ACW 20th February 23

The weekly newspaper for air cargo professionals

Valentine’s Day drives 16% growth in flower shipments for LATAM Cargo ... Page

CHICAGO ROCKFORD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WELCOMES MENZIES AVIATION TO ITS INTERNATIONAL CARGO CENTRE

Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) has announced Menzies Aviation will expand its US cargo operations to RFD. The company will occupy the International Cargo Centre at RFD and provide cargo and freighter handling services to chartered and scheduled flights.

The Greater Rockford Airport Authority (GRAA) approved a lease agreement at its 26th January board meeting. The 10-year lease term will commence on 1st June.

“We’re pleased to be partnering with globally recognised air cargo handler Menzies Aviation. The Menzies investment in Chicago Rockford International Airport is testament to our airport infrastructure and the efficiencies that can be achieved in air cargo outside of the large passenger hub airports,” Mike Dunn, executive director of RFD, said.

“Over the past eight years, we have invested over $200 million in air cargo operations. This investment has helped build RFD as one of the

largest economic engines in the Rockford region and Northern Illinois and grown RFD’s ability to handle large scale operations, while remaining efficient and providing our partners with the ability to move goods quicker and saving them time and costs. With Emery Air, the first cargo handler to operate at RFD, and Menzies Aviation working on the field, we expect enhanced growth of our international cargo business. We look forward to developing our partnership with Menzies Aviation and welcoming them to the RFD community.”

Menzies Aviation will occupy Building 3 of the International Cargo Centre. The 50,000-squarefoot facility will provide the global aviation services company with the space needed to conduct business and grow its operations and support its long-term sustainability goals.

“With direct airside access, we will provide cargo and freighter handling to chartered and scheduled flights by the middle of this year and will be hiring a team to run our operations in the

coming months. As well as fitting out the new facility, we are aiming for most of the ground service equipment to be electric to support Menzies’ goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2033,” Robert Fordree, Executive Vice President Cargo of Menzies Aviation, said.

“Emphasis on the importance of secondary airports like RFD were highlighted during the pandemic as nearby passenger hubs reached capacity and carriers looked elsewhere. Despite the current, cyclical downturn in cargo volume, we see secondary airports becoming more attractive due to less congestion, lower costs and great surrounding infrastructure, which will expedite goods getting from airport to final destination. In combination, these benefits will result in significant carbon savings to the shippers. We are confident that, in partnership with RFD, we will attract scheduled freighters and specialised cargo to be handled safely, efficiently and with the required certified standards applied,” Fordree added.

INSIDE

VIRGIN ATLANTIC CARGO...

VIRGIN Atlantic Cargo has announced the appointment of Maria Sanchez-Grant as its new Head of Distribution. Sanchez-Grant has been...

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QATAR AIRWAYS CARGO SAYS ... VALENTINE’S Day has become a key date in Qatar Airways Cargo’s business calendar. Transporting over 4,000 tonnes of flowers all around ...

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SKYNET PARTNERS WITH ... EURORA Solutions (Eurora) has launched a partnership with SkyNet Worldwide Express (SkyNet). The partnership enables SkyNet ...

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MCLAREN RACING

MCLAREN Racing has announced a major partnership with DP World, as an official partner of the McLaren Formula 1 Team...

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CharterSync adds real-time tracking capabilities to broker platform

across any phase of their booking. The advanced monitoring ensures clients have total visibility into how their charter is tracking against its schedule, providing immediate updates in the event of delays caused by weather or air traffic control events.

The update allows users to view all related flight documents, including contracts, permits and cargo information alongside the aircraft’s schedule and live aircraft location.

CargoAi launches fintech payment solution CargoWALLET

CARGOAI has announced the launch of CargoWALLET, a modern payment solution for air cargo with supply chain financing capabilities, allowing freight forwarders to make payments for their air cargo shipments directly within the CargoMART booking flow.

CargoWALLET has the additional benefit of allowing freight forwarders to place bookings from any origin as well as long payment terms (PayLater).

CHARTERSYNC has enhanced its solution with the addition of first-of-its-kind realtime tracking capabilities, enabling clients to accurately track aircraft via a personalised allin-one dashboard.

The addition of flight tracking to the active booking dashboard enables freight forwarders to monitor the aircraft’s position

“We have already significantly improved the process of creating quotes and predicting flight times in partnership with RocketRoute and this new development underlines our relentless focus on offering game-changing speed, simplicity, and convenience,” Simon Watson, co-founder and director, CharterSync, said.

