Rhenus flies to crisis zones with Wings for Aid

Rhenus is taking a strategic holding in the innovative company Wings for Aid, which is aiming to make emergency aid supplies more reliable by means of an innovative cargo drone delivery system.

The logistics specialist will be responsible for the operations behind the humanitarian support projects in future and will set up the regional and in-field support bases together with Wings for Aid. The latter developed a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) and intelligent technologies to carry 160 kilogramme payload per flight in a range of 250 kilometres.

“It’s our goal to be able to be on the ground anywhere in the world within 72 hours to deliver emergency aid. Rhenus is helping us with its expertise and its global network so that we can transport our system to the response area quickly and efficiently,” Barry Koperberg, the General Manager of Wings for Aid, said.

In signing this strategic participation agreement, both partners are expanding their working relationship, which has existed since 2018.

“The logistics operations account for about 80 percent of the costs when transporting any aid supplies. In this respect, Rhenus and Wings for Aid can achieve a significant difference for people in need,” Frank Roderkerk, the CEO North-West Europe at Rhenus Air & Ocean, said.

The Remotely Piloted Aircraft System is currently in the test phase. Rhenus and Wings for Aid expect to start the first RPAS operations for humanitarian actors in Q4 2023.

American Airlines Cargo appoints new Head of Cargo Sales for France

American Airlines Cargo has appointed Clément Fau as its new Country Sales Manager for France. Based at the airline’s French headquarters at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport (CDG), he will lead the carrier’s sales team activities across the country and report to Emma Oliver, Sales Director for EMEA & APAC.

Fau brings almost two decades of experience in the airline and cargo industry to his new role at the world’s largest airline. He previously worked for Air France KLM Martinair Cargo where he most recently served as Key Accounts and Pharma Sales Manager.

“We are delighted to have such an experienced individual as Clément join our team to drive forward our already exceptional operation in France. His knowledge and expertise of moving pharma products by air will be invaluable as we expand and grow our range specialist vertical products,” Oliver said.

CDG is an important hub for American’s cargo activities in Europe, supporting both local and trucked freight from neighbouring regions. Most recently, the carrier exported more than 160 tonnes of fresh flowers out of CDG to the US for Valentine’s Day.