ACW 03 April 23

The weekly newspaper for air cargo professionals

TIACA’s 2023 insights report reveals air cargo is driving ...

THE FUTURE OF FREIGHT FORWARDING IS HUMAN

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INSIDE

CHALLENGE GROUP WHISPERS ...

CHALLENGE Group prides itself on excellence, striving to achieve the highest standard in its airfreight operations. With the motto ...

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INSURTECH STARTUP BREEZE GROWS ... DIGITAL insurance innovator Breeze, which has developed an online platform specifically for forwarders and logistics companies, has

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Smart technology, enabling operations automation and better data sharing, will support forwarders to build more efficient, sustainable supply chains, according to James Coombes, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of freight platform Raft.

Forwarders have a unique opportunity to offer their shipper customers a better service through emerging technology, he told delegates at the FIATA HQ Meeting yesterday.

“We are at a critical inflection point, where it is not enough to be simply a transactional freight forwarder,” said Coombes.

“This is a unique moment in time where automation technology is finally at a place where it can impact the traditionally human-centric operations of a freight forwarder.

“The future of freight forwarding relies on human expertise augmented by technology and AI applications, putting automation and transparency up front and centre.”

Raft uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions

to solve operational challenges faced by freight forwarders, by automating time-consuming tasks across the shipment lifecycle: from operations, customs and finance, as well as customer-facing tasks such as emissions reporting.

“We could see that companies with operational know-how did not have machine learning engineers, and vice versa,” said Coombes.

“We built an operations automation platform, backed by AI, to enable forwarders of all sizes to meet evolving customer expectations in a costeffective, scalable way.

“Our customer base is growing, and we are already deploying our technology to a large range of freight forwarders, helping to revolutionise the way they work to change the landscape for the better.”

Coombes spoke on a panel focused on how technology and artificial intelligence can help forwarders at the FIATA event in Geneva, Switzerland.

“FIATA is helping its members to embrace digitalisation at their own pace, through its

Digital Strategy, meanwhile introducing the latest innovative softwares via its Digital Lab webinar series,” shared Dr. Stéphane Graber, FIATA Director General.

“FIATA encourages its members to explore the Raft solution, which integrates with forwarders’ TMS (transport management systems) platforms to make the entire shipping process more visible.”

The FIATA HQ meeting explored the need for forwarders to build resilience, in light of the pandemic, war in Ukraine, rising energy costs, and other climatic disasters posing challenges to global supply chains and sustainable development.

“FIATA welcomes innovative tools such as the one provided by Raft which enables mid- and small-sized freight forwarding companies to benefit from the advantages brought by new technologies,” added Dr. Ivan Petrov, FIATA President.

James Coombes and Nisarg Mehta, Chief Technology Officer, co-founded Raft in 2017 with the aim of using cutting-edge technology to radically improve freight forwarder workflows.

GLOBAL TONNAGES AND ...

THE latest air cargo demand and pricing data provide further evidence of stabilisation following the declines seen throughout much of last ...

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ANIMAL AIRCARE OPEN STATE ...

WITH over 25 years of experience specialising in the care of pets travelling by air, Animal Aircare is expanding its operations ...

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Challenge Group whispers to the animals

CHALLENGE Group prides itself on excellence, striving to achieve the highest standard in its airfreight operations. With the motto “challenge accepted,” the carrier welcomes all species onboard its aircraft, providing state-of-the-art facilities and a comfortable journey.

Transporting around 7000 horses and 1000 pets each year, Challenge Group works with agents specialising in animal transportation, primarily those based in the United States and the European Union.

“Our motto applies perfectly to this sector when it comes to the operational environment: from delivery to build up, from planning to tarmac operation, loading and offloading, everything should be performed as quickly as possible to preserve the animals’ wellbeing,” Hay Sasson, Chief Operating Officer of Challenge Group, said.

Leading horse carrier

Airfreight is a must for horses. For Challenge Group, this is where its main expertise lies, managing the famous Horse Inn in Liege, Belgium.    At the facility, the horses are able to rest before a long flight. Because the well-being of the animals is a priority for the Group, it has been designed to allow grooms to rest next to their horses when they are present. It is also the acceptance point for horses before loading on the airborne horse stalls.

“Everything is done to avoid stress and reduce the waiting time. It is the same for other animals. They are accepted five hours before the flight to ensure that their trip inside the

container is as short as possible,” Sasson highlighted.

The carrier’s Challenge Handling offering reflects this, having been developed with Air Tech Innovations – a unique prototype trailer for the transport of horses. It has been built to transport in a smooth, safe and efficient way all the horses, from one side of the airport to the other.

Showing its position in the industry, Challenge Airlines became the latest company to achieve IATA CEIV Live Animal certification in September, something Sasson described as a “remarkable milestone.”

“The processes are more defined and clearer throughout the cycle, allowing for the increased excellence of the teams. This is a guarantee of quality and above all of safety, which is the first thing we look for when we talk about transporting living beings,” Sasson continued.

