS and Menzies – warned of the imminent collapse of their sector, bringing airports across the country to a halt and severely impacting the UK’s supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ground handling industry is a critical part of the UK aviation system, providing 90% of cargo and passenger handling at all UK airports and essential services like the handling and security processing of cargo. Without these services, aviation as a whole cannot function, supply chains will collapse. Currently, as more than 95% of flights are not operating, ground handling companies are not being paid. While the industry has welcomed the Chancellor’s work retention package, low margins and staff comprising 70% of costs mean that the viability of the industry remains immediately unsustainable. In a separate statement, Craig Smyth, CEO, WFS wrote: “Our
message to the UK Government could not be clearer or more urgent. Support and immediate action is needed now to maintain the UK’s cargo (and passenger) airport handling capability to ensure cargo supply lines can continue to operate at this time of national and internaCraig Smyth tional crisis, and for cargo and passenger airport handling services to be resilient and sustainable after the COVID-19 crisis has passed. “The ground and cargo airport handling industry has shown
its resilience through many crises over the past 20 years, but the global impact of COVID-19 is unprecedented in its global reach, scale and longevity, and means that there is now a real risk of its imminent collapse. “Airlines have either grounded their fleets or countries have closed their borders. In our low-margin industry sector, this has resulted in a catastrophic drop in business volume and revenue. As most of our costs relate to people, without immediate Government support, our only options will be to make significant redundancies and to close down operations. “This is a situation we are anxious to avoid but, amidst all this uncertainty, we cannot continue to play the vital role we do in the nation’s economy and wellbeing without Government help. Without this immediate support, even when COVID-19 is defeated, UK trade will continue to suffer long-term disruption because a major part of the supply chain infrastructure at UK airports needed to fuel the country’s recovery will have been shut down - and this will take many months to re-establish. “Ninety percent of all air cargo and passenger handling at UK airports is provided by the four main ground and cargo handling companies – of which WFS is one of the largest providers. This includes the critical supply chains for the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries as well as the millions of tonnes of other goods for consumers and businesses that are so essential to the British economy. This will simply grind to a halt. We must stop this from happening. The importance of our industry to the COVID-19 response and the country’s subsequent economic recovery must not be under-estimated.
Finanacial measures “The practical financial measures we are asking the Government to agree will help us bridge the gap of drastically reduced revenues until normality is restored to the market, and to retain staff to support the full resumption of operations in the best interests of the country and British industry. “Retaining as many highly trained and accredited employees as possible is essential to maintain the very highest levels of aviation safety and security, and to keep in place the essential trade infrastructure which will be needed to re-energise the British economy. Otherwise, once the crisis has passed and there is an expectation of returning to normality, we can’t make the assumption that the ground and cargo handling companies will be able to immediately restart. We will face many additional months of recovery while we re-hire, train and certify staff to meet our strict industry requirements, and this will significantly slow the UK resurgence. “For the good of the UK economy, British businesses and consumers, we need the government to act now to ensure the vital services our industry provides survive this unprecedented moment in history.”
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COVID-19 crisis as it unfolds ...
Air Partner: emergency flights must go ahead
air cargo China in Shanghai is cancelled THE global COVID-19 pandemic is growing in scale and is exceeding all expectations. Following consultation with partners and associations of the air freight industry Messe München feels compelled to cancel air cargo China, which was scheduled for June 16–18 in Shanghai. “Due to the current situation it is almost impossible for our exhibitors to plan their participation at air cargo China,” explains Xu Jia, CEO Messe München Shanghai. “The aviation industry is especially affected by the covid-19 pandemic. “Therefore we feel compelled to cancel air cargo China 2020.”
MARK Briffa, CEO of Air Partner, has warned of the problems that could be created when governments impose blanket travel bans. “Global air infrastructure has always played an important role at times of global crisis,” he explains, and the coronavirus pandemic is no different. Globally, health infrastructures and economies are relying on the airfreight industry to transport time-critical and temperature-sensitive cargo, which includes medicines and medical supplies. “Airports and airways need to remain open for urgent travel and transportation, but currently the trend is going in the other direction, towards universal closure, despite the fact that there are still countless people stranded around the world, with limited – if any – means of getting back to their home countries. Presently, there are an estimated 300,000 to 1,000,000 Britons stranded overseas, many of whom cannot afford the drastically inflated ticket prices for the few flights that are operating back to the UK. Governments must have the appropriate designations and approvals in place to enable evacuations and repatriations to take place,” says Briffa. “This movement of vital supplies is crucial, and there is no faster way than by air. Back in 2014 and 2015, we saw first-hand just how important this was when we partici-
First Lufthansa pax aircraft full of air cargo ...
