ACW 24th April 23

The weekly newspaper for air cargo professionals

No. 1,227 24 April 2023

Munich’s role grows...

HKIA NAMED WORLD’S BUSIEST CARGO AIRPORT IN 2022

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INSIDE

AIRFREIGHT DEMAND ...

WORLDWIDE air cargo demand has slipped further into decline after showing tentative signs of stabilising in the last two months, with the first full ...

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) has been named as the world’s busiest cargo airport in 2022, handling a total of 4.2 million tonnes of cargo during the year, according to the latest data released by Airports Council International (ACI).

HKIA retained the top position in 2022 despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and disruptions to global trade and supply chains that caused a decrease in overall air cargo volume globally. An array of projects are currently underway to enhance air cargo services at HKIA, in parallel with the expansion into a three-runway system. Major projects include the expansion of DHL’s Central Asia Hub to increase its handling

capacity by 50% which was already completed for operation in the first quarter in 2023; the development of a premium logistics centre by a joint venture spearheaded by Alibaba Group’s logistics arm, Cainiao Network, scheduled to complete this year; and the introduction of new sea-air intermodal cargo transshipment model by setting up HKIA Logistics Park in Dongguan and a new airside intermodal cargo pier at HKIA, for which the pilot scheme has been running smoothly.

HKIA is one of the few airports in the world with its cargo terminal operators and ramp handling operators attaining the International Air Transport Association (IATA) CEIV standards for transport of cargo that requires special

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handling, including CEIV Pharma, CEIV Fresh or CEIV Live Animals.

“We are proud that HKIA retains its leading position as the world’s busiest cargo airport in 2022. Despite the impact brought to the global aviation industry by the pandemic, HKIA’s cargo performance has consistently remained strong over the past few years, leveraging its extensive network and high efficiency. As air traffic continues to recover worldwide, coupled with the completion of various new cargo facilities at HKIA, we will continue to work with our business partners to consolidate HKIA’s role as the world’s leading air cargo hub,” Jack So, Chairman of Airport Authority Hong Kong, said.

SCALA WELCOMES NEW HIRE TO ... SCALA, a leading international supply chain and logistics consultancy, has appointed Chris Clowes as Senior Consultant to help drive its ...

CARGO VOLUMES DECLINE 8% ...

IN March, Brussels Airport welcomed more than 1.6 million passengers, an increase of 42% compared to 2022, while freight volumes fell by ...

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MUNICH CALLING ...

air cargo Europe, the premier trade fair for air cargo and logistics, and transport logistic, the leading trade fair for logistics ...

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GLOBAL

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GLOBAL AIRFREIGHT DEMAND DECLINE DEEPENS

WORLDWIDE air cargo demand has slipped further into decline after showing tentative signs of stabilising in the last two months, with the first full week of April showing the steepest week-on-week drop since the Lunar New Year factory closures in January, preliminary figures from WorldACD Market Data indicate.

Following small week-on-week declines in weeks 12 (-2%) and 13 (-3%), last week saw a fall of -8% in worldwide flown tonnages, plus a further slight (-3%) drop in average global air cargo pricing – based on the more than 400,000 weekly transactions covered by WorldACD’s data.

Comparing weeks 13 and 14 with the preceding two weeks (2Wo2W), overall tonnages decreased by -8% versus their

combined total in weeks 11 and 12, and average worldwide rates decreased by -3%, with capacity more or less stable.

At a regional level, the downward trend in air cargo tonnages is visible from all of the main origin regions and on almost all lanes, on a 2Wo2W basis, particularly flows ex-Middle East & South Asia to Asia Pacific (-15%), exNorth America to Europe and to Central & South America (-12%), and flows ex-Europe to Asia Pacific, Central & South America and to Middle East & South Asia (-10%). Demand on the big lanes from Asia Pacific to North America and Europe also showed a significant decline (-11% and -5%, respectively), with only one regional lane showing a slight increase: Middle East & South Asia to Europe (+1%).

In terms of pricing, on a 2Wo2W basis average yields continue to show a stable trend ex-Central & South America, but for all other regions average rates are decreasing, with the most significant drop seen from the Middle East & South Asia to Asia Pacific (-18%).

Year-on-Year perspective

Comparing the overall global market with this time last year, chargeable weight in weeks 13 and 14 was down -11% compared with the equivalent period last year – a return (after March’s -8%) to the double-digit percentage declines seen in the preceding five months. Notable percentage decreases in tonnages year-on-year were ex-North America (-27%), ex-Europe (-10%), ex-Middle East & South Asia

(-10%). Also ex-Asia Pacific the trend compared to last year was negative (-6%), despite recent relatively positive developments from that region.

Overall capacity has jumped by +12% compared with the previous year, with doubledigit percentage increases from almost all regions – except from Central & South America, which was slightly down (-1%), and North America (+6%). Most-notable increases were ex-Asia Pacific (+28%), ex-Africa (+19%) and ex-Europe (+15%).

Worldwide rates are currently -36% below their levels this time last year, at an average of US$2.62 per kilo in week 14, despite the effects of higher fuel surcharges, although they remain significantly above pre-Covid levels.

FAA certifies DoKaSch’s Opticooler® RKN container

THE Federal Aviation Administration of the United States (FAA) has certified the Opticooler® RKN container for DoKaSch Temperature Solutions, a German specialist for active temperature-controlled packaging solutions. The FAA approval of the compact RKN container follows the certification of the already well-established larger Opticooler® RAP in the USA. Both containers have hitherto already been used for active air cargo transportation on US routes by various non-US airlines. With this FAA approval, every US based airline can now have both DoKaSch TS Opticooler® containers technically certified and validated. Thus, the enlargement of the selection of the most suitable container size along with a wider choice of airline routes is definitively an appreciated option in

particular, but not only, for the exporting pharmaceutical industry in the USA.

US-Airlines as well as forwarders can now optimally meet their increasing demand for extremely secure and reliable cold chain solutions for temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals. First technical approvals are currently in process by US based airlines, as now they can not only transport the RAP, but also the RKN in their home-market.

While the Opticooler® RAP offers space for four CP 1 pallets (or five Euro pallets), the recently approved Opticooler® RKN holds one CP 1 pallet (or any standard US pallet, up to max. 48 inch x 48 inch). Both systems are characterised by reliability and resilience. Redundant systems for electrification and full air-conditioning enable precise heating and cooling without dry ice. Thus, these containers transport valuable and sensitive pharmaceuticals while avoiding temperature deviations at an extremely high level and with high independence of outside conditions. The Opticoolers

are equipped with high performance batteries and require merely a power socket to be (re-)charged. Furthermore, they can also be utilised as temporary storage units whenever the necessary cooling infrastructure is lacking.

“The USA is one of our most important markets, which we already serve for many years with our Opticooler® RAP and RKN by an array of airlines. The FAA’s approval of the Opticooler® RKN has been well received by the US pharma industry, as it can now also choose US-based airlines to utilise the RAP and RKN, depending upon its needs. This last gap in serving that market has been closed by DoKaSch TS extending its entire Opticooler® fleet to all US-based airlines, enabling them to now also service their home market for international shipment. We are pleased to have both of our containers now fully approved by the relevant bodies, i.e. the FAA and EASA, providing pharmaceutical shippers and forwarders a full fledged choice globally,” Andreas Seitz, Managing Director of DoKaSch Temperature Solutions, stated.

SCALA WELCOMES NEW HIRE TO POWER ITS EUROPEAN EXPANSION

SCALA, a leading international supply chain and logistics consultancy, has appointed Chris Clowes as Senior Consultant to help drive its further expansion into Europe.

With previous roles across fast growing startups including Medco Health Solutions and Costa Express, and global experience as Head of Supply Chain for Boots in Thailand, Chris is highly experienced in global retail supply chain management.

Based in Germany, Chris will be responsible for undertaking supply chain strategy and transformation projects across Europe, providing SCALA with a further presence on the continent as it takes on a growing number of retail and European focused projects.

Reflecting the diverse needs of the supply chain and logistics sector at present, SCALA’s project scope includes warehouse design, supply chain strategy, network optimisation, benchmarking, and transport optimisation.

