GLOBAL A
I
R
C
A
R
G
O
W
E
E
K
MANAGEMENT
A
I
R
C
A
R
G
O
W
E
E
K
WORLD AIRPORTS .COM ACW Digital is sponsored by FREIGHTERS.COM
FREIGH
FRE
Tabloid page trim.indd 1
27/04/2022 15:33
The weekly newspaper for air cargo professionals No. 1,182
::
30 MAY 2022
When speed is of the essence ...
GSSA TO STRIKE A BLOW FOR GENDER EQUALITY
Page 10
INSIDE
CARGOAI LAUNCHES API SUITE ...
CARGOAI is officially launching its API Suite services, following tests with digital freight forwarders and transport management systems worldwide ... PAGE 2
S
trike Aviation has signed IATA’s 25by2025 initiative to improve the gender balance in the aviation industry. The German- and US-headquartered GSSA, which specialises in airfreight and operates in 26 countries, says it has pledged to promote equality but is also leading by example, since women already hold 27% of its management positions. A key goal of signatories to 25by2025 is to raise the number of women in senior leadership and other important aviation roles to at least 25% by 2025. IATA launched the initiative in 2019 to raise awareness in a still heavily male-dominated industry where it remains difficult for women to pursue a career, as it has been for decades. According to the International Society of Women Airline Pilots, women accounted for a mere 5% of all commercial pilots and just 1.42% of captains on flights in 2020. Among Strike’s female management cohort is COO for Europe, Julia Knecht-Ostwaldt (pictured). She said: “We are all used to seeing male cap-
tains on flights, accompanied by male co-pilots, and it is still rare to see a female pilot, let alone a female captain. International studies show that many factors are hindering women’s breakthrough in aviation, from elements of sexism in the industry to stereotypes that aviation-related professions are incompatible with having a family. “Strike Aviation is an exception here: already now, women make up 56% of our workforce and 27% of our senior management team is female.” Knecht-Ostwaldt began her career at Strike Aviation in 2007 in the company’s German office. In 2013 and 2014, she acquired 30% of the shares of Strike Group Europe and became part of the management team. “In fact, my path in aviation began in 2003 as a freight forwarder. But I decided in 2006 to switch to cargo GSA where I found a passion for what can be done within the logistics chain,” the COO noted. She encourages women not to fear entering a male-dominated industry if a profession in aviation attracts them. Strike Aviation strongly supports the IATA’s “25by2025” initiative. Although the company has already achieved some of the voluntary targets, by joining the initiative Strike Aviation is also committed to compiling and publishing gender balance data each year and to work to further strengthen female representation. “I believe it is important for our clients that the gender gap in various areas, including aviation, be narrowed and that women’s representation be fair and balanced. We take the objectives identified by IATA into account and will continue to do so in the future in choosing new talent. We aim to create opportunities for women to grow and encourage them to choose a career in aviation. It is only by working together that we can make progress,” Julia Knecht-Ostwaldt stresses. IATA considers that the “25by2025” initiative should be only an initial step to making the aviation industry more gender balanced. It cites studies that show that companies where women are more represented in top management also perform best. It says, also, that aviation remains one of the professions where gender equality needs more attention. So far 62 signatories have committed to the initiative. In addition to the commitments of member airlines, IATA itself has committed to increase the representation of women in its own senior management, in governance roles, and among speakers at its conferences. It is also creating forums for diversity initiatives and for reporting by companies.
AVIANCA CARGO AWARDS ...
JETTAINER and Avianca Cargo have signed a five-year pallet management and maintenance services agreement. Under the terms of the contract, the ... PAGE 4
DRONES OVER AFRICA ...
WINGCOPTER and Continental Drones sign deal to revolutionise African logistics ... PAGE 5
AIR CARGO FORUM RETURNS ...