IN an effort to utilise resources in a time when passenger demand is at an all-time low, Lufthansa has flown its first-ever passenger aircraft full with cargo rather than passengers. The 11 hours 6 minute journey from China to Germany was completed in a Lufthansa A330. The aircraft landed in Frankfurt on March 25 at 14:14. Both the belly-hold of the aircraft and the cabin storage were utilised, carrying mostly medical supplies, including masks and other protective equipment. The Lufthansa Group and Lufthansa Cargo are looking in to the possibility of operating further flights exclusively for cargo transport on passenger aircraft. Lufthansa has emphasised: “Especially in emergency and crisis situations, logistics and airfreight are of particular importance.”
pated in the humanitarian response to the Ebola epidemic by flying aid to the affected regions. At the peak of the crisis, our freight team was operating flights every 48 hours carrying cargo of medical equipment and supplies, vehicles, construction materials and protective clothing,” Briffa recalls.
Health and safety
The health and safety of citizens is vital but some of the drastic restricting measures that affect airfreight industry may in fact hinder the fight against the virus. “It would be very dangerous to underestimate the very severe economic repercussions of shutting down supply chains,” warns Briffa. “Who knows if they will be able to start up again? To the extent that we can, we need to keep the economy moving, and this necessarily involves transport.” Briffa believes that the key is to restrict travel, not impose blanket bans. “We simply ask that proportionate measures are taken. We opened up the skies so that we could transport people and goods quickly and efficiently around the globe: let’s not close them entirely when we need to do this more than ever, in order to fly people safely home and get supplies to those who desperately need them.”
... as Etihad Cargo deploy cargo-only pax aircraft
FOLLOWING the example of Lufthansa, Etihad have also deployed a passenger Boeing 787 full with cargo. After the UAE authorities announced the temporary suspension of passenger aircraft, Etihad utilised its passenger fleet to complement its Boeing 777 freighter fleet. The 787s will operate 34 weekly flights, which will initially serve 10 markets carrying 45 tonnes of cargo. This will ensure vital imports into the region of fruits, vegetables, meat, medical supplies, mail and e-Commerce will continue to reach the UAE. “As the national carrier to the UAE, Etihad is working closely with the UAE government to ensure the country is well served and the needs of the people residing in the UAE are unaffected, while continuing to play our role as a facilitator of global trade between the East and the West,” commented Abdulla Mohamed Shadid, managing director of cargo and logistics at Etihad Aviation Group.
ETHIOPIAN Airlines has been working around the clock to deliver medical supplies to 39 countries across Africa. The supplies, which entered the continent in Addis Ababa, were donated by Jack Ma, the founder of China’s e-Commerce giant Alibaba. The supplies, which included testing kits, masks and protective suits, were distributed in under five days.
“At the same time we are looking forward to seeing our customers again at one of our upcoming air cargo exhibitions, either this year in Miami and Istanbul, next year in Johannesburg or Munich, but the latest in Shanghai 2022,” says Gerhard Gerritzen, deputy managing director, Messe München.
Additional information All the organisations that have already committed to participation will be contacted within the next few days and additional information will be provided as soon as it becomes available. “We are happy to announce that we have delivered the COVID-19 test kits, protective masks and other necessary medical supplies to 39 African countries in the last five days. In most of these African airports, Ethiopian Cargo airplanes are the only ones delivering these life-saving emergency medical supplies,’’ Tewolde GebreMariam, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group has said.
Turkish Cargo replaces pax with cargo TURKISH Cargo will utilise their network and fly their Turkish Airlines passenger aircraft for airfreight as repercussions from the coronavirus outbreak and travel bans send global supply chains into disarray. The passenger aircraft will join the 25-strong cargo fleet. Flying the first of the cargo flights operated with a passenger aircraft on 20 March
with a B777 type on the Istanbul-Kiev route, Turkish Cargo is to operate cargo flights to Bucharest, Tel Aviv, Amsterdam, London, Paris, Amman, Beirut and Dubai, thus adding 5,000 tonnes of additional capacity. The airline will transport much needed medical equipment and supplies, adding 14,500 tonnes of extra capacity to and from Turkey with 167 additional cargo flights.