Virgin Atlantic Cargo appoints Maria SanchezGrant as Head of Distribution

VIRGIN Atlantic Cargo has announced the appointment of Maria Sanchez-Grant as its new Head of Distribution.

Sanchez-Grant has been at Virgin Atlantic Cargo for 15 years and during this time has held numerous sales and revenue roles within Virgin Atlantic Cargo, culminating in taking on the role of Senior Manager, Revenue Optimisation in 2019.

Sanchez-Grant’s new role will focus on distribution and technology within Virgin Atlantic Cargo and will increase the spotlight on its digital distribution focus.

“I am incredibly excited to take on this new position at Virgin Atlantic Cargo. The technology team has done a tremendous job in upgrading our core operating platform to pave the way to digitally transform our business,” Sanchez-Grant said.

“We are delighted for Maria to step into her new role at Virgin Atlantic Cargo. I know she brings incredible passion as well as a wealth of experience and will be pivotal in driving our 2023 digital transformation,” Phil Wardlaw, Managing Director, Virgin Atlantic Cargo, added.

CargoWALLET enables shipments to be booked and paid for without an International Air Transport Association (IATA) Cass Number, without an air waybill (AWB) stock, and without any bank guarantee, specifically tailored to empower small to medium-sized freight forwarders. CargoWALLET also addresses the needs of medium to large freight forwarders who have an IATA Cass number, but may not have AWB stock with all the carriers due to expensive bank guarantees, or certain airlines still requiring such forwarders to produce bank guarantees. All of these scenarios require additional steps for freight forwarders to fulfil their daily business demands, adding up to more costs and time required.

“We are excited about the exponential capabilities CargoWALLET brings to the industry. Not only does air cargo booking become more seamless, but the entire procurement from search, quote, booking, and now payment can be done within minutes on just one interface – CargoMART”, Magali Beauregard, CCO of CargoAi, said.

“We are thrilled to be launching CargoWALLET, which brings the best practices from other industries to air cargo and enables a seamless process regardless of any freight forwarder’s import origin”, said Matt Petot, CEO of CargoAi. “By having multiple different functions within one digital solution, CargoWALLET is the first of its kind to having so many benefits for freight forwarders of all sizes.”

Challenge Group initiates partnership with EXSYN

recently selected MRO/M&E system (AMOS) over the coming weeks. Challenge Airline BE will be the first of the Group’s companies to migrate to the new system and will also benefit from the technical expertise of EXSYN’s team of Aircraft Data Consultants.

“EXSYN’s global expertise on the migration of aircraft data through their tested method and tools will enable us to efficiently manage the complex data migration process. This partnership will help us to reduce the time required to integrate our fleet and reap the benefits of our new MRO/M&E system, AMOS, faster,” Veronique Paquay, Technical Director of Challenge Airline BE, said.

CHALLENGE Group has chosen to partner with EXSYN with a focus on aircraft data migration. EXSYN’s aircraft data management solution, NEXUS, will play a vital role in managing the complex aircraft data flows as Challenge Airlines and Challenge Technic migrate to the

“At EXSYN, we are leaders in the migration and management of aircraft data. Partnering with Challenge Group directly made sense to us in order to provide our technology and expertise to support Challenge Group to successfully onboard their airworthiness and maintenance data to the new MRO software, AMOS,” Sander de Bree, CEO of EXSYN Aviation Solutions added.

ACS launches into 2023 with strong growth plans

AIR Charter Service started 2023 as it means to go on, announcing the expansion of its North American operations with a new Washington DC office, serving the Virginia and Delaware regions, as well as America’s capital. The new branch will be headed up by Joel Fenn, who has been a member of the ACS team since 2005, working in London, Hong Kong and Miami before moving to the new office.

“Being closer to a customer base is always valuable as it allows us to develop those relationships much further. Washington has always been a strong market for us and having a presence there will help better serve our customers,” Richard Thompson, President of ACS Americas, said, explaining the decision to open the branch.

“Joel and Chris bring a wealth of government and relief charter experience to the office on both the cargo and passenger sides. That knowledge is instrumental in supporting such customers with challenging or urgent charter requirements,” Thompson added. “Having a Washington presence has always been on our office wish list for the USA. It just so happened that we had two such experienced people working for us willing to work in that area. It meant the time was right.”

The ongoing expansion of ACS’ offices has been aided by what the charter broker sees as its biggest asset: its talent. “We have been so fortunate that our recruitment team have hired some incredible talent over the years who have fuelled that growth,” Thompson said. “Having strength in diversity has also helped us grow and we’ve grown all four of our main divisions: Cargo, Private Jets, Group Charters and ACS Time Critical (formerly Onboard Courier).”

