ACW 6th March 23

The weekly

for air cargo professionals

Is there a pilot shortage or isn’t there?

LIFE-SAVING AID DELIVERED

Chapman Freeborn, the global air charter specialist and part of Avia Solutions Group, has chartered numerous flights from across the world to deliver humanitarian aid to Turkey and Syria following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake on 6 February 2023.

A second earthquake hit Turkey on 20 February, two weeks after the first quake, which currently has a death toll of over 47,000, with thousands more people missing and millions displaced.

Chapman Freeborn’s humanitarian team has worked around the clock to source and secure aircraft in what has become a volatile market with ever-dwindling capacities. They have overcome these challenges and successfully chartered aid flights to the affected regions from the USA, UAE, Germany, Spain, Belgium, India, Saudi Arabia, Denmark, Singapore and the Philippines.

“The tragic situation in Turkey and Syria is heart-breaking. The Chapman Freeborn

Emergency Response Team was activated immediately upon learning of the initial huge earthquake; I was travelling in Dubai at the time and met with Giuseppe Saba, CEO of International Humanitarian City to discuss the situation and how we could assist,” Neil Dursley, group CCO, commented.

“Chapman Freeborn is pleased to support many governments and humanitarian organisations, such as NGOs, and I’m proud to say that we have the most caring and supportive team in the industry who go above and beyond 24 hours a day, every day of the week to ensure emergency aid reaches the populations of these seriously impacted countries.”

Many years of civil war has rendered delivering cargo to Syria very challenging, however Chapman Freeborn’s expert team has navigated embargoes and closed borders to ensure the aid reaches the people who need it most, also co-ordinating its onward passage.

The team has utilised their expertise and experience to gain the necessary land permits,

flyover rights and approvals from the Syrian Civilian Aviation Authority and the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, resulting in thousands of tonnes of aid reaching the population.

“The worldwide compassion expressed following this disaster just underlines all that is good amongst the human race. The whole aviation industry and associated industries were quick to react, with Chapman Freeborn proud to be at the forefront with their support. Our teams work relentlessly to help those in need, and the efforts of the whole industry must be commended. We will of course continue to support people in the affected regions over the coming weeks and months,” David Tasker, group director – government and humanitarian, said.

Chapman Freeborn has been an integral part of the humanitarian efforts for every major global crisis over the past 50 years, providing solutions for airlifts, airdropping, search and rescue flights, evacuations and repatriations.

ROCK-IT

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INSIDE

A TIME-CRITICAL logistics specialist is recognised for its unmatched service to the live entertainment industry, winning its second global ...

PAGE 4

ASTRAL AVIATION INKS SERVICE ... AN agreement was signed in Johannesburg during the air cargo Africa 2023 event between Astral Aviation, represented by ...

... PAGE 6

O, CANADA! MENZIES TO ... MENZIES Aviation, the world’s largest aviation services company, will start up ground services later this year at Montreal-Trudeau ...

NEW ROUTES FOR SILK WAY

SILK Way West Airlines is expanding its network in the Middle East and Central Asia through regular cargo flights twice a week to and from the ...

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Cool Chain Association undertakes trial tracking flower exports from farm to table

THE Cool Chain Association (CCA) plans to draft a best practice handling procedure for perishables based on a series of trials tracking perishables exports from farm to table or vase undertaken by CCA partner the Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB).

A PPECB pilot trial monitoring cut flower exports from South Africa to Europe, has already highlighted the impact of temperature excursions on vase life, according to Vijan Chetty, CCA board member and general manager, PPECB.

The trial was conducted in collaboration with Arnelia Farms, a South African wholesale flower nursery and exporter, and tracked Sunshine Conebush flower consignments packed on-farm near Hopefield in the Western Cape province of South Africa and travelling to destinations in the Netherlands and Germany.

“Trials over the past few years have focused primarily on the final mile of a specific trade lane,” said Chetty, speaking at the Air Cargo Africa Event in Johannesburg, South Africa.

“We will be looking at farm to table or vase across a trade lane, and not only focusing on monitoring the temperature of the product,

but also aiming to identify all areas where shelf life could be influenced, including, for example, post-harvest practices, packaging and palletisation, and the functionality of cold storage.”

CCA, which recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the PPECB, will be reviewing the research trials, analysing the activities of stakeholders within the value chain, and identifying possible risk areas, in order to draft a best practice handling procedure for perishable products.

“The handling procedure can be used to train staff to mitigate risks and increase the vase-life of flowers and the shelf-life of other perishables,” said Chetty.

“The CCA is looking for implementable solutions that the industry can easily initiate.”

The PPECB pilot trial used air temperature loggers on two consignments sent two days apart to monitor variations in cold chain conditions.

Flower consignments were packed in boxes and palletised on-farm, then loaded on a refrigerated truck before taking a two-hour journey to the courier service provider.

