ACW 12th June 2023

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THE FUTURE OF CARGO DELIVERIES

focus on the next step, the roll-out of our commercial operations, and we couldn’t be more excited,” Svilen Rangelov, CoFounder and CEO of Dronamics, said.

Аs a leading developer and operator of large, long-range drones built specifically for cargo, its flagship Black Swan is able to carry 350 kg (770 lb) at a distance of up to 2,500 km (1,550 mi) up to 80% faster, 50% cheaper and with up to 60% lower emissions than alternative modes of transport, including airfreight. This enables same-day shipping over very long distances for a variety of industries: from pharma to food, from e-commerce to spare parts. The company’s fast-growing team includes experienced aerospace and logistics experts. Dronamics is Europe’s first licensed cargo drone airline and IATA’s first Strategic Partner for drones worldwide.

INSIDE

Dronamics, the world’s first cargo drone airline, has announced the successful completion of the first flight of its flagship aircraft, the Black Swan, at Balchik Airport in Bulgaria; demonstrating the potential for the logistics industry to enhance efficiency in the transportation of products.

Born out of two brothers’ desire to find a quicker, greener and more affordable way to deliver goods, Dronamics is on a mission to enable same day delivery for everyone, everywhere. This significant milestone is the culmination of months of ground testing and subscale flights.

The Black Swan aircraft was remotely piloted by two commercial airline pilots from the Dronamics ground control

station.

The successful flight test validates the company’s licensed cargo drone technology for commercial flights in Europe, set to begin later this year, serving industries such as e-commerce, pharma, spare parts, and perishables with a fast and cost-effective solution to meet evolving consumer needs.

“Since the day we first imagined what the Black Swan aircraft could look like, we’ve worked towards this flight. Today we’ve made history and are proud to have demonstrated the validity of our drone technology,” Konstantin Rangelov, Co-Founder and CTO of Dronamics, said.

”It’s taken an enormous amount of hard work, belief and drive to prove that what we envisioned works. We can now

FIRST 767 FREIGHTER DELIVERED TO AIR TANZANIA

which was previously carried by passenger aircrafts,” Ladislaus Matindi, Air Tanzania managing director, said.

“The 767 will enable Air Tanzania to support a journey towards a more sustainable future and time critical cargo schedules across Africa and beyond. We are looking forward to expanding our imports and exports industry that require timely delivery. The arrival of the aircraft will open opportunities for global businesses to transport commercial cargo goods to various parts of the world, which will boost national economic growth.”

African opportunities

BOEING and Air Tanzania have celebrated the delivery of the airline’s first 767-300 Freighter. The aircraft arrived at the airline’s hub in Dar es Salaam and will provide the operator with dedicated airfreight capacity to serve the country’s growing cargo market. The delivery also marks the first direct 767 Freighter delivery from Boeing to an African carrier.

“We are thrilled to welcome the 767-300 Boeing Freighter to our fleet. The 767 will cater to the growing cargo demand

The 767-300 Freighter’s excellent fuel efficiency, operational flexibility and low noise levels will enable Air Tanzania to support time-critical cargo schedules across Africa and beyond. Capable of flying 3,255 nautical miles with a revenue payload of more than 52 tonnes, the 767-300 Freighter is the ideal airplane for growing e-commerce and express cargo markets. This is Air Tanzania’s first dedicated freighter as the country looks to expand imports and exports of perishable goods, pharmaceuticals and other products that require timely delivery.

“The 767 Freighter will enable Air Tanzania to significantly grow its existing operations with greater efficiency and flexibility across its network,” said Anbessie Yitbarek, vice president, Africa Sales and Marketing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Air Tanzania’s cargo customers now have far more options as the airline boosts freight connectivity between Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.”

Air Tanzania currently operates commercial services across Africa and to destinations in Asia with a fleet that includes two 787-8 Dreamliners. The airline also has orders for an additional 787-8 and two 737 MAX jets.

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NEWS

Maastricht Aachen Airport wins excellence award

MAASTRICHT Aachen Airport (MST), the second largest cargo hub in the Netherlands, has been given an award for excellence by one of its global clients, Turkish Cargo.

MST has been ranked second best among more than 300 of Turkish Cargo’s international warehouse and ramp operation partners for its 2022 performance.