Chris Clowes, commented: “SCALA has an enviable reputation for delivering insightful

JOHN JESSUP

WE are sad to report the death last week of our long-serving colleague, John Jessup, at the age of 78. He joined the company in 1996 and worked continuously since that time in the role for which he was most admired, producing Air Cargo Week.

Although he saw himself as a backroom member of the team, John made many contacts throughout the industry mostly by helping

them with their media planning, promotional material and advertisement placement. This is reflected in the many tributes which have described him variously as a true character, attentive to detail, willing and kind.

All of this is, of course, very true but to us he was “Mr Reliable”; conscientious, loyal and committed; a guide, mentor and friend. He will be greatly missed.

and meaningful supply chain consultancy, helping companies to deliver genuine change by combining deep supply chain knowledge with wide ranging business experience. I am looking forward to helping the business to continue its growth as we seek to develop a permanent base in Europe and provide high-quality projects for clients in the UK and beyond.”

John Perry, managing director at SCALA, commented: “We are always seeking ways to improve our offering, and welcoming Chris to the team will do just this. In recent years we have undertaken increasing levels of European projects with clients across various industries and with retail as a key focus.

“We felt that now was the right time to establish a permanent presence in Europe to expand our remit and advance our consultancy offering. We’re looking forward to Chris joining the team and creating a collaborative environment that allows him to share his invaluable global expertise and insights.”

Menzies Aviation signs Subscription Agreement with TAP Air Portugal

MENZIES Aviation, the leading service partner to the world’s airports and airlines, has signed a Subscription Agreement with TAP Air Portugal and Groundforce to acquire a controlling stake of 50.1% in Groundforce, the airline’s aviation services arm.

The agreement is a decisive step towards the recovery of Groundforce, reinforcing the confidence of all its stakeholders in the future of the company, and also a significant milestone in strengthening handling capacity, with an impact on the entire national economy.

Groundforce handles over 100,000 aircraft turns each year, across its operations at five of the busiest airports in Portugal: Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) in Lisbon, Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) in Porto, Gago Coutinho Airport (FAO) in Faro, Madeira International Airport (FNC), and Porto Santo Airport (PXO) on Porto Santo Island in Madeira. The aviation services company provides ground and air cargo services to several global airlines including TAP, its main customer.

The executed Subscription Agreement establishes the general terms and conditions of Groundforce’s Recovery Plan. Upon the granting of all necessary authorisations and consents, the Recovery Plan should be submitted by the Insolvency Administrators for the review discussion and approval by Groundforce’s Creditors Assembly.

For TAP, this process is crucial for the stability and improvement of the company’s operational performance, with a direct impact on TAP’s activity and the satisfaction of its customers.

National Aviation Services, which joined forces with

Menzies Aviation last year under the ownership of Agility, was selected as a preferred bidder for Groundforce in August 2022.

“We have strong conviction in the global aviation industry, and we are encouraged by the pace of recovery for both passenger and cargo volumes following the pandemic disruption. This transaction is further evidence of our scale and ability to enter a market in a meaningful way, as a longterm investor with a strong commitment to deliver industry leading services to airline and airport customers. We look forward to working with the Groundforce team to take

advantage of the opportunities in this market,” Hassan ElHoury, Chairman, Menzies Aviation, said.

“Groundforce has had a leading position in the aviation services market in Portugal for decades and we are pleased to have signed this agreement which enables us to enter the market at scale. We will work to ensure a seamless transition for all stakeholders including airline customers and employees. This transition will enable us to deliver the safest, most secure and consistent services to our airline and airport partners at these five airports across Portugal,” Philipp Joeinig, CEO, Menzies Aviation, stated.

Cargo volumes decline 8% at Brussels Airport

IN March, Brussels Airport welcomed more than 1.6 million passengers, an increase of 42% compared to 2022, while freight volumes fell by 8% compared to 2022 levels, reaching 66,225 tonnes.

Cargo: -8% volume compared to March 2022

In March, freight volumes transported at Brussels Airport decreased by 8% compared to March 2022 and reached 66,225 tonnes, mainly due to the 27% decrease in trucked volumes.

Compared to March 2022, flown cargo volumes decreased by 3%. The full cargo segment continues to grow, by 4% in March, while belly cargo slightly grew with +1%. Express services saw a 9% decrease.

The main importing regions are Asia (+35% compared to March 2022), Africa (-13% vs March 2022) and North America (+6% vs March 2022). In terms of exports, Asia again (+17% vs March 2022) is realising the strongest growth, while Africa (-11% vs March 2022) and North America saw their volumes fall (-26% vs March 2022).

Flights: +12% compared to March 2022

The total number of flight movements increased by 12% in March 2023 compared to 2022. The number of passenger flights increased by 23% compared to 2022, with an average of 138 passengers per flight, compared to 120 in March 2022. The number of cargo flights decreased by 10% compared to March 2022.

Freight association strengthens senior team to enhance engagement with members

AS part of a strategy to enhance engagement and further raise its profile with its members, the British International Freight Association (BIFA) has appointed Denise Hill as member engagement director.

With a strong background in commercial and relationship management, Hill will oversee and develop BIFA’s interaction with its membership in regards to the services it provides and how they are delivered.

For much of the past decade, Hill has worked for DHL Global Forwarding and was involved in Customs brokerage account management and related activities, building strong relationships to progress account growth for multinational clients. Most recently, she set up and implemented a new team to manage Brexit-related Customs activities for the

company’s clients from the automotive sector.

“The newly created role is designed to strengthen and support our engagement with our members; and ensure that their views reach all areas of the association; and are reflected in the work undertaken by the secretariat,” Steve Parker, BIFA Director General, said.

“Denise comes to us with extensive customer engagement skills, and I am confident that she has the ability to engage with our members to get a better understanding of how BIFA can fulfil their requirements.

“The appointment is part of broader strengthening of BIFA’s regional representation across the UK, which is currently administered by a team of long-standing regional representatives and consultants.”

Smarter ULD Solutions

Running a fleet of ULDs is often mission-critical, with the risk of unforeseen costs never far away. Additionally, meeting passengers’ expectations and increasing cargo revenues in an uncertain global economy requires a strategic partner with the right ULD solutions for your needs.

ULDs are part of Unilode’s DNA. The company’s roots stretch back to the original ULD management pioneer, who introduced the ULD outsourcing concept to the aviation industry more than 20 years ago, and to several ULD and inflight equipment repair specialist companies acquired in the APAC, EMEA and Americas regions. Today, Unilode is the leading global provider of outsourced ULD management and digital solutions, and ULD and galley cart maintenance and repair services.

Unilode’s asset management, leasing, repair and digital solutions for ULDs, and maintenance and repair services for galley carts help you focus on your core business of flying passengers and cargo whilst delivering significant cost savings and operational benefits across your network. Unilode provides tailor-made outsourcing solutions to meet the specific needs of your business and enhance your operations.

Unilode’s flagship ULD management business model ensures the supply of the right ULDs in an airworthy condition, in the right place and at the right time, every time. Unilode manages the largest global fleet of approximately 160,000 ULDs, including more than 120,000 digital containers and pallets, providing outsourced ULD management solutions for 45+ airline customers. When you partner with Unilode you benefit from a smarter ULD solution for your passenger and cargo network with significant cost savings and operational benefits over the course of the partnership.

Unilode is digitising its entire ULD fleet and is rolling out a global reader infrastructure at airports, in warehouses, and on mobile devices. The web dashboard and portable devices make digital data available to customers within seconds. Unilode’s digital ecosystem creates transparency, control and visibility across the supply chain and contributes to customers’ efforts to optimise operations, increase efficiencies and provide better quality assurance to all players in the value chain, including airlines, shippers, freight forwarders, ground handlers, airports and end customers. What’s more, Unilode’s digital ecosystem can be used not only for ULDs but for galley carts, dollies and other equipment as well.

Unilode can also help to overcome the temporary challenges of ULD shortages with its flexible leasing solutions at various key airport locations. Leasing periods are available from as little as seven days, and one-way rental, rebranding options and cost-effective repairs are offered at competitive rates.