ST Engineering has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pensacola State College to explore setting up an Aviation Training Academy in Pensacola, USA. The collaboration is part of ST Engineering’s continued growth and expansion plans in Pensacola, where it is developing an airframe MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) complex that comprises four large state-ofthe-art hangars at Pensacola International Airport when completed.

The MoU was signed at the official opening of the airframe MRO complex’s second hangar.

Pensacola State College is the oldest and biggest college in the Florida Panhandle, offering academic and career options including bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, advanced technical certificates, college credit certificates, vocational certificates and diplomas.

Under the agreement, ST Engineering and Pensacola State College will collaborate to develop a Federal Aviation Administration

Part 147 Aircraft Maintenance Technician School at the Pensacola International Airport. ST Engineering will use its expertise and experience as a global aviation MRO provider to develop the apprenticeship programme and provide “direct to industry” job opportunities for the academy’s apprentices, while Pensacola State College will seek FAA approval for the certification of the academy partnership and work together with ST Engineering to strengthen public awareness of career opportunities in the aviation sector.

The plan to develop an aviation training academy comes at a time when global air travel is recovering strongly from the COVID-19 pandemic, and skilled aviation maintenance professionals are in high demand not only in the US, but across the world.

Targeting to roll-out training in 2024, the academy will help support the talent needs of ST Engineering’s airframe MRO complex in Pensacola, as well as meet the hiring needs of the aviation industry in the region at large.

ASM invests in expanding IT and customer service team to tackle customs challenges

AGENCY Sector Management (ASM) has undertaken a major recruitment drive as part of its strategy to prepare for anticipated challenges set to confront UK-based forwarders in the wake of recent customs and BREXITrelated changes in regulations.

The scaled-up team across its customer service and tech departments is set to guide ASM customers through customs procedural modifications, such as the migration of export declarations from the customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system to customs Declaration Service (CDS).

Last December, HMRC (His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs) announced an extension for exporters to make the transition to CDS to 30 November 2023, coinciding with significant changes being introduced for transit.

“We are acutely aware of the time-critical nature of our industry and, as such, the need for

ASM customers to be fully supported by a wellstaffed team, with enquiries being responded to accurately, expertly, and in good time, with all our systems up and running efficiently,” said Peter MacSwiney, chairman, ASM.

“We hope ASM’s expanded team will provide much-needed resources to support our industry through the upcoming changes.”

The new hires will be fulfilling roles in administration, technical support, service management and IT development.

ASM, which has been providing customs software for forwarders for nearly 30 years, is currently assisting more than 500 businesses that use Sequoia to migrate to CDS.

ASM will be exhibiting at Multimodal 2023, taking place at NEC Birmingham, on the 13th –15th June, and will be sharing industry insight and the latest updates around NCTS-phase 5 and CDS exports.

ST Engineering and Pensacola State College sign MoU for training academy

Bloomberg: European airlines will fare better than anticipated after Ukraine invasion

Rock-it Global wins big at TPi and Pollstar Awards 2023

A YEAR on from the invasion of Ukraine – large European airlines such as BA and AerLingus (part of IAG) are not going to suffer as badly as once feared, says Bloomberg Intelligence. The price of jet fuel falling 43% from a June peak is a relief, while consumer subsidies on energy support demand. Yet closed Russian air space exacerbates profitability difficulties on Asian services for Finnair and SAS.

Conroy Gaynor, industry analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence comments: “One year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, jet fuel in Europe is about one-third more expensive versus 2019, when the airline industry last operated at normal capacity.

“Fuel can be 25-40% of unit cost so is reflected in higher fares, along with other inflation. We calculate the largest budget airline fares were up 12-14% in calendar 4Q versus pre-Covid-19. Yet energy costs falling from a peak, plus a stronger euro versus the dollar since 3Q, may mean a softening of pricing gains.”

He continues: “At the invasion, we estimate that our peer group was about 40% fuelhedged on average for the year at a price of $680 per tonne, including Wizz Air and the Nordic carriers, which had little or no cover. Today we forecast similar overall cover but at $940, as more carriers started a policy but others became cautious about over-hedging at high prices.

“Russian air-space bans are being navigated by top network carriers like IAG and Air FranceKLM. Cost ramifications for fuel burn and block hours affect a small portion of their capacity, with Transatlantic flights bigger profit drivers and southeast Asia services less impacted. Lower direct competition in India from North America may be an offset.

“Lufthansa said the write down of maintenance, repair and overhaul in Russia was actually the more significant irregular cost. Nordic carriers are suffering the most, with Finnair’s journey time to Japan hiked up to 40%. Cancellations contributed to

restructurings, despite China now reopening. Chinese airlines that fly through Russia have an advantage, though corporate politics and customer loyalty may limit this and Turkish Airlines is able to gain connecting Russian passengers.”

