Category Archives: Aviation

Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has introduced an autonomous electric tractor developed by Teksbotics and partners to meet expected cargo demand growth. AAHK and Teksbotics have officially launched a project to utilise autonomous tractors to perform routine driving works between West Cargo Apron and Cargo Apron Staging Area at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). Currently, there are 20 units of autonomous electric tractors working around the clock at the airport for both cargo and baggage operations. The autonomous electric tractors work in conjunction with human-driven tractors, which are freed up to perform more complicated tasks, said reports. “In this project, autonomous electric tractors are deployed to release pressure of human drivers from the daily routine and simple driving tasks. Human drivers can focus on more skilled tasks in the Cargo Apron Operation,” said an official from Teksbotics.

Alaska Airlines has plans to buy 52 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft for delivery between 2024 and 2027, said reports. With this purchase, the carrier will have confirmed 737 MAX fleet from 94 to 146. According to the reports, to boost growth, the carrier has also secured rights for 105 more planes through 2030. This agreement represents the largest commitment for future aircraft in the airline’s history, says an official release. “This investment secures aircraft to optimize our growth through the next decade, which we know will be a formidable competitive advantage,” said Ben Minicucci, CEO, Alaska Airlines. “We’re proud of the strong financial foundation that uniquely positions Alaska to make this commitment to our future, and of the fantastic partnership we share with our hometown aircraft manufacturer at Boeing,” he added.

Air Canada has expanded its fleet and ordered conversion of 15 Airbus A220-300 aircraft into firm orders, taking the total order to 60 aircraft. “The expanded order for the A220 is an important development in the modernization of our fleet and a clear indication that we are emerging from the pandemic solidly positioned for the future. The A220 has become a mainstay of our narrow body fleet, and its performance and passenger comfort are enabling us to compete effectively in the North American market. We are also proud to support the Canadian aerospace industry. This increased order will support jobs at Airbus’ Mirabel factory and affirms Air Canada’s positive economic impact in Montreal, Quebec and throughout Canada,” said Air Canada official.

IAG Cargo is trialing new sustainable film for wrapping transported goods at its London Heathrow hub in a bid to save up to 15 tonnes of virgin polyethylene a year. 100% recyclable and biodegradable by landfill, the film has been developed by German disposal company and film manufacturer Verpa Folie alongside US-based BioNatur Plastics. The film has a 15 micron thickness and is designed to have an indefinite shelf life, prohibiting unnecessary waste. It can also be used for food and temperature-controlled items – which are popular services for IAG Cargo. The receiving country of the goods will be able to sustainably dispose of the film, said IAG Cargo. David Rose, chief transformation officer at IAG Cargo, said, “We are continuously looking at ways in which we can reduce our impact on the environment in line with our commitment to sustainability. This solution provided by Verpa Folie, which we plan to roll out across our operation, will reduce our plastic consumption and is another step forward for IAG Cargo as we become fit for future.” Peter Griebel, managing director of Verpa Folie Weidhausen GmbH (exclusive producer of BioNatur foil for M&G packaging in Europe) said, “We are really happy that our long-term partner, IAG Cargo, has started using our product, which is one of the most sustainable and thinnest solutions for air cargo operations worldwide.”

Healthcare firm Novo Nordisk has partnered with Kuehne+Nagel (K+N) to use 12m litres of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for its air cargo shipments. The agreement comes as the healthcare firm has the ambition to reach zero CO2 emissions from operations and transport by 2030. “With the deployment of 12m litres of SAF, Novo Nordisk will be able to replace fossil fuel for all K+N airfreight shipments in 2022,” the forwarder said. It claimed the deal would reduce direct emissions of around 30,000 tonnes of CO2. Dorethe Nielsen, vice president of corporate environmental strategy at Novo Nordisk, said, “This is yet another step in Novo Nordisk’s continuous support of the development of sustainable aviation fuel. Our airfreight accounts for most of our product distribution emissions as we provide life-saving medicines to patients around the world. We want to drive change in this area to help pave the way for other companies to also transition and cut emissions.”