Munich Airport opens cargo facilities to fight COVID-19 MUNICH Airport has stepped up to maintain the operational infrastructure for cargo warehouse handling for all airlines. Cargogate, a subsidiary of Munich Airport, reminds customers it is open and available for handling any inquiries related to cargo warehouse handling for “all-cargo flights,
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potential ghost flights and ad-hoc charter flights.” Passenger flights carrying belly-hold cargo will also be included. The airport will now be open also during the night for all-cargo flights in connection with current COVID-19-related freight movements.
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Geodis supports improved gender diversity in the logistics industry
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EODIS notes that the logistics industry does not typically have equal gender representation, but wants to prove that diversity and inclusion is key to delivering innovative solutions. The logistics company has launched an equality programme in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. “Alignment between the aims of the International Women’s Day organisation and ourselves at GEODIS lies particularly in championing a hiring process where the most appropriate person gets the role, regardless of gender, because we are focused on delivering what is best for the business and for our customers,” said Anne Tan, head of HR in APAC. “Additionally, we are committed to celebrating our women and men who lead others towards a more equal workplace.” Onno Boots, GEODIS’ CEO for APAC reflected: “Women now constitute a third of our manage-
ment board in APAC; up from zero just a little over a year ago,” he said. “It shows our commitment to diversity and inclusion. It is also strong evidence of the range of talented women who are now attracted to the world of logistics. At our country management level across the region, 40% of the team are women.” Geodis believe that creating an environment that welcomes gender diversity will be important as the industry undergoes a time of rapid change, specifically in its digitalisation. Crucially an equal commitment to inclusivity is key to achieving dynamism, creativity and fresh approaches to problem solving that are required to react to such a need for change. To implement this programme, Geodis will emphasise education of gender-neutral policies, localised provision of family care and flexible working hours.
BIFA: ‘Irresponsible’ to refuse a Brexit extension
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obert Keen, director general of the British International Freight Association (BIFA), has warned that amid coronavirus chaos and with Brexit negotiations at a standstill, not asking for an extension on Brexit would be irresponsible. He stated: “The government is still insisting it will not request an extension, saying the December 31 deadline is enshrined in law, but whilst Boris Johnson might insist that Brexit is done, we know from our regular meeting with government departments that there is a huge amount left in the civil service’s EU exit in-trays, and everybody is completely overwhelmed with the crisis. “I understand that requesting an extension would be very difficult politically for the government, given the prime minister’s insistence that the Brexit process would not be delayed further, but true statesmen act in a statesman-like manner in times of global crisis, which is where we are now.
Managing movement “BIFA members, which are responsible for managing the movement of a large proportion of the UK’s visible international trade, share the uncertainty of others about how the coronavirus crisis will affect international trade in future. “I for one wonder whether countries will remain committed to just-in-time global supply ANYLINE, an Austrian provider of smartphone-based scanning technology, will offer its solutions for free to logistics services to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Anyline will enable logistics companies to roll out its secure scanning technology to the
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chains in trade, once this crisis is over, whenever that might be. “And whenever it might be, it will not be a good idea to present business with a whole new set of uncertainties around a very significant change in the status of our economic relationship with Europe, either through no deal or through a very limited deal at the end of the year. “This is not an argument about leaving the EU. That is done and dusted. This is an argument about managing transition when not just the goalposts, but the entire playing field has moved. “Pre-COVID-19, it is true that our members faced a situation with more time to prepare for a potential no deal. Now, those members have been knocked sideways by the virus, and will be less well placed to adapt to a second shock if there is significant change in the terms of trade with the EU at the end of the year, because the government has stuck to its guns over the transition period. “The crisis caused by COVID-19 is delivering much greater understanding of the key role of freight forwarders to the authorities and the wider audience that rely on the commodities being delivered through international supply chains. “Now in these very difficult times, it is important that the government listens to the freight transport sector, puts politics to one side and seeks an extension to the transition period.”
smartphones of staff working at the frontline. Anyline CEO Lukas Kinigadner says: “We all need to play our part to ensure this terrible virus is controlled. In the tech community, we have tools that can support our frontline services and make their vital work easier and safer.”
www.ceruleanaviation.com
Advertorial
The Real Alternative For Cargo
Air Cargo is Taking Off at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) is becoming the airport of choice for fast and efficient handling of specialized, time-sensitive cargo shipments. Since 2015, cargo volume increased by 91.8%; from 29,875 tons in 2015 to 57,209 tons in 2019. Carriers are finding that unlike traditional gateway airports, GSP enjoys an abundance of airspace and airfield capacity, short taxi times, and uncongested arrival and departure patterns. With an 11,001-foot runway, GSP can support the world’s largest aircraft and offer easy access to global networks and freight hubs around the world.