The global aircraft charter provider also sees great potential in the American region, with a positive outlook despite some changes to the norm that occurred in the market during Covid. “It may not be as strong as last year, but there are many parts of the market we believe to have space for growth across all of our divisions,” Thompson stated.

“New and emerging markets for us are helping that. Areas like domestic and international charters have remained steady growth areas for ACS. We’re seeing more demand for onboard courier services, especially when cost comes into play,” Thompson added.

Global growth

It’s not just in America where ACS is targeting further expansion of its operations. In France, the charter broker reported an impressive bounce back following the past couple of years which had seen the sector heavily impacted by the pandemic.

“The passenger side of our business has come back really strong – our private jet division has seen almost triple the amount of revenue of last year, with many clients choosing larger

aircraft and longer trips as the restrictions have eased all over the world. The figures are up by 94% on 2020 and have surpassed pre-pandemic levels, with a 38% increase compared to the first half of 2019. Our group charter division has seen an impressive growth of 71% on last year’s figures, seeing a real return for the MICE industry and sports travel,” Alexandre Busila, CEO of ACS France, explained back in October.

“The Paris office opened in 2009, so is well-established and has always contributed strong figures for ACS. In 2021 we reorganised the management structure of the operation and it has really paid dividends,” Thompson highlighted. “There is business in every country, state or city, the key is finding the right people to help develop those regions and grow our business there.”

VRR delivers 100th air horse stall to Jettainer

JETTAINER and VRR have celebrated their longstanding collaboration with the 100th air horse stall. Jettainer, which handles approximately 100,000 ULDs in 500 locations around the world, is constantly refining its service and product portfolio to meet the specific needs of its customers. Its collaboration with ULD manufacturer VRR since 2010 has played an important role in this successful approach.

“We feel very proud that Jettainer is still coming to VRR for its containers after more than a decade of doing business,” Ben Lakerveld, Sales Manager of VRR, said. “They deliver top-of-the-line services so we have to deliver top-of-the-line containers. To do so, we also have to keep listening and innovating.”

Until 2019, Jettainer bought mainly HMJ stalls from VRR. It then switched to the collapsible version, which can be folded for lower-deck transportation on return flights. Most of their horse stalls are leased to their parent company, Lufthansa Cargo AG, which provides individualised transportation for live animals.

“Every year, our customers fly a four-digit number

Emirates SkyCargo and Air Canada Cargo sign agreement to enhance networks and reach

EMIRATES SkyCargo and Air Canada Cargo have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deliver more benefits to their airfreight customers around the world.

The MoU, which builds on the airlines’ strategic commercial partnership announced last year, was signed at Emirates Headquarters in Dubai, UAE by Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo and Matthieu Casey, Managing Director Commercial, Air Canada Cargo.

Under the terms of the MoU, Emirates SkyCargo and Air Canada Cargo will work closely on a number of initiatives, which include expanding cargo interline options and block space agreements, pending any required regulatory approvals.

Emirates SkyCargo will have access to over 60 cities in Canada and more than 150 cities across five continents through Air Canada Cargo. In return, Air Canada Cargo will have access to Emirates SkyCargo’s high frequency distribution network through the bellyhold of Emirates scheduled passenger flights to over 140 global destinations.

“Cooperating with Air Canada Cargo will offer our clients’ added value through more rapid reach to new destinations in Canada via our Toronto and US gateways,” said Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo.

“This agreement enables both carriers to work more closely to optimise our respective freighter and belly capacity throughout each of our extensive and complementing global networks. Customers will benefit from these additional synergies by having access to an even greater array of options, destinations and streamlined handling when shipping globally,” said Matthieu Casey, Managing Director, Commercial, at Air Canada Cargo.

of horses to all corners of the world,” Marcus Bezold, Head of Global Handling Performance Management at Lufthansa Cargo AG, said. “We appreciate Jettainer and VRR’s horse container solutions because they guarantee comfortable travel with minimum stress and maximum safety.”

The designs of VRR’s air horse stalls rely heavily on input from equine transporters, and Lufthansa Cargo AG is one of those important collaborators.

The airline’s experience in transporting horses by air has helped VRR greatly over the years to engineer quality and innovative containers like the HMR and HML.

“The collaboration with VRR is exceptional and their products meet latest standards. What we like about the collapsible horse stall is that it cuts down the cost of empty ULD repositioning without compromising the well-being of the horses. It really helps us and our customers maximise fleet utilisation,” Frank Mühlenkamp, Director Global Operations at Jettainer, explained.