The company operates the world’s largest repair network for ULDs and galley carts with 50 stations at key airports, 36 of which are owned by Unilode, and provides MRO services to more than 50 customers. Unilode’s MRO solutions remove the

burden and unnecessary costs of shipping damaged equipment back to your hub and increase space for revenue-generating cargo.

Whether you are looking to outsource the management of your container and pallet fleet, lease ULDs, gain access to the latest innovations in digitalisation, or remove the burden of repair and maintenance of ULDs and galley carts, Unilode can help you improve the performance of your business in various areas.

New life sciences air cargo logistics community established in Puerto Rico

PUERTO Rico, the number one bioscience manufacturing hub in the United States (US) by export volume, is launching a government-backed new Life Sciences Air Cargo Logistics Community, bringing together all parts of the supply chain with the objective of becoming the most important Life Science hub in the Americas.

The new Puerto Rico Air Cargo Community, supported by the Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DEDC), will include airlines, airports, forwarders, integrators, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, ground handlers, and hauliers.

The community will work on improving the quality of sophisticated cargo handling and market Puerto Rico’s capabilities in the Life Science sector around the world.

A number of companies who will be joining the new Community have already started the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) certification process as part of the initiative.

“We aim to put Puerto Rico firmly on the map as the best quality airfreight hub for life science in the Americas,” Manuel Cidre, Secretary of the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DEDC), said.

“The new Community is open for everyone in the supply chain to join and our group will also act as the voice of the Industry with legislators and other stakeholders.”

Twelve of the world’s 20 top-grossing pharmaceutical companies, including Johnson & Johnson, Amgen, and AbbVie operate on the island, with eight of the 15 globally top-selling biopharmaceutical products manufactured on Puerto Rico.

“We truly believe we’re heading in the right direction,” David Olan, Transportation Lead, Puerto Rico Operations, Johnson & Johnson, added.

“The new Air Cargo Community will give us the forum to define our opportunities to drive consistent and solid supply chain logistics on the island.”

“We will be able to create a more reliable and quality-oriented ecosystem that is aligned with our Life Science and Healthcare sector, and, at the same time, it will help us to meet and/or exceed our customers’ demands.”

Twelve out of the top 20 medical device companies have manufacturing sites on the island, including Medtronic, CooperVision, and Boston Scientific, manufacturing products such as pacemakers and implantable defibrillators, surgical instruments, lab devices, dental equipment, and vision correction goods.

Puerto Rico has a U.S. Department of Transportation designation as an international air transshipment hub, a waiver, which allows for unencumbered trans-shipment at the island’s three international airports.

The community will have three initial aims including; improving the overall quality of airfreightrelated operations in Puerto Rico by adopting best practices and a standardised way of operating,

representing the community and lobbying on its behalf with legislators and authorities, and raising awareness internationally about Puerto Rico’s airfreight capabilities and Life Sciences expertise.

“We have a well-trained, highly adaptable, bilingual workforce and decades of experience in manufacturing life sciences,” Cidre said.

“We have the full backing of Customs, and, through cooperation and a focus on sustainable, state-of-the-art, standardised air logistics, we will improve all parts of the shipment journey.”

A Community Board will drive the initiative and will include community members as well as the DEDC, Invest Puerto Rico, the Industry University Research Center (INDUNIV), Aerostar Airport Holdings, and the Port Authority of Puerto Rico.

The new Community and Board will meet for the first time later this month to plan next steps.

Qatar Airways Cargo launches a direct freighter service from Bogota to Dallas Fort Worth

QATAR Airways Cargo has introduced direct freighter service from Bogotá, capital of Colombia to Dallas Fort Worth in Texas. The once weekly Boeing 777 freighter departs from Bogota on Mondays and flies to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).

The freighter offers close to 100 tonnes of cargo capacity and will be transporting perishables like flowers, fruits, vegetables, coffee, as well as live animals, machinery and other general cargo destined for DFW.

“The Americas is highly important for us and we have a strong presence in the region. Through this enhancement on the route, we are pleased to grow our existing partnership with Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. Our customers in DFW now benefit from a direct freighter service to uplift perishables and other cargo directly from Colombia,” Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways, said.

“Qatar’s service direct from Bogota to DFW reduces transit times for high-quality perishable goods by two to three days, extending shelf life for retailers and providing fresher products for consumers. This route adds a vital link to South American markets, enhances our global air cargo network and strengthens our ability to flow goods between Latin America and Asia,” John Ackerman, EVP of Global Strategy and Development at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, added.

Qatar Airways Cargo serves the Americas with freighters as well as belly-hold cargo flights, flying to 14 freighter destinations and 14 belly-hold cargo destinations.

Hermes extends contract with Groundforce Portugal

HERMES Logistics Technologies (HLT) is set to upgrade long-term customer Groundforce Portugal to its latest cloud-based Hermes 5 cargo management system, Hermes Software as a Service (SaaS), bringing major enhancements to security and increasing the speed, volume, and accuracy of cargo processing at three of the handler’s Portuguese stations.

Groundforce Portugal’s operations at Lisbon, Porto, and Funchal airports will all benefit from the migration to Hermes SaaS, with Faro station expected to follow in the near future.

The upgrade represents the expansion of a long-term collaboration between HLT and Groundforce Portugal, the Portuguese leader for ground handling services and HLT customer of more than fifteen years.

“Hermes SaaS is our best software solution to date, representing the optimal way to host a cargo management system, allowing Groundforce Portugal to focus on their core business whilst benefiting from better system performance at a lower cost,” Yuval Baruch, Chief Executive Officer, HLT, said.

“The system upgrade pays close attention to improving Groundforce Portugal’s messaging, with the solution customised to meet specific local requirements to increase the speed, volume and accuracy of the data that is processed.”

The migration of the cargo management system from a server to the cloud will bring increased security for Groundforce Portugal, which will also benefit from HLT’s full NG ecosystem, a collection of applications including NG Business Intelligence and Datalakes, Track and Trace, and NG Landside Management.

“Our long-standing use of Hermes’ software has proven to be stable, problem free, and a perfect match for our digital and operational needs, so upgrading to Hermes SaaS was a natural next step for us,” Paulo Colla Carvalheiro, Planning, Processes and Innovation Director, Groundforce Portugal, said.

“Upgrading to Hermes SaaS will help push forward our digitalisation strategy, and we will gain additional functionality, reliability, and the promise of scalability for our full operations network.”

Insolvency administrator sells Frankfurt-Hahn Airport to TRIWO AG

Avianca Cargo inaugurates cargo operations between Quito and Los Angeles

IN response to the growth of the air cargo sector and its commitment to the development of the Ecuadorian market, Avianca Cargo announced the expansion of its capacity with the inauguration of its new cargo destination: Los Angeles.

from Ecuador and Colombia in the recent season of Valentine’s Day.

THE insolvency administrator of the companies in the Frankfurt-Hahn Airport Group, Dr Jan Markus Plathner, is selling Frankfurt Hahn Airport to TRIWO AG from Trier.

“We have implemented a whole bundle of reorganisation measures that have made Hahn Airport more attractive again for airlines and passengers and have made it possible to ultimately continue business operations without losses within the framework of the insolvency proceedings, thus laying the foundation for a sale. I am pleased that together we have managed the turnaround after a sometimes rocky road, and I would like to personally thank all employees, the works council and their advisors for their professional and strong commitment during this challenging time,” the restructuring expert said.

“The bidding process is concluded

successfully with the fulfilment of all conditions for completion and the sale to TRIWO AG. The four creditors’ meetings and the creditors’ committee of the main company each voted unanimously for the bid with the highest purchase price. Flight operations will continue under the insolvency proceedings until the contractual conditions are met, and will then be taken over by the acquiring company. This is expected to take place within a few weeks,” Plathner said.

“We consider the future prospects of Frankfurt-Hahn Airport to be good. That is why we want to make targeted investments in the airport infrastructure, achieve further growth in passenger and freight traffic and implement sustainable real estate development. The business location Rhineland-Palatinate as a whole will also benefit from this,” Peter Adrian, CEO of TRIWO AG, added.