GSP Serves a Vibrant, Growing Region GSP is centrally located between Atlanta, Georgia and Charlotte, North Carolina in a 10-county region called Upstate South Carolina (SC). This area is business-friendly and a magnet for foreign investment. Nearly 500 international companies from over 30 nations now call the Upstate region home. Notable companies include BMW Manufacturing, Michelin North America, Adidas, Bosch, Fujifilm, Mitsubishi Polyester Film, and many others.
International and domestic companies are equally finding that Upstate SC is open for business. Offering well-educated and highly trained employees and a population in excess of 1.5 million people, companies are finding Upstate SC provides fertile ground in which to grow. Since 2010, the region has announced more than $15 billion in capital investment and more than 43,000 new jobs. The Upstate SC region has accounted for approximately 38% of the state’s new capital investment, and 34% of the state’s new job announcements.
Location, Location, Location GSP is easily accessible from the region’s superior roadway system. U.S. Interstates 85 and 26 provide east-west and north-south access to all points in the southeastern U.S. Ample rail lines allow product to move from points across the nation to GSP. In addition, an Inland Port located directly adjacent to the airport provides shippers access via rail to the Port of Charleston, a deep-water port in Charleston, SC.
Cerulean Aviation Having a superior location and abundant facilities is good, but having the ability to also provide ramp, ground handling, warehouse and fueling services through one entity is even better! Cerulean Aviation provides customers an all-in-one option for cargo handling. These efficiencies have allowed the airport to effectively handle thousands of air cargo operations in support of OEMs and tier suppliers worldwide in recent years. With Cerulean’s experience and competitive pricing, shippers and carriers know their shipments are in good hands. Through close coordination with on-site U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials, Cerulean is often able to reduce cargo on-airport times to levels not possible at other gateway airports.
GSP Offers a Solution for Your Unique Shipments. GSP is currently the only airport in North or South Carolina offering scheduled non-stop international cargo service. Boeing 747 flights regularly travel between GSP and Europe in support of local manufacturers. Charter flights serving destinations across the globe are also common. In 2019, GSP handled 57,209 tons of cargo valued at $3.46 billion (USD). This was an increase in value of 38.5% over the previous year. The same analysis ranks GSP 27th among US airports for total trade value and 26th by total cargo weight. The airport’s top imports and exports include motor vehicles, civilian aircraft, vehicle parts, medical instruments, navigational equipment, and electric board panels and switches. GSP’s top trading partners are Germany, Mexico, Malaysia, Hungary, and Canada. Unique shipments have become commonplace at GSP. In September 2018, Cerulean provided ground support for the world’s largest civilian equestrian airlift in conjunction with the FEI World Equestrian Games. Over 550 horses were transported to GSP from all over the world to compete in competitions taking place at the nearby Tryon International Equestrian Center located in North Carolina.
New Air Cargo Facility Accommodates Growth To accommodate the significant growth in cargo volume, GSP opened a new $33 million Air Cargo Facility in September 2019. The 110,000 square foot facility offers state-of-the-art handling capabilities, a 17-acre ramp, and parking for up to three 747-8 aircraft simultaneously.
GSP International Airport is Your Efficient Alternative If you are looking for an alternative to the delays and hassle offered by other gateway airports, try the Southeast U.S.’s convenient alternative airport, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport.