Qatar Airways Cargo says it with flowers on Valentine’s Day

VALENTINE’S Day has become a key date in Qatar Airways Cargo’s business calendar. Transporting over 4,000 tonnes of flowers all around the world over a two-week period is a logistical challenge that only few airlines can achieve.

Exported from two main areas, Latin America (Ecuador and Colombia) and Africa (Uganda and Kenya), the flowers travel to five major international destinations: USA, Amsterdam (for distribution across Europe), Australia, the Middle East and Japan.

To satisfy the significant demand during this peak time, Qatar Airways Cargo is intensifying the frequency of its flights to increase capacity. This translates into 10 additional B777 freighter flights from Nairobi to Liege and 10 additional flights from Quito to Amsterdam and Miami, on top of the regular cargo and passenger flights. “In a constantly evolving market, Qatar Airways Cargo has always been able to improve its offering to meet new needs. The launch of The Next Generation, which is accompanied by a new vision of business, is proof of this. Today, in the very demanding period of Valentine’s Day, we are proud to put our expertise and efficiency at the service of our customers,” Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo, said.

True to its motto “Moved by People”, Qatar Airways Cargo can be trusted to deliver impeccable service and to guarantee that love will prevail on this special day.

Why are we a WACA Sponsor

AIR France KLM Martinair (AFKLMP) Cargo is proud to announce their sponsorship of the category Airfreight Forwarder of the Year 2023 at the World Air Cargo Awards to be held at air cargo Europe on 10 May 2023.

At AFKLMP Cargo, our business revolves around airfreight and we’re proud to see so many of our biggest customers among the nominees.

The World Air Cargo Awards, hosted by leading industry publication Air Cargo Week, acknowledge excellence across a wide range of activities in the global air cargo industry. We’re pleased we can express our appreciation to our airfreight clients and partners by sponsoring this award and that we can acknowledge all the hard work being done and innovations being implemented in our industry.

Like those nominated for awards, AFKLMP Cargo prioritises quality and reliability, with dedicated staff across our network trained to a high level of expertise. As industry leaders, we believe it is important to pursue innovation and sustainability in our own practices, which we hope will inspire others working in the business.

The introduction of “Modify My Booking” in myCargo and the launch of goSAF confirm that AFKLMP Cargo is committed to keeping pace with customer needs, staying a step ahead where possible.

In short, we’re here To connect with our customers as well as our colleagues in the cargo industry.

We look forward to representing AFKLMP Cargo at air cargo Europe in May and wish the very best of luck to those nominated as Airfreight Forwarder of the Year 2023.

EURORA Solutions (Eurora) has launched a partnership with SkyNet Worldwide Express (SkyNet). The partnership enables SkyNet to offer e-commerce retailers a streamlined solution for customs and import regulations, making cross-border trade simpler and more efficient.

As part of an initial rollout, SkyNet will offer Eurora’s automated product classification (HS) code allocation and Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) solutions in the United Kingdom, with plans to expand globally across all 26 territories, where SkyNet operates in the future. The IOSS service automates VAT registration and reporting when shipping goods to the European Union (EU), while Eurora’s AI engine streamlines HS code allocation. With over 5,000 HS codes, accurate allocation is essential

Vienna Airport’s Pharma Handling Centre grows annual tonnage by 64%

THE Vienna Airport Pharma Handling Centre (VPHC) increased its total tonnage by 64% in 2022 compared to the previous year. With the handling of more than 3,600 tonnes of pharmaceuticals, biotech products and other temperature-sensitive goods, an increase of over 1,400 tonnes was recorded. With the handling of another record tonnage, the highly modern and specialised facility further strengthens Vienna Airport as a relevant pharmaceutical hub for Central and Eastern Europe.

to avoid incorrect duties and taxes as well as potential fines from authorities.

“Our partnership with Eurora is a natural fit as it enables our clients to streamline complex customs and import regulations by leveraging the power of AI and machine learning and unlocks new growth opportunities for e-commerce retailers around the world,” Tommy Erasmus, CEO of SkyNet, said.

“Eurora’s AI/ML platform provides the highest level of accuracy, speed, and automation available on the market. By combining our solutions with SkyNet’s established global network, we are unlocking value for e-commerce retailers and simplifying the process of importing goods to the UK and the EU,” Paul Scratchley, Commercial Director of Eurora, added.