The last Air Cargo Forum was in Toronto back in 2018. However, the industry is once again looking forward to getting together for this exciting and prestigious event in Miami ... PAGE 6
Follow Us:
aircargoweek.com
NEWS CargoAi launches API Suite
CARGOAI is officially launching its API Suite services, following tests with digital freight forwarders and transport management systems worldwide. It will allow airfreight players to retrieve real-time schedules, availability, rates and tracking information. CargoAi says that integration of one or all of the API Suite services will allow freight forwarders to efficiently view, compare, book and track shipments, leveraging the same high-quality data as available on CargoAi It will also improve the quoting and procurement process as well as improving planning and operations. It adds that the API Suite will give forwarders high-quality data to feed their own transportation management systems. The API Suite can also be used by any other airfreight player to create personalised B2B applications. CargoAi has created three API packages: Schedules, Rates & Book and Track. The Schedule API includes a pool of schedules and real-time routes data for virtually all airlines worldwide. The Rates & Book API extends beyond schedules to real-time availability and pricing. It allows forwarders to make instant bookings (as well as booking requests) on CargoAi’s airline portfolio, which at the moment consists of over 130 airlines, 18 of them offering capacity on CargoAi on a global basis and the rest bookable in individual markets. The API replicates all advanced marketplace functionalities with the options to book special commodities
such as dangerous goods and all load types, as currently offered to users on the CargoAi platform. The Track API allows tracking of air shipments irrespective of the booking channel. The CargoAi API solution now includes close to 150 airlines worldwide and offers customers either a pull feature, to retrieve an AWB status in real time; or a subscription option, where automatic AWB updates are automatically sent via an API call-back. CargoAi says the API Suite will lead to a significant increase in airlines distributing their rates and product on its platform and will significantly broaden the distribution and marketing horizon for carriers. CEO Matthieu Petot, said: “Our mission remains focused on connecting the airfreight industry with cloud native and API-first architecture and the best of Saas marketing technology, air freight expertise and a very pragmatic approach. “The launch of this API Suite is a wonderful milestone for the development of the CargoAi solution portfolio and for the relevance of our company in the airfreight community.” CargoAi adds that investment in its White Label, Business Intelligence and API Suite and services is expected to double its global airline partner portfolio by mid- 2022. All three APIs in the API suite also include the CargoAi CO2 calculator, based on IATA standards and giving airfreight players the opportunity to measure and reduce their carbon footprint by selecting the most environmentally friendly trade lanes and flight plans.
STILL reading a printed copy of Air Cargo Week?
Consider switching to the digital version.
Contact subs@azurainternational.com and say you would rather read the weekly publication online.
2
ACW 30 MAY 2022
A
I
R
C
A
R
G
O
W
E
E
K
ECS Group wins Korea’s Air Premia home and away
ECS GROUP’S Globe Air Cargo (GAC) Korea subsidiary is to serve as GSA to start-up carrier, Air Premia, in its home and worldwide market. GAC Korea will provide services including cargo sales, reservations and arranging handling of regular and full charter flights. ECS Group also represents Air Premia globally, as well as in its home market. CEO of Globe Air Cargo Korea, HE Shin, said: “GAC Korea and Air Premia truly act as one team, since we have been there from the start of its inaugural passenger to cargo (P2C) flight out of Seoul to Singapore on 24 December 2021. “As part of the world’s largest integrated GSSA, we look forward to driving Air Premia’s success as it expands its network. We particularly welcome the launch of Air Premia’s Los Angeles route in August 2022, not only because it will be the first HSC in Korea to incorporate a US destination, but
also because ECS Group will be opening an office in Los Angeles (LAX), too, to manage sales out of the North and South America. In that respect, thanks to Air Premia’s network, ICN is an important hub for ECS Group.” In addition to its upcoming LAX launch, Air Premia will be connecting to Narita (NRT), Japan, in August 2022. To date, GAC Korea has assisted with B787-9 mango charters between Incheon (ICN) and Bangkok (BKK) since 6 March, with a total of 22 operations planned every Tuesday and Sunday until 22 May. The carrier also serves Singapore (SIN) twice a week with P2C flights, and recently began twice-weekly Ho Chi Minh (SGN), Vietnam, P2C operations. It aims to add two B787-9 aircraft every year until 2025 and plans to increase its fleet to ten aircraft by 2026, by which time it also expects to operate wide-body freighters.