Contact: Cerulean Commercial Aviation, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP), 3090 Gateway Drive, Greer, SC 29651 T: +001 864-848-6226, E: cargosales@ceruleanaviation.com
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Global cold chain must prepare for COVID-19 vaccine
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rofessor Pawanexh Kohli, founding CEO of India’s National Centre for Cold-chain Development (NCCD), has delivered a clear message that, when it is developed, the cold chain infrastructure must be prepared to deliver the COVID-19 vaccine to every corner of the earth. “[This] is one risk that cannot be taken. There is no scope to bypass the logistics that will ensure the vaccine can reach every infected region of the world as a priority, and then other pockets that might have escaped,” Kohli emphasised. It is true that even today the vaccination system for well-mapped viruses, like the flu, do not necessarily reach every person that needs it. “While today we worry about hospital equipment and beds as we dampen the infection, shortly we will have to ensure the vaccine is available in every remote hamlet and village around the world,” says Kohli. As with any vaccines, the COVID-19 vaccine will need to be handled within specified temperature ranges. Kohli suggests that it will probably demand similar conditions to the Influenza vaccine, which must be kept between 2°C and 8°C, while in transport and storage. “The problem to consider is whether we can inoculate all eight billion people on the planet. Will the current cold-chain network be capable of handling extraordinarily large quantities of the vaccine?” asks Kohli. For the global cold chain to cope it may be not be a simple as adding capacity of vaccine refrigeration at existing facilities, but to create a whole new infrastructure.
Peli BioThermal welcomes NanoCool to the family PELI BioThermal has acquired NanoCool, the New Mexico-based manufacturer of temperature-controlled packaging solutions. “I’m thrilled to see NanoCool become part of the Peli BioThermal family. The Peli BioThermal brand is well-known around the world for its temperature-controlled technology and we’re excited that our products will gain access to their resources and best-inclass industry expertise,” Doug Smith, founder of NanoCool said. “Since we primarily serve customers in the US we look forward to leveraging Peli BioThermal’s extensive global network to bring our innovative technology to more areas of the world – especially to areas where temperature-control is crucial.” NanoCool specialise in convenient cold chain shipping containers that use an innovative evaporative cooling system. The systems do not need to be refrigerated or pre-conditioned, which saves time and money in transportation. The cooling technology is engaged by simply pressing a button and quickly conditions the payload space for shipping biological patient samples and other life science materials. Due to these convenient qualities, NanoCool is particularly useful for diagnostic laborato-
ries, clinical supply providers and gene and cell therapy organisations. They have also created a version of the cooling engine that can be sent in a shipping envelope, meaning patients can send their own samples from home. The addition of NanoCool’s customers, market segments and product technologies will enable Peli BioThermal to expand its access to patients, laboratories and other last-mile players in the distribution of life sciences materials and collection of patient laboratory samples. “The core competency of Peli BioThermal and NanoCool — innovative temperature-controlled packaging — is very much aligned, but there is little overlap between our market segments and product technologies,” explained David Williams, president of Peli BioThermal. He added: “Adding NanoCool’s capabilities to our diverse product line will help fuel our efforts to expand our offerings and bring further innovation to growing sectors of the life sciences industry spanning the globe. “We will continue to lead innovation in temperature-controlled packaging with the addition of NanoCool’s customer-focused engineering approach — a methodology that both organisations fully embrace.”
“Each pharmaceutical outlet could be enabled to store and inject the vaccine – perhaps even at outlets in shopping malls, universities, offices or theatres. Doing so will immediately multiply the delivery points of the vaccine, and avoid crowding existing hospitals and clinics,” explains Kohli. “A few million individuals can be quickly trained to inoculate and each inoculation will have to be recorded with an extensive database collated. The unique identity of each citizen will come handy here, to be mapped against the vaccination, not a single person can be bypassed. This will require a mobilisation, even exceeding the scale that India executes for its elections.”
Extensive last mile The food cold-chain, which has a large reach and with an extensive last mile connectivity, may even be utilised. Therefore the sector must familiarise themselves with related pharma protocols. This must all be executed with standardised care and training as without it the result may be disastrous. It’s then down to governments to ensure all citizens are inoculated. “Before we can build enough hospitals to handle projected numbers, we will have a vaccine. That is the next tool in our arsenal – and we must prepare to use it properly and effectively, says Kohli. “We can wish for the rapid development of the COVID-19 vaccine and hope it immunises people against this virus for life. Most importantly, we must plan an efficient delivery mechanism to ensure that the vaccine will be provided to everyone on Planet Earth.”
What happens to pharma when airfreight tonnages drop?