In particular since Coronavirus, the VPHC is covering a strong increase in demand for the handling of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals. Compared to the precrisis year 2019, Vienna Airport has grown its pharmaceutical tonnages by around 173% in 2022. In addition to the ongoing uncertainties in international sea traffic, the ongoing internationalisation of the pharmaceutical

and biotech industries is also driving the need to safely transport these time-sensitive and fragile goods by aircraft.

“The repeated record tonnage of the Vienna Airport Pharma Handling Center shows that Vienna Airport is an indispensable and leading pharmaceutical hub for Central and Eastern Europe. At the same time, this underlines the high quality of handling at the VPHC. Here we provide the increasingly internationally active pharma sector with important and, above all, safe access to the often life-saving cold chains. Thanks to highly modern equipment, GDP certification and optimised processes, the VPHC enables reliable and speedy handling and is also well equipped for the increasing demand in the future,” Michael Zach, Vice President Sales, Finance & Cargo, Ground Handling & Cargo Operations at Vienna International Airport, said.

SkyNet partners with Eurora to use AI to automate cross-border compliance and bolster international growth for e-commerce retailers

McLaren Racing announces DP World as an official partner of the McLaren Formula 1

MCLAREN Racing has announced a major partnership with DP World, as an official partner of the McLaren Formula 1 Team from 2023.

The partnership will support the McLaren F1 Team to drive enhanced efficiency, reimagining the team’s supply chain to make it faster, smarter, and more sustainable.

DP World’s smart logistics solutions will bring clarity and simplicity to efficiently bridge McLaren’s global and complex supplier network, to support the ongoing development process and on-track performance gains.

“We are thrilled to welcome DP World to the McLaren family. Logistics is a significant challenge in a global sport like Formula 1, and DP World’s smart solutions will help us enhance the efficiency of our partner and supply chain network, contributing to performance on and off the track,” Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, said.

“We are proud to partner with a brand that shares our values in sustainability, including our journey to reduce emissions from our sport. We look forward to going racing with DP World in 2023.”

“We are delighted to join forces with Zak and the McLaren team at an extremely exciting time for both DP World and motorsports. We take great pride in leading innovation in global supply chains and this partnership will showcase our logistics capability alongside one of the most dynamic players in the sector,” Mohammed Akoojee, Chief Operating Officer, Logistics, DP World, said.

Oman Air Cargo highlights Oman’s logistics capabilities to major international airfreight partners

OMAN Air, the national airline of the Sultanate of Oman, has announced the introduction of its first freighter by the end of 2023, while celebrating outstanding 2022 results at its annual cargo workshop, under the theme ‘Journey to Success’. The two-day event, which was held at Hormuz Grand, Muscat, brought together employees and stakeholders from across the company’s global network, to celebrate its accomplishments in the past year and discuss future strategies. Attendees engaged in a series of presentations and discussions led by senior executives, as well as visiting the state-of-theart Cargo Terminal at Muscat International Airport. An awards ceremony was also held for the top performers of 2022.

“In spite of a challenging environment, Oman Air Cargo continues to deliver numbers ahead of its budget. In 2021, our revenues were 86% above target. In 2022, we achieved another 44% increase, exceeding our budget revenue by 37%, as well as a 36% increase in the amount of cargo transported compared to the previous year. This underscores the success of our many policies to ensure we remain ahead of the curve in an ever-changing industry and meet the growing demand for air cargo,” Abdulaziz Al Raisi, Oman Air Chief Executive Officer, stated. “In 2023, we are keeping up the momentum. In the coming months, we look forward to

AfA calls for the TSA to urgently work with shippers regarding cargo export legislations

introducing our first ever freighter and we will also be launching several new markets. This will offer exciting new opportunities for our guests and cargo alike, while continuing to unlock Oman’s potential as a global logistics hub in line with Oman’s 2040 Vision,” he added.

“The workshop was a valuable platform for us to engage with some of our most important global air cargo partners. The overall tone was one of optimism and confidence as we continue to tap into Oman’s strategic location as a link between East and West and position Oman Air Cargo at the centre of a rapidly developing industry,” Jaffar Al Lawati, Vice President Commercial Cargo, said.

Among its notable achievements in 2022, Oman Air Cargo added several new destinations and introduced its innovative ‘Cargo-in-Cabin’ service to Europe, the Far East and Indian Subcontinent. It also modified its A330-300 passenger aircraft by removing the seats, allowing it to raise capacity to 40 tonnes per aircraft. Moreover, it has improved its services to ensure shorter acceptance and dwell time with express connections through its hub in Muscat. The award-winning logistics provider is certified by IATA CEIV for Pharma and Fresh and continues to offer high-quality products and leading service to a rapidly growing global customer base.

