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.”