Challenges and opportunities

The development of population and trade in general has contributed to the increase in animal transport. In particular, there is a greater demand for livestock charters. But this leads to many limitations, which are justified, and which concern in particular animal welfare but also logistic and operational challenges with, for example, more required turn around time.

The vertical has a specific seasonality, so the traffic is stable, allowing Challenge Group to plan its schedule.

“The demand is stable as this traffic is a niche market with a regular seasonality,” Sasson said. “After the pandemic, we see that some countries, from a strategic point of view, want to keep sufficient reserves of livestock to be self-sufficient as much as possible.”

“The biggest challenge is probably to be flexible in dealing with unforeseen delays, restrictions imposed by the regulator or the authority, the primary objective being the wellbeing of the animal throughout the journey,” Sasson explained.

Wide range of service s  Challenge Group has made specific investments to ensure the highest standard: trained staff, more owned stalls and most important a trailer prototype for a safer and faster transfer of the animals on the tarmac.

“One of our objectives as a group is operational excellence. We therefore hope that other stakeholders will improve their internal standards as much as possible, for the benefit of animal transportation as a whole,” Sasson said.

As a carrier, Challenge has managed a constant number of live animal charters at airline level, not only horses, but also donkeys, rhinos and dogs. The handling of live animals is a controlled and pre-planned process based on risk management and procedures that are controlled by their quality system.

Animal welfare is one of the key factors to consider, if not the first. At Challenge Group, they have made animal transportation one of their core competencies, investing in people, equipment and tools, to achieve the highest standard possible.

As an airline, Challenge must ensure that the right temperature and CO2 level are maintained throughout the flight. In order to ensure optimal transport, specific procedures have been developed to create proper air circulation around the live animal container. In addition, their team uses an environmental control system to ensure the correct ambient temperature and CO2 levels at all times.

Menzies Aviation continues Latin America expansion with new operations in Costa Rica and Chile

Insurtech startup Breeze grows team

DIGITAL insurance innovator Breeze, which has developed an online platform specifically for forwarders and logistics companies, has appointed industry veteran Patrizia Kern as its Chief Insurance Officer, in line with its ongoing growth strategy.

Kern has over 30 years’ experience in senior roles across the marine insurance industry, most recently at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions’ global marine division, where she headed up the unit’s cargo and hull business.

that is fully embedded in existing operational workflows.

“Current estimates are that around 70% of global trade is either un-or-under insured,” said Matthew Phillips, Chief Commercial Officer at Breeze, which has just opened its first US office after a successful UK scale-up.

“With the growing number of risks affecting supply chains, it is more important than ever that cargo is properly covered.”

“In many cases shippers are not even aware

MENZIES Aviation has continued its expansion in Latin America with new ground services and air cargo services launching in Costa Rica and Chile.

In Costa Rica, Menzies has been awarded licenses to operate ground services at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), the country’s largest airport and primary airport for international travellers, and at Liberia Guanacaste Airport (LIR). Additionally, Menzies is expanding its portfolio at SJO with a cargo facility in partnership with Terminales Unidas (TUSA).

Menzies is the only aviation services provider operating in SJO Costa Rica that offers the full suite of ground, air cargo, and security services.

In Chile, following the acquisition of a controlling stake in Agunsa Aviation Services last year, Menzies Agunsa has now secured permits which enables it to provide air cargo

services to the market.

The recently formed Menzies Agunsa partnership will operate a 65,000 sq ft onairport cargo warehouse at Santiago de Chile Airport (SCL), which can handle import cargo and courier products. This builds on Menzies’ existing ground services business at SCL where it serves several airlines including United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Qatar Airways.

“We have experienced rapid growth in Latin America over recent years where we have grown our operations from two countries in 2019 to six. We now have operations across Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Chile. We are very excited about these latest additional opportunities in Costa Rica and Chile, and look forward to further strengthening our network in this attractive market,” John Redmond, EVP Americas, Menzies Aviation, said.

Envirotainer shipments jumped by a quarter in 2022

“Breeze is at the forefront of the digital revolution in marine and cargo insurance,” said Kern.

“Combining new technology, data and machine learning will completely transform the marine and cargo insurance industry, to provide a level of transparency and efficiency in freight management that will ultimately make shipping more sustainable, more profitable, and safer.”

“Breeze has built in a very short time what the industry has been talking about for years now, and I am looking forward to using my knowledge of the market to accelerate the industry’s transformation through impactful end-to-end, digital, and data-driven insurance offerings.”

Breeze is a fully automated, digital insurance solution, specifically tailored for freight forwarders and logistics companies.

It is free-to-use and provides instant shipper-interest, all-risk, cargo cover in a way

that they are not insured by their forwarder or logistics provider, and with Breeze forwarders can seamlessly offer shippers the coverage they need.”

“Patrizia’s experience and energy will be a huge asset to our growing team, and we are excited that she is joining us.”

Kern has extensive experience of using technology and risk intelligence to drive the global maritime insurance industry towards sustainability.

