ACW 22nd May 23

The weekly newspaper for air cargo professionals

Africa’s booming cargo market attracts international interest ...

EMIRATES SKYCARGO AND AIR CANADA ENHANCE CARGO INTERLINE COOPERATION

Emirates SkyCargo customers can now easily find and book interline cargo shipments into prime Canadian destinations, including Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary on Air Canada flights, via key Emirates European gateways. The enhanced online booking capabilities now live, enable Emirates SkyCargo customers to book shipments that will travel on Air Canada Cargo flights on an interline basis via e-SkyCargo, WebCargo, and Cargowise. In the coming weeks, Air Canada Cargo is working to implement similar direct booking capabilities for its customers to more easily access and book interline shipments that will travel on Emirates’ flights across its global network.

“We’re delighted to team up with Air Canada Cargo to offer expanded access to more destinations in Canada via our European

gateways; all bookable online creating a seamless digital experience. We’ll continue to work closely with Air Canada to ensure smooth transfers and connections, so that cargo arrives promptly and in excellent condition,” Nabil Sultan, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo said.

“This arrangement with Air Canada will benefit many of our customers, particularly those in West Asia, Middle East and Africa seeking to transport agricultural equipment, machinery, aircraft parts, as well as perishables and general cargo into Canada and other points in North America.”

This latest development follows the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in February between the two major airlines to provide more benefits to their airfreight customers worldwide. It also builds on the broader strategic commercial partnership between Emirates and Air Canada, which was

Follow Us:

announced last year.

The partnership expands Emirates SkyCargo’s reach to over 60 cities in Canada and more than 150 cities across five continents through Air Canada Cargo’s fleet of Boeing 767 freighters and the belly-hold capacity of Air Canada’s scheduled passenger flights. In return, Air Canada Cargo has access to Emirates SkyCargo’s high frequency distribution network through the belly-hold of Emirates scheduled passenger flights to over 150 global destinations, as well as the additional capacity offered by 11 freighters currently in the Emirates fleet.

Emirates and Air Canada first announced their global partnership in 2022. In addition to this latest cargo development, the airlines recently implemented a passenger codeshare agreement which covers 46 destinations across North America, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.

Page 14

INSIDE

FREIGHTOS UNVEILS ONE-STOP ...

INTERNATIONAL freight is always prone to disruption: to labour disputes, increasingly frequent storms, conflict and fluctuating demand. When ...

PAGE 2

ETIHAD CARGO LAUNCHES ...

ETIHAD Cargo has launched an innovative artificial intelligence (AI)-powered solution to transform airfreight operations ...

PAGE 3

COOL CHAIN ASSOCIATION’S ...

THE Cool Chain Association (CCA)’s second tracking trial of perishables undertaken by its member the Perishable Products Export Control Board ...

PAGE 7

TRANSPORT LOGISTIC PROVES ...

A four day trade fair, full halls, exhibitors and visitors from all over the world showed a dynamic industry that is still on the rise. From 9th-12th ...

PAGE 11

FREIGHTOS® UNVEILS ONE-STOP DASHBOARD FOR DATA AND MARKET UPDATES

INTERNATIONAL freight is always prone to disruption: to labour disputes, increasingly frequent storms, conflict and fluctuating demand. When the pandemic hit supply chains in 2020, boardroom leadership took notice, with supply chain mentions in annual reports doubling from 2019 to 2022. Yet, even today, as freight prices have dropped and supply chains have begun to normalise, interest in logistics intelligence persists. A recent Freightos survey of 200 supply chain professionals found that 92% of multinational supply chain organisations expect to remain

as engaged with freight intelligence as they are now, with 60% expecting to be engaged even more.

To meet this need, and built upon the popular Freightos Baltic Index (FBX) of container shipping rates, Freightos Terminal provides a suite of powerful data, analysis and news tools.

The Terminal brings together several key data. Firstly, custom market intelligence reports with fresh and accurate market pricing, scheduled and actual transit times data on individual lanes, rate benchmarking, expert forecasting and analysis. Secondly, the Freightos Baltic

Index (FBX) and the Freightos Air Index (FAX), the world’s leading spot market container and air cargo indexes, respectively. And the Market Feed, which provides live feeds on critical events that affect pricing and transit times in a given route, from gathering storms in Jakarta, ramp-up of blank sailings and GRIs on Transpacific routes, to upcoming holidays in Asia and labour disruptions in Germany.

“Accurate data is mission critical. Whether it’s labour strikes, natural disasters, pandemics or geopolitical shocks, disruptions are a constant that can be mitigated but not eliminated,” Zvi

Schreiber, CEO of Freightos, said. “Keeping a competitive edge depends on access to quality supply chain data. Our Freightos Terminal will provide that and more. We’re proud that Freightos Terminal is supporting supply chain agility and cost-effectiveness, keeping goods moving smoothly around the world.”