Amazon Air has plans to expand its fleet with the addition of 10 A330-300 converted freighters from lessor Altavair. The aircraft will be operated for Amazon by Hawaiian Airlines and will be converted by Germany-headquartered Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), a joint venture between Singapore-based ST Engineering and France-headquartered Airbus. The first of the A330-300P2F aircraft is expected to join the Amazon Air fleet in late 2023. The deal with Hawaiian will last for eight years with options to extend for a further two and three years. Hawaiian will supply flight crews, perform maintenance and certain administrative functions, and procure aircraft insurance. Amazon will pay a fixed monthly fee per aircraft, a per-flight hour fee, and a per-flight cycle fee for each flight cycle operated.

Swissport is all set to open a new air cargo centre at Chubu Centrair International Airport as it seeks to meet growth in Japan’s Tokai region. The new facility is on the north side of International Cargo Warehouse 1 at the airport and will open on November 1. It measures 2,500 sq m and has further potential to expand. Offered at the facility is the full range of air cargo handling services: import, export, including general cargo, cool chain and e-commerce. Stephan Kaeser, director and chief operating officer of Swissport Japan, said, “We are very pleased to announce the opening of our third international cargo warehouse in Japan. It has been our long-time goal to open an international cargo centre at Central Japan International Airport ever since we started our cargo operations at Narita and Kansai International Airport 11 years ago.”

Uzbekistan logistics firm, My Freighter has taken delivery of its first Boeing B747-200F freighter and has plans to add five more as it looks to capitalise on Tashkent as an airfreight hub. The aircraft was delivered on October 23 to Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport after departing from Jakarta, Indonesia where it had undergone refurbishment and technical checks. According to company’s0 official statement, “The new aircraft will enable My Freighter to capitalise on the growing position of Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent, as an airfreight hub.” The aircraft will be used to launch services between China and Southeast Asia and Europe and the US, with Tashkent acting as a hub. The company added that it would soon purchase five more B747 freighters as part of plans to expand its fleet to 20 aircraft within the next five years. Abdulaziz Abdurakhmonov, chief executive, My Freighter said, “When we established My Freighter in 2019, we had set a goal to turn Uzbekistan into a centre for international cargo transportation. We are working to create an ‘air freight Silk Road,’ taking advantage of Uzbekistan’s geographic position between China and Europe. An analysis of the trends makes clear that Uzbekistan’s airfreight market will grow exponentially over the next five years.”

Parvinder Singh, Managing Director, Hans Infomatic said, “GST for airfreight is 18% and ocean freight is 5%. Now per kilo, the rate of ocean freight is much less than the airfreight. So there’s less tax burden. For sea freight forwarders’, it will be very miniscule but for air cargo sector, its huge. The forwarders can take reimbursements, but it will be reimbursed in three to four months’ time. So, the working capital will be blocked and also everyone cannot claim the taxes back from the government. With high airfreight rates and working capital under pressure, the deployment of capital will be a big challenge. Only big freight forwarding companies will be able to handle it and survive.”

DHL Express has opened RM10.8 million (approx. EUR 2.35 million) Johor Gateway facility located within the Senai Airport City industrial park. Spanning over 6,000 sqm of warehouse space, the facility is more than twice the size of its predecessor and will support robust trade growth in Malaysia’s southern region. According to the official release, the new Johor Gateway comes equipped with a high-speed conveyor system capable of sorting up to 1,900 shipments per hour. This offers improved shipment processing for the more than 1,800 parcels and documents bound for and coming from the facility’s busiest trade lanes, namely the United States, Australia, United Kingdom, Singapore, Germany, Hong Kong, China, and Japan. The faster transit times make for an uptick in service quality for customers in Johor and Singapore.