She is the Chair of the Poseidon Principles for Marine Insurance (PPMI), an initiative launched in 2021 to accelerate the shipping industry’s decarbonisation, and chairs the Big-Data and Digitalization Forum and Nominating Committee of the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI).

Kern is an Advisory Board Member for the Global Maritime Forum (GMF), Lloyd’s Register, and the ICC Digital Standard Initiative.

Trial of automated guided vehicles for cargo transportation launched at Barcelona Airport

ENVIROTAINER , the specialist in secure cold chain solutions for the shipment of pharmaceuticals, has reported a 24 percent increase in the volume of life-saving medicines shipped around the world in its temperaturecontrolled units. In 2021 the Envirotainer fleet moved ~600 million doses. In 2022 this grew to ~744 million doses (272,000 pallets).

The Envirotainer fleet covers more than 2,000 pharmaceutical trade lanes in over 100 countries and 300 airports. To enable the shipment of ever-increasing volumes of vaccines and treatments such as insulin to where they’re needed, the business will continue to invest and innovate to bring new products to the market.

With its Releye® range, which includes the biggest thermally-controlled container

available, Envirotainer can ensure minimal or zero temperature deviations on the shipments and virtually zero product loss. Releye® also offers integrated live monitoring, which enables a unique insight into product condition, location and progress of the shipment. The company also supports cryogenic -70°C dry ice shipping for products such as clinical trials, vaccines, diagnostics biospecimen and many more with its CryoSure® product line.

“The increase in our shipments reflects the huge need for efficient, secure and sustainable cold-chain solutions for transporting sensitive pharmaceuticals. We will continue to increase capacity, developing our product range and accelerating the digitalisation of the coldchain industry,” Fredrik Linnér, Chief Business Development Officer at Envirotainer said.

A proof-of-concept trial for autonomous vehicles to move cargo between the warehouse and apron has commenced at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona – El Prat Airport as part of an innovation project between partners, Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) and Aena, the main airport operator, with 46 airports and two heliports in Spain.

The project is aligned with the first automated ground vehicle (AGV) guidelines being developed by IATA’s Ground Operations Automation and Digitization working group (GAD), which WFS has also been participating in.

WFS and Aena have been joined in the 10week trial by three other key partners, including FASEREK, MOVVO and SIMAI.

The first phase of the Barcelona trial involves cargo transport operations between the WFS cargo terminal and Terminal 1 using a ramp tractor equipped with AGV technology along

a planned, point-to-point route of 2,300m. Aircraft manoeuvring areas will not be entered, or aircraft interacted with at this stage of the project.

“Through our test project, WFS will learn about the viability of automated vehicles in a busy airport tarmac environment to help us understand any limitations or challenges we will need to overcome before any future deployment of this technology at airports around the world,” Jordi Campderrós, PMO manager of WFS, said.

“Given that WFS handles cargo onboard more than 25,000 import and export flights a year at Barcelona, and more than 42,000 flights in Madrid, the future benefits of AGV technology are obvious in terms of productivity gains, safety, and sustainability, and this can ultimately be replicated at airports across the globe,” he added.

AfA enlists lobbyist to help secure vital investment in US airport infrastructure

THE Airforwarders Association has appointed senior lobbyist, Michael Taylor, Managing Partner, Diakon Partners, to help maintain its pressure on US Congress for urgent investment in air cargo infrastructure at American airports.

Taylor will represent the interests and concerns of both AfA and partners the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA), having been set three key objectives, including the education of key Members of Congress about the economic importance of air cargo, the critical need for investment in air cargo at US airports, recommended actions, and the costs of inaction.

“AfA’s engagement of Mr Michael Taylor in this critical role will greatly enhance our efforts to convince members of Congress of the urgent need to strengthen US air cargo, to enable it to thrive as the critical link it is in the global supply chain and to protect the many thousands of jobs it creates,” Brandon Fried, Executive Director, AfA, said.

“Both AfA and the NCBFAA set up the Congestion Committee in 2022 to conduct an inquiry and its findings were conclusive that investment in air cargo infrastructure at federal level across the US was vital.”

“Over the past decade, one of the primary financial mainstays of the aviation industry has been air cargo: this has never been more clear than in the face of the COVID pandemic,” Fried said. “Having sustained the aviation industry and, in large measure, regional economies and the morale of the population, both AfA and NCBFAA members are reliant on investment if air cargo infrastructure is to be able to support the demands of the sector for the future.”

VRR announces distribution partnership with Tamagawa Aero Systems

VRR, the makers of standard and custom Unit Load Devices, has announced that it has extended its distribution channel through an agreement with Tamagawa Aero Systems, a provider of Ground Support Equipment (GSE) and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services to aircraft operators.

The agreement, which comes into effect in 2023, entitles Tamagawa to sell VRR’s products and to carry out repair services using OEM parts. Through Tamagawa’s network of outlets and stations, built over more than 60 years, VRR will be able to strengthen its presence in Japan. More importantly, it will enable the manufacturer to offer a faster, more

streamlined service to Japanese customers and end users.