“Freightos Terminal is the solution for industry stakeholders looking for both a bird’s eye view of current market trends and a granular picture of port-to-port events, pricing and transit times,” Anton Barr, VP Market Data at Freightos, added.

Climate tech startup pledge raises $10 million to drive decarbonisation of logistics supply chains

CLIMATE technology leader Pledge has secured $10 million in Series A funding to drive its mission to help businesses reach net zero emissions, starting with the logistics and supply chain industry.

Pledge provides accredited tools for supply chain leaders and freight forwarders to understand, report, reduce, and remove their logistics emissions. Its platform is built with accessibility, transparency, and simplicity at its core.

“We started Pledge with the belief that technology can be a powerful lever in the fight against climate change,” David de

Picciotto, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Pledge, said.

“This funding round enables us to continue building best-inclass products to help accelerate businesses’ transition to net zero and remove gigatonnes of carbon from the atmosphere.”

Increasing regulatory pressures from new climate directives, such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Fit for 55 in Europe, mean supply chain and logistics leaders need to address their emissions and make significant, long-term reductions.

Pledge is accredited by the Smart Freight Centre (SFC) for its adherence to the Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC) framework, the only globally recognised methodology for calculating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the logistics supply chain, which has formed the basis of the recently published ISO 14083 standard.

Pledge includes unique features such as Clarity™ and Accuracy™, which guide users through every step of the emissions calculation process, ensuring calculations are auditable and customers are confident in fulfilling their reporting

requirements.

Supply chain emissions account for over 70 percent of the total GHG emissions for large and medium-sized businesses, whilst the logistics industry as a whole produces 11 percent of the world’s total GHGs.

Pledge’s self-serve product and free trial mechanism is part of its commitment to providing the best user experience in the industry and helping logistics companies of all sizes save time and resources, win new business, and improve supply chain resilience.

The funding round is led by Zinal Growth, with new investors including Base Partners, Ace & Company, as well as founders from leading business-to-business Software-as-a-Service companies and veterans from the logistics industry, including Dirk Reich, former Member of the Management Board at Kuehne+Nagel.

Pledge has already partnered with a range of logistics and freight forwarding customers, including Ligentia, Raft, and Zencargo, as well as powering sustainability programmes for leading industry associations such as WCAworld, which counts over 10,000 members globally, and BIFA in the UK.

ETIHAD CARGO LAUNCHES AI-POWERED SOLUTIONS TO TRANSFORM AIRFREIGHT OPERATIONS AND OPTIMISE CARGO CAPACITY

ETIHAD Cargo has launched an innovative artificial intelligence (AI)-powered solution to transform airfreight operations and boost cargo capacity on flights. Deployment of state-of-the-art AI tools is the latest step in Etihad Cargo’s digitalisation journey and will enable the carrier to improve cargo volumes by optimising capacity on every flight across the carrier’s network.

In 2021, Etihad Cargo entered into a landmark proofof-concept agreement with leading logistics technology solutions provider, Speedcargo Technologies, becoming one of only a few global carriers to leverage the Singaporebased provider’s AI products to maximise cargo capacity on flights. Following successful trials of Speedcargo’s AI solutions, Etihad Cargo has rolled out three AI-powered products — Amplifi, Cargo Eye and Assemble — to boost efficiency, digitise and standardise cargo handling across Etihad Cargo’s network, and enhance service levels for the carrier’s customers and partners.

Etihad Cargo uses Amplifi to optimise cargo loads on each

flight. The technology dynamically calculates free and usable capacity based on booked cargo, aircraft type and cargo offer. Utilising the system-generated ULD level load plans, Etihad Cargo will maximise the cargo carried on its flights and significantly reduce the risk of overbookings. Cargo Eye is a scalable, modular system that captures cargo dimensions and volume data. Powered by Microsoft’s IOT Edge solutions and Speedcargo’s proprietary algorithms, Cargo Eye allows Etihad Cargo to digitalise cargo as it enters the carrier’s ground handling stations, enabling the real-time sharing of cargo information for load planning, build-up planning and forward operations. Etihad Cargo will deploy Assemble across the carrier’s network of ground handling stations to facilitate the digital planning and build-up of ULDs using the load plans generated by Amplifi. Offering a user-friendly solution, Amplifi provides ground handling partners with build-up plans that provide step-by-step instructions for optimally built ULDs that conform to safety regulations.