THE largest Asian impact of the war in Ukraine might be on the China-Europe market where Chinese airlines continue to use Russian airspace unlike European rivals on the same routes, causing a uneven playing field.

Gaynor commented: “Avoiding flying over Russia could be resulting in a time and cost penalty of 15-40% on European airlines, with Finnair the worst-affected at 40% longer flights to China, and British Airways with 20% longer diversions. We calculate the added fuel expense impact using average fuel burn rates of the aircraft used by each carrier and filed July 2023 schedules. With the largest capacity among Europeans, Lufthansa Group airlines can expect a $2.8 million higher July fuel bill versus direct routings, or $33 million annualised.”

Penalised carriers could also face higher labour and maintenance costs due to longer flights. As an example of the time and cost penalties to European airlines and their passengers, consider the Shanghai-to-Paris route flown recently by Air France and China Eastern Airlines.

On February 15, China Eastern Flight 7553, utilising Russian airspace, was able to fly a direct routing of 9,461 km, or within 2% of the great circle route distance. Air France Flight 193 on February 19 avoided flying over Russia and flew a 12.6% longer path of 10,659 km with an even greater time penalty of 2.4 hours, or 19.5% longer. Both flights used the same aircraft, a Boeing 777-300ER and, assuming the same fuel burn, we estimate the AF flight burned an extra 6,160 gallons versus the CEA path, or $15,650 at current jetfuel prices, which falls directly to the bottom line. The extra flying time by European carriers also means higher carbon emissions.

A TIME-CRITICAL logistics specialist is recognised for its unmatched service to the live entertainment industry, winning its second global award in a week.

Rock-it Global, a GCL (Global Critical Logistics) company, has been awarded Favourite Freight Company at the TPi Awards held in London at the end of February. Rockit Global was one of six contenders for the prestigious title, which recognises companies providing transportation or logistics services to the live touring sector across 2022.

“We are extremely honoured to receive this award which serves as a testament to the hard work and dedication demanded of our teams to fulfil the sector’s post-COVID-19 appetite,” said Paul J. Martins, CEO and president, Global Critical Logistics.

“We would like to extend a huge ‘thank you’ to the voters who have put their trust in Rockit Global and we will continue to work hard to

ensure our continued position as the best in live entertainment logistics.”

Last Thursday, Rock-it also picked up the award for Transportation Company of the Year at the 34th Annual Pollstar Awards held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, California, USA.

The annual Pollstar Awards have been recognising and supporting the live entertainment business’ most innovative companies, venues, artists, tours, and executives for the past 34 years.

In line with the resurgence of live events, this year’s Pollstar Awards received the highest number of entries in its history, with Rock-it winning against more than twice the number of competitors compared with previous years.

The Pollstar accolade is the third that Rock-it Global has collected since 2020, having won Transportation Company of the Year in 2020 and 2022, respectively.

proposals to Chancellor for Spring Budget

UKWA submits

UK treasury sources have suggested that the Chancellor is planning a ‘slimmed down’ Spring budget on March 15, with no tax cuts. Instead, stabilising the economy and boosting growth will be top priorities as the government seeks to re-establish confidence within the business community. Accordingly, UKWA has prepared a detailed submission of key requirements for the Warehousing sector, which is a vital part of that business community.

UKWA has prepared a Spring Budget Submission with four key proposals:

· Business Rates are unfair to Warehousing

UKWA is asking the Chancellor to reconsider how business rates are calculated for warehouses and to increase the level of transitional support.

· The untapped potential of solar UKWA is calling for the so-called ‘super-

deduction’ first-year 50% tax-break to be extended to at least 2030 to support warehouses in installing solar panels.

· Extending Energy Bill Relief

While The Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS) continues energy bill support for businesses, this is at a reduced rate. UKWA is requesting more support in this area for warehousing – and particularly for temperature controlled facilities whose bills rise in the summer months.

· Support for skills

UKWA CEO Clare Bottle says: “Warehousing is one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK, together with the wider logistics community, we contribute £139 billion Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy, with an estimated one in ten workers in the private sector employed within our industry.

Astral Aviation inks Service Level Agreement with Skyhouse for Liege

AN agreement was signed in Johannesburg during the air cargo Africa 2023 event between Astral Aviation, represented by Sanjeev Gadhia, and Skyhouse, represented by Pascale De Mieter.

Astral Aviation CEO, Sanjeev Gadhia says: “We look forward to our partnership with Skyhouse. In this first phase, this agreement will enable Astral Aviation’s clients in Europe to benefit from a neutral regulated customs bonded facility in Liege for the consolidation and pallet build-up of Astral’s cargoes originating from Europe.”