“This new partnership will make life much easier for our customers based in Japan,” Geert van Riemsdijk, Managing Director of VRR, said. “Tamagawa is well-respected in the region for its expertise in repairing aircraft parts and GSE products. What’s more, its people speak the language and have in-depth knowledge of how business is conducted in Japan. We’re very excited about this agreement.”

In addition to selling VRR spare parts, Tamagawa will provide product support and a repair and maintenance service at its ULD repair station in Narita.

Global tonnages and average rates both stabilise

THE latest air cargo demand and pricing data provide further evidence of stabilisation following the declines seen throughout much of last year.

Figures for week 11 (13 to 19 March) show a clear stabilisation in both worldwide tonnages as well as the global average rate, compared with the previous week and following several weeks of relative stability since mid-February, figures from WorldACD Market Data indicate.

Comparing weeks 10 and 11 with the preceding two weeks (2Wo2W), overall tonnages are flat versus their combined total in weeks 8 and 9, accompanied by a +2% increase in capacity, whereas average worldwide rates slightly declined by -1% – based on the more than 400,000 weekly transactions covered by WorldACD’s data. At a regional level, on a 2Wo2W basis, there are still signs of a relatively robust (+5%) recovery in air cargo tonnages ex-Asia Pacific, driven by growth in flows to Middle East & South Asia (+9%), North America (+6%), Europe (+4%) and intra-Asia Pacific (+3%), respectively. The most-notable decreases were recorded ex-Middle East & South Asia to Asia Pacific (-13%), and ex-Central & South America to Europe (-11%).

While volumes have been flattening in the last two weeks, on the pricing side average rates have continued to show a negative trend on a 2Wo2W basis from all regions except Asia Pacific (+1%), particularly ex-Middle East & South Asia (-5%), exEurope (-3%) and ex-Central & South America (-3%).

Chicago Rockford’s Executive Director Mike Dunn announces retirement

THE Greater Rockford Airport Authority (GRAA) has announced that Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) Executive Director Mike Dunn will retire at the end of the year after more than 12 years in the position.

The GRAA Board of Commissioners voted Thursday evening during a regularly scheduled meeting to appoint Zack Oakley, RFD’s current Deputy Director, as the new Executive Director effective 1st January 2024.

“It has been a great honour to serve the community through my work at the airport,” Dunn said. “When I first started, the growth potential at RFD was untapped and enormous. Now, it’s a top 15 cargo airport in the United States and an economic driver connecting the world’s supply chains while growing jobs right here in the region.”

“Mike Dunn’s service and work ethic is unmatched – and we as citizens are better because he advocated so tirelessly on behalf of the state, the community, and the airport,” said Paul Cicero, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners. “On behalf of the board, we thank him for his dedication to moving RFD forward. The airport board is looking forward to working with Zack Oakley in his position as Executive Director. The board has had a long and very positive relationship with Zack over the last six years”.

During Dunn’s tenure, the airport grew passenger services, providing destination travel to people throughout the region. Most notably, his career is highlighted by cargo expansion and growth over the past five years. In 2018, RFD was named the fastest-growing cargo airport in the world and is currently the 14th largest cargo airport in the United States.

DHL signs new three-year deal with Peacock Engineering

DHL has signed a new three-year deal with Peacock Engineering in a move that will help the logistics firm manage and maintain its critical asset base at its DHL Express Southern Hub, Heathrow.

The global shipping and logistics giant delivers nearly 2 billion parcels, to over 220 territories, each year. Behind its success is a team of 380,000 workers and a state-of-the-art logistics network and operations infrastructure.

The 150,000 sq ft DHL Express Southern Hub, which supports a network of 47 service centres across the UK, opened in 2016 and is home to over 500 employees.

“We have worked with Peacock Engineering since 2016 and have always been impressed by the quality of service and its teams unrivalled knowledge of EAM solutions, such as IBM Maximo,” Kevin Dickinson, SDC Engineering Manager at DHL, said. “By taking our EAM to the cloud through IBM Maximo Application Suite it will enable us to reduce the impact of maintenance through better planning, speeding up works, improve first time fix rates and enable our operations and maintenance teams to have a better view of our assets.”

“We are thrilled to be continuing our work with DHL over the next three years. The new cloud-based IBM Maximo Application Suite integration will help bring all of DHL’s maintenance and work schedules at its DHL Express Southern Hub together, in a single EAM platform,” Alan Cambridge, CEO of Peacock Engineering added:

DANX enters new Polish joint venture

TIME-CRITICAL logistics specialist DANX (part of the DANX Carousel Group) has announced a new joint-venture with Polish logistics specialist, ILS. The strategic partnership will create a strong distribution network in Poland, in response to growing demand for highquality time-critical and in-night logistics solutions in Eastern Europe.