“Since embarking on its digitalisation strategy in 2018,

Etihad Cargo has developed, trialled and launched new technologies and solutions to provide customers and partners with an improved service offering. The recently completed trials of Speedcargo’s AI-powered solutions have demonstrated it is possible to improve cargo capacity utilisation across Etihad Cargo’s fleet and standardise cargo acceptance and build-up processes to improve the consistency and quality of cargo handling at stations within Etihad Cargo’s network,” Martin Drew, Senior Vice President – Global Sales & Cargo, said.

Trials of the AI-powered, end-to-end cargo handling solutions were carried out in Singapore, where this technology has been deployed and is already utilised by Etihad Cargo’s ground handling partners. The carrier has also launched a pilot programme to implement these solutions in Frankfurt and is actively collaborating with ground handling partners across Etihad Cargo’s expansive global network, with a view to rolling this cargo-maximising technology out to more stations in the coming months.

WFS and DSV extend growing global partnership

DSV has awarded Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) a long-term European Gateway cargo handling contract in Liege, Belgium, extending their growing global partnership.

This latest agreement between the two companies reflects WFS’ diversifying role at the centre of the air logistics supply chain. WFS, a Member of the SATS Group and the world’s largest cargo handler, already provides air logistics services for DSV in Amsterdam and at Huntsville International Airport in Alabama. Further network collaboration is under review at other WFS stations globally.

WFS is resourcing and operating DSV’s hub facility in Liege, providing warehouse handling of cargo carried onboard DSV’s all-cargo charters and commercial freighter services by multiple airline partners used by DSV across the company’s extensive global charter network. Supported by WFS’ direct airside access and ramp services, the DSV Liege Gateway consolidates and deconsolidates cargo for all European DSV entities to and from the company’s 15 most used trade lanes, including Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Dubai, and New York JFK.

As well as general cargo, the hub will be developed for special cargoes, including pharmaceuticals and perishables, which WFS is already equipped to support. The Liege operation will complement the successful DSV Gateway hub in Luxembourg and sees WFS take responsibility for import and export cargoes utilising capacity booked by DSV through Liege and on flights connecting through other surrounding airports.

In Liege WFS operates 25,000m² of warehouse space, split over 2 facilities, and handles approximately 200,000 tonnes of cargo annually.

Aerocharter de Mexico SA de CV enters into cooperation agreement with ATC Aviation Services in South America

ATC Aviation Services, a leading global cargo General Sales and Service Agent (GSSA), has announced a cooperation agreement with Mexico based Aerocharter de Mexico SA de CV to develop and manage all aspects of cargo sales and operations for Viva Aerobus in Ecuador, providing customers with seamless and efficient air cargo services, effective June 2023.

ATC’s vast network of experienced professionals and innovative technological solutions will enable Viva Aerobus to provide superior cargo services to its customers in Ecuador.

“We are thrilled to partner with Aerocharter and to be entrusted with managing their cargo sales and handling operations in Ecuador,” Ingo Zimmer, CEO of ATC Aviation, said. “Our team is dedicated to delivering the highest level of service and expertise to support the success of Viva Aerobus and to meet the evolving needs of their customers”.

“We are excited about our partnership with ATC Aviation and the value we will create in our cargo sales in Ecuador. Their experience and knowledge of the market are the strengths and characteristics of a great partner. We are confident that this is the beginning of a long-term relationship for both companies”, Luis Ramos, CEO of Aerocharter de Mexico SA de CV, added.

ATC Aviation Services is one of the biggest and most experienced GSSAs worldwide, offering expertise and experience based on more than 30 years of business activities across the globe due to a team of top air cargo specialists in all entities.

Viva Aerobus operates flights to more than 50 domestic and international destinations across Mexico, the United States and South America. In addition to its passenger services, Viva Aerobus also operates a cargo division, Viva Cargo through Aerocharter as their Total Cargo Management which provides air cargo transportation services to businesses across the whole network.

Menzies Aviation grows presence in Latin America with acquisition in Panama

MENZIES Aviation, the leading service partner to the world’s airports and airlines, has announced its acquisition of Aircraft Services and Consulting S.A., a highly experienced company with over 20 years operating in airports across Panama. This strategic acquisition enables Menzies Aviation to enter the vibrant aviation market in Panama and extend its range of services to customers at Tocumen International Airport (PTY) and Scarlett Martinez International Airport (RIH), with additional operating licenses secured for David Airport (DAV) and Panama Pacifico Airport (BLB).

Panama is a pivotal commercial gateway within the Americas region, strategically connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Its geographical significance makes it an ideal hub for efficient cargo and passenger connectivity. Tocumen International Airport, the largest airport in Central America, handles over 15 million passengers annually, and serves as the home base for COPA Airlines and accommodates more than 20 major regional and international carriers.