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ue to its temperature-controlled and time-sensitive nature the majority of pharmaceuticals are transported via airfreight. Seafreight only accounts for around 20% of pharma shipments, which mostly consist of non-temperature sensitive products. However, airfreight demand has been slowly dwindling. IATA released full year global data for 2019 that showed that demand, measured in freight tonne kilometre (FTKs), fell by 3.3% compared to 2018, whilst capacity rose by 2.1%. This was the weakest performance since the global financial crisis of 2009, but 2020 is shaping up to be even worse. With airport closure, drastically reduced flight schedules and travel bans, 2020 may be the worst year for aviation but a time when the world is relying on airfreight to keep vital medical supply chains moving. This crisis has been a stark reminder of how much Europe still heavily relies on Chinese and Indian markets for many generic off-patent drugs and pharmaceutical ingredients. It has been reported in recent days that air charter services have surged in demand as the charter sector steps up to take on the load that would otherwise have been carried in bellyhold of now grounded planes.
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The International Generic and Biosimilar medicines Association (IGBA), which represents global manufacturers of generic and biosimilar medicines, has requested urgent action by governments and pharmaceutical supply chain stakeholders to reopen airfreight routes and ensure patients around the globe can continue to have access to the medicines they need during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Airfreight is a crucial part of the pharmaceutical supply chain. Pharmaceutical manufacturers rely on capacity in passenger flights to ship medicines and ingredients rapidly and securely,” said Hanan Sboul, IGBA Chair. “With the pandemic nature of the COVID-19 outbreak, there has been a dramatic reduction in commercial air passenger flights that normally carry these pharmaceutical goods.” “The IGBA calls for urgent discussion and coordination between governments, air carriers, logistics operators such as freight forwarders and the pharmaceutical industry to ensure that generic and biosimilar medicines manufacturers can continue to produce and ship medicines to where they are needed. A prompt, integrated international approach is required to avoid shortages in the supply of medicines during these critical times,” urged Sboul.
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COVID-19 crisis as it unfolds ...
GEODIS asked by French state to help face mask supplies
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EODIS has been commissioned by the French government to organise the emergency supply of millions of medical face masks from China to France. The logistics company is planning 16 flights over the coming weeks with the possibility of being extended into May, which will equate to approximately 2.400 cubic metres of capacity weekly. For this operation GEODIS has chartered two Antonov 124 aircraft, which will operate in rotation between France and China. Antonov aircraft are specially designed for transporting large quantities of cargo. The first flight alone from Shenzhen contained 8.5 million masks and one billion masks are expected to reach France over the next 14 weeks.
A4E AND ERA HAPPY WITH NEW CARGO GUIDELINES FROM THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION AIRLINES for Europe (A4E) and European Regions Airline Association (ERA) welcome the new guidelines issued on March 26 by the European Commission on “Facilitating Air Cargo Operations during COVID-19 outbreak”, which provide Member States with clear indications on how to ensure that the air freight sector continues to operate despite the health measures in place to limit the spread of COVID-19. Cargo capacity has dropped dramatically over the last few weeks as a result of the travel bans and flight restrictions in place across Europe and the globe. Under normal circumstances belly freight accounts for 50–60% of air cargo. To ensure the continuity of trade flows, A4E and ERA welcome in particular the operational measures asking Member States to exempt asymptomatic transport personnel (including air crew, cargo personnel and airport personnel) from current travel restrictions and containment measures.
Concrete measures “We fully welcome these concrete measures and call on Member States to swiftly implement them to keep air cargo flying in Europe. “At the same time we urge national authorities to ensure that key personnel, including customs and security staff at EU airports, are able to go to work and ensure a safe and secure operation,” said Thomas Reynaert, managing director, Airlines for Europe (A4E). “The guidelines are welcome and now we call on Member States to adopt them,” added Andrew Kelly, ERA president.
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MASkargo works around the clock
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ASkargo has been working with Malaysia’s government authorities to ensure the country will have access to much needed medical equipment and supplies. Logistics, flight plans and cargo space management of the medical supplies have been planned accordingly. The majority of the cargo is being imported from China. On March 25 alone, 300,000 disposable masks, 50,000 protection suits and 8,000 protection suits with eye masks, all courtesy of the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation, were flown to Malaysia from China.
“We have changed our freighter schedules to manage these high priority cargo movements. There were difficulties due to airport restrictions but with co-operation by both governments, the kinks were ironed out and our team has been working day and night to ensure that the medical equipment arrives safely in Malaysia,” Ibrahim Mohammed Salleh, CEO of MASkargo commented. “To address the capacity storage, we are also looking at passenger-to-cargo (P2C) flights where Malaysia Airlines passenger aircraft are used to fly only cargo out of China.”