With two frequencies a week between Quito and Los Angeles, Avianca Cargo will strengthen its presence in the region and provide greater connectivity between the two cities, operating the Quito – Bogotá – Los Angeles route, in order to increase the number of tonnes transported to North America which currently represent 80% of the weekly tonnes exported by the company from Ecuador. In the same way, it will allow it to diversify the ports of entry of flowers to North America, adding this destination to Miami as an already existing point and through which it sent nearly 18,000 tonnes in around 300 flights operated

“At Avianca Cargo we continue to connect the South American markets with the world. Now with a second point of entry to the USA and connections via Los Angeles. With this cargo inauguration, in addition to delivering a more robust service proposal to our customers, we will continue promoting the competitiveness of the flower industry, since 75% of the cargo we export from Ecuador, under the highest quality standards and on the required times, corresponds to flowers grown by Ecuadorian hands,” said Juan Cruz Correa, Vice President of Sales for Avianca Cargo.

With the CEIV Fresh certification granted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Avianca Cargo guarantees the rigorous handling of shipments sensitive to time and temperature.

Fresh at the Front

The best way to ensure safe Cargo flight operations is to have healthy and alert pilots. It would then seem obvious that making the cockpit environment as comfortable as possible would be a design priority. Surprisingly, this is not the case, but help is at hand from CTT Systems.

The cockpit environment can be a challenge for flight crew, especially on longhaul aircraft, where exposure time is longer, with adverse conditions having an accumulative effect.

A big problem is low relative humidity (RH). Human beings are comfortable when RH levels are above 20%, but cockpit RH levels drop to 3%. Cruising altitude of most long haul flights is at an altitude where there is very little water vapor in the atmosphere, so the in-coming air is extremely dry.

Low RH levels effects? Most importantly for pilots, eyes become dry and itchy. The lack of moisture dry out the nasal passages, mucous membranes, mouth and respiratory tract. The nasal cavity dries quickly, reducing the sense of smell, while

aircraft c-checks.

To date, CTT has delivered more than 3,500 humidifiers but we have identified another problem with cockpit air that needs to be dealt with - Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

Substances, such as acetone, benzene and toluene, can be detected inside the aircraft as well as ingestion of exhaust fumes or deicing fluid coming in through the aircraft’s environmental control system. Oil from engine bearing seal leaks are another source of VOCs. These produce similar symptoms as dry air, but high levels can cause performance impairment or, in rare cases, incapacitation. In addition, VOCs can react with oxygen (O2) in flight to produce ozone (O3), which is also an irritant to mucous and respiratory tissues.

CTT has teamed with two specialists in air filtration to produce a modified humidifier to counter the problem. Using Munters current pad solution together with a newly developed active carbon filter solution from Camfil, the new unit will reduce VOCs by up to 80% and ozone by 70-75%, both in the air and during fume events on the ground. The new pad also has a service life of 4,000 flight hours, the same as the humidifier, simply replaced with no special tools or new routines required.

CTT has produced a conceptual design for the Boeing 777X, which is just about to complete testing, ready for market launch in September. This could also be simply swapped out with the current 787 or A350 cockpit humidifier.

CTT is continuing to make progress in helping customer to look after their flight crew and keep them healthy and safe.

the viscosity of saliva changes, reducing the sense of taste. A dry nasal cavity also increases susceptibility to colds and virus, as the activity of cilia, which work to keep the airways clear of mucus and dirt, are suppressed. The solution is to raise RH levels and CTT has years of experience in producing aviation humidifiers. The humidifier is incorporated into the ducting of the environmental control system. A special absorbent pad is drip fed from the aircraft’s potable water supply. As the ECS air passes through the wet pad, it picks up moisture before entering the cockpit raising the RH level to 22%. Not only does humidification reduce the symptoms associated with dry air, but it also decreases stress levels, so flight crew get better sleep and rest before their next flight.

Major airlines have recognizing the problem, with more than 90% of Boeing 787s equipped with a cockpit humidifier and an increasing number of Airbus A350s. The system is also available on the Boeing 777X.

For flight crew recovery a crew rest compartment is often selected and equipped with humidifiers for long-haul operations. A350F it will be the first Freighter aircraft with Cockpit and Flight Crew Rest Humidifier available as options.

For Passenger to Freighter conversion CTT has Cockpit and Flight Crew Rest Humidification kits available to be install during the conversion as well as during

LIGHTWEIGHT ACTIVE CONTAINER MAKES ITS MAIDEN FLIGHT

SWISS WorldCargo, Swiss Airtainer, and B.P.L. are excited to announce the launch of a self-sustaining airfreight container for life-saving medicine that brings significant weight reduction of 250 kg and thereby less fuel consumption. This achievement seeks

to revolutionise the cold chain logistics by providing a sustainable and innovative solution for the transportation of life-saving medicine. The first shipment with this container recently took place from Basel via Zurich to San Francisco.

Kuehne+Nagel expands healthcare footprint in North America

“We are excited to be a part of this innovation, which has the potential to significantly impact the transportation of life-saving medicine. The self-sustaining airfreight container is a game-changer for the industry, and we are highly committed to its success,” Lorenzo Stoll, Head of Cargo at Swiss International Air Lines, stated.

The topic of sustainability is important for the next generations but also for the future of SWISS and Swiss WorldCargo. At Swiss WorldCargo, we are highly committed to proactively progressing the mobility of goods and air travel as a whole into a more sustainable future. In creating alliances and supporting initiatives like these, we seek to boost technology development and actively contribute to scaling climate technologies, necessary to achieve our industry’s ambitious climate targets.

“B.P.L. are thrilled to be partnering with Swiss WorldCargo and Swiss Airtainer on this first joint shipment. This joint initiative is a great opportunity to explore innovative ways we can reduce our carbon footprint,” Urs Suter, General Manager at B.P.L. Switzerland, said.

“Our partnership with Swiss WorldCargo is a testament to our shared commitment to sustainability and innovation in the airfreight industry. Together, we are redefining the possibilities of cold chain logistics, and the successful completion of our first joint shipment marks a revolutionary milestone in our journey towards a greener and more efficient future,” Eduard Seligman, CEO of Swiss Airtainer, added.

The container utilises solar energy to feed the battery, allowing the thermal unit to maintain the required temperature range without the need for an external power

source. This process allows for a simplification of the cold chain and makes the container an ideal solution for transporting medicine to remote and underdeveloped areas, where access to cold chain infrastructure can be limited. The container is made of sustainable and eco-friendly materials in line with minimising our environmental impact. Additionally, advanced temperature and humidity control systems and smart technology were incorporated which provide real-time tracking and monitoring of the cargo, ensuring that vaccines and other medical supplies arrive at their destination safely and securely.

Swiss Airtainer’s airfreight container weights 250 kg less than its competitors and has received the full certifications required, including the one from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which confirms the safety and reliability of the product. Swiss Airtainer has also received strong support from the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) and from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO, further validating the company’s efforts to innovate and improve the airfreight industry.

The project has already received positive feedback from the industry and is set to make a significant impact on the transportation of life-saving medicine.

Swiss WorldCargo, Swiss Airtainer, and B.P.L., three Switzerland based companies, are committed to creating sustainable solutions for the logistics industry and are excited to be at the forefront of this innovative project. All parties involved share the same Swiss values and look forward to the positive impact the collaboration will have on the industry and the communities it serves.

Cargo iQ brings visibility of service agreements to ground handlers

AIR cargo quality standards group Cargo iQ has updated its offset management platform ENCORE to give ground handling agents (GHAs) access to view service timelines for shipments according to their service level agreements (SLAs) with airline partners.

The new access will bring ground handlers visibility over specific time commitments for shipments in their care – crucial data for planning activities, reaching milestones, and meeting service commitments.

when an airline agrees that a forwarder can collect a shipment within a specified timeframe after landing, this data is input into the ENCORE system and is used by the Cargo iQ Data Management Platform (CDMP) to create the route map for the shipment’s journey, which can then be monitored.