The air cargo airline presented Maastricht Aachen Airport’s handling team with a glass plaque to mark the achievement in a ceremony held at the airport.

“Maastricht’s operational excellence, collaborative ability, and customer-oriented approach help us to improve the quality of service we provide to our customers,” Turkish Cargo’s Operational Performance Management department said.

“We are proud to present this award to Maastricht’s handling team and look forward to witnessing more of the airport’s operational success.”

Growing presence

Turkish Cargo has expanded its operations at MST in recent years, with the airport currently upgrading its runway with plans to extend its operational length to 2,750 metres by 2025 to allow for larger freighter capacity.

“We’ve been working with Turkish Cargo for more than 25 years, and this award demonstrates the strength of this partnership and the quality of service that MST can offer,” Jos Roeven, CEO, Maastricht Aachen Airport, said.

“Our entire team, from those in the warehouse and on the ramp to those in the office, have worked tirelessly and this is recognition of their dedication.”

Maastricht Aachen Airport serves as the European hub for Turkish Cargo along with other internationally renowned carriers including Emirates SkyCargo, Qatar Airways Cargo, Saudia, and Royal Jordanian.

Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) announces board shake-up

AIRPORT Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has welcomed the re-appointment of Jack So Chak-kwong as Chairman of the AAHK Board and three serving Board members, and the appointment of a new Board member as announced by the Government today.

So has been re-appointed as AAHK Chairman for one year by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

“I am grateful to the Government for the confidence in me by extending my term for the third time. Over the past four difficult years, we have completed the third runway, and I am glad that the airport is now busy once again. My remaining tenure will see the completion of the supporting facilities for the third runway, laying a solid foundation for the future economic development of Hong Kong,” So said.

Fresh look

Rock Chen Chung-nin, Irene Chow Man-ling, and Dr William Wong Ming-fung have been re-appointed as Board members for three years, while new Board member Stephen Yiu Kinwah was appointed for three years.

Stuart Thomson Gulliver and Nisa Bernice Leung Wing-yu have left the Board as of 1st June.

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NEWS

JUNE 2023

France welcomes 54th edition of Paris Air Show

Show said in a statement.

2,453 exhibitors are set to be available at the event from 49 countries, with 304 official delegations from 98 nations. With 316,470 visitors expected throughout the week, including 139,840 trade visitors from 185 countries, the event is sure to provide a perfect meeting place for individuals across aerospace.

The first four days of the show will be reserved for trade visitors, with the three following days open to the general public.

THE aviation industry is set to descend on the Le Bourget Parc des Expositions from 19th-25th June, as the 54th Paris Air Show brings together key global players.

With the exhibition halls having sold out six months in advance, there will be an area of 125,000 sq m for exhibition space, including 52,000 sq m of stands and 335 chalets.

Having launched in 1909, the event has grown considerably in size to become the largest aerospace event in the world. It provides an opportunity to meet with figures from throughout the aerospace sector, presenting networking opportunities, providing a platform for individuals to share ideas and build connections.

“The show is a special time for every company, providing an occasion to meet up with all the key players in the aerospace industry, seize fresh commercial opportunities, present their expertise and innovations to the world, and form technological and industrial partnerships,” the Paris Air

Network Cargo Management Appointed as GSA for Transcarga in the USA

EFW redelivers 50th Airbus conversion freighter

ELBE Flugzeugwerke GmbH (EFW), centre of excellence for Airbus Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) conversions and joint venture by ST Engineering and Airbus, has just redelivered the 50th passenger-to-freighter (P2F) converted aircraft of its new generation Airbus P2F family programme. The P2F aircraft, an A330-300P2F, was redelivered from EFW’s facility in Dresden to A330P2F launch customer DHL, and is scheduled to join the DHL freighter fleet in Asia.

“Airbus freighter conversions are being increasingly considered as the preferred next-generation platforms. In fact, customers value our Airbus P2F solutions and are planning for more converted aircraft to join their fleets. We are committed to redelivering the safest products at the highest quality to meet customers’ expectations, and I look forward to our next P2F redelivery milestone very soon,” Jeffrey Lam, President of Commercial Aerospace at ST Engineering, said.