Both parties will work closely with its new GSA in Europe, Air Logistics Group. In a next development, with further integration of operations and digital platforms, Astral Aviation will be the first African airline to offer in-house handling and build in Europe, powered by Skyhouse.

Skyhouse CEO, Pascale De Miete, adds: “We feel honoured to help Astral Aviation to attain their mission, vision and objectives.

“We perform best and quickest by helping others to succeed. With great love for cargo, with commitment for our customers and with dedication for what we stand for we’ll make Astral Aviation known on the European territory by offering the best cargo service for their clients.

“We came together in Nairobi; we will be together throughout different processes and our work together will be a success.”

Pharma.Aero leads the way with the CGT logistics project

THE cross-industry collaboration platform Pharma.Aero has just published the White Paper of the Cell and Gene Therapies Project that explores the CGT fast-developing sector and the particularities that have an impact on its logistics. The project’s main goal was to broaden the current knowledge of this next-generation market and offer a better understanding of its transportation requirements. Its findings are presented in a White Paper that offers a clearer view and a more detailed perspective on this emerging industry, identifies key logistical challenges and highlights some key points where the supply chain stakeholders could act.

Pharma.Aero enrolled on the project with its global network of over 50 Life Science logistics stakeholders and several external partners and organisations.

The project’s first step was to run a market analysis by conducting a thorough desk research on value, type of products, products’ requirements, current logistic capabilities and constraints.

Following the Market Opportunity Analysis, the project team conducted a survey among the Pharma.Aero members and partners, to capture the level of knowledge, and interest in the ATMP sector and its logistical challenges and opportunities. The survey explored multiple directions, from general knowledge of the sector and logistics to certification aspects and interest in playing a more important role in the sector’s logistics.

The survey provided valuable information on directions worth being further explored and developed. Based on the results of the ATMP internal survey, Pharma.Aero organised a CGT Webinar to further deep dive into the ATMP/CGT sector and its logistical requirements. Experts in the ATMP manufacturing and logistics sector shared first-hand insights and knowledge for a better understanding of the sector and its requirements.

O, Canada! Menzies to start ground operations at Montreal

expansion at YUL for Menzies where it has an existing cargo operation.

Operations will commence over Summer 2023 as Menzies onboards airline customers. It will launch a recruitment drive to match the demand and will ensure all employees are trained to the highest standards to be able to deliver the safest and most secure services to customers.

Menzies first entered Canada in 2005 and has developed longstanding partnerships with its airline customers and has grown its business to provide ground handling, cargo handling, intoplane fuelling and fuel tank farm management at airports across the country. The company now boasts operations in 16 airports, including the largest by passenger volume, Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), and the second largest, Vancouver International Airport (YVR).

CEVA Logistics commits to reduced carbon footprint by 2025

MENZIES Aviation, the world’s largest aviation services company, will start up ground services later this year at MontrealTrudeau International Airport (YUL) after being awarded a ground handling licence by Aéroports de Montréal.

In a competitive bidding process, Menzies was selected based on its best-in-class safety, operational performance, environmental, financial and investment track record.

The licence will enable Menzies to provide a full suite of ground services at YUL, including ramp, passenger and cabin cleaning services, until the end of 2030. This also marks an

John Redmond, executive vice president Americas, said: “Adding ground handling at Montreal to our network is a fantastic milestone for our team, who have worked diligently to secure the licence. The team is now focused on expanding our operations at YUL beyond cargo and they are already working on sourcing ground service equipment and recruiting a new team, who will receive industry-leading training and competitive salaries and benefits. We have an excellent track record of setting up operations at pace, we know the region well, and we are confident this will be a great success. We are proud to provide our services at three of the largest Canadian airports and are well positioned to grow our business further alongside existing and new customers.

CHAMP Cargosystems completes conformance testing for new EUICS2 regulation

CHAMP Cargosystems has successfully completed its conformance testing in preparation of the new EU-ICS2 (Import Control System 2) regulation coming into play in March 2023. This means CHAMP’s Traxon Global Customs (TGC) and Traxon Global Security (TGS) products are now AS4 certified and ICS2 compliant.

ICS2 is the new customs regulation that requires customs data for goods entering the EU prior to their arrival. The programme is one of the main contributors towards establishing an integrated EU approach to reinforce customs risk management under the common risk management framework (CRMF). Economic Operators (EOs) will have to declare safety and security data to ICS2, through the Entry Summary Declaration (ENS). Advance cargo information and risk analysis will enable early identification of threats and help customs authorities to intervene at the most appropriate point in the supply chain.

Every economic operator directly affected needs to align its business processes with the regulatory requirements implemented via the new system. To ensure smooth processing of freight and avoid shipments being blocked at the EU customs border, economic operators must be ready by March 2023 or require relevant deployment windows.