The same principle is also true for the interface at origin airport, where the on-time handover from the forwarder to the GHA is crucial for overall on-time performance.

KUEHNE+NAGEL has announced a new contract logistics fulfilment centre on the grounds of the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Located three miles from the terminals, the 400,000 sq ft state-of-the-art fulfilment centre reflects the company’s continued commitment to investing in the healthcare vertical by serving multiple customers.

This fully pharma-grade compliant, secure, high-tech site allows Kuehne+Nagel’s partners to be assured that fulfilment centre operations are at the highest levels of safety and efficiency. This includes meeting the complex storage needs of customers in the healthcare and pharmaceutical worlds with features such as four cold chambers, which are able to store products within the various temperature ranges required by the healthcare industry, including frozen ones.

“This move represents an important milestone for Kuehne+Nagel’s Contra ct Logistics business in North America and reinforces the company’s global commitment to the healthcare business as part of the company’s Roadmap 2026,” Eduardo Razuck,

Senior Vice President, Contract Logistics Americas for Kuehne+Nagel, said.

“The investment in a new distribution centre in the Dallas/Fort Worth area is the latest step in growing our ever-expanding network focused on supporting our healthcare and pharmaceutical customers.”

This new fulfilment centre will be part of the company’s growing healthcare services offerings, providing customers the ability to focus on what is most important to them – the patients.

“This fulfilment centre will support our mission to bring product integrity to the next level for our healthcare customers that require premium services for moving their products,” Marcello Ferrari, Vice President Global Head Customer Development Healthcare, Contract Logistics for Kuehne+Nagel, said.

“Our focus is on the patient, and with ease of access to the significant uplift capacity at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, we are able to better serve not just our customers, but also patients across the country who depend on these products.”

“With this latest upgrade to ENCORE, all parties involved in the movement of a shipment will now have visibility on the planning that goes into creating a route map, which is essential for meeting ontime-performance expectations and driving quality in the supply chain,” Chris Davies, Technology and Product Manager, Cargo iQ, said.

“This visibility not only means that shipments are more likely to arrive on time, but it also helps to protect the integrity of time-critical shipments and protect stakeholders from incurring unfair penalties when offsets are missed.”

In practice, this means, for example, that

Discrepancies in actual versus planned process times can lead to disputes between GHA, airline, and forwarder, but with GHAs now able to view the service agreement data in ENCORE, there is a single place for referencing offsets, making it easier to meet targets.

Cargo iQ continues to make notable progress towards improving quality in the global air cargo supply chain this year, with the recent implementation of the new Freight On Hand (FOH) Cargo iQ tracking milestone by members Turkish Airlines, Kuehne+Nagel, and Swissport in the group’s Nairobi operations, helping to successfully resolve issues with shipment acceptance.

UPS Healthcare expands in Blonie

UPS Healthcare has more than doubled the size of its dedicated healthcare logistics facility in Blonie, Poland, creating up to 150 new jobs.

Designed to BREEAM standard, a leading certification for sustainable buildings, the state of the art logistics facility has added over 17,000m2 of space and houses up to 23,000 pallet positions for the handling and storage of temperature-sensitive treatments from 2 to 8 degrees Celsius to 15 to 25 degrees Celsius.

The facility is also supported by more than 300 specialised temperature-controlled vehicles that serve customers domestically as well as internationally to more than 30 markets including all Central and Eastern Europe, Turkey, and the CIS Free Trade Area. The facility is powered by 100% renewable electricity and has an array of solar panels providing 50,000 kWh per year.

“The logistics hub in Błonie is part of a pan-European cold chain network that provides our customers with

Aero Africa launches Sea Air Service

comprehensive, high-quality end-to-end solutions.” Fredrik Jansson, Managing Director, Central and Eastern Europe, UPS Healthcare Europe, said.

“We are proud that we can support the development of Polish companies and the communities where we work and live by creating new jobs,” he added.

The Polish healthcare market is one of the fastest growing in the world, with an expected cumulative annual growth rate of 10% between 2022-2027. Exports before that period grew from PLN 1.2 billion to PLN 21.01 billion between 2004 and 2021.

Throughout 2023, UPS Healthcare will add over 200,000 sq m of warehouse space, of which about half will be in Europe. One of the newest logistics facilities has also opened in Poland’s largest Healthcare export market in Giessen, Germany, with 27,200 sq m and 30,000 pallet spaces to store a wide range of temperature-sensitive medical products.

AERO Africa has expanded its operations in China and the U.A.E by launching a new sea-air combined transport product from Asia to 70 African destinations via Dubai. The new SAS product (Sea Air Solution) provides specific benefits to regional economies, airlines, airports, seaports, shipping companies, forwarders, importers, and exporters, while its Dubai hub is highly strategic in terms of time, transport, infrastructure facilities and storage costs.

“SAS is responsive to the client’s needs for a solution to service their logistical dilemma between Asia & Africa. Sea/Air multimodal Transport is quite demanding in terms of the links in the chain, and it is refreshing to see Aero Africa dedicating their team in Asia, ME and Africa all focused to deliver an integrated multimodal solution to the satisfaction of their clients.” Professor Issa Baluch, Aero Africa Advisory Board Member, said.

“SAS is faster than seafreight and more economical than airfreight and it reduces CO2 emissions up to 50%. The documentation is overseen by a CTD, a single non-negotiable cohesive document which combines AWB and Bill of Lading and is governed by Standard Conditions (7997) of the FIATA multimodal Transport Waybill,” Jay Cameron, Corporate Product Director, added.

“Freight forwarders and their clients can now avoid congested shipping lanes with long transit time (particularly to land-locked African countries and West Africa) and manage efficiently complex supply chain lead times and utilise strong pre-booked cargo capacity. SAS estimated transit times from Asia to Africa range from 77-25 days depending on the origin and destination, while we only offer direct ocean carrier Full Container Load (FCL) services to Jebel Ali with weekly departures, and we maintain full control of cargo and capacity with our own service centres in China, UAE, and Africa,” Joey Xu, Director Airfreight China, explained.

Munich calling

air cargo Europe, the premier trade fair for air cargo and logistics, and transport logistic, the leading trade fair for logistics, mobility, IT and supply chain management, come to Germany from 9th May-12th May 2023.

As the international gathering for the global airfreight industry, the event has been held every two years in Munich since 2003. Considered the leading platform for international networking in the airfreight industry, this four-day trade show offers innovative products, systems and technologies as well as a wealth of expert knowledge.

cargo handling companies, express services, logistics providers and more. Across multiple halls and over 100,000 sq m, the demand from exhibitors reflects how important the event is for the industry.

The conference programme is dedicated to the issues impacting the industry. Top experts from all around the world and high-calibre industry representatives will come together to discuss key themes affecting their businesses, examining potential solutions and giving an insight into their own operations.

From alternative drives and digitalisation

Record-breaking conference programme

The event’s organisers break down the key benefits for attendees into five categories: Everything in one place; innovations from all over the world; the presence of global key players; international industry meeting; top notch conference programmes.

Seamlessly integrated into transport logistic, attendees will find plenty of opportunities to network and establish new contacts as they walk through the halls, meeting experts and decision-makers from all over the world. Exchanging views on trends and topics, it offers an opportunity to gain a real edge in information every step of the way.

Some of the many exhibitors attending include, airlines, airports, forwarding agents,

to capacity shortage and volatile markets: the conference programme will put the spotlight on current trends and challenges. Featuring more than 50 events and over 250 speakers, the event will offer both exhibitors and visitors valuable industry insights and interesting visions of the future.

“From 9th-12th May, 2023, the entire world of the air cargo and logistics industry can be found in Munich. Enjoy the trade fair as an industry meeting and platform for innovative products and intermodal solutions. Throughout four days, you can benefit from the know-how of international exhibitors and a conference programme featuring top-class speakers,” air cargo Europe wrote ahead of the event.

Digitalised and decarbonised supply chains are key issues for shippers, service providers and technology providers at transport logistic.