AA Cargo to expand transatlantic capacity AMERICAN AIRLINES CARGO is to enhance its transatlantic services with direct service from key cities in Europe to ten US gateways from mid-May onward. The airline will operate to New York JFK, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Miami International Airport (MIA), Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) and Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). A new destination – Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) from Heathrow Airport (LHR) - will also be added to the schedule this summer. Leading European cities with flights to the US this summer will be Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Paris, Dublin, Rome, Frankfurt, Lisbon, London, Madrid, Munich, Milan and Zurich.
All routes will be operated by wide-bodied Boeing 777, or Boeing 787 aircraft. Regional cargo sales manager, Northern Europe, Andy Cornwell, said: “Capacity to the US is gradually getting back to normal following the pandemic. “We continue to see strong demand for all kinds of cargo including automotive parts, perishables and life science products including pharmaceuticals. With the number of flights growing month on month, our European customers are continuing to take advantage of our extensive trucking network to send freight on the direct flights which best suit their needs. They can also benefit from the comprehensive onward network we offer from our US hubs.” In addition, WebCargo users based in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK now can search and book direct flights to the US and beyond on American Airlines Cargo. The carrier plans to expand this access in the coming months on the platform.
tabloid page sample.indd 1
26/05/2022 11:29
NEWS
A
I
R
C
A
R
G
O
W
E
E
Mowi Chile spawns first carbon neutral salmon routes SALMON producer Mowi Chile is to implement first carbon neutral salmon routes through LATAM Group’s Fly Neutral compensation programme, a first in air transportation. Under the agreement the salmon farmer will compensate approximately 13% of its total CO2 emissions. Mowi Chile’s licenses and environment manager, Alvaro Perez, said: “Reducing our carbon footprint is one of the main objectives in our corporate sustainability strategy ‘Leading the Blue Revolution’. We have made significant progress in reducing our emissions in the different stages of our operation, and we are particularly happy to introduce it into our sales and distribution channels through the Fly Neutral programme.” LATAM Cargo’s ‘Fly Neutral’ programme allows customers to select the alternative of their choice from a portfolio to compensate the emissions generated by air transportation.
LATAM seeks not only to compensate a larger number of emissions, but also to increase the benefits for the projects chosen by its customers. Thus, for each tonne of CO2 compensated by a customer, the Group will compensate another tonne. The project selected by Mowi to compensate its carbon footprint is Luz del Norte Photovoltaic Solar Park in the Atacama Desert, considered to be the largest of its kind in South America. It satisfies the energy needs of over 170,000 households and reduces CO2 emissions by over 185,000 tonnes per year. CEO of LATAM Cargo, Andres Bianchi, said: “We are very pleased with this first agreement with Mowi as part of the Fly Neutral programme, as it underlines LATAM Cargo’s commitment to its customers and the management of CO2 emissions. “With a growing portfolio of projects certified by the most stringent quality standards, we hope more and more customers will join this programme across our entire network.”
Avianca Cargo awards ULD contract to Jettainer
JETTAINER and Avianca Cargo have signed a five-year pallet management and maintenance services agreement. Under the terms of the contract, the Colombian carrier will receive different pallet types from Jettainer to cater to the needs of its growing fleet. With more than 200 freighter flights per week, Avianca Cargo serves more than 65 destinations in the Americas and Europe. The Bogota- headquartered cargo airline specialises in transporting cut flowers from Latin America to North America. In the 2022 Valentine’s Day season alone, it transported more than 16,000 tonnes of flowers on its fleet of 11 A330-F, B767, and A300F freighters. Jettainer will provide Avianca Cargo with all required pallets necessary for its fleet, managing, maintaining and repairing all units with a
4
ACW 30 MAY 2022
dedicated team out of Dallas, Texas. Avianca Cargo COO, Juan Cruz Correa, remarked: “In Avianca Cargo, we are committed to continually strengthening our operation. We are focused on efficiency, providing our customers with reliable, agile, and synchronised operations. Having Jettainer as a partner reaffirms our dedication to deliver the best service to our customers within the industry’s highest standards.” The new business also increases Jettainer’s foothold in the region. Jettainer Americas managing director, Shailendar Kothari, said: “We are happy to add Avianca Cargo to our roster of customers. Our goal is to achieve additional growth in the Americas and to further expand our position as market leader by offering outstanding service and deploying our innovative solutions.”