“This marks a huge milestone for EFW and us shareholders, made possible by the dedication and commitment of EFW colleagues, our customers and partners”, Andreas Hermann, Airbus SVP Commercial & International Operations and EFW Board Member, said. “We look forward to continuing to support EFW in delivering some of the greatest products and services across the Airbus product range.”

EFW’s P2F conversion programmes were developed in collaboration with ST Engineering and Airbus, with EFW holding the Supplemental Type Certificates and leading in the overall programme. The programmes include the widebody platforms – the A330-200P2F and the A330-300P2F –which were first redelivered in 2017 and 2018 respectively; and the narrowbody platforms – the A321P2F and the A320P2F which were first redelivered in 2020 and 2022 respectively.

To meet the demand for Airbus freighter conversions, EFW and ST Engineering set up in total nine conversion sites worldwide, including in the U.S., China and Europe in the past years to ramp up total conversion capacity for all the Airbus P2F programmes. In 2023, EFW has re-delivered 13 Airbus conversion freighters (8 A321/A320P2F and 5 A330P2F) by May.

The Airbus conversion freighter offer several advantages like OEM supported cockpit commonality. On top, EFWs P2F conversions are equipped with advanced technology that offers airlines additional operational and economic benefits, for example more containerised volume for faster loading and unloading, higher gross payload, more range and further advantages compared to other in class freighter aircraft.

NETWORK Cargo Management has been appointed as the GSA for Transcarga International Airways, known as ‘The airline of Venezuela,’ across the USA.

“I am happy to confirm that we have been appointed Transcarga GSA in the following 13 US states: California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Washington, New Mexico, Louisiana, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Florida except Miami. NCM is delighted to be selling the cargo capacity of Transcarga Airways in the USA,” Javier Gonzalez, NCM’s Sales Manager in Florida, said.

Available destinations in Venezuela include Caracas (CCS), Valencia (VLN) and Maracaibo (MAR) with more to follow in the near future. T7 is also set to receive freighter aircraft in the not-toodistant future and is expected to have a freighter route operating ex MIA to BOG / CCS as of 1st June.

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AIR CARG O WEEK FEATURE

CREATING SMOOTH CONNECTIONS ACROSS THE GLOBE

WITH 300 destinations across 120 countries, Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP) operates one of the most extensive flight networks in the world. Alongside an expansive network, as an experienced carrier, AFKLMP Cargo understands the importance of working to tailor services to the specific logistical needs of their customers.

With hubs at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), AFKLMP offers two prime locations in Europe to connect customers to the destinations their network, combined with strong partnerships, serves globally, whether what needs to be handled is general or specialised cargo. Through these sites and the combination of full freighter aircraft, prepared to move a variety of cargo, with belly capacity on their fleet of long and medium haul aircraft, AFKLMP guarantees widespread and reliable coverage, ensuring seamless connections and extensive shipping solutions.

Overcoming international hurdles

Unfortunately, as is the case for the entire airfreight sector, and other industries around the globe, AFKLMP has been impacted by the economic slowdown that has been seen since Q4 2022. The situation has been driven by changes in distribution strategies that resulted in higher inventory levels, affecting historical distribution patterns. Additionally, geopolitical events in Ukraine and consequent inflation and interest rate increases have also impacted demand.

The ramp-up of China, after a long period of Covid-19 restrictions, is relatively slow as well. These factors have resulted in an overall decrease in demand compared to last year. At this stage AFKLMP does see global impact. Although, there are still a few regions like Africa and specific commodities where we still see relatively positive developments.

“Our product mix helps mitigate supply and demand changes. Based on market intelligence and customer feedback, we expect that demand will show a more positive dynamic in the fourth quarter of this year. Therefore, it’s essential to stay close to our customers, be agile, and continuously adapt to market dynamics,” GertJan Roelands, AFKLMP’s Senior Vice President Commercial, said.

“We are observing various supply and demand dynamics driven by factors such as the geopolitical situation, high inflation in some parts of the world affecting consumer demand, high inventory levels, and slow production ramp-up in China after lifting most of the covid restrictions. However, we also see some positive indications of increased demand from Summer towards Q4. Additionally, segments such as Pharma and Healthcare and the Perishable industry continue

to perform strongly, making them crucial parts of AFKLMP’s overall mix. Given the market’s relative uncertainty, it’s crucial for us to remain agile and maintain close customer relationships.”