Airbus, Bolloré and WFS aid the race for supplies
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ORLDWIDE Flight Services (WFS), Airbus and Bolloré Logistics have joined forces to expedite the distribution of two million face masks to health workers in France and Spain to help protect edical workers and citizens. Co-ordinated with Bolloré, Airbus operated one of its own A330-800 passenger aircraft to Tianjin, China to collect the shipment and back to Toulouse, France where WFS offloaded the cargo and made the necessary prepara-
tions for the masks to be forwarded to their destinations. “It is vital for the air logistics chain to be able to respond immediately when new stocks become available. With our global network of cargo handling stations, we have teams on the ground ready to ensure these life-saving cargoes reach those who need them within just a matter of hours. This is the power of air cargo and demonstrates the vital importance of the entire air cargo supply chain to the global
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response to the coronavirus,” commented Hugo Rodrigues, vice president of cargo in France at WFS. Marc Yorann, project manager at Bolloré Logistics added: “We want to thank everyone involved in helping to ensure this most urgent cargo reached the front-line medical staff so quickly. It is important that the medical profession helping to treat COVID-19 patients can feel confident that the logistics and cargo handling industry has the ability to act immediately.”
Cometh the hour, cometh the solution ACW caught up with John Cheetham, Chief Commercial Officer at IAG Cargo, about how the Group is responding to this most extraordinary crisis ACW: When there is a vaccine for Coronavirus, would you anticipate an uptick in pharma traffic from the medicine?
Over the last week, for example, we’ve been flying large quantities of contact lenses to North America.
As and when a vaccine becomes available we will be working to ensure it is moved to wherever it is needed.
ACW: Regarding the hygiene, safety and security of cargo, what steps has IAG Cargo been able to put in place in the network?
ACW: Have you seen a significantly higher demand and volumes from e-Commerce and health care and essential supplies?
At IAG Cargo hygiene, safety and security are always our topmost priorities and we have robust procedures in place.
We are continuing to see very strong demand for fresh produce, medicines and other essential supplies and are working hard to ensure products continue to move around the world. As you would expect, things like surgical masks, gowns and gloves have been in high demand. We’re also moving COVID-19 testing equipment. The vital essentials that people depend on aren’t always immediately obvious and come in all shapes and sizes.
ACW: Clearly the suspending of pax flights + bellyhold capacity has hit capacity: which constituent airline has suffered the most shrinking of capacity? This is an ongoing pandemic which is affecting different regions at different times. We are working closely with our customers to provide alternative solutions for capacity, for example providing customers the opportunity to charter our planes. My team is
working 24/7 to make sure that we are utilising any additional capacity during this fluid period and we have the agility to offer additional services across any of our airlines. ACW: How is the Madrid cargo hub faring at the moment, given the crisis in Spain? Our Madrid cargo hub is still open and operational – we know how important it is to keep products moving and are doing what we can to ensure this continues. ACW: Are you looking to charter cargo aircraft at all at present? What about American Airlines’ idea to send empty pax aircraft across the Atlantic with bellyhold cargo? Is that something you could look at? It’s actually something we are already doing. We were quick in offering this solution to our customers and a good
number of them have already chartered our passenger aircraft for cargo. From a charter perspective we’ve also been supporting governments, including bringing medical equipment in from the United States. Based on the demand for charters, we have now established a specialist charter team to facilitate requests. The team is working very closely with our airlines. If forwarders are interested in this solution then we encourage them to get in touch with their IAG Cargo sales representatives. We are also running scheduled cargo-only flights and will continue to do this wherever there is sufficient demand. For example, with Aer Lingus we are providing daily transatlantic services out of Dublin to New York, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco and Toronto. ACW: How co-operative have your customers been in working with you on the matter of the hygiene, safety and security of cargo?
Like us, our customers have also been working hard to ensure that cargo is delivered in a safe, secure and hygienic way. This is a very challenging time for all involved in the aviation industry. Our focus for the coming weeks and months is to keep vital supplies moving around the world – we will be working as closely as we can with our customers and governments to ensure we can continue to do this throughout the ongoing pandemic. I’m hugely proud of how my team are confronting the task at hand, how proactive everyone is being and how everyone is pulling together. More than ever, speed and our ability to adapt quickly to the changing market is critical. That’s why I’m particularly pleased with the innovative customer solutions that I’m seeing from my team on a daily basis such as the chartering of passenger airlines for cargo and running scheduled cargo-only flights.
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