K
A
I
R
C
A
R
G
O
W
E
E
K
NEWS
Thousands of Wingcopter drones over Africa
GERMAN drone delivery pioneer Wingcopter and Continental Drones, a subsidiary of Ghanaand Dubai-based Atlantic Trust Holding, have signed a partnership agreement to help establish drone-based delivery networks with thousands of Wingcopter drones across the African continent. The partners say they will dramatically improve the reliability and efficiency of existing supply chains and also help create completely new ones. The companies announced that Continental Drones has become a Wingcopter Authorised Partner (WAPP) for all 49 sub-Saharan countries. Over the next five years, the goal of the two partners is to deploy 12,000 Wingcopter 198s, the world’s most advanced delivery drone, throughout Africa. It will be the largest commercial deployment in the global delivery drone industry to date. In many African regions, insufficient infrastructure is one of the biggest barriers to universal
health coverage and economic development. Setting up large-scale drone delivery networks across African airspace will propel logistics in these countries to a new level and help build an entirely new transport framework. It will be much faster, cheaper, more sustainable, and more efficient than the development of conventional ground-based infrastructure with all its unhealthy and climate-damaging emissions. Wingcopter says that bridging the infrastructure gap through the deployment of large fleets of Wingcopter drones, even in the most remote places, will allow governments and the private sector to leapfrog inefficient infrastructure to create climate-neutral, reliable, and fast logistic capabilities. The technology will be deployed to improve the livelihoods of millions of Africans, for example through on-demand delivery of medicines, vaccines, or laboratory samples but also essential goods for daily use. It also has the potential to turbocharge economic development. Wingcopter networks will connect communities more effectively and create thousands of new job opportunities to operate delivery networks. As the Wingcopter 198 is fully electric, it contributes to a more sustainable African logistics sector and will help move economies towards net zero emissions. Continental Drones founder and chairman of Atlantic Trust Holding, Alexander Asiedu, said: “Together with Wingcopter, we are committed to accelerate the development and economic integration of Africa by enabling the creation of drone-based delivery networks across the continent. With our longstanding business experience on the ground and Wingcopter’s bestin-class drone technology, these networks offer a real chance to fuel economic development and help improve the livelihood of millions. “African nations show true leadership by implementing this cutting-edge technology for the better of their people and generations to come.” Co-founder and CEO of Wingcopter, Tom Plümmer, added: “This agreement and partnership is a real game-changer, positioning Wingcopter and Continental Drones at the top of the drone delivery industry. Wingcopter is well positioned to execute against the tremendous opportunity of drone delivery in the next decade. “We are convinced that our cooperation with Alex and his Continental Drones team will unlock the African drone delivery market on a large scale, allowing us to jointly improve and save millions of lives.”
ACW 30 MAY 2022
5
A
I
R
C
A
R
G
O
W
E
E
K
AIR CARGO FORUM INTERVIEW
AIR CARGO HOME TO M
T
he last Air Cargo Forum was in Toronto back in 2018. However, the industry is once again looking forward to getting together for this exciting and prestigious event in Miami this November. Air Cargo Week talks to Dr Robert Schoenberger, head of transport logistic and air cargo exhibitions at organisers, Messe Muenchen. Has covid changed how managers feel about sending staff to actual events? Will it take time to revert to how people felt in 2019? The two years of the pandemic have shaken up all of our lives. And we are all certainly planning trips, personal and business, much more consciously. The same goes for attending events. At trade shows and conferences held at Messe München in recent weeks and months, we haven’t always matched the attendance numbers of 2019 and before. But the participants who came had a specific intention. This was very pleasing to the exhibitors and led to a very good atmosphere. Has it been more difficult than in the past to attract attendees? Attracting participants is a joint task of organisers and exhibitors. Only together can new customer groups be reached. This has always been challenging, but has usually been very successful. We have been very pleased with the quality of the visitors in recent weeks. How much fun has it been bringing together transport logistic Americas and air cargo forum Miami? It was great! When TIACA agreed with us to support them with air cargo forum Miami, we were very soon approached by customers from the other transport sectors. We saw that this trade show had great potential for a multimodal event at this location.
