Category Archives: Aviation

Qatar Airways Cargo announces the approval of Envirotainer’s latest innovation – The Releye® RLP container. With the newest addition to its range of temperature-controlled containers, the airline now offers 16 temperature-controlled container leasing options for life science and health care products to maintain a secure and seamless cool chain. It has been already offering customers Envirotainer’s RAP and RKN active pharma containers since 2014. Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways said, “We are committed to provide our customers the best solutions. A seamless cool chain is paramount to maintain the efficacy of pharmaceuticals and we are pleased to offer our customers a technologically advanced container – Releye® RLP with live monitoring and intelligent cargo protection to transport their critical life science and health care shipments at the required temperature across our global network. Such an innovation is the need of the hour, especially in these uncertain times of the pandemic.”

Cathay Pacific Cargo has added to its extensive cool-chain options for customers by being the first Asian air-cargo carrier to offer the Envirotainer Releye® RLP for carriage on its aircraft fleet. The Envirotainer Releye® RLP is available across four ports in South Asia, including Mumbai, Hyderabad, Dhaka and Colombo. The Envirotainer Releye® RLP is an LD11-sized unit with a unique air flow technology for maximum temperature stability, and has been designed to meet shippers’ requests for greater load flexibility. The RLP-size container fits three Euro pallets (or two-US pallets) and fills a strategic gap between the larger RAP and smaller RKN-size containers to enable mixing and matching of pallet sizes based on shipment volume. The unit uses rechargeable batteries to power its electric heating and compressor cooling system, which can be controlled from an external panel. A single battery charge will power the system for more than 170 hours. The Releye® RLP also offers fully integrated live monitoring.

DHL Global Forwarding maintained its position as the leading airfreight forwarder last year despite volumes dropping, while Kuehne+Nagel (K+N) looks set to nab the top spot in the coming years and DSV Panalpina continues its rapid rise up. The latest annual market figures from consultant Armstrong & Associates highlight the level of volatility registered in the air cargo market last year, with dramatic variances in performance. The overall decline in volumes for the top 25 players reflects the Covid-19 outbreak that saw much of the world’s airlines ground their fleets as passenger travel ground to a halt and lockdowns constrained consumer spending. For market leader DHL Global Forwarding, like many of its peers, 2020 was a tough year in terms of air volumes as a result of the pandemic, although it was a different story for revenues and profits. The Bonn-headquartered company saw its airfreight volumes decline by 12.1% year on year to 1.7m tonnes.

Air Cargo Club of Bombay (ACCB) successfully organised the Covid-19 vaccination drive for the Cargo Fraternity on June 19th. The vaccination drive was held at Bal Mukund Hall, Andheri, Mumbai. The response to the vaccination drive was overwhelming, as the fraternity people along with their family members actively participated. Total number of person vaccinated were around 765. The ACCB authority thanked the entire team of Surana hospitals, v-care and ACCB committee members and the entire cargo industry for their active participation.

India had been adversely hit by the second wave of the covid pandemic and there has been severe shortage of equipment, beds, healthcare workers, vaccines, oxygen and drugs. Air Logistics Group has contributed to international efforts towards Covid relief by donating medical grade 5 litre Oxygen concentrators to help the Covid patients in India. These concentrators were imported by Air Logistics Group (India) from the UK through its East Midlands office during the height of the second wave in New Delhi to support the needy during these crisis. This is not the first time Air Logistics Group (India) has donated medical equipment. Last year prior to the pandemic they also donated Dialysis machines to serve society . “Every drop – small or big counts in such crucial times when people are struggling for survival”, remarked Vikramjit Singh Ahluwalia, MD in India, following the donation.

CargoAir has commenced operations with its first B737-800SF freighter, which was recently converted by Aeronautical Engineers, Inc (AEI). The aircraft, which is registered in Bulgaria, will support a large European integrator on an upgraded existing route out of Cologne, Germany. With the new addition, CargoAir has also introduced a new aircraft livery. The converted B737-800SF offers a main deck payload of up to 52,700lbs (23,904kg) and incorporates 11 full height 88in x 125in container positions, plus an additional position for an AEP/AEH. The conversion also includes an 86in x 137in main cargo door. The design allows for containers to be loaded into the aircraft 16.5in aft of the forward door jamb, ensuring ground operators have sufficient manoeuvring room and minimise potential for door and aircraft strikes. It also includes a flexible Ancra cargo loading system, five supernumerary seats, a galley and full lavatory.

iAero Airways 737 Fleet US aircraft charter airline iAero Airways, part of the iAero Group aviation investment platform, has expanded its service to operate six DHL freighters. The latest aircraft to be added, a Boeing 737-800F, will operate on an ACMI basis by iAero Airways, while the other five existing aircraft are operated on a CM basis. Robert Caputo, chief executive of iAero Group, commented: “We are honored to serve such an iconic global logistics brand with our safe and reliable cargo services. “And we look forward to operating additional aircraft for DHL to help them expand their global services.”

Blue Dart, India’s leading express logistics service provider and part of the Deutsche Post DHL Group (DPDHL) has been facilitating the transport of oxygen concentrators amongst other essential COVID relief medical equipment across the length and breadth of the Indian terrain. Speaking about fulfilling the responsibility taken on, Balfour Manuel, Managing Director, Blue Dart said, “As we fight the second wave of COVID-19, findings of a double mutant indicate despite heightened efforts, that our battle to inoculate a sizeable population may still take a longer duration. We understand in these times when livelihood and supply Chains are stressed, our mission and purpose of ‘Connecting People, Improving Lives’ is extremely important. Blue Dart continues to use, its fleet of Boeing 757 freighters and resources at its disposal to play a key role in transporting O2 concentrators and critical medical supplies within the country; through our scheduled and International charter flights, ground network; supporting individuals and corporates alike. Through the pandemic, our people, have demonstrated their ‘Can do’ attitude standing true to our value of customer-centricity.”

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is expanding its air cargo facility by 136 acres and will almost tripple its airfreight warehousing space. To support its expansion and cargo handling capabilities, PHL has formed a partnership with Aviation Facilities Company (AFCO) and has also become a member of TIACA. PHL’s expansion plan includes the construction of cargo buildings totaling more than 1m sq ft, bringing its cargo building coverage to 1.4m sq ft. Stephanie Wear, director of air service development and cargo services at PHL, commented: “We have a huge opportunity to become one of the most successful cargo airports on the East Coast, focusing on speed, efficiency and quality. Our ability to attract and collaborate closely with world-class partners is a major strength of this programme.” Chellie Cameron, chief executive of PHL, added: “This initiative will have a massive economic impact on the region and cement Philadelphia’s status as an intermodal logistics hub. We are thrilled to begin this work in partnership with our interdisciplinary partners to drive both immediate and long-term growth.”

Finnair Cargo is now offering e-quotes and e-bookings for its airfreight capacity to forwarders through the CargoAi online platform. The largest air cargo carrier in the Nordic and Baltic region, Finnair Cargo said the move will “guarantee visibility” and is in line with its sales digitalisation strategy. Head of revenue and pricing Karri Kauppi said: “With CargoAi, we have been moving fast with the integration and we are very happy to be able to provide this service to our customers. We speak the same language and the cargo challenges we face are fully understood and integrated into the tool.” CargoAir chief executive, Matthieu Petot, added: “We’re very proud to partner with Finnair Cargo, which is a pioneering cargo carrier in the field of digitalisation and was one of the first to put APIs in place. The airline’s network and its product expertise fully meet the needs of our forwarder clients.”