“ICS2 is one of the most significant customs and security programmes introduced in recent years,” says Nicholas Xenocostas, chief commercial officer at CHAMP Cargosystems. “Through diligent research and testing, CHAMP is ready to support its customers as new changes come into play, reducing any potential risks or delays through conformance and diligence.”

CHAMP is in constant touch with regulatory authorities and will implement any further changes to its products to remain compliant with ICS2 rulings.

CEVA Logistics is transitioning all its contract logistics and freight warehouses to low-carbon electricity by 2025. The commitment will rely on a combination of purchasing low-carbon electricity, such as renewable and nuclear, from local utility providers and increasing its own production of electricity using rooftop solar panels, which the company will triple by the end of 2025. In addition, CEVA expects to reach 100% LED lighting in its warehousing facilities by the end of 2023.

Emissions gains

CEVA Logistics finished 2022 with LED lighting in approximately 80% of its contract logistics warehouses. The company expects to reach 100% by the end of 2023 as part of its multimillion-dollar energy efficiency investments. In addition to the lighting initiative, the company is implementing a range of heating and cooling projects to reduce its energy consumption.

CEVA is also increasing the size of its lithiumion material handling equipment (MHE) fleet. The global logistics provider expects its global fleet to reach a 40% level in 2023 of eco-MHE (lithium-ion and gel battery units). Beyond the obvious emissions savings in moving away from diesel- or LPG-powered combustion MHE, the company is also seeing an average 16% emissions reduction during the charging process when switching from a lead-acid battery MHE to more eco-friendly lithium-ion batteries.

Energy transition in logistics

Through a joint investment with real estate partners of approximately $180 million, CEVA plans to triple the surface area of solar

panels covering the roofs of its contract logistics warehouses around the world. By the end of 2025, the company expects to have approximately 1.8 million sq m of solar panels installed at its facilities—an area 2.25 times the size of France’s famed Palace of Versailles. With this coverage area, the company estimates it will generate approximately 135,000 MWH per year.

CEVA leverages the strength of its global network by applying lessons learned between operations in different countries and continents. In the UK, CEVA is already operating on 100% low-carbon electricity, and operations in Benelux produce more electricity than they consume. As newer markets expand, renewable and low-carbon electricity will play a critical role in supporting those operations. CEVA opened a new zero-emission warehouse in Bogota, Colombia, in 2022.

As part of the CMA CGM Group, CEVA is strongly committed to protecting the environment. The group is investing in research and development to help the emergence of low-carbon energy sources and technologies to reduce the impact of transport and logistics on the planet. The CMA CGM Group aims at being net zero by 2050.

Mathieu Friedberg, CEO, CEVA Logistics, said: “The global logistics industry must find better ways to operate and ultimately reduce its impact on the planet from carbon emissions and energy consumption. These investments are the right thing to do, and they also make good business sense. We will continue acting to build a more sustainable model through initiatives like these in our contract logistics operations and across our product lines in air, ocean, ground and finished vehicles.”

Frontier Airlines and Menzies Aviation scale up network

Atlanta International Airport. This award bolsters Menzies’ successful fuel services operations at ATL where it provides intoplane fuelling for many airlines.

Menzies will invest around $3 million into new ground services equipment (GSE) and recruit a new team of almost 200 colleagues to manage the ground services operation.

This will be the 20th city where Menzies provides services to Frontier across the US and Mexico. With the addition of ATL, Menzies will be the carrier’s service provider at three of their largest hubs including Denver International Airport and Orlando International Airport.

DHL Express launches GoGreen Plus

CHAMP Cargosystems completes conformance testing for new EU-ICS2 regulation

DHL Express has announced the launch of GoGreen Plus, a new service that will allow customers to reduce the carbon emissions associated with their shipments through the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

This is a first for global express carriers, and will initially launch in the UK, shortly followed by Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. Starting this month, customers based in these countries will have the option to select GoGreen Plus when choosing their shipping service through MyDHL+, the company’s online shipping and tracking platform.

The service is designed to be fully flexible as it can be selected for individual shipments.

GoGreen Plus will become available to all DHL Express customers globally over the coming months, with customers being given the chance to tailor the CO2e reduction they want to achieve and the amount of SAF they use.

The new GoGreen Plus service is made possible following DHL’s recent collaborations with bp and Neste to supply SAF to DHL Express hubs around the world.

The renewable part of the innovative fuel is produced from waste oils. Such SAF from wastes and residues can provide greenhouse gas emission reductions of up to 80% over its lifecycle compared with the conventional jet fuel it replaces.

Investment in SAF

“We know our customers are committed to reducing their environmental impact so it’s important we’re giving them the means to do so. I’m delighted that our investment in SAF can now be fully leveraged by customers to enable them to bring down the emissions of their shipments. SAF is currently the primary route to reducing carbon emissions in aviation, so this is the most effective way to help our customers make their own supply chains more sustainable,” John Pearson, CEO DHL Express, said.