The trade fair’s Managing Director Stefan Rummel will give the opening speech together with the Germany Federal Minister of Transport Dr Volker Wissing.

The trade fair’s supporting programme connects business, politics and research in expert presentations, panel discussions and interactive formats.

A first-class conference programme pools knowledge from over 250 speakers in more than 50 sessions. Industry and retail will be represented by Svenja Engler from Zschwimmer & Schwarz, Dr Nadine KiratliSchneider from supplier Schaeffler, Gerritt Höppner-Tietz from hagebau Logistik, Dörte Maltzahn from Knauf Trans, and Georg Staller from paper manufacturer UPM, among others.

Speakers from service providers include Uwe Brinks (DHL), Rolf Habben Jansen (Hapag Lloyd), Sven Flore (SBB), Clemens Först (Rail Cargo), Dr. Udo Lange (FedEx), Dr. Sigrid Evelyn Nikutta (DB), Simone Lode (HHLA Next) and Dr. Tilo Bobel (Maersk).

Full house on the panels

Forums highlighting the main topics of sustainability, infrastructure, digitalisation and supply chain solutions will present knowledge from key players and newcomers. A career day will complete the programme and there is more happening on the exhibitor side than ever before. There is already a list of over 40 events, with more still to come. From live demonstrations to stand parties and mini-conferences, it’s all

on the agenda.

Campus Plaza in Hall B2 is a new addition to the supporting programme, offering presentations every 30 minutes and networking galore.

Resilience

Staying resilient amid exploding costs and climate change is a challenge for all types of transport supply chains. The trade fair in Munich will host shippers from the building materials, chemical and pharmaceutical, mechanical engineering, consumer goods and automotive sectors. They will discuss solutions in the context of social, political and economic developments. Among the highlights of the conference programme is Tuesday’s session on “The Influence of Geopolitics on your Supply Chain,” with an international line-up.

Sustainable and digital with a small footprint

The programme at both air cargo Europe and transport logistic will present levers for sustainability, primarily with digitalisation and decarbonisation of the supply chain.

“Our conference and supporting programme connect trade fair visitors with hands-on information for everyday operations,” Dr Robert Schönberger, Head of transport logistic exhibitions, said.

“The incredible scope and thematic depth of the programme that we are organising together with our publishing, association and university partners underscores the significance of transport logistic as a leading world trade fair. In Munich, this systemically relevant industry will show what it is capable of and how it will secure our future.”

Industry returns

THIS is the first on-site meeting of air cargo Europe since the pandemic started, as in 2021, the conference was held online. The attendance, as usual, was very high, and although the online form has its strengths, it also has its weaknesses – being difficult to network.

Issues in the spotlight

The event marks the ninth edition of air cargo Europe, bringing global orientation with a perfect platform for building connections; added value by integrating with transport logistic; a unique concept by having an international exhibition paired with an accompanying high-profile conference; prominent industry representatives discussing the latest trends and topics.

Returning in person at the Messe Munchen, the exhibitions are divided into different sections, depending on specialisation: airlines; airports; charter brokers; DP systems for logistics, transport and airline management; equipment and control systems for airlines and airports; express services; forwarders; general sales agents; industry associations; logistics suppliers; logistics systems and products for the air transport industry; organisations; reloading companies; security services and services for the air cargo industry.

IN 2023, representatives of the air freight industry will gather in Munich for air cargo Europe.

Presenting their expertise on everything involving the current issues and trends in the industry, well known faces in the industry will explore topics such as ‘Sustainability Programmes: Critical for Industry Growth’; Future of Freight: The Digital Imperative; Cross Border e-commerce and how the Online Retail Impact the Volume and Value of Air Cargo.

“Etihad Cargo is eagerly anticipating connecting with our valued partners at air cargo Europe, the leading event for air cargo professionals. We are especially excited for this edition of ACE, as it will be the first in-person event since the outbreak of Covid and promises to be bigger and better than ever before,” Martin Drew, Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Cargo at Etihad Airways, said.

Preparing for every eventuality

AHEAD of the exhibition, more than 2,500 service providers, shippers and suppliers gave their assessment of the situation across the logistics industry in the trend index.

While some are pessimistic about the future, overall, the industry is in a robust position. What unites them is the shortage of skilled labour and drivers in a market environment shaped by inflation. Under the motto “experience connectivity”, the focus is on collaboration along the supply chain, and trade fairs are more important than ever.

One in three companies expects a downturn, while a two-thirds majority is already prepared for it. Preparing for every eventuality, around three quarters expect further disruption in the supply chain.

Smaller companies are harder hit by inflation, price and competitive pressure. Larger companies see themselves challenged more by the shortage of energy and raw materials, as well as disruption in the logistics value chain. These are mainly macroeconomic, demographic or geopolitically induced problems that exert little influence on individual companies. It is against this background that the trend index identifies the challenges facing the logistics industry.

Staff shortages

Across all industries and company sizes, every second respondent is affected the most by problems due to staffing issues. Suppliers and logistics service providers, as well as medium-sized and large companies push up the average to over 50%. The shortage of drivers aggravates the situation

for almost one in three companies.

Supply chains under pressure

Inflation and growing price and competitive pressure are putting a strain on more than one in four companies. These issues are among the challenges for two thirds of small and medium-sized companies.

Innovation on a small scale

Logistics of the future can be designed today to be smart, fast and clean. The focus is on collaboration with other players and the use of alternative drives. In addition, logistics must be able to pool across providers and shift goods flows. What works on a small scale also applies to large logistics chains.

“Many of our challenges need more collaboration in the logistics chain. At transport logistic in Munich, it’s quick and easy for us to bring everyone involved together. We jointly develop ideas with suppliers, shippers and consignees,” Axel Plaß, President of the German Association of Freight Forwarders and Logistics (DSLV), explained.

“Logistics can assume its place as the third-largest industry with confidence. Each individual company can contribute to that by drawing positive attention to the successes. Logistics companies tackle problems and optimise processes. In an age when resources are becoming increasingly scarce, that is more important than ever. At transport logistic, the logistics industry can demonstrate over four days how attractive and innovative it is,” Stefan Rummel, Managing Director of Messe München, concluded.

RESILIENCE is omnipresent in many areas of the airfreight and logistics industry. That’s one of the reasons why it will be high up on the agenda during air cargo Europe and transport logistic.

The German Logistics Association (BVL) has published a white paper ahead of the event exploring resilience.

Strong supply chains

The logistics industry faces the challenging task of creating more resilient value chains that satisfy the basic conditions of the VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity) and BANI (brittle, anxious, nonlinear, incomprehensible) world.

Just a few years ago, the focus in planning value chains was still on the lean concept. Today, alongside minimising costs, delivery capability is playing a greater role in the planning, while at the same time calculating risks. That makes the planning more complex and hence also the methods and tools that are used.

Potential for optimisation

The authors Dr Martin Schwemmer, Managing Director of the BVL, and Saskia

Sardesai, deputy department head of Supply Chain Engineering at Fraunhofer IML, classify the situation and the latest developments. On that basis, they have specified potential strategies for how companies can make their value chains more resilient. Accordingly, cost accounting, procurement, IT and digital infrastructure, and collaboration beyond company boundaries are the main areas that offer potential.

Conference focus

The BVL session during transport logistic on “The Influence of Geopolitics on your Supply Chain - Current Classification and Outlook” (9th May, 1 to 2 pm, Forum Hall B2) will explore this and other aspects. It will be hosted by Dr Tilo Bobel, Global Head of Continuous Improvement, Lean and Automation at A.P. Moeller Maersk.

The speakers will be Dr Udo Lange, President and CEO of FedEx Logistics Memphis, Andreas Schulz, Head of Main Department at TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen, Thomas Heck, Partner and Head of the China Business Group in Germany & Europe at PwC, and Wolfram Senger-Weiss, CEO at Gebrüder Weiss.

Resilience is the key word

Sustainability drives logistics sector

HIGH costs generated by limited resources and fractured supply chains around the world are key issues weighing on the minds of the logistics industry. At the same time, the industry is serving as a linchpin for climate goals and a trailblazer in the energy transition.