We are looking forward to welcoming the Aircraft Services and Consulting S.A. team into Menzies, who bring with them a wealth of expertise. The business will be re-branded and trade as Menzies Aviation (Panama) S.A., and we are committed to providing safe, secure and consistent quality services to a valued list of existing airline clients including Iberia, Air Canada, Air Transat, and others.

“We are excited to add our 7th country in Latin America and our 46th and 47th airports respectively in this important and growing market. This acquisition bolsters Menzies Aviation’s position as the leading player in the global aviation services industry and further demonstrates our commitment to being a trusted service partner across this region. We look forward to the exciting opportunities that lie ahead as Menzies strengthens its presence in Panama and continues to provide unparalleled support to the aviation community in the region,” John Redmond, EVP Americas, Menzies Aviation, said.

Teleport partners with Pradhaan Air to penetrate Indian market further

INDIA’S youngest cargo airline Pradhaan Air Express and Teleport, the logistics venture of Capital A (formerly known as AirAsia Group) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the sidelines of air cargo Europe/transport logistic trade fair in Munich, Germany. With the capacity sharing agreement, Teleport intends to use the capacity on the world’s first A320 converted freighter operated by Pradhaan Air Express to penetrate the Indian and Southeast Asian market further and in particular between New Delhi, Hanoi, Bangkok and Chennai routes.

“We are excited to partner with Teleport, and with the growth of our business. As a young cargo airline, we are looking for meaningful partnerships and collaborations. This partnership allows us to explore more successful collaborations in the market,” Nipun Anand, founder and CEO, Pradhaan Air Express, said.

“We are happy to sign up with Pradhaan Air Express and increase the capacity offerings for our customers in Southeast Asia and the larger Asia Pacific region. With the growing e-commerce market, the new partnership will help us to offer more capacity and consolidate our position in the market,” Francis Antony, Group Head Cargo Commercial, Teleport, added.

Teleport is an air logistics solutions provider, building its leadership in the Asean market with an extensive combined air logistics capacity network, comprising full freighters and passenger belly capacity of 205 wide- and narrow-body AirAsia aircraft. Teleport also plans to deploy three A321 freighters into its fleet in the coming months.

Ostend-Bruges Airport to become Belgium’s second largest solar park

THIS autumn, energy company EnergyVision is installing 66,200 solar panels on the grounds of Ostend-Bruges Airport. This will make the airport the second largest solar panel park in Belgium. The panels have a total capacity of over 40MWp. The airport is thus making its own energy consumption, that of Antwerp Airport and that of almost 10,000 Ostend families 100% green.

From the autumn of 2023, EnergyVision will start installing 66,200 solar panels at Ostend-Bruges Airport. EnergyVision, which is responsible for installation, maintenance and financing, is investing 35 million euros in the installation of the solar panel park. The solar panels at the airport will account for an annual production of nearly 37,000 MWh. The production of solar energy will also save 9,600 tonnes of CO2 on an annual basis.

The generated energy will initially be used to supply electricity for the entire airport site. Thanks to this project, the airport can operate on 100% green electricity. However, with an annual electricity production of almost 37,000 MWh, the airport will generate much more electricity than it can consume itself. Therefore, part of the green power generated will be diverted to Antwerp Airport.

“In addition to greening our own power consumption, the remaining energy we get from the solar panels will be able to be used by nearly 10,000 families in the area. For us it is important that our neighbours can also benefit from this,” Eric Dumas CEO of Ostend-Bruges Airport, said.

In a next phase, energy storage capabilities will also be added. EnergyVision and Ostend-Bruges Airport are also already looking into the further future. Here, the installation of kinetic tiles is being investigated whereby travellers can generate their own electricity as they step. In this way, they literally get on the plane full of energy.

Cool Chain Association’s second perishables tracking trial identifies avoidable pain points in supply chain

THE Cool Chain Association (CCA)’s second tracking trial of perishables undertaken by its member the Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB) has identified significant areas where action can be taken to reduce food loss.

PPECB tracked consignments of raspberries, which have a very low shelf life, from South Africa to the UK as part of an ongoing project with the CCA to identify pain points in the cool supply chain in order to develop best handling practices for perishables.

Results announced at the CCA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) suggest that the cut-to-cool time, taken to bring the berries down to a temperature of around 5 degrees celsius, should be reduced to within 60 minutes of harvest to better maintain berry quality during storage.

The goal of the trial is to optimise produce quality in the market by adapting current handling processes and bringing airfreight cold chain management protocols up to the same standard as those for sea freight.