Bolstering their offering

With the global economic situation presenting unavoidable challenges for companies, it has never been more important for carriers to ensure the services they provide are top tier. That’s why AFKLMP has been placing a clear emphasis on specialised products that demand extra attention and a high level of expertise.

AFKLMP’s Product & Verticals organisation consists of dedicated teams covering specific products, such as pharma, fresh, express and more. These teams work diligently to enhance their offerings and meet the expectations of their customers, recognising that continuous dialogue with clients, forwarders, shippers and key stakeholders in

the supply chain is crucial to understand their needs and co-create products.

“We have identified five key products within our Verticals division: Fresh, Pharma, Express, Live, and Secure. For Fresh and Pharma, we have further subdivided them into four segments based on the required temperature range, including an option for active temperature control,” Roeland explained.

In addition to these five main products, AFKLMP also has other offerings available for niche markets, such as Art, Aircraft on Ground (AOG), Big, and Wheels, among others. Another crucially growing sector is dangerous goods, which can be booked as general cargo or

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FREIGHTERS AIR CARG O WEEK

CONNECTIONS

combined with the carrier’s existing product range.

Overall, AFKLMP provides more than 52 combinations of products to best suit the unique needs of our customers. This work to ensure that they are prepared for every eventuality is reflected in the latest step taken to boost their pharma service at CDG. To accommodate future growth in the pharma segment, AFKLMP has constructed two new cool rooms in its CDG hub specifically designed for pharmaceuticals, with a capacity to hold 128 pallets. These investments are part of AFKLMP’s cool chain strategy which is beneficial for both their perishable and pharma & healthcare service proposition.

“In line with our commitment to continuous improvement, we are investing not only in our facilities but also in our people and digital capabilities to enhance our pharmaceutical offering. We recognise the importance of meeting evolving customer expectations and are dedicated to keeping pace with industry advancements. Additionally, we plan to expand our palletised cool storage facilities by the end of the year, which will benefit both pharmaceuticals and perishables,” Roelands stated.

Looking forward

While the future is unpredictable, AFKLMP sees a variety of opportunities for those in the logistics sector. This is particularly visible in the company’s aforementioned investments in digital technology, which are paying off as they observe a convergence of business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) demands.

Customers expect the same ease of booking airfreight as they would for an airline ticket or e-commerce purchase. This trend has only been amplified by the pandemic, and AFKLMP now generate over 72% of their sales through online channels.

“Soon, we plan to introduce a unique service in the industry that will allow customers to book and manage allocations in myCargo. Our digital offerings have enabled us to gain a competitive edge by providing better customer service and reducing time-to-market for our clients,” Roelands said.

“Also our most recent cooperation with CMA CGM Air Cargo (CCAC), which we started as from 1st April, allows us to offer a better product for our customers. We are now able to also offer extensive freighter services into Asia (Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou) and just recently we also added Mumbai freighter flights with a stop in Abu Dhabi. The cooperation allows us to complement our overall

network and specifically our full freighter footprint. This also will give the possibility to offer our customers more charter and special cargo possibilities (e.g. cars, horses, oil & gas etc).”

“Moreover, we see continuous growth in segments such as Pharma and Perishables. Our investments in cool chain infrastructure and specialised pharma services have positioned us to benefit from these opportunities.”

“We are committed to continuously improving our operational services with a focus on excellence. This encompasses various actions such as process optimisation, compliance, and infrastructure enhancements. Digitalisation plays a significant role in achieving this objective. We prioritise operational excellence for both our hubs and outstations and rely on close collaboration with our suppliers and handlers to achieve our goals.”

“Also our focus on sustainability is a key pillar in our overall strategy. We recently announced the replacement of our full freighters by the A350F. These newest aircraft have 40% less CO2 emission and will realise a 50% reduction in noise compared to our current 747’s. On top of this we keep on enhancing our Sustainable Aviation Fuel propositions (both online and offline) and many more initiatives are on the planning. “

“All of the above actions are in line with our recently introduced vision: ‘to become a leader in sustainable airfreight, while passionately delivering best-in- class customer experiences.”