PANELLISTS at AfA’s Annual General Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee have called for the TSA to urgently work with shippers to address the impact of mandated freighter cargo screening for exports taking force from November 2023.

The requirement that all such cargo must be screened has been in effect since June 2021, but up until now the sector has been working with a limited amount of TSA alternative security measures. However, the TSA has stated that these security measures will expire at the end of October and won’t be renewed.

Panellists concurred that the Certified Cargo Standard Security Screening Program (CCSSSP) is the only viable way to meet new screening requirements, but much preparatory work and communication with shippers must be carried out by the TSA in order to make CCSSSP ready for the 1st November 2023 deadline.

Panellists expressed concern that the TSA’s proposed Secure Packing Facility (SPF) initiative is not a viable solution for shippers or airfreight forwarders who tender cargo that is difficult to screen for freighter export.

“All security programmes across the various segments of the air cargo supply chain need to be aligned,” Brandon Fried, Executive Director, AfA, said. “Industry needs TSA’s strong support

in messaging the shippers that the CCSSSP –which would regulate shippers tendering cargo that is challenging to screen using existing approved security methods – is the only realistic available option to continue to move their cargo.”

For this to happen, panellists agreed that the TSA needed to update and coordinate the CCSSSP acceptance and handling elements into the various freighter security programmes, since the current CCSSSP has been in place only for passenger air carriers since its inception in 2009.

In addition, the TSA also needs to update the regulatory framework to include freighters. The panel also pointed out that, with the changes in overall air cargo supply chain in the past 15 to 20 years, compounded by the rapid growth and volumes of e-commerce traffic, the current definition of ‘shipper’ does not align with the realities of today’s global air cargo business.

The CCSSP is a practical supply chain solution, which provides security while ensuring the flow of commerce. Certified cargo screening facilities must complete a TSA-approved security programme and adhere to strict chain of custody requirements.

Air Canada Cargo and ColdChase join Pharma.Aero

AIR Canada Cargo joins Pharma.Aero as a full member, and ColdChase becomes associate partner of the global collaboration platform of over 50 Life Science and MedTech supply chain stakeholders.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Air Canada Cargo and ColdChase to our Pharma.Aero global community. As a Canadian, and as a Chairman of Pharma.Aero, I am proud to see Canada enlarging its footprint in our organisation, as it is one of the leading countries in Life Science manufacturing. It is our vision and mission, as a cross-industry organisation, to have a strong presence on all continents, especially in North America, to get different perspectives of our industry and to offer worldwide visibility to our new members and partners,” Trevor Caswell, Chairman of Pharma. Aero Board of Directors, said.

“Our organisation’s mission is to stay at the forefront of the industry to get it prepared for the future pharma logistics needs. It is, therefore, important to have the valuable perspective and knowledge from all industry segments. Having Canada’s national air cargo provider

Etihad Cargo expands European capacity

ETIHAD Cargo will offer increased capacity to the European market via two new gateways with the introduction of two new routes from its Abu Dhabi hub to Copenhagen in Denmark and Düsseldorf in Germany. The carrier will also introduce additional services to Frankfurt.

The carrier currently operates seven passenger and four freighter flights per week to Frankfurt. From 1st May, Etihad Cargo will increase weekly flights from eleven to 15 with the introduction of four new services.

From 1st October, Etihad Cargo will provide cargo capacity out of Denmark with the introduction of four weekly flights. The reinstatement of three weekly flights to Düsseldorf, in combination with the airline’s widebody passenger and freighter flights to Frankfurt and Munich, will offer additional cargo capacity out of Germany. The flights will be operated via stateof-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

“Etihad Cargo is pleased to introduce cargo capacity out of Copenhagen, a new addition to Etihad’s ever-growing network, from October. Denmark is home to a number of major international pharmaceutical companies and the country has become an established biotech and pharma hub in Europe. Via Etihad Cargo’s IATA CEIV Pharma-certified product, PharmaLife, the carrier will provide the reliable and robust transportation of Denmark’s packaged medicaments to markets around the world,” Martin Drew, Senior Vice President – Global Sales & Cargo at Etihad Airways, said.

“The relaunch of flights to Düsseldorf and additional flights to Frankfurt will further expand the carrier’s operational footprint in Germany, reinforcing Etihad Cargo’s commitment to the European market and giving customers greater flexibility and options when it comes to transporting their cargo,” he added.

and ColdChase within our organisation will bring important insights and experience to the table,” Frank Van Gelder, Secretary General of Pharma. Aero, said.