The trial assessed a number of factors including the quality of raspberries on the farm, temperature management throughout the trade lane, handling processes, and a final quality evaluation on arrival at the end destination.

Temperature fluctuations in the packhouse, in flight, and at the destination handling facility, while unavoidable, should be significantly reduced in duration to further minimise the incidence of quality defects.

Future research will see timed temperature tolerance trials performed to determine the duration of exposure to a particular temperature beyond which berry quality and shelf life are compromised.

Real-time container tracking via myKN by Kuehne+Nagel

Congestion and capacity constraints have made container visibility in recent times an absolute necessity for supply chain management. The new Container Dashboard in Kuehne+Nagel’s myKN online platform harnesses data of a geo system cloud solution to allow customers to track all their containers in real-time. In addition, it reduces manual effort in identifying milestones and current deviations from the planned schedule. It not only increases accuracy and productivity by eliminating previous white spots in supply chain transparency but also enables early preventive measures for the cargo.

Multiple data sources for increased accuracy

The Container Dashboard is part of Kuehne+Nagel’s digital solution myKN. Notifications on the next milestones, such as pick-up or departure, improve the transparency of the customer’s door-to-door transport chain. This includes pre- and on-carriage, demurrage and detention, as well as transshipments. A new user interface lists container flows and dwell times and highlights deviations from the initial carrier schedule. Long-term analytics allow customers to reorganise routes that consistently exceed dwell times. The underlying real-time geo system collects and includes telemetry and multiple internal and external industry data sources, such as carrier data, terminal information, route maps, and vessel trackers, to improve the accuracy of the estimated time of arrival.

An enhanced customer experience

Otto Schacht, Member of the Management Board of Kuehne+Nagel International AG, responsible for Sea Logistics, said: “To meet the demands of today’s markets, shipping visibility must enable logistics operators to detect exceptions in real time and take preventive action before an order is disrupted. The Container Dashboard gives our customers an unparalleled edge in exception management. Backed by Kuehne+Nagel’s global network, which offers a wide range of alternative shipping options, our expert teams can react and reschedule faster in case of route plan deviations or delays. This development is in line with our Roadmap 2026, which aims to strategically expand Kuehne+Nagel’s digital ecosystem for a better customer experience.”

CHAPMAN FREEBORN INVESTS IN NEXTGEN RECRUITMENT AND PRODUCT DIVERSIFICATION AS IT TURNS 50

CHAPMAN Freeborn celebrated 50 years of service across the globe and outlined its vision for the future during air cargo Europe in Munich, Germany.

Founded in 1973, the air charter specialist has developed a blueprint to improve its products by investing in people and strengthening its regional offerings.

“The air charter brokering business has, over the past decades, been predominantly people and relationship driven,” Russi Batliwala, Chairman of the Board, Chapman Freeborn, said.

“I believe that this has changed, and in today’s business environment, relationships

alone are no longer enough to be successful.

“Customers rightly expect more added value and services beyond traditional thirdparty air charter brokering services.

“We have successfully diversified, and continue to diversify our business, growing our portfolio of niche services and increasing our value to our customers.

“Relationships will always play a major role in our business, and we continue to develop them with our many new services.”

Most recently, the charter broker has invested in expanding its product portfolio, including its On Board Courier (OBC) product, and growing its Aircraft, Crew,

Maintenance, and Insurance (ACMI) leasing team.

Chapman Freeborn attributes its 50 years of success to its rapid diversification and agile product development in response to changing consumer demand.

“We are investing significantly in the expansion of our international office network and teams to strengthen our truly global business,” Eric Erbacher, Chief Executive Officer, Chapman Freeborn, said.

“Our group continues to push its efforts to considerably increase our own controlled capacity in our key segments of cargo and ACMI leasing over the coming years.

“As well as this, we are intensifying our network of selected partnerships and collaboration across the logistics chain to drive added value for our customers.”

While Chapman Freeborn celebrates its traditional and historical place in the industry, it is committed to recruiting the next generation of aviation experts and driving innovation in an ever-evolving industry.

The charter broker is actively pursuing an ambitious recruitment campaign in 2023, already recruiting more than 80 members of staff this year, with the aim of surpassing the workforce growth achieved in 2022.

DHL Express launches GoGreen Plus option

DHL Aviation launched a new optional GoGreen Plus service for its air cargo product at the air cargo Europe trade fair in Munich. The new GoGreen Plus service allows customers to reduce (‘inset’) the carbon emissions associated with their cargo using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

From June, air cargo customers of DHL globally can choose the GoGreen Plus service for their shipments, with customers being given the chance to tailor the CO2e reduction they want to achieve and the amount of SAF they use. SAF is produced from waste oils and can provide greenhouse gas emission reductions of up to 80 percent over its lifecycle compared with the conventional jet fuel it replaces.

