Category Archives: Aviation

Swiss WorldCargo has prepared for the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, for the past six months. Beginning in summer 2020, the company set up an internal task force to analyse the potential for shipping COVID-19 vaccines throughout the world. The task force, comprised of team members from different divisions, has closely analysed how Swiss WorldCargo’s aircraft, network and capacity to and from Switzerland, can best support these global shipments. Recently, the company has successfully carried out first shipments. These have proven that the company can handle complex regulatory and customer necessities, including temperature, cold-chain and timing requirements. As a leading carrier of pharmaceutical and care-intensive goods, Swiss WorldCargo has a rich history of successful and speedy delivery of pharmaceutical products, including vaccines. This long-standing expertise is based on its well-trained staff, as well as the strengths of its hub and ground handling partners. Swiss WorldCargo’s organization is CEIV Pharma-certified. Swiss WorldCargo’s hub in Zurich, operated by Cargologic, is IATA CEIV Pharma-certified and Swissmedic GDP-compliant, as recognized by the Swiss authorities. “The next few months present a significant challenge for the entire air cargo and logistics industry,” said Christian Wyss, Head of Quality & Services at Swiss WorldCargo, and leader of the Swiss WorldCargo Vaccine Transport task force. “However, based on our extensive experience carrying out complex pharmaceutical shipments, Swiss WorldCargo is well-positioned to help ship COVID-19 vaccines, to, from and through Switzerland to a variety of global destinations.” Swiss WorldCargo is continuing to closely monitor the regulatory approval process for all COVID-19 vaccines, and is ready to carry out shipments in the coming weeks and months.

Responding to November 2020 export figures, Sharad Kumar Saraf, President, FIEO, says that the monthly exports have shown a single-digit negative growth of 8.74 per cent with US$ 23.52 billion due to supply side disruptions including restricted container movement and declining petroleum exports due to its crashing prices. Besides, farmers agitation in some of the hinterland states have also affected exports during the month. Exports have been seeing signs of revival as order booking position has continuously improved and more new orders are in the offing. Saraf reiterated that the forecast of the arrival of the Covid-19 Pandemic vaccine along with gradual lifting of lockdown across the country and the globe has also helped in boosting the business sentiments for the sector as a whole, which can be expected to be seen from the positive figures of the upcoming months. Going by this trend, we expect to end the financial 2020-21 with an overall merchandise exports of about US$290 billion, adds FIEO President. Exporters have continuously been receiving a lot of enquiries and orders further adding to the positive sentiments with signals of further resilience in the global supply chain. However, the litmus test for the traditional sectors of our exports would be the Christmas and New year sale. If that goes well, the inventory will be liquidated, adding to further demand, observed Saraf. FIEO Chief said that the exports of other cereals along with oil meals, iron-ore, rice, ceramic products and glassware, handicrafts excluding hand-made carpet, cereal preparations and miscellaneous processed item, carpet, jute mfg. including floor covering, spices, drugs and pharmaceuticals, tobacco, cotton yarn/fabrics/made-ups, handloom products etc., fruits and vegetables, tea, gems and jewellery, mica, coal and other …

After a successful pilot phase, PrimaDollar has officially launched its operations in India. With clients already in over 30 countries, the company provides low-cost trade finance to importers and exporters around the world from its headquarters in the UK and network of offices across South and East Asia. It has now opened offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore. PrimaDollar is also now starting to partner with banks and logistics platforms to embed this new form of trade finance into their business models – allowing exporters to take finance as they ship their container, rather than having to make a separate call to their local bank in order to arrange separate working capital. The company solves the resulting cash flow gap for the exporter, paying the exporter upfront, taking the buyer credit risk and allowing the buyer to pay later. All of this is done at low cost, without requiring collateral and with simple and clear pricing. It’s unique trade finance products work shipment-by-shipment, without the need for complex multi-period financing agreements or IT integrations. Tim Nicolle, Founder & CEO, Prima Dollar, says, “Trade finance has traditionally been a time-consuming service, involving multiple banks and the many layers of complexity associated with letters of credit. On a global basis, the market is looking for a transactional solution that works shipment-by-shipment, without collateral and at a low cost. That’s what PrimaDollar has pioneered. For the Indian market, this is especially important as Indian exports are rising (by 7% in 2018) whilst bank finance for exports is falling (down 20% by 2018). All of this points to a major funding gap that PrimaDollar’s trade finance products exactly fit.” “After a successful pilot …