Air Canada Cargo is an award-winning provider of air cargo services. It is Canada’s largest air cargo provider as measured by cargo capacity, with a presence in over 50 countries and connectivity to hundreds of destinations across six continents.

“As we continue to expand our freighter fleet and with the continued enhancements to our cold chain handling capabilities, this participation in a new avenue for critical insight into pharmaceutical shipments is an important step forward” Matthieu Casey, Managing Director – Commercial at Air Canada Cargo, stated. “Pharma.Aero will increase our ability to collaborate with an ever-growing list of industry experts to share ideas and gather knowledge on ways to further strengthen our expertise in shipping this vital cargo,” Casey added.

CHAPMAN FREEBORN CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF OPERATIONS

With five decades in the business, Chapman Freeborn is looking to use its expertise to provide world-renowned air cargo charter solutions. Having started in the days where requests and agreements were done through a phone call and a handshake, the company has seen the sector evolve through various iterations, as it moved into the digital era.

As time has passed, increased complexity has seen charter broking companies, including Chapman Freeborn, adapt to become better structured, organised, and compliant with modern business practices.

“The very basics of the air charter broking business – buying from aircraft/airline’s supplier and selling to a customer - has not changed at all. What has changed is the process and everything that is contractually involved,” Russi Batliwala, Chairman of the Board at Chapman Freeborn, explained.

“The broking industry has grown and diversified into other fields, as has Chapman Freeborn, offering services such as animal transportation (Intradco Global), on board courier (Chapman Freeborn OBC) and air cargo management (Magma Aviation),”

Catriona Taylor, Group Passenger Operations Director, Chapman Freeborn, said.

“It is simply not enough to only offer an aircraft charter from A to B and to take a commission for offering the solution. Both customers and suppliers today want to see real added value in the broker involvement,” Batliwala added.

Long-term vision

With an evolving business model and an increasingly competitive environment, it’s crucial for companies in the charter broker sector to develop a recipe for success. Whether working with clients or experienced carriers, Chapman Freeborn offers the ability to arrange the delivery of time-critical air cargo, heavy and outsize equipment, humanitarian goods, and all other types of freight.

Quite simply, Batliwala highlights that a major reason for their success is “not being greedy” and focusing on building long-term

relationships with clients, suppliers, and their own staff, over prioritising short-term gains.

“Growth has also been key for where we are today. We have successfully diversified from our core charter business with other profitable complementary niche businesses that take away the financial reliance on third-party air chartering and increase our service offering to our customers,” Batliwala said.

One example of this diversification and development is how, today, Chapman Freeborn provides global customers with both a variety of in-house aircraft managed and owned assets, as well as third party aircraft charter solutions.

“Our service level and customer experience has always been second to none, with clients coming back to us year after year, trusting us to carry out their charters to the quality levels they expect. The relationships we hold with our suppliers has also been key, working with airlines around the globe and being a trusted partner of theirs,” Taylor stated.

Entering the digital age

Turning 50 doesn’t mean Chapman Freeborn is set in traditional ways. Quite the contrary, it has embraced technological innovation where it sees opportunities to improve its operations. However, despite the discussion around how technology is shaping the airfreight sector, Batliwala was clear that it is “only as good as the people who are behind the scenes.”

“Technology may find you an aircraft quicker, but it will not help avoid the so many issues and potential problems that aircraft chartering can have. Technology is a good sales pitch and door opener, but the fact is, if behind the scenes there are no experienced charter brokers, it will be difficult to succeed,” Batliwala explained.

That’s why, for Chapman Freeborn, their key focus is, as mentioned, on building relationships, growing their experience, and expanding their knowledge of operational issues. “This I believe is key to a successful air charter operation and that is our focus and our strength globally,” Batliwala added.

“It is simply not enough to only offer an aircraft charter from A to B”

Digitalisation has helped with that focus as it allows the company to be constantly connected around the world to its many offices and clients. However, Taylor is clear that you will never be able to beat a face-to-face conversation in the charter broker sector. “We are on a first-name basis with the people we work with, and over the years we have built up strong and personal relationships with clients, suppliers, and partners. This will never change, no matter how much we grow and diversify, or how digital the world becomes,” Taylor stated.

Expansion

As the market changes and grows, so do the companies working within it. Marking the next phase of its ongoing growth plan, Chapman Freeborn recently announced their new international Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance (ACMI) leasing team. This division will seek to help the company thrive in the “feast or famine” charter business, which is always going to be plagued by huge volatility in airfreight demand.