Insetting through GoGreen Plus allows customers to bring down their Scope 3 emissions, the indirect greenhouse gas emissions that occur in a company’s value chain, including downstream transportation and distribution. Unlike offsetting initiatives, GoGreen Plus (insetting) reduces emissions within the logistics sector and therewith can be used for DHL customers’ own voluntary emission reporting and follows the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi) philosophy.

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

CHAMP Cargosystems has successfully completed its conformance testing in preparation of the new EU-ICS2 (Import Control System 2) regulation coming into play this month. This means CHAMP’s Traxon Global Customs (TGC) and Traxon Global Security (TGS) products are now AS4 certified and ICS2 compliant.

ICS2 is the new customs regulation that requires customs data for goods entering the EU prior to their arrival. The programme is one of the main contributors towards establishing an integrated EU approach to reinforce customs risk management under the common risk management framework (CRMF). Economic Operators (EOs) will have to declare safety and security data to ICS2, through the Entry Summary Declaration (ENS). Advance cargo information and risk analysis will enable early identification of threats and help customs authorities to intervene at the most appropriate

point in the supply chain.

Every economic operator directly affected needs to align its business processes with the regulatory requirements implemented via the new system. To ensure smooth processing of freight and avoid shipments being blocked at the EU customs border, economic operators must be ready by this month or require relevant deployment windows.

“ICS2 is one of the most significant customs and security programmes introduced in recent years,” says Nicholas Xenocostas, chief commercial officer at CHAMP Cargosystems. “Through diligent research and testing, CHAMP is ready to support its customers as new changes come into play, reducing any potential risks or delays through conformance and diligence.”

CHAMP is in constant touch with regulatory authorities and will implement any further changes to its products to remain compliant with ICS2 rulings.

Silk Way West Airlines announces regular flights to Dammam and Tashkent

has served both destinations several times per year through charter services, shipping general cargo including textiles, cars, perishables and other goods.

With the launch of these routes to Dammam and Tashkent, the airline will enhance its role in the Middle Eastern and Asian continental freight network and improve the quality of air cargo transportation services for both local and international partners. These new routes will also enable Silk Way West Airlines to meet its strategic goals of serving increased international demand and significantly expanding its global network.

SILK Way West Airlines is expanding its network in the Middle East and Central Asia through regular cargo flights twice a week to and from the Saudi Arabian city of Dammam, as well as to and from Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. These scheduled routes will enable freight to be delivered directly from Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport to Dammam King Fahd International Airport and Tashkent International Airport, both of which are among the most important international air cargo gateways in their respective regions.

Over the past decade, Silk Way West Airlines

Underlining the strategic importance of these new services, Silk Way West Airlines vice-president CIS and Central Asia Vugar Mammadov said: “The demand for transportation to the Middle East and on the Middle Corridor route continues to rise. As a result, Azerbaijan is gaining increasing importance as a central logistics hub. We are pleased that now we can offer our customers regular flights from Baku to Dammam and Tashkent. We will continue to increase the number of flights we operate, as well as the destinations we serve, as Silk Way West Airlines continues to expand opportunities for its customers around the world.”

MENZIES Aviation, the world’s largest aviation services company, is pleased to announce a new contract with Frontier Airlines to provide full ground services at Hartsfield-Jackson

KLN wins accolades at the Asset ESG Corporate Awards 2022

KERRY Logistics Network (KLN) has received two accolades at The Asset ESG Corporate Awards 2022, winning the highest honour, The Asset Jade Award, and the title of the Best Sustainability Team.

KLN’s credentials in environmental, social and governance (ESG) were once again validated by The Asset Jade Award, the top-tier accolade which KLN has won for three consecutive years since the category’s debut in 2020.

KLN was commended for its comprehensive ESG policies and the consistency of its ESG performance across multiple areas, ranging from energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions to supplier codes of conduct, sustainability financing and corporate governance.

KLN was also conferred the Best Sustainability Team title in recognition of its leadership qualities in spearheading the company’s sustainability agenda by engaging with various stakeholders. William Ma, group managing director of Kerry Logistics Network, said: “We take pride in the achievements of our sustainability performance thus far and are grateful to The Asset for recognising our team’s actions and accomplishments in ESG.

“As a corporate citizen, KLN sees the importance of creating value for all and sustainability is embedded in our business strategies, decisions and practices.

“We strive to further enhance the transparency of our ESG policies and endeavours while encouraging stakeholders’ feedback for continuous improvements.”

Organised annually by the regional financial magazine The Asset since 2000, the Awards are the longest running ESG awards in Asia.