In coordination with the ministry, Kuehne+Nagel has developed a comprehensive solution for storage and distribution throughout Germany’s most populous state. The Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of North Rhine-Westphalia has contracted then logistics provider for the logistics of Covid-19 vaccines. The vaccine doses will be delivered to the state’s central distribution centre operated by Kuehne+Nagel, stored in temperature pods, repackaged in smaller quantities and distributed daily in a quality-assured manner to 53 vaccination centres and other healthcare facilities throughout North Rhine-Westphalia. Detlef Trefzger, CEO, Kuehne + Nagel International AG, says “Kuehne+Nagel has been preparing vaccine logistics solutions intensively for months. We made sure that the vaccine raw materials and auxiliary equipment such as syringes were in the right place; now we ensure that the Covid-19 vaccine is safely distributed from the factory to the end consumer, as in Germany’s most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia. We are ready to support other states and countries in their Covid-19 response as well.” Karl-Josef Laumann, Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, says, “Vaccinating millions of people in a state as extensive as North Rhine-Westphalia is a historic task on an unprecedented scale. I am very pleased that the state has been able to secure such an experienced and competent partner for the central storage and distribution of the vaccines.ˮ Over the past months, Kuehne+Nagel has developed a comprehensive solution for the global distribution and storage of Covid-19 vaccines. The basis for this is Kuehne+Nagel’s proven, cross-transportation pharma & healthcare network with over 230 certified locations worldwide in air, sea and road logistics as well as contract logistics.

CEVA Logistics continues to expand its presence in the African market with the strengthening of its presence in two countries through two joint ventures. In Egypt, the company has taken a majority stake in IBA Freight Services, its exclusive partner for the past 20 years. In Ethiopia, CEVA Logistics has taken a minority stake in MACCFA, a long-standing freight forwarder headquartered in Addis Ababa. Both joint ventures are effective immediately and further cement CEVA Logistics’ aim of becoming a leading continent-wide player. Through the new joint ventures, both entities will be able to expand their products base which will help enhance the use of their local logistics services across the CEVA Logistics network. These new enterprises follow CEVA Logistics’ acquisition of a majority stake in AMI Worldwide in the summer of 2020 which added an additional 12 countries to the company’s African network. Furthermore, MACCFA has a long-standing working relationship with CEVA Logistics’ parent company, the CMA CGM Group, a world leader in shipping and logistics. Says CEVA Logistics’ Managing Director Turkey, India, Middle East and Africa, Bruno Plantaz, “Our strategic, continent-wide expansion plan continues to gather pace. These two Joint Ventures further consolidate our position in north Africa and the horn of Africa and will enable us to persevere in our intention of supporting its socio-economic emergence across all countries.”

LATAM Airlines Group has announced that it will fly COVID-19 vaccine shipments at no charge on domestic flights in Latin America. The offer is an extension of the airline’s Solidarity Plane program in which the carrier will transport vaccine, when become available, to Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The company said it will support distribution of vaccines for free, based on requests from governments. Since August, a team of more than 20 people from LATAM Cargo has been planning transport scenarios for COVID-19 vaccines, which require special temperature-control equipment and processes. LATAM Cargo has stations with pharmaceutical capabilities at 30 locations in Europe, the U.S. and Chile, and four that are waiting to be opened in China. LATAM has a certificate of excellence for meeting pharmaceutical shipping standards from the International Air Transport Association. Roberto Alvo, Group Chief Executive, LATAM Airlines, states, “During this entire global health crisis, we have not spared efforts to collaborate with the communities of the countries where we serve through our Solidarity Plane program. We are excited to announce that LATAM’s domestic operations will be available to support the distribution totally for free, of vaccines according to what the authorities of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru may determine.”

CHAMP Cargosystems, the leading air cargo systems provider, announces its partnership with CargoAi. By connecting their systems through APIs, both partners are giving their users new connections and capabilities for the future. CHAMP offers increased visibility to CargoAi for its more than 100 airlines and GSAs customers. In return, CargoAi offers CHAMP clients a new sales channel and CargoAi increases its capacity to make quotes, prices and bookings instantly available to freight forwarders. ‘Our clients and users are at the heart of this partnership. Creating value for them has always been our priority and that is why we have the widest range of suites of systems dedicated to air freight. Being available on CargoAi, if they wish, is therefore an additional service that we can offer our clients’, says Nicholas Xenocostas, VP Commercial & Customer Engagement, CHAMP Cargosystems. As he sees it, now is the time to ‘deliver innovation faster’ to support and transform customers’ business processes, while bringing more digitalisation and visibility to the air freight industry. Connecting via APIs, CHAMP and CargoAi in effect enable supply chain partners to be integrated: airlines, freight forwarders and GSAs can thus connect and exchange information very easily. ‘Our goal remains the same; to make digitisation accessible to all industry players. This partnership with CHAMP is a real boon for our customers. Because thanks to the joint work we have accomplished, our customers can grow their businesses by being connected to each other, without having to do anything,’ says CargoAi CEO Matthieu Petot. ‘CHAMP and its teams are the gold standard in our industry and working with these cargo system experts is a fantastic opportunity.’