“To put it soberly: doi But you know: I love d 6
ACW 30 MAY 2022
FEATURE
GO FORUM RETURNS O MIAMI – FOR GOOD We responded to the exhibitors’ request and immediately launched transport logistic Americas when planning for the Florida launch began. We are convinced that by combining all topics under one roof, we will be able to inspire the most visitors across all sectors. What does air cargo forum gain in not being staged at different cities every two years? Internally at MM, will it be a bonus in admin not to have to roam the world? The decision that the air cargo forum should find a permanent home in Miami was made by TIACA even before we had agreed to work together. In this respect, the question did not arise for us as Messe München. But for the air cargo industry it is certainly valuable to have more planning security. On the one hand, a worldwide change is great because many regions of the world can be visited. On the other hand, set-up costs for organisers and also exhibitors are very high. In addition, not all locations are equally attractive, which is why you have great fluctuations in acceptance. Through the partnership of TIACA and Messe München, we can offer a broad network of events around the world and thus enable a high degree of consistency in individual planning. How have stand sales been for the event so far? Are you finding any difficulties in attracting stand holders and visitors from outside the Americas? Bookings are going very well – especially outside the Americas. This will be a truly international event. The main visitor promotion will start from summer. Our task still is to explain the concept. In the US, “conferences” are a common event format. There, participants pay a high entrance fee and can attend specialist sessions and network during breaks. In most cases, there is also a small accompanying trade exhibition. With us, the focus is on the exhibitor - the exhibition space. In
Miami, visitors can even attend for free and also visit the freely accessible educational sessions. We give a lot of space for interaction between exhibitors and visitors, for product information, for exchange and for initiating business. Have there been any impacts from the Omicron variant in China on air cargo forum Miami? Are you expecting any visitors from China? China is still closed. Entry and exit are only possible at great expense. If the situation remains as it is, it will not be possible for Chinese colleagues to come. We regret that very much. But if the country does open up in time, I am sure that the visitors will come. It has been shown all over the world that as soon as travel was possible again, people made good use of it. Personally, how excited are you to be back in ‘harness’, running an actual event, after the pandemic? Does it feel good? To put it soberly: doing events is my job. But you know: I love doing my job. It’s wonderful to bring people together and create the platform for exchange. I feel privileged to be able to do such great events with a fantastic team for this exciting industry. Therefore, my joy is indescribable that it is now starting again in earnest.
“The two years of the pandemic have shaken up all of our lives”
Are you looking forward to Miami in November? Better than a cold Munich I think? Absolutely. That’s why air cargo Europe and transport logistic will also take place in May 2023. A summer evening in Munich is something wonderful. But yes, I think the Miami location is perfectly chosen for November. For the residents in South Florida, the weather will be milder, the Europeans can extend their summer and the people from Latin America feel at home anyway - a perfect international mix.