As the sixth largest economy in Europe (by GDP), DANX’s joint venture in Poland will support the DANX Carousel group in realising its ambition to become the European leader for time critical in-night logistics, dramatically growing its service offering and providing a firm foundation for further expansion across Eastern Europe. Both ILS and DANX have extensive experience in aftermarket and spare parts logistics, and this partnership brings together each of their strengths. It is anticipated that the joint venture will be operational by Spring 2023.

“With the recent growth in the Polish economy, we recognise the importance of responding quickly to changes in the market.

ILS is a national logistics powerhouse in Poland, offering not just a huge physical presence but also in-depth knowledge and vast expertise unmatched in this region. With demand for in-night and time-critical logistics at an all-time high, this partnership combines the very best expertise, dynamic solutions, and a strong network, to ensure our clients can be supported in line with this dramatic market

Messe München brings first multimodal trade fair for logistics services to Singapore

growth,” Lars Bo Larsen, Managing Director at DANX Denmark & Poland, stated.

“This joint venture will also provide extensive support to our wider, ambitious growth plans. For instance, it provides the perfect foundation for advancing sector specialisms - such as Materials Handling and Technology/IT - which can both benefit from our vast PUDO network. Ultimately, it’s a great collaboration and we’re looking forward to getting started.”

“We would like to provide DANX customers access to the highest quality services in new geographical locations. This includes ILS comprehensive distribution chain and PUDO dense nationwide network, as well as access to modern logistics centres and midi hubs. Customers will also benefit from ILS extensive knowledge of the Polish market,” Wojciech Aleksandrowicz, President and Managing Director at ILS, added.

“DANX is a reliable partner, a company with great potential, knowledge and a significant software and technology background. The establishment of the joint venture is an opportunity to provide our customers with new services, the demand for which has increased significantly in recent years. In-night delivery will comprehensively strengthen our portfolio of services. We believe that this strategic partnership will provide extraordinary opportunities and growth possibilities for both parties,” Aleksandrowicz concluded.

MESSE München is bringing its international logistics fair to Southeast Asia for the first time.

From 1st to 3rd November 2023, the inaugural edition of the new trade fair for transport logistics and air cargo will gather key players in global supply chains in Singapore, including DP World, Dubai South, DHL, dnata, Changi Airport and Etihad.

The event is well-timed, as established trade routes are increasingly shifting in the wake of global crises to find new ways to reliably connect global markets. Singapore and the entire Southeast Asian region are of particular relevance in this development, as the location is already one of the globe’s leading hubs and is likely to become even more dynamic in the future as an internationally trusted region from a geopolitical perspective.

The interest in the first transport logistic Southeast Asia is correspondingly high: “The current occupancy of two halls at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre already exceeds the originally expected size of the exhibition. We are currently planning to add a third hall,” Michael Wilton, CEO of MMI Asia, the regional subsidiary of Messe München, confirmed.

With Singapore having historically been a major hub for trade to and from Asia, many of the world’s logistics service providers already

have their branches and regional headquarters there. In addition, the Singapore shipper network is also strong. Many of the shippers that have a presence in the ASEAN region or throughout Asia are also present in Singapore. The three-day event will provide managers of supply chains and distribution networks with access to the companies providing these services and gives them the opportunity to present their services and products to the market.

“With Southeast Asia, we are expanding our transport logistic portfolio to include a new and very dynamic world region. This allows us to attract new customers and partners to our show and to help existing customers who are present at our events around the world to enter new markets in an emerging region,” Dr. Robert Schoenberger, head of transport logistic exhibitions, added.

Messe München is the organiser of the world’s leading events for the transport logistics and air cargo industry. transport logistic Southeast Asia is the latest in a series of leading trade fairs that includes India (Mumbai), China (Shanghai), Turkey (Istanbul), South Africa (Johannesburg) and the world’s largest logistics event and mother show in Munich.

WiseTech Academy launches Diploma of International Freight Forwarding

UPS Healthcare opens first dedicated facility in Germany

UPS Healthcare has opened its first dedicated healthcare logistics facility in Giessen, Germany, creating up to 150 new jobs. The 27,200m2 GMP and GDP compliant space will house over 30,000 pallet positions capable of supporting storage of a range healthcare products at 2C to 8C, 15C to 25C and up to -20C degrees.

device and biologics producers that increasingly need time-critical and temperature sensitive logistics for their products. The global market for biologic therapeutic drugs is set to increase from $285.5 billion in 2020 to $421.8 billion by 2025.

WISETECH Academy, the online training arm of WiseTech Global, has launched the WiseTech Diploma of International Freight Forwarding. The Diploma prepares students around the world for the role of International Freight Forwarder and covers all aspects of the global movement of cargo, relevant regulatory requirements, and conventions and barriers that impact the flow of trade.

The fully online and self-paced format allows students to start and finish at any time throughout the year. The high-quality learning experience is delivered via multimedia content that includes interactive tools, videos, quick quizzes and a community forum, all designed to help students synthesize and apply what they have learnt. The total fee for the Diploma is AUD $1,024.