“Our greatest goal is achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Using SAF is currently key to reducing carbon emissions in aviation and our GoGreen Plus service is made possible following our collaborations with bp and Neste to supply SAF to DHL Express hubs around the world,” Travis Cobb, EVP Global Network Operations & Aviation, DHL Express, said.

“Insetting through GoGreen Plus allows customers to bring down their Scope 3 emissions, the indirect greenhouse gas emissions that occur in a company’s value chain, including downstream transportation and distribution. With the introduction of GoGreen Plus, we empower our air cargo customers to make more sustainable choices and embolden their contribution to reducing carbon emissions,” Ingrid Raj, SVP, Global Head Aviation Commercial, DHL Express, added.

DHL Aviation manages 18 own and partner airlines with more

than 300 dedicated aircraft fulfilling over 2,400 daily flights to more than 500 airports worldwide. Most of the freight capacity is used for DHL Express’ main product TDI. If any cargo space remains on these flights, DHL Express sells it to customers in the airfreight sector. The GoGreen Plus service for air cargo customers was launched at the air cargo Europe trade show in Munich. It follows the earlier successful launch of GoGreen Plus for Express

courier shipments.

The GoGreen Plus service is part of Deutsche Post DHL Group’s sustainability goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. It contributes to the interim target of using 30 percent SAF for all air transport by 2030. In line with its Sustainability Roadmap, Deutsche Post DHL Group aims to offer a green alternative for all products and services across all divisions.

AIR CARGO WEEK WORLD AIR CARGO AWARDS

CELEBRATE INDUSTRY’S SUCCESS

IN a packed room at the successful and wellattended air cargo Europe trade fair in Munich, Germany, attendees from across the global airfreight sector gathered to raise a glass to the industry’s success.

Meeting for the first time in four years, Air Cargo Week, congratulated the sector for coming out of a turbulent period stronger than ever, reflected in the buzzing halls at the exhibition.

The well-deserving winners of this year’s highly competitive awards were as follows: Airfreight Forwarder of the Year 2023: DHL Global Forwarding; Air Cargo Handling Agent of the Year 2023: Hactl; Air Cargo Charter Broker

of the Year 2023: Air Charter Service; Airport of the Year 2023: Singapore Changi Airport; Air Cargo General Sales Agent of the Year 2023: ECS Group; Air Cargo Industry Customer Care Award: Air France KLM Martinair Cargo; Air Cargo Industry Achievement Award 2023: Etihad Cargo; Information Technology for the Air Cargo Industry Award 2023: Webcargo; Air Cargo Industry and Promotional Campaign Award 2023: Qatar Airways Cargo; Cargo Airline of the Year 2023: Qatar Airways Cargo.

Air Cargo Week would like to congratulate all of the winners and the finalists on a successful year. We look forward to celebrating with you all at the next World Air Cargo Awards.

OVER 30 COMPANIES UNITE TO SUPPORT NEW PUERTO RICO LIFE SCIENCES AIR CARGO COMMUNITY

Companies from across the supply chain have joined the new Puerto Rico Life Sciences Air Cargo Community, which aims to drive quality at the number one bioscience manufacturing hub in the US by export volume.

Pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers joined the first meeting of the Community last week and will sit on the new Board, along with representatives from airlines, airports, ground handlers, hauliers, forwarders, and integrators.

Launching the Community at air cargo Europe, David Perez-Larson, Business Development Officer, the Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DEDC), said the group aims to improve the overall quality of airfreightrelated operations on the island.

“We will be adopting best practices and striving towards a standardised way of operating, as well as representing and

lobbying for the airfreight community with legislators and authorities,” said Perez-Larson

“This is an important collaboration in which we will be working together on tangible projects to ensure a high-quality service for the life sciences community.

“Amongst our plans will be gathering data to support our message to the logistics industry that Puerto Rico is a ‘hidden gem’ in the sector, and we plan to present the first data set this summer.

“We will also be holding training meetings about the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) certification over coming months as part of ongoing education programmes for the workforce and community at large.”

The Community is free-of-charge to join and open to any Puerto Rico-based company operating in the Life Science and, or, airfreight industry.

transport logistic proves a hit with the industry

transport logistic makes a “remarkable comeback”

The numbers speak for themselves—after four years the industry was eagerly awaiting transport logistic, as Achim Martinka, Vice President at Lufthansa Cargo, confirmed: “We’ve been waiting for this event for so long now and it was just so much fun for us to take part in this year’s transport logistic in Munich. We enjoyed busy but inspiring days in the Bavarian capital, with so many contacts and wonderful impressions.”