LGW welcomes four new Norse Atlantic long-haul routes

LONDON Gatwick, part of VINCI Airports’ network, is welcoming a further four new transatlantic routes from Norse Atlantic this summer – alongside two announced recently – making Gatwick the airline’s biggest base.

Alongside its existing New York route, the airline is adding services to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington DC and Boston – as well as Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, announced last week.

The new flights – spanning the USA’s east and west coasts – mean half of Norse’s fleet will be based at London Gatwick this summer.

Daily flights to New York, currently operating, will be joined by: 4 x flights a week to Orlando, from May (increasing to daily in peak summer); 3 x flights a week to Fort

Lauderdale, from May; 6 x flights a week to Washington DC, from June; daily flights to Los Angeles, from June; 3 x flights a week to San Francisco, from July; 5 x flights a week to Boston, from September.

Bjorn Tore Larsen, CEO, Norse Atlantic Airways said: “This marks an important moment for consumers as we celebrate serving more destinations to the US from London Gatwick this summer than any other airline. The addition of direct flights to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington and Boston to our already popular New York, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale/Miami services will provide greater choice and value.

“We have made a significant investment in our UK airline, based at London Gatwick Airport, and now employ over 370 colleagues at our London base.”

TECHNOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY DRIVE SUCCESS AT COLOGNE BONN AIRPORT

On the back of a strong year in 2022, Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) has an eye on the future. Despite last year’s geopolitical situation, the airport was able to keep its numbers at a very high level, almost equal to 2021, with 971,000 tonnes of air cargo throughput and around 40,000 freighter movements.

Having welcomed dnata as new cargo handler in 2022, the major German hub, currently ranked as Europe’s eighth largest airfreight airport, is looking to capitalise on the opportunities provided by investments and technological innovation.

dnata arrived at CGN through the acquisition of Wisskirchen Handling Services, the exclusive operator of Cologne Bonn Cargo Center. The 12,000 sq m facility at CGN provides a full range of cargo services and is capable of handling all commodities, including general airfreight, perishables, pharmaceutical, dangerous goods, valuables, electronics and consumer goods.

Greening the apron at CGN

Cologne Bonn Airport continues its investment in numerous sustainable projects, supporting both the society and the environment. The airport is taking the necessary steps to reduce CO2 emissions by 65% until 2030 and reach CO2 neutrality in 2045.

Together with Eurowings, CGN planted 6,000 trees in the ‘Königsforst’, the forest which surrounds the airport. These trees have a positive effect on the forest’s flora and fauna, transforming CO2 into oxygen and helping with carbon offsetting.

The transition from conventional to electric vehicles is also in motion. Currently, about 100 electric vehicles are used by CGN Airport, including different ground support equipment (GSE) on the apron. The plan is to heavily expand the fleet of electric vehicles and machinery in the coming years.

Another way of offsetting is how electricity, heat and cooling is generated at CGN. Seven extensive photovoltaic systems have been installed on warehouse rooftops. In total, the 13,000 units produce 2,800 MWh of green electricity per year. An additional 8,600 solar panels will be installed within the next months in the course of a €2.5 million investment. On top of that, the airport

runs its own block-type thermal plant, allowing it to use 90% of the primary energy, which is double the amount conventional large power plants use.

In terms of heating and cooling warehouse, the airport implemented a ground-breaking ice-storage technology in its newest facilities. Another convenient energy-saving measure has already been in place at CGN Airport for a few years. Every light bulb was switched with LED lamps, including on all three runways. Through this measure alone, 60% of energy has been saved compared to using regular lights.

Another major opportunity with regard to sustainability is being able to offer Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in CGN. The airport co-operates with Neste, a major producer of SAF. The fuel is made out of biological disposals and therefore produces 80% less emissions compared to traditional fossil jet fuel.

A huge advantage is that no aircraft architecture has to be modified in order to be fuelled with SAF. Not only is it compliant with the aircraft’s engine system but also with all aviation standards. Neste’s SAF is a simple drop-in solution, which allows CGN to grow while meeting sustainability goals and GHG reduction targets.

Since the beginning of 2023, SAF can be directly sourced via a pipeline connection. Knowing that the airport offers SAF makes it more attractive to environmentally-conscious clients. With Neste’s plans to expand their production capacity, doors are left open at CGN for more airlines to fight climate change and adapt SAF.

The airport also prides itself on social engagement in addition to its environmental measures. Every year, the airport supports numerous social institutions and projects within the region. For example, the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria saw Cologne Bonn Airport provide help and organise supportive measures quickly. Besides financial donations, the airport facilitated rescue flights for both the German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) and the International Search and Rescue (ISAR) teams, including transporting special equipment and search dogs to the affected region in Turkey.

Together with Eurowings, CGN planted 6,000 trees in the ‘Königsforst’, the forest which surrounds the airport.