“WiseTech is committed to supporting education and skills development in the logistics industry through affordable and accessible courses designed for professionals who work in global supply chains,” Dr Tudor Maxwell, who leads WiseTech Academy at

WiseTech Global, said.

“The fully online format of the WiseTech Diploma of International Freight Forwarding allows students flexibility to fit their studies around their work and personal lives, making it ideal for people who are transitioning into the industry or preparing to advance their career in international trade. They do not need to wait for the next student intake or work around scheduled class timetables,” Dr Maxwell added.

The Diploma is made up of 16 courses covering the various modes of transport within the industry such as sea, air, road, rail and inland waterway and the combination of these through multimodal transport, logistics, warehousing and distribution. It also addresses safety and security, liability and insurance, incoterms, global customs practices, handling of dangerous goods and the various technologies that support global trade. Participants can take any of the 16 courses as a standalone course to achieve a Certificate of Attainment. Once they complete all 16 courses, they are awarded the full Diploma Certificate.

“We have created a truly pan-European cold chain network, capable of providing end-to-end range of quality specialist storage and handling services,” said John Bolla, President, Global Logistics and Distribution, UPS Healthcare.“In opening our first facility in Germany, we can provide greater visibility and control to ensure our customer’s patient-critical products are delivered where they need to be, at the right time and at the right temperature.”

The roof of the facility features a solar system that produces more than 850,000 kWh of electricity annually – more than the facility consumes. The building also meets the Gold Standard of the German Sustainable Building Council.

Strategically located, the new facility offers access to the fast-growing European healthcare markets, supporting pharmaceutical, medical

Throughout 2023, UPS Healthcare will add over 200,000 m2 of warehouse space, of which about half will be in Europe. This space will add to the existing 217 facilities with a total of over 1.5 million sqm2 of GMP and GDP-compliant healthcare distribution space in 37 countries and territories. Through these investments, UPS Healthcare will have more than doubled its presence in dedicated healthcare facilities in 2023 compared to 2020.

It’s proximity to UPS’s European air hub at Cologne Bonn Airport and UPS Healthcare’s European hub in Roermond also provides customers with shorter domestic and global transit times, potentially increasing production windows and offers next-day delivery to 80% of Europe as well as access to major ports including Rotterdam, Antwerp and Amsterdam. The facility will also support Hospital & Pharmacy distribution across Germany.

WFS grows partnership with Qatar Airways Cargo in North America

QATAR Airways Cargo is extending its global partnership with Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) with the awarding of a new three-year cargo and freighter ramp handling contract at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. Under the agreement, WFS is initially providing cargo services in support of 11 Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777 passenger services a week and three B777 freighter flights, handling a projected 45 million kilos per annum.

WFS is now responsible for managing all aspects of the cargo handling process for Qatar Airways Cargo at New York JFK, including cargo acceptance, screening, build-up and breakdown of pallets and containers at its dedicated Building 75 facility. WFS is also providing full freighter handling and ramp parking for Qatar’s B777F at its Building 76 operation at the airport.

“This is a very significant new contract for WFS with one of our leading global clients. In North America alone, Qatar Airways Cargo is now partnering with WFS in Boston, Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Seattle, as well as in New York. As the largest cargo handler at JFK, Qatar Airways Cargo recognises the value we will bring to their operational efficiency and customer experience through the significant expertise and resources we can leverage. Qatar Airways’ customers will enjoy a priority service through the dedicated WFS warehouse facility we are providing for the airline,” Mike Simpson, Executive Vice President, Americas, said.

AviaAM leasing delivers fourth 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter to Lessee

AVIAAM Leasing, a global aviation holding company engaged in tailored aircraft leasing and trading services, has announced another delivery of a 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter. This is the fourth aircraft in the Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) conversion programme.

The newly converted aircraft has joined the fleet of Bluebird Nordic, an Icelandic ACMI leasing and cargo airline. Both companies in cooperation are part of Avia Solutions Group, the leading aviation business group, and the largest global provider with a fleet of 165 aircraft. With this partnership, AviaAM Leasing is assisting the airline in continuously reaching the step-bystep fleet expansion goals.

The Boeing 737-800 bearing serial number

29790 underwent the Passenger-toFreighter (P2F) conversion works provided by Boeing at Taikoo (Shandong) Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (STAECO) facility in Jinan (TNA), China.

Avia Solutions Group is the largest global ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance) provider and a parent company of SmartLynx, Avion Express, BBN Airlines, KlasJet, Magma Aviation and more operating in all continents in the world. The Group also provides various aviation services such as MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul), pilots and crew training, ground handling and other interconnected solutions. Avia Solutions Group is backed by over 11,000 highly skilled aviation professionals worldwide.

Rhenus expands UK perishable logistics offering

RHENUS Air & Ocean has announced its expansion into perishable goods transportation by launching a dedicated Rhenus Fresh department in the UK.