Burkhard Eling, CEO at DACHSER, summed it up: “transport logistic has made a remarkable comeback as a meeting point and communication platform and reaffirmed its status as the world’s leading trade fair for logistics. The fair is also keeping up with the times, with key focus points on digitisation, climate protection, global supply chains and people in logistics. In a nutshell— transport logistic is a trade fair that companies like DACHSER simply cannot miss.”

Sustainability in the spotlight

A four day trade fair, full halls, exhibitors and visitors from all over the world showed a dynamic industry that is still on the rise. From 9th-12th May 2023, transport logistic and the integrated air cargo Europe were, once again, at the centre of the logistics industry.

2,320 exhibitors from 67 countries and more than 75,000 visitors from over 120 countries came to the international industry trade fair for logistics, mobility, IT and supply chain management at Munich’s exhibition centre.

For Messe München co-CEOs, Stefan Rummel and Dr Reinhard Pfeiffer, transport logistic illustrated clearly that “the industry provides great inspiration in these challenging times. People want to get things moving, pushing forward, tackling the current issues together. What we saw and experienced here in terms of ideas and technologies over the last four days is really unique. To sum it up: nothing happens without logistics.”

Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure Dr Volker Wissing was also impressed by transport logistic: “What you see here shows once again that the transport and logistics industry is right up there when it comes to innovations, progress and modern technologies. And what becomes especially clear at this trade fair is that climate goals aren’t just nice words, but rather that the industry takes them very seriously. You can see it everywhere you look, at every booth.”

Highest number of international exhibitors ever

With total exhibition space of 127,000 sq m, the ten halls and the outdoor area were completely booked out.

Of the 2,320 exhibitors, 1,390 came from abroad—a record share of 60%. The top ten exhibitor countries after Germany were the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, France, Austria, China, Turkey, Spain, Poland and Great Britain.

Kühne+Nagel Managing Director Tobias Jerschke agreed with the Minister’s praise: “transport logistic is still the world’s most important leading trade fair. This year, I really liked the way sustainability was a common theme running through the entire trade fair. This is a strong signal for the whole industry and will help us to focus even more precisely on this important issue.”

Alessandro Cacciola, CEO at the Andreas Schmid Group, added: “Messe München succeeds time and again to perfectly map the latest trends and developments in the industry. This year, sustainability was a strong and positive topic. transport logistic is a place where the future of logistics is being actively co-shaped.”

transport logistic will return to Munich between 2nd-5th June 2025.

Pharma.Aero and Neutral Air Partner to collaborate on innovative solutions for life science transportation

PHARMA.AERO and Neutral Air Partner (NAP) have joined forces as global cross-industry collaborative platforms to enhance the reliability, security and speed of life science transport by air.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the two organisations will conduct joint research and studies, create and collaborate on industry projects, share knowledge and best practices and review standards in the areas of life science products’ handling and transportation.

Trevor Caswell, Chairman of Pharma.Aero, underlined the importance of the new partnership: “As neutral platforms of knowledge sharing and cross-industry collaboration, Pharma.Aero and Neutral Air Partner have a similar vision: achieving excellence in the rapidly changing supply chain. We look forward to working together. By joining our forces, we will create more leverage and added value for our projects that focus on genuine challenges and innovative aspects of life science and medtech transportation.”

Christos Spyrou, founder and CEO of Neutral Air Partner added: “Since NAP was launched, our main objective has been to inject a great degree of advanced air cargo expertise into the logistic industry and to set new standards of excellence for our members. Collaboration and partnerships are and should

be part of our DNA. This partnership with Pharma.Aero allows all our members to acquire extensive knowledge and take up the challenges and opportunities within the pharma air cargo logistics sector.”

Founded in 2016 as a cross-industry collaboration platform, Pharma.Aero expanded rapidly to over 50 Life Science and MedTech manufacturers, cargo pharma-certified communities and other logistics stakeholders. Over the years, the organisation has matured into an industry thought leader by developing cutting-edge projects, providing insights, and addressing new trends, thus fuelling the changes needed for tomorrow’s life science and medtech logistics’ strategies.

Neutral Air Partner is a global network of over 350 leading air cargo and aviation specialists dedicated to providing innovative air cargo solutions to the international freight logistics, shipping and aviation communities.

Neutral Air Partner organisation was founded in 2016 by a group of air cargo entrepreneurs and consultants, sharing the common goal of creating an innovative platform of air cargo specialists to service the logistics and aviation communities. It aims to build competitive advantages through tailormade air cargo community tools and by setting new standards of excellence for the air cargo business.