: doing events is my job. ove doing my job” ACW 30 MAY 2022
7
NEWS Air Canada recruits eight new members to its cargo team A
AIR CANADA CARGO has announced seven new senior leadership appointments. Matthieu Casey has been named managing director, commercial – cargo. In this enhanced role, he will oversee global sales, revenue management and cargo analytics with responsibility of digital and direct customer experience. Dotane Harel has been named director, regulatory and operations process engineering. In his expanded role, he will have oversight of cargo’s worldwide airside, warehouse, and freighter operations. He will also be responsible for leading and sustaining process re-engineering across the cargo system, including oversight of lean initiatives for policy, processes, and procedures across all of cargo’s hubs and ensuring alignment with rules and regulations governing the global cargo industry. Herve Riboulet becomes director, cargo analytics and customer relationship management (CRM). He will be accountable for establishing a CRM and Analytics Centre of Excellence to deliver and guide analytics-driven decision-making, and integration of the CRM solution and all relevant processes. Jeffry Edwards is now director, cargo network control. In this
I
R
C
A
R
G
O
W
E
E
expanded role, he will be responsible for leading and managing the global cargo network control team and will provide leadership oversight and strategic direction for the global cargo network. Tal Morhas been named director, global partnership programmes. In his role, he will be accountable for developing and leading the team and the strategy to grow and nurture relationships and revenue with the airline’s top-tier global customers. Sebastian Cosgrove becomes director, global customer service. In this expanded role, he will focus on driving customer service excellence and consistency across all customer service centres and elevating the level of service with the global partnership programme by leading a sub-group of key customer service representatives. Stephen Phillips is now director, cargo sales. In this new role, Phillips will be responsible for developing and implementing commercial strategies that align with the overall global cargo network growth, leveraging new business opportunities, and growing market share nationally.
Business losses bring down Jota Aviation
JOSHUA Dwyer and David Pike from Interpath Advisory have been appointed joint liquidators of UK-based Jota Aviation, a former award-winning charter airline specialising in non-scheduled passenger air charters and freight air transport, based at London Biggin Hill Airport. During 2020 and 2021, Jota faced challenges on multiple fronts. The company’s passenger business was significantly impacted by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions on travel, while the post-Brexit Trade and Co-operation Agreement between the UK and the EU had a detrimental effect on its cargo business. Despite significant efforts, the company was unable to raise new investment to implement its strategic growth plans. The directors reached the difficult conclusion that it was in
8
ACW 30 MAY 2022
the best interests of creditors to put the company into liquidation. Following the liquidators’ appointment, all 44 members of staff have been made redundant. Joshua Dwyer said: “Regrettably, the combined effects of Covid-19, the impact of Brexit on the Company’s operations and the uncertain economic conditions in the UK and Europe have had a profound impact on the company’s ability to secure new investment and ultimately, continue to operate as a going concern. “The company’s liquidation highlights the continuing challenges facing operators in the civil aviation sector as they navigate a route to recovery. Our priority now is to assist the company’s employees in making redundancy claims from the Government redundancy payments service and to realise remaining assets for the benefit of creditors.”
K
tabloid page sample.indd 1
24/05/2022 11:49
A
I
R
C
A
R
G
O
W
E
E
K
PERISHABLES
WHEN SPEED IS OF THE ESSENC “Shipping perishable goods by air not only saves precious time for cargo that has a short shelf life but it is also a trusted means of transport”
F
rom its earliest days, commercial airfreight has capitalised on the main advantage it offers over other modes - speed. Shippers and forwarders select what is often a premium priced service for that very reason over cheaper, slower modes of transport. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has an interest not only in promoting the use of air for perishable shipments but has established a framework for regulation and certification of perishable products. IATA says: “Shipping perishable goods by air not only saves precious time for cargo that has a short shelf life but it is also a trusted means of transport. In order to cope with market growth and consumer needs, airlines and shippers have worked together to develop efficient handling techniques and packaging methods to ensure the delivery of perishable goods is always in first class condition.” The association says that shipping perishable goods by air is so well trusted that over 80,000 flowers are transported every 24 hours alone. Air cargo ships over 120,000 tonnes of Kenyan flowers every single year. Other perishable air freight includes cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
What is perishable cargo? At the core, the nature of perishable goods is that they are time and/or temperature-sensitive. Failure to achieve a tight timetable and delivery schedule, even if by only hours, will result in either physical deterioration and destruction or products, such as fashion items, being made unsaleable. The transport by air of perishables such as fruits, vegetables, seafood, meat, dairy products and flowers continues to increase globally on a yearly basis in line with a growing consumer demand for healthy and fresh produce all year round irrespective of seasonality, considers IATA. Other typical types of perishable products include bull semen, express mail, live and breeding animals, pharma and frozen foods. Given the need through all parts of the perishables supply chain, it comes as no surprise that traceability and tracking have come to play an essential role when it comes to how to ship perishables. The latest developments in tracking have come in RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology and development which are showing significant advantages. At the same time, traceability is essential for food shipments as they move through the production and distribution stages in the event there are any issues regarding safety, such as an e.coli breakout. Traceability will also create a link between their origins, processing, distribution and location after its delivery.