Rhenus Fresh specialises in perishable cargo handling, and has handled ocean and air freight imports and exports since 1985. Following the successful opening of a fresh goods department in Norway in 2021 and expansion of its perishable offering in the Netherlands, the launch of Rhenus Fresh in the UK will see customers benefit from time critical, temperature-controlled services in the transportation of chilled and frozen produce.

The business will be working with a range of perishables, including flower and food, with a particular focus on transporting fish – an area in which Rhenus has already built up considerable expertise as part of its operations in Norway and the Netherlands. Operating in accordance with APHA and DEFRA guidelines, Rhenus will source airfreight capacity with airlines across UK airports to guarantee that shipments are expedited on a first flight out basis.

“Our new UK operation is based on tried and tested

Why are we a WACA Sponsor

CARGO.ONE is proud to sponsor the “Air Cargo Industry Customer Care” award at the Air Cargo Week World Air Cargo Awards 2023.

At cargo.one, we are on a mission to digitally connect a world of freight forwarders, and ensure great customer experiences in every forwarding office.

More than ever, it’s crucial that the industry delivers the reliable and robust customer experiences needed to elevate freight forwarders, drive efficiencies and maximise every potential. Ensuring excellent customer care every day is an integral and valuable component of digital transformation efforts across the industry.

We know that digital booking success is now a vital capability for forwarders and airlines alike. Our cargonauts and partners are working hard to build a digitally integrated global air cargo community that puts freight customers first and equips us all to be more efficient and successful.

In the past year, we have added more airlines than ever before and expanded our marketplace to serve over 75 countries in all corners of the world.

We look forward to the Awards being unveiled during air cargo Europe in Munich, and being able to celebrate the great work in pursuit of customer care excellence.

We invite attendees of air cargo Europe to visit us at our booth, where you will have the opportunity to see first hand how digital air cargo booking is elevating freight forwarders and cargo airlines. You will also experience a groundbreaking new product from cargo.one, and benefit from special promotions.

We look forward to seeing you all in Munich!

operations that will give customers confidence that we can deliver to the highest standards. With chilled and frozen storage, temperature-controlled handling, and transportation they can be assured that we can deliver the consistency in temperatures required to maintain product integrity and quality at every point of the supply chain,” George Mead, UK Head of Fresh, explained. “Our dedicated fresh operation will give customers access to Rhenus’ expertise in customs inspection processes including first point of entry formalities and vet inspections.”

“We are delighted to have been able to attract industry leading experts to the company in George Mead and Paresh Bhatia (UK Fresh Operations Manager). Our new colleagues bring a lot of experience and knowledge in this sector. Our Fresh customers will benefit from 24/7 customer service and transparency on all movements, combined with bespoke solutions tailored to their own operational requirements,” Spencer Davern, Managing Director of Rhenus Air & Ocean, said.

ANIMAL AIRCARE OPEN STATEOF-THE-ART FACILITY AT LONDON HEATHROW

With over 25 years of experience specialising in the care of pets travelling by air, Animal Aircare is expanding its operations to allow it to continue its commitment to provide the best possible service to customers.

Animal Aircare prides itself on having rapid and efficient turnaround times, from receiving animals off the aircraft to completing health checks with the utmost care; aiming to reunite owners with their pets as soon as possible.

From the domestic house cat travelling on a family holiday to reptiles making their way to a new conservation, Animal Aircare’s team will handle and take care of animals that come through our doors, 24/7, 365 days a year.

Managing the Border Control Post at London Gatwick Airport, which incorporates the Animal Reception Centre, Animal Aircare recently marked the official opening of its new London Heathrow facility.

At London Gatwick Airport, Animal Aircare offers a temperaturecontrolled, safe and highly secure environment for the handling of animals travelling outbound and inbound, and for those in transit for an onward departure.

In the brand new facility at Heathrow, Animal Aircare provides a similar offering. The Heathrow site is equipped with temperaturecontrolled environments, alongside 48 spacious kennels and 22 catteries as well as isolation rooms for birds and reptiles, providing a safe and secure space for all animals whether they’re travelling inbound or in transit.

“Heathrow was always in the pipeline as it’s the UK’s biggest airport” Jake Holliday, Animal Aircare’s Heathrow Manager, said. “We’ve already partnered with the airlines at Gatwick, so it was a move that we knew was going to happen, as a lot of airlines were

asking us to come over here.”

Welfare is key

Animal transportation isn’t just the usual type of cargo transportation. Carriers are moving pets that people see as a member of their family or rare species that require specialist handling. That’s why speed and care are the two top priorities for Animal Aircare.

“Animals are much more sensitive cargo than others that might be moved,” Holliday said. “It’s their precious pet, it’s their family member.”

With a facility that directly connects to airside, they are able to ensure that animals are delivered to them quickly, as the furthest stand is only 20 minutes away. After the animal arrives in their care, the first port of call is checking their welfare needs have been met and they are given food, water, and rest in a temperature-regulated environment.