In spite of the global challenges experienced in 2020, Budapest Airport handled 13,864 tonnes of air cargo this November, which is 6.3% more than a year ago and the strongest monthly cargo performance on record. Meanwhile, the volume of goods received and launched from January to November 2020 has exceeded 120 000 tonnes. With year’s end approaching, we can state with certainty that cargo traffic at the Hungarian capital airport and the BUD Cargo City opened a year ago have proven immune to the pandemic. Dr. Rolf Schnitzler, the CEO of Budapest Airport highlighted that this is attributable not just to pandemic-related shipments, changed purchasing habits and the entire cargo community, but in particular to the 50 million EUR fully private investment undertaken by Budapest Airport into the world-class facilities of the BUD Cargo City, which attracts more and more cargo business. “Seamless cargo traffic at the airport requires many players and precise coordination. Close cooperation between shippers, forwarders, airlines, ground handlers, authorities and all colleagues working at the airport is indispensable in this process,” emphasized József Kossuth, Cargo Manager, Budapest Airport, in adding, “This year was extraordinary and full of challenges for everyone. The fact that cargo traffic at Budapest Airport has remained stable in this changed environment and even showed a significant increase in November is the result of our joint work and the exemplary perseverance of the cargo community. On behalf of BUD’s cargo team, I would like to thank everyone who supported air cargo in Hungary with their work.” The record traffic in November is attributable to several market factors. The year-end peak period usually starts in October in air cargo, and intensifies from November. The …

Jettainer, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Lufthansa Cargo AG, has announced the launch of cool&fly to maximise the efficient use of temperature-controlled ULDs, particularly for COVID-19 vaccines distribution. The product is one of a kind, comprising full cool ULD order management, steering and positioning along with monitoring as well as after-service management. It is available to airlines, no matter their other ULD management setup. Temperature-controlled Unit Load Devices (ULDs) are expected to become a limited resource within air transportation. The increasing demand for cool transport solutions and interaction between the growing number of stakeholders will prove complex and time-consuming. Securing supply and managing containers for temperature-sensitive goods is an extremely complex mission that requires absolutely accurate and attentive management. This includes on-time ordering and positioning, as well as constant traceability and monitoring throughout the entire process chain in order to be ready for an immediate response to all eventualities as there is no margin for error due to the highly valuable and sensitive goods involved. “The logistical challenges involved when transporting vaccines by air are huge. Maximising the efficient use of the cool ULDs will be crucial; reliable management of all interfaces from a single point will minimise risks during the transport. cool&fly and our highly experienced cool competence centre provide customers with the perfect solution,” said Thomas Sonntag, Managing Director, Jettainer GmbH.

In a bid to ensure each aspect of vaccine and its handling, Spicejet has collaborated with MyLogistics Gurukul; the teams will be working together to handle the first-mile, last-mile and door-to-door delivery of vaccine when it comes out. A trained team who handles will be absolute key to avoid any loss of efficacy due thermal shock during transit and storage, familiarity with the regularity and compliances and social and commercial impact due rejection of goods and other reasons. The training is being delivered online across the country audience over two days, four hours in a daily per batch of about 25 participants and more than 500 SpiceXpress employees will be trained in the sensitive cold chain vaccine handling. The carrier has been a very active player in the COVID period for the cargo industry by adding capacity and creating new routes to serve Indian EXIM needs. The carrier has taken some great initiatives in preparation for vaccine distribution such as tying up with various industry players for seamless transportation and storage of vaccine. The one key factor for ensuring there is seamless handling of the vaccine is to train the Spicejet team in the nuances of the vaccine handling , storage and movement needs in International and domestic transportation chain. MyLogistics Gurukul is the premier training academy providing specialised training to industry personnel to boost efficiency in the logistics industry. They work closely with industry experts and create and customise programs to bridge the knowledge gap.