Flying flowers Fresh cut flowers have become a global business reaching $34 million in 2019. While the US and the UK are the largest buyers of cut flowers, the largest growers are the Netherlands, Ecuador, Colombia, Kenya and Ethiopia. Due to the short shelf life of fresh-cut flowers, the need for fast shipping with stabilised and specific shipping conditions is required. Shipping freshcut flowers by air is the only method that makes sense. When it comes to perishable air freight, there are regulations in place to ensure the goods are delivered safely and intact. These regulations apply to both the shipper and the carrier as they play an essential role in the shipping and handling of the perishable goods air freight, says IATA. Ensuring the integrity of perishable goods while shipping means all stakeholders must work closely and promptly to keep cold chain logistics running as smoothly as possible. Understanding each step of the shipping process is vital for the stakeholders involved, as working in conjunction ensures that the perishable goods arrive intact and in the best possible condition. In November 2021, Air France KLM Martinair
10
ACW 30 MAY 2022
FEATURE
ENCE (AFKLMP) Cargo participated in the 2021 International Floriculture Trade Fair. The IFTF is the world’s most prestigious trade exhibition for international flower growers and buyers. The event took place in Vijfhuizen in November. Its booth showcased the breadth of AFKLMP Cargo’s commitment to extending the vase life of every flower it transports. Its team enjoyed chatting with customers, connecting with them and sharing information about technological and sustainable innovations in shipping flowers. Managers welcomed the opportunity to solidify Air France KLM Martinair Cargo as the smart and sustainable transport choice for the flower industry, says the alliance.
Supply chain investments The growing importance and expansion of perishables shipping across all major carriers has been reflected in the large investments made in software and infrastructure. One recent example has been Air Canada’s inauguration of a new cold chain handling facility at its Toronto Pearson International Airport cargo facility. The $16-million project was undertaken to expand and enhance Air Canada Cargo’s cold chain handling capabilities for shipments such as pharmaceuticals, fresh food and other perishables. “This is an exciting day for Air Canada Cargo as we take another step forward in our evolution. The enhanced temperature-controlled facility is the only one of its kind for a Canadian airline and positions Air Canada Cargo to continue successfully growing our business, including the launch of our dedicated freighter aircraft.” At the same time, The Cool Chain Association (CCA) has continued to grow its membership with the addition of LOT Polish Airlines and Tower Cold Chain. The Association, whose members collaborate towards improving quality in the temperature-sensitive supply chain, has also announced the formation of a new committee looking into risk management as part of its Technical Committee programme. LOT is the sixth airline to join CCA’s growing membership. “By joining the CCA and taking part in the Risk Management Committee, we hope to create common global standards and work towards a safe environment for handling pharmaceutical and healthcare products across the temperature-controlled supply chain,” said Kamil Rarak, special cargo product development and training manager, LOT Polish Airlines. The Vienna Airport Pharma Handling Center (VPHC) at Vienna Airport now also handles pharma freight for Lufthansa Cargo. As part of a cooperation between the Lufthansa Group’s cargo subsidiary and Vienna Airport, the handling of all pharma cargo transported on board Austrian Airlines aircraft to or from Vienna Airport will take place at the VPHC from now on. With the VPHC, Vienna Airport operates its own GDP-certified competence center for handling temperature-sensitive air cargo without interrupting the cold chain. The VPHC will further strengthen Vienna Airport’s role as a pharma hub for Central and Eastern Europe with Lufthansa Cargo’s intercontinental network. Freight volumes here have grown significantly in recent years.
ACW 30 MAY 2022
11
tabloid page sample.indd 1
16/05/2022 11:45