“Growth has always been very important and is ongoing today either organically or through various acquisitions,” Batliwala explained. As part of Avia Solutions Group, Chapman Freeborn has been opened up to a number of new opportunities, with the ACMI division just one such example of potential expansion. “Leasing of all types of aircraft for specific passenger and cargo projects in the short, medium, or long-term is also an area where we believe we can add value and new ideas,” Batliwala added.

“We are looking for growth and diversification in all areas of the business. We have a strong focus on recruitment and are focused on finding amazing aviation talent to join us across all regions; the Americas, Europe, IMEA and APAC,” Taylor said. “Chapman Freeborn is in a phase of growth across all areas of the business, with a particular emphasis on the business aviation sector and also the development of industry verticals such as automotive cargo and humanitarian, to name just two.”

VALENTINE’S DAY DRIVES 16% GROWTH IN FLOWER SHIPMENTS FOR LATAM CARGO

Air Cargo industry responds to earthquake tragedy

THE International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has praised the immediate and collaborative responses demonstrated by the entire air cargo industry following the tragic events in southern Turkey and northern Syria, from the establishment of humanitarian air bridges to making staff and capacity available to international agencies and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs).

Delivering vital medical supplies, blankets, food and other lifesaving equipment is critical in effectively dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake and over 100 subsequent aftershocks. The impacted area extends to a diameter of over 500 kilometres with infrastructure such as roads and airports affected. With nighttime temperatures dropping to freezing levels the speed of aid delivered is crucial to support the communities dealing with such horrific loss of life, with tens of thousands dead or injured.

LATAM Cargo finished the Valentine’s Day season with strong numbers, recording a 16% increase in the transportation of flowers from Colombia and Ecuador, compared to the Valentine’s season in the previous year, exporting a total of 17,910 tonnes of this product.

The high demand for flowers triggered by the celebration of this day, prompted the LATAM Group’s cargo unit to double the usual frequency of flights from these countries, thus more than doubling the number of tonnes of flowers transported regularly to the North American market.

To prepare for the growing demand that occurs during this season, LATAM Cargo focused its efforts on providing the air capacity and frequencies needed by its clients, complemented with new cold storage facilities to maintain the ideal temperature required for the flowers to reach their destination in optimal conditions. Along with this, the company increased its staffing in Miami, the main arrival station for these flowers, to ensure an agile and convenient delivery for its clients.

“In 2022 we increased our fleet to 16 freighter aircraft, in addition to increasing our cold storage capacity in Colombia, which this season allowed us to strengthen our offer and thus provide greater transportation capacity for this Valentine’s Day. These results are a reflection of our efforts and collaborative

work with our customers to create robust solutions that allow us to continue supporting the growth of the flower industry in Colombia and Ecuador,” LATAM Cargo’s International Commercial Director for South America, Claudio Torres, said.

More than 300 take-offs from Quito, Bogota and Medellin took place during the Valentine’s Day season, from 18th January to 8th February, to transport flowers to North America, Europe and Oceania.

Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day are the peak periods for flower exports from Colombia and Ecuador. For this reason, every year LATAM Cargo turns its efforts to meet the high demand that this season brings for the business.

In the case of Colombia, roses, carnations and chrysanthemums were the main flowers transported this year from Antioquia and Cundinamarca. The number of tonnes transported of this product grew by 11% compared to Valentine’s Day last year, a positive result for the company considering the heavy rains that affected the production of the flower sector in the country.

On Ecuador’s side, the number of frequencies grew by 50% this season, compared to last year’s Valentine’s, which allowed exporting more than 7,000 tonnes of flowers, from which 80% were roses, followed by gypsophilas, to be transported to the main global markets.

Air cargo demonstrated once again it is on the front line of humanitarian response and TIACA wishes to acknowledge the great supporting efforts of the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which issued Syria General License (GL) 23, which authorises for 180 days all transactions related to earthquake relief that would be otherwise prohibited by the Syrian Sanctions Regulations (SySR).

The blanket General License authorises earthquake relief efforts so that those providing assistance can focus on what’s needed most: saving lives and rebuilding.

This will facilitate aid to flow much quicker to the affected area.

With this obstacle removed, TIACA has called upon the insurance markets to relax some of the stringent procedures and penalties in place when flying to Syria as a sanctioned state considered as a war zone.

Flights need to get as close as possible to where the aid is needed, therefore flying to Damascus or Aleppo is vital to support Syrian relief efforts but with current hull war risk premiums in place the financial impact is often too much for humanitarian agencies to bare.

TIACA has urged the insurance markets to follow the lead of the US Treasury department and remove the current penalty for a limited time period to support relief efforts.