In light of this role, more exhibitors and speakers will focus their appearances at air cargo Europe and transport logistic on sustainability compared with previous events.

“Logistics currently has to cope with many major challenges. Resources are in shorter supply than ever before. This means that all those involved in the supply chain have to work together to find justifiable, practicable and reliable planning solutions. To this end, transport logistic brings everyone—from shippers to recipients and from logistics service providers to technology suppliers—together in Munich. This underlines the important significance of logistics and sends a clear signal on the way to a sustainable future” Dr Dirk Engelhardt, the spokesman for the board of the BGL, said.

Reflecting global challenges

The conference programme of transport logistic will comprise 58 sessions, about 20% more presentations and podium discussions than were offered in 2019. The topics will focus on the challenges faced by the industry. Sustainability acts as the recurring theme throughout the entire programme. The German Transport Forum (DVF) captures the essence of the trade fair with the title: “Synchronising the global economy, fulfilling climate goals: How does the logistics industry deliver?”

During the forum, leading figures and representatives of the logistics industry will discuss how the energy transition will be able to succeed with the help of new systems, alternative fuels and new production chains.

No matter whether you are talking about infrastructure, supply chains, digitalisation or skilled workers, many topics included in the conference programme will see experts contribute their knowledge either directly or indirectly on increasing sustainable practices.

The presentations will cover everything from geopolitical developments to practical, everyday business operations. The four forums set up in the halls will focus on innovative technologies and resource-conserving concepts. The programme will include such topics as decarbonisation of modes of transport, wide-scale e-mobility in logistics, efficient supply chains in combined transports and for the last mile in city centres or uniform standards for real estate and data.

“Logistics is fueling sustainability,” Dr. Florian Eck, the Managing Director of the German Transport Forum, said. “It is bundling flows of goods, investing in new technologies and leveraging valuable data along the entire supply chain across all modes of transport.”

“transport logistic will highlight the issues that are moving the industry. In terms of our climate goals and the necessary energy transition, the international trade fair that touches on all modes

of transport is more important than ever before in its role as a showcase and innovation hub.”

GoGreen motto

Showing the steps being taken towards sustainability, there will be no transport logistic catalogue for the first time since 1978. Only a visitor’s guide will be provided as a way of reducing overall use of paper. The trade fair will also forgo the use of 25,000 sq m of carpeting on hallways. The trade fair team will prioritise the use of sustainable materials in the construction of all forums and special areas. The amount of waste materials should be reduced by systematically collecting and recycling all materials used during setup and dismantling of the trade fair.

Exhibitors can also take advantage of a GoGreen CO₂ audit of Messe München to determine and offset their carbon footprint. The trade fair construction company Meplan will also offer a carbon-neutral system booth made of sustainable materials for the first time.

A total of 110 charging stations at the fairgrounds will support electric mobility and facilitate climate friendly travel to the event. Messe München has also been using only green power since 2020. As a result of the complete switch, it achieves annual savings of around 6,400 tonnes of carbon emissions in normal operation.

Four decades of custom ULD solutions

ACL Airshop, a key player in the air cargo Unit Load Device (ULD) logistics sector, has been serving the industry for 40 years. In this time, ACL Airshop has established a reputation as a leading worldwide “one-stop shop” for leasing, sales, repair and fleet control of ULDs. As well, the Greenville, South Carolina-based operation has developed cargo control products manufacturing for the aviation industry.

A technology-enabled worldwide provider of ULDs, cargo control and airfreight products and logistics services for the aviation industry, ACL Airshop offers a range of unique products

with challenges coming at you every day. However, at ACL Airshop, we have the expertise, resources, and global network to excel in this demanding environment round-the-clock, every day of the year. Moreover, our expanding portfolio of long-term ULD management contracts further elevates our corporate prowess, propelling us to a whole new level of strength in the industry.”

One of the main services offered by the company is shortterm ULD rentals and leasing for airlines’ cargo products requirements. Custom ULD solutions include one-way leasing and convenient drop-offs. Additionally, in recent years, the company has developed a growing portfolio of multi-year ULD management and logistics contracts with various air carriers.

This has led to the company maintaining the largest independent inventory of lease-ready ULD assets in the industry for short-term solutions as well as a growing array of longer-term ULD management contracts.

The company’s strategic intent is to maintain market leadership in short-term solutions while expanding the recurring long-term revenues in fleet contracts.

Tucker explains: “Feedback from our Voice of the Customer surveys affirms that ACL Airshop is on the right path, being highly attentive and responsive to our customers’ needs. Our goal is to become the Partner of Choice for customers who recognise the unique value we bring to their business through our distinctive approach. Additionally, we aspire to be the Employer of Choice for individuals who share our zeal for the air cargo and aviation logistics industry, attracting and retaining top talent who are passionate about this field.”

Digital-driven

Other recent innovations in its ULD tracking solutions by the company include the FindMyULD app and the implementation of COREInsight’s Bluetooth logistics technology.

to numerous leading passenger and airfreight carriers.

ACL Airshop currently has control of more than 60,000 ULDs owned, maintained or leased. These include airfreight pallets and containers. It operates from more than 50 airport hub locations across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Latin America.

Wes Tucker, ACL Airshop’s COO / Executive Vice President, says: “The power of success is infectious. Especially, when companies are thriving and have teams of knowledgeable experts to cater to their customers’ needs, it becomes a magnet for attracting more business. Our company is fortunate to have exceptional individuals and a robust business model. As we approach our 40th anniversary in 2023, we take pride in continually refining our service model to deliver excellence to the industry”.

Custom ULD solutions

Tucker, mentions to Air Cargo Week: “It is wildly unpredictable,

With a COREInsight-tagged ULD, supplemented with a suite of web-basedreports, a carrier can visually update systems regarding allocation of the ULD as well as the shipments carried within the unit. This allows, in real-time, oversight of the location of ULDs.

Tucker recalls “In 2017, we made a deliberate decision to dive head-first into ULD Bluetooth tracking and tracing, making us the first in the market to do so. Building on our existing proprietary ULD Control system, we further developed the FindMyULD App. We understand that to be a true market leader, it is crucial to be at the forefront of technology as well. Today, our Digital Suite is exceptional, and we continue to make incremental improvements year after year, constantly investing to stay ahead in this ever-evolving landscape”.

Air Cargo Week congratulates ACL Airshop for their special 40th Anniversary.

Wes Tucker, COO/ Executive Vice President

Munich’s role grows

MUNICH Airport saw massive growth across all traffic figures in 2022 after a busy summer bolstered the hub’s operations.

Airfreight volumes increased by 55% to a total of around 259,000 metric tonnes across 2022, with an additional 8,000 tonnes of air mail among the cargo handled.

Munich Airport is one of Europe’s most important air hubs, offering attractive connections to destinations around the world. In 2021, the Skytrax Institute recognised the hub as the “Best Airport in Europe” for the 14th time, as well as making it the first European airport to receive the “5 Star Airport” seal.

Passenger numbers rose by 19 million year-on-year to a total of 31.6 million. The airport has thus regained two-thirds of its record-breaking pre-pandemic result from 2019. The number of aircraft movements nearly doubled compared with 2021 to more than 285,000 take-offs and landings.

“The gradual lifting of travel restrictions has re-awakened people’s desire to travel. This has prompted airlines to significantly expand their flight capacity. The bookings received by the airlines indicate that traffic growth at Munich Airport will continue in 2023,” Jost Lammers, CEO of Munich Airport, said.

Global connectivity

REFLECTING Munich’s growing role in the global airfreight industry, the international business subsidiary of Munich Airport, Munich Airport International (MAI), strengthened its commitment to the Asian aviation market at the end of 2022.

Opening a regional office in Singapore, MAI showed how the region has been a key market for the hub. MAI’s involvement in Asia dates back to the mid-1990s when the first international project was managed at Kuala Lumpur’s new capital airport.

Other projects would follow in India, Japan, Nepal and Thailand. The office in Singapore is a significant step for MAI, as it works to

bring itself closer to customers, gaining a greater understanding of their regional needs and providing the ability to respond more effectively to market dynamics.