To ensure the animal moves through the facility and back to their owners as swiftly as possible, the team gets to work immediately checking for injuries, ensuring the pet complies with local regulations and has the necessary vaccinations based on its country of origin and arrival.

“The main objective is to allow animals to travel freely throughout the UK but only if they’re compliant,” Holliday explained.

“Speed for a lot of reasons comes back to welfare. The quicker you get them out, the better for their welfare. They’ve been in quite a stressful environment on an aircraft, airfield, etc, so we aim to get animals out of here in four to six hours,” Holliday highlighted. “Our average time is about two hours and 20 minutes, so it’s really quick.”

Unusual arrivals

“Heathrow was always in the pipeline as it’s the UK’s biggest airport”

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As with any transportation expert that specialises in safely moving pets, the main animals to move through Animal Aircare’s facilities are cats and dogs. However, that doesn’t stop the occasional interesting species coming through their doors.

On Animal Aircare’s busiest day, including reptiles as individual animals, the company can find itself handling around 120 pets in a 24 hour period. Just purely handling reptiles, they can see around 450 individual pets moving through the building in a single day.

Whether its ferrets, birds, reptiles or, indeed, 240 venomous snakes that require specialist handling, Animal Aircare is dedicated to ensuring its staff receive the appropriate training to allow them to safely and securely facilitate the transportation of whatever pet their customers need.

“For us, it’s being able to offer niche experience in the area and making sure that, you know, owners feel at ease,” Holliday said. “We’ve got a vast, credible amount of experience to handle everything they send us.”

Further growth

Animal Aircare entered Heathrow just over 12 months ago, seeking to add to existing alternatives at the airport. “We are here to complement,” Holliday said. “Competition is fair, you know, it’s healthy as well at the end of the day.”

While the company’s new facility might have only just celebrated its official opening, Animal Aircare is already looking at the next step in the company’s expansion and evolution

“There’s lots more future plans as well. We’ve got Gatwick, we’ve got Heathrow and we’ve also got operations at London Luton,” Holliday added. “We’ll continue to open facilities across the UK over the next few years.”

TIACA’S 2023 INSIGHTS REPORT REVEALS AIR CARGO IS DRIVING SUSTAINABILITY FORWARD

THE International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has released its third annual comprehensive report undertaken on the sustainable transformation of the air cargo industry. As part of TIACA’s Sustainability program, launched in November 2019, the organisation continues to track and assess the sustainable transformation of the air cargo industry through its annual industry survey involving supply chain partners from across the globe, within each industry sector and business size.

This year, TIACA saw a 28% increase from respondents that has helped us build a more comprehensive assessment. The responses have been analysed and published to reflect how the industry has progressed compared to the first assessment in 2020. The report’s findings continue to drive TIACA’s sustainability positions and strategy and addresses each of the eight key objectives from TIACA’s Sustainability Roadmap.

“Sustainability is clearly on the minds of our industry colleagues and while “Sustainability” is a broad concept, through our work we are able to bring awareness to the industry that it is more than just the environment. Sustainability is doing good for the planet, people and business and at TIACA we like to do this through partnerships and innovation,” Glyn Hughes, TIACA

Director General, stated.

Key highlights of the report:

64% of respondents state that the sustainability pressure has increased compared to last year, mainly driven by customers and regulators; there is a clear link between ESG action and reputation report 85% of respondents; 75% emphasise that sustainability is more important than last year; 76% of companies have confirmed they have a sustainability strategy in place; more companies have dedicated teams and budgets to drive sustainability; 52% of companies produce a sustainability report; 9% of companies have indicated a reduction in energy consumption in their operations; 50% of companies have upgraded their fleets to cleaner aerial and ground vehicles; airlines, ground handlers and freight forwarders show largest investment in the use of SAF to decarbonise; overall SAF commitments make slow progress and are led by large companies; airlines lead the way with single-use plastics reduction up by 16% from 2022; 58% of airports and 43% of freight forwarders have ramped up their efforts to combat wildlife trafficking; 52% of companies primarily airlines and ground handlers make efforts to improve local air quality;

freight forwarders take the lead in reducing their noise impact; More emphasis needs to be placed on the role the industry plays in creating economic value; Companies that place staff attraction and retention as number one objective are most likely to invest in innovation, 96%; digitalisation is maturing across the board and has increased to 78% from 66%; 79% of air cargo companies focus on improving efficiencies and operational excellence. Beyond the defined People, Planet and Prosperity categories, the report urges the industry to take the following actions: Set your sustainability agenda; ramp up the sustainability resources; address workforce challenges with people-focused strategy; build trust in your business by joining the BlueSky program; raise sustainability awareness; get ready to address customer requests and regulation

“The third annual report clearly demonstrates that we as an industry are moving forward when it comes to increasing sustainable air cargo but there is a lot more work to be done. Assessing your company’s progress when it comes to sustainability helps highlight where improvements can be made and TIACA’s BlueSky Program is just the tool to help.” Steven Polmans, Chair, TIACA, added.