AFRICA’S BOOMING CARGO MARKET ATTRACTS INTERNATIONAL INTEREST

AS one of the world’s fastest growing economies, Africa presents a world of possibility for the airfreight industry. However, to fully realise the potential of the continent, it’s crucial for key players in the sector to invest in logistics infrastructure, building trade hubs that can meet the booming demand in the market.

Qatar Airways Cargo currently serves 28 cities in Africa with a mixture of freighter and belly-hold services, carrying up to 2,800 tonnes to and from Africa, adding to that network at the start of May with the launch of Qatar Airways Cargo’s first cargo hub outside Qatar.

Africa is home to a diverse economy, as businesses look to build better connections, create new markets and grow inward investment across the continent.

In collaboration with RwandAir, the new hub lays the building blocks to allow Qatar to expand a future-oriented African air cargo network, meeting the 3%-5% annual economic growth forecast for the continent over the next decade.

Proud to be partners

Making its mark in Kigali, Rwanda has taken the steps needed to lay the groundwork for a long-term partnership with the country’s carriers and cargo handlers. Having established bilateral trade agreements, Qatar Airways and Qatar Investment Authority have invested in Kigali International Airport and RwandAir, opening the door to a strong partnership with the African carrier.

“We are proud to partner with RwandAir in establishing Kigali as the

Central African hub in preparation for the Next Generation of air cargo on this fast-growing continent,” Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo said. “The natural fit comes from natural complementarity. If you look at a map of the world and you look at their stations and our stations, they complement each other.”

“We picked Kigali for a number of reasons – one of which was the appetite of the Rwandan government to develop their infrastructure. We are confident that, as our product grows and our needs will grow, the government will support us by developing the infrastructure that is needed.”

“Here, we not only have a plan but we are firm about it. That’s why we picked Rwanda as a base.”

For Qatar, the Kigali-based facility will allow its customers to benefit from a reliable intra-African network, boosting service levels, improving efficiency and offering a competitively-priced solution. This new hub will also meet the growing demand across Africa to further empower the continent’s businesses, powering economies throughout the region.

Showing its dedication to ensuring top tier service for its customers, QAS Cargo, a subsidiary of Qatar Airways, worked with a team on the ground at RwandAir Cargo to improve handling performance ahead of the official launch.

A Qatar Cargo Boeing 777 aircraft will fly from Doha to Kigali, twice a week.

Since March, Qatar Airways Cargo has created an intra-Africa service between Kigali and Lagos and a weekly service from Istanbul via Doha to Kigali, all operated by an Airbus A310 aircraft.

ATTRACTS INTEREST

These are the foundation stones of an ever-growing African network.

The move comes two years after Qatar Airways and RwandAir launched an extended codeshare.

“We already have a relationship with Qatar Airways. Our two countries worked together very well. Qatar Airways is investing in the new airport that is being built. It makes perfect sense for RwandaAir to partner with the biggest handler and it’s worked very well,” RwandAir CEO Yvonne Makolo added.

More potential on the horizon

Ensuring timely deliveries through its extensive road feeder service network, the airline’s freighter fleet, including two Boeing 747-8 freighters, two Boeing 747-400 freighters, 26 Boeing 777 freighters and one Airbus A310 freighter, delivers a range of cargo.

“Africa as a region has pretty much no specificities in terms of cargo type when it comes to import. For export, you’re looking mostly at perishables. But, also, e-commerce – that segment of the market is rising the most,” Halleux highlighted.

“This is really the opportune time for this kind of partnership because what we’re going to see is a lot of trade between African countries which has not been there before,” Makolo said. “There’s a lot of potential to capitalise on that.”

Utilising freighters and belly-hold capacity on passenger flights, Qatar Airways Cargo serves a global network of more than 70 freighter destinations and more than 150 passenger destinations. As the world’s leading international air cargo carrier, Qatar Airways Cargo is always on the lookout for partners and destinations that can enhance its offering to customers.

That’s why, while celebrations were fresh at the launch of the new hub, Qatar was clear that it is not resigning itself to having one key facility or hub across Africa, as it looks to add more destinations in the continent at a later stage.

Looking to build air bridges between nations, Qatar is looking to focus on China to Africa, seeing it as a “poorly served” route today.

“We are convinced that there’s a lot more potential than is visible today,” Halleux explained. “Every time we open a new country and service, it creates a connection with the rest of the world and an opportunity for exportations.”

“With the rise of e-commerce today, with three clicks of a mouse you are able to place an order from China or the US and get it delivered within a few days. But for that you need to have connectivity.”

“The more you connect, the more you stimulate the appetite for orders in many places and I’m convinced that we will see this with our project in Africa.”