Although heavily impacted by the Covid pandemic, the Asia-Pacific region is still recognised as the fastest-growing region for new development in the airline and airfreight industry.

“Our Singapore office is the next milestone in MAI’s strategic growth in the region and a clear proof of our strong and ongoing commitment to our partners, customers and projects in APAC,” Lorenzo di Loreto, Managing Director MAI, said.

Joloda Hydraroll Helps the Air Cargo Industry Lighten the Load

You don’t need us to point out how extraordinary and turbulent the last few years have been in the air cargo industry. What with the increased flows of PPE and other medical materials, and record-breaking levels of global e-commerce trade, all combined with a shortage of ground staff.

But you may need us to introduce you to Joloda Hydraroll, a global provider of loading and unloading solutions. Joloda Hydraroll can design, manufacture, install and maintain specialist loading systems to solve businesses’ unique loading and unloading challenges. The company creates solutions that integrate seamlessly to provide unparalleled, long-term benefits.

Founded in 1962, Joloda Hydraroll has been providing businesses with loading solutions for more than 60 years – that’s over half a million systems worldwide. Its highly skilled team is over 250 strong, and through extensive knowledge and expertise, its goal is to inspire change and make loading efficient, sustainable, cost-effective and safe.

End-to-end handling

When it comes to the air cargo industry, Joloda Hydraroll has almost 45 years of experience. It can provide a complete handling solution, from truck to warehouse, for air cargo equipment such as PMC pallets and ULDs.

The traditional method of unloading ULDs is to pull them from the truck with winches, but this can be a slow and risky process due to the weight and size of the containers. It can also cause damage to the cargo or to the warehouse floor. The Modular Rollerbed System (MRS) helps Road Feeder Service companies load and unload their trucks and dissemble cargo in warehouses quickly, efficiently and safely.

The MRS system can now be specified with a newly-developed Powered Cargo Roller (PCR) system, which is just 70mm high, making it now even easier to get a PCR trailer in operation. No more special trailer designs, simply specify and retrofit a MRS system with PCR into a standard trailer.

MRS modules or MRS with PCR modules arrive on-site pre-assembled and ready to install in your workshop (or by your trusted bodybuilders) within a couple of days. The beauty of the modular system is that when it comes to fleet renewal, the system can be removed and reinstalled, too.

Whilst the MRS system was primarily developed and used for use in trailers, it can also be retrofitted into warehouses, too, turning any warehouse into a temporary air cargo handling station. Operators can roll a full trailer’s worth of air cargo out of a truck with the push of a button and onto a warehouse’s rollerbed floor. From here, cargo can be rolled into the warehouse for dismantling with ease.

Market growth

According to Boeing’s forecast, the freighter fleet is expected to increase by 80 per cent by 2041 compared to the 2019 fleet, highlighting the need for faster and more efficient air cargo handling solutions.

Wouter Satijn, Joloda Hydraroll’s Sales Director, has expressed confidence that the company’s innovative, high-quality loading and unloading solutions and combined expertise will offer a service that can’t be matched. “Bringing our portfolio of solutions together will enable air cargo companies to unlock greater value and efficiency from an increasingly complex global supply chain,” he said.

Keeping track of your cargo

SINCE 1974, Cargogate has been providing cargo handling services as a 100% subsidiary of Munich Airport. It functions as a service provider for airlines that carry freight but do not maintain their own warehouse facilities at Munich Airport.

Cargogate records the arrival of the received goods, accepts the documents, transmits the data to the airlines and prepares the necessary export documentation for standard and special goods

As a regulated agent with a 17,000 sq m facility, it fulfils all ex-warehouse functions, as well as customs clearance and hazardous goods formalities.

The cargo handler offers facilities, including cooling facilities, rooms for valuable goods, hazardous goods, radioactive goods and animals, to cover all airfreight that might arrive at the hub. In addition, Cargogate operates a border control office for Munich Airport for processing of incoming products subject to mandatory veterinary border controls.

“Being the biggest and most valued cargo handler at Munich airport, we take responsibility in your cargo and our staff. Therefore we made “living responsibility“ our mission statement. It means doing what’s possible, not only what’s necessary, to deliver our customer’s promises with passion and full personal engagement as well as taking responsibility in our colleagues,” Claudia Weidenbush, Managing Director of Cargogate, said.

Meeting point for the industry

NUMEROUS key players in the industry, such as Dachser, DB Schenker, DHL, DP World, DSV, Geodis, Maersk, Kühne + Nagel and Rhenus, are set to be in attendance. They will be joined by new additions to the sector, including Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, TST from Worms, and Arkas Lojistik from Turkey.

air cargo Europe is also set to be a well attended event. The exhibition for the global air cargo industry, integrated into transport logistic, is in such high demand that a number of companies, as was the case in 2019, will be placed in Hall B2.

Stefan Rummel, CEO Messe München, is pleased “that so many well-known companies will be back again at transport logistic this year. The feedback from our customers on air cargo Europe is also a great sign and shows once more how important specialised trade fairs are. This is where decision makers from all over the world meet for a few days to discuss and do business.”

“transport logistic is one of the world’s leading logistics trade fairs for meeting customers and partners, and discussing important developments and trends in the industry,” Uwe Brinks, CEO DHL Freight, confirmed.

“After a break due to the pandemic, we are looking forward to being able to welcome numerous guests again to our trade fair stand to present innovations and solutions for tomorrow’s logistics.”

“transport logistic is the world’s largest trade fair for logistics and mobility. The industry is finally united again! We look forward to exchanging ideas with our customers,” Dr Sigrid Evelyn Nikutta, DB Board Member for Freight Transport and Chairwoman of the Management Board of DB Cargo AG, added.

Valuing innovation in the logistics sector

DUE to the recent international crises, the importance of the logistics sector and its critical role in the supply chain has never been more evident. It’s clear that innovative ideas are needed to ensure the stability of the supply chain across all areas in the future.

Ahead of air cargo Europe and transport logistic, BVL International has released a study, exploring the state of innovation management in Germany.

The study sheds light on how companies in the sector are positioned regarding the development of innovations from the perspective of service providers and their customers from industry and trade, summarised in five sections:

Innovative services at the same price

Logistic service providers still allocate a rather low amount of financial and human resources to the development of new service concepts. That development is not always associated with a methodical and structured process. About one third of shippers find it positive to have an innovative service provider but are not willing to pay more for it.

Efficiency and cutting costs

41% of shippers believe that working with an innovative partner will increase their efficiency and cut costs. This is the main motivation for logistics service providers to develop new services. However, the true value of innovation by tapping into new markets and actively differentiating from competition has not yet been widely recognised.

Innovative strength

Asked about their view on the innovative strength of logistics service providers, 42% of the participants from industry and trade revealed that they believe they are only a little or not at all innovative. Around a quarter considered them innovative or very innovative, while a third saw themselves on a par with their service providers.

Be more self-confident

When analysing by sector, it was clear that logistics service providers in the retail sector believe they are significantly more innovative than their customers think. The situation is similar in the automotive sector, while the opposite is true in the electronics, mechanical engineering and chemical sectors. The logistics service providers could therefore be more open about the progress it is making

Cooperation and partnership

Most shippers consider the task of developing new services to be exclusively the responsibility

of the logistics service providers. This could explain why only one tenth of the companies in the industry are involved in the innovation processes of their service providers, meaning that practical knowledge is missing. The shippers are, therefore, missing the opportunity to jointly develop innovations that would also enhance their own competitive position.

transport logistic 2023

BVL is an active community whose members strive to broaden their professional horizon beyond their defined circles, thus creating effective communication in a globalised economy.

As a non-profit organisation, BVL acts objectively and independently without promoting any particular interests in the political or economic discourse, but strives to actively address any issues of logistics and supply chain management as a whole.

BVL will explicitly address the topic of innovation in the logistics sector during two sessions at transport logistic: Decision makers from logistics service providers and the wider industry will discuss what conclusions can be drawn from the results of the study and how logistics service providers and shippers can work together more effectively in the future.