Digital and tech innovations

Cologne Bonn Airport is taking a big step towards a digital future: Together with the IT service provider NTT Ltd., Cologne Bonn Airport is building a completely private 5G mobile phone network across an area of 1,000 hectares. The goal of this joint research and cooperation project is to push ahead with technological innovations, such as intelligent luggage checks and border control, to achieve significant improvements in the airport’s operating efficiency.

The Internet of Things (IoT), automated vehicles on the runway and mobile security systems all indicate the growing necessity to manage an increasingly large quantity of objects and relating data. 5G enables better connectivity and improved processing of rapidly growing data flows, which allows the airport, airlines and ground handling staff, as well as third party companies, to work together more effectively and in a more straightforward way.

NTT is currently developing one of Europe’s largest private 5G mobile phone networks for Cologne Bonn Airport. With complete 5G coverage across the entire 1,000 hectares estate – the equivalent of 1,400 football pitches – it will be possible in the future to determine the exact location of devices and people, transport luggage on self-driving vehicles, and use autonomous robots to secure the site, as well as to provide intelligent services for the logistics hubs.

IS THERE A PILOT SHORTAGE OR ISN’T THERE?

THE chairman of the board of Avia Solutions Group Gediminas Ziemelis has predicted a shortage of 300,000 pilots within a decade, which he describes as a “grim reality airlines are facing”.

Pilots work through a seniority-based system. This implies that these aviation professionals progress through ranks and open positions as they advance in their careers. For many airlines, the recruitment process requires qualified pilots to bid for open positions, after which they receive intensive training to match the skill requirements for a specific position, notes Ziemelis.

On the other hand, the retirement system may create a ripple effect, exposing airlines to unexpected crew shortages, mainly due to unmatched levels of newly-hired pilots and those going into retirement.

The current shortage resulted in instances where recent ultra-long flights had been delayed or even cancelled, with knock-on effects for air cargo shipments. As airlines continue to report a recovery in air demand in 2023, airline management must explore ways to reduce this bottleneck; for example, by enrolling more students in their pilot training programmes to alleviate the problems created by early pilot retirements. Global carriers face another problematic situation of a shrinking pool of trained pilots, making it challenging to recruit new airline crews. The current shifts in the market suggest that the growing pilot demand, amidst strenuous efforts by aviation industry players, will drive a pilot deficit of around 300,000 within a decade.

In Asia and Pacific alone, the anticipated pilot demand may create a deficit of about 111,000. North America could

experience a shortage of almost 78,000, with Europe close to 51,000, followed by the Middle East with nearly 30,000 in the same period. Even more critically, many regional airlines may report a skyrocketing demand, primarily due to the increasing number of pilots going into early retirement, concludes Ziemelis.

What shortage?

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which represents and advocates for more than 67,000 pilots at 39 US and Canadian airlines, refutes claims that there is an existing shortage of qualified pilots. It says over the past decade, the US has produced “more than enough” certificated pilots to meet airline hiring and compensate for retirements, even as more rigorous pilot training standards were enacted to enhance safety.

“Although we don’t have a pilot shortage, we do have a shortage of airline executives willing to stand by their business decisions to cut air service and be upfront about their intentions to skirt safety rules and hire inexperienced workers for less pay. ALPA’s position to maintain airline pilot safety training and requirements is strongly supported by industry and labour stakeholders,” says the union.

As the airline industry recovers from the pandemic, some in the industry have used the operational difficulties facing airlines to push for a reduction in airline training and safety standards, suggests ALPA. This effort is under the guise of a “so-called pilot shortage” that, according to proponents, would require changes to established and proven safety requirements, an increase in pilot retirement age and

reductions in the safety of rural flight operations.

However, the notion of a pilot shortage is not based on facts but on operational issues and is an attempt to undermine the piloting profession and ultimately the safety of the industry, claims the union.

“Do the math”

Despite contrary claims, there are 1.5 certificated pilots relative to available seat positions at FAR Part 121 carriers, notes ALPA. Airline transport pilot (ATP) certification has been strong throughout the pandemic—with a minor dip when airline hiring and flying froze, buoyed by record numbers of new ATP certificates today. In fact, the FAA has issued 8,823 new certificates year-to-date through July. This surpasses prepandemic numbers and may be the largest airline certification year in history.

While more pilots retired in 2020 and 2021 than in typical years, most of these were accelerated early-out retirements, and fewer retirements are expected over the next three years than previously predicted as a result. A healthy cushion of ATPs existed prior to the pandemic that more than made up for these exiters.

In contrast to frequent public pronouncements by airlines about a lack of available pilots and the harmful effect on route capacity and on-time performance, they are typically more honest with their shareholders. When having to account to shareholders, most airlines admit the publicly available and statistically verifiable truth: they have plenty of pilots, but a training backlog, among other variables, is holding back capacity, says the union.