Category Archives: International

DHL Global Forwarding and Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP) have teamed up on the purchase of 33m litres of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The partners said the three-year cooperation represents one of the most “significant SAF purchases in the freight forwarding industry”. DHL has committed to covering at least 30% of its air and ocean fuel requirements with sustainable fuels by 2030. “Since it is nearly impossible both technically and logistically to physically track SAF from production to the airplane, ‘book & claim’ offers a digital accounting system to track and transfer emissions reductions from sustainable fuels across the value chains,” the partners said. Adriaan den Heijer, executive vice president, Air France KLM Cargo and managing director Martinair, said: “The Air France KLM Martinair Cargo teams are strongly committed and feel responsible for creating a sustainable future for our industry. This deal is a great opportunity to accelerate our joint sustainability efforts. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has a lot of potential to reduce CO2 emissions and we are delighted to collaborate with our strong, long-term partner DHL Global Forwarding on this journey to greener logistics and transportation in the coming years.” Tim Scharwath, chief executive, DHL Global Forwarding, Freight, added: “With our Sustainability Roadmap, we have set ourselves ambitious goals on our journey towards zero emissions. Sustainable fuels are a fundamental part of our efforts. That is why we have committed to covering at least 30% of airfreight and oceanfreight fuel requirements with sustainable fuels by 2030. Our partnership with AFKLMP will help us achieve that goal”.

Ground handler Swissport reported a successful business year in 2021, primarily due to its cargo unit. The company processed 5.1m tonnes of cargo at its more than 100 air cargo facilities last year, which is an all-time high and represents a 10% increase compared with pre-pandemic 2019 levels. Meanwhile, the company’s larger airport ground services business is still “severely affected by the global travel restrictions”. Last year passenger numbers stood at 97m compared with 265m in 2019 and flights handled stood at 2m against 4.1m pre-pandemic. Swissport International chief executive and president Warwick Brady said: “I am immensely proud that our teams around the globe – in an extremely challenging environment – have collectively delivered a very respectable result. “It demonstrates the resilience and reliability of our company as an airline partner. We have intensified our customer engagement in recent months and continue to bring in new business and grow existing accounts. For 2022, we expect an accelerated recovery of global air traffic, latest by the start of the summer holidays in the northern hemisphere. This will also boost demand for airport ground services.”

Flexport has added more air cargo charter capacity in response to what it expects to be another robust year for airfreight. The freight forwarder has announced a deal with JetOneX, which currently operates B747Fs, to provide services on the Asia to Europe trade lane. The service will operate twice a week between Hong Kong and Maastricht (MST), and once a week between Ho Chi Minh City and Maastricht. Neel Jones Shah, executive vice president airfreight at Flexport, said: “Disruption in the airfreight market caused by global uncertainty and rapidly changing Covid regulations continue to result in cancellations and volatile pricing for our customer. “By partnering with JetOneX, we’re able to grow our capacity, and our customers will enjoy best-in-class service flying into an uncongested MST airport as a gateway for the rest of Europe. In the future, we plan to build upon this service to create a reliable network of scheduled services that our customers can rely on whenever they need it.”

To mark the occasion of the Chinese New Year, Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of the Etihad Aviation Group, today launches a Mandarin edition of its website, etihadcargo.com. With China contributing to more than 20 per cent of Etihad Cargo’s operations, the country represents one of the UAE national carrier’s biggest markets. The launch marks a key milestone as Etihad Cargo looks to further strengthen its position within the Chinese market. Starting 8 February, all visitors to etihadcargo.com from China will automatically be routed to the Mandarin version of the site, where they will be able to access information about product offerings, as well as station capabilities, feedback options, and claims’ details in the local language. “Launching the Mandarin version of etihadcargo.com aims to facilitate access to information for Etihad Cargo’s customers and partners in the Chinese market,” said Jacqueline Han Lin Ni Area Manager North Asia Pacific at Etihad Cargo. “The new Mandarin website is another step to cementing Etihad Cargo’s strategic footprint with the Chinese market,” added Ni. “The carrier is also working on a Mandarin version of the new booking portal, demonstrating Etihad Cargo’s commitment to its partners in China, as well as its intention to help improve and expand its digital portfolio and streamline its services for customers. “With the addition of a Mandarin-language version of the portal, Etihad Cargo is confident of strengthening and solidifying its position in the Chinese logistics industry”.

The carrier’s latest effort around that pro-customer approach is a multi-modal end-to-end containerised cargo provision – involving truck, rail and barge services – for a last-mile delivery from West India to Mongla Port in Bangladesh. Mongla is Bangladesh’s busiest cargo gateway after Chittagong Port. “The cargo is moving from the shipper’s factory to ICD Mihan in Nagpur by road, after which it is connected to Kolkata on rail,” said a spokesperson for Maersk (India). From Kolkata, the cargo will head to Mongla on a barge facilitated by Maersk. In conjunction with India’s public rail company, the Container Corporation of India (Concor), the carrier set up the first such train trip from the Nagpur ICD to Kolkata Port on 3 February. “This multimodal solution is designed to improve transit time, reduce supply chain inefficiencies and lead time, promote sustainability and cost efficiency,” Concor said in a statement. “This is an end-to-end solution for container movement from customer factory, including first-mile connectivity, customs clearance, rail movement and barge connection.” The unique cross-border offering is a step further towards Maersk’s expanding multimodal profile in the Indian market as it works to meet trade expectations on service levels.

Miami International Airport (MIA) has broken its record for cargo volumes handled for the second year in a row. The Florida hub handled 2.7m tons of freight in 2021, “shattering” its previous record of 2.3m tons achieved in 2020. International freight grew by 17% to 2.2m tons, while domestic freight rose 15% to 500,000 tons. MIA ranks as the busiest airport in the US and ninth busiest in the world for international freight. Los Angeles International is the busiest overall – domestic and international – cargo airport in the US. Last year it handled 3m tons of cargo – a 20.6% increase. The increases come as reduced passenger operations have resulted in cargo volumes consolidating at fewer airports – typically those with a larger cargo community and plenty of freighter operations. Consumer demand in the US also continues to boom. MIA said the growth experienced over the few years has two major facility expansions that were completed in 2021.

APM Terminals Pipavav has achieved productivity milestone in limestone discharge in bulk operation. The Port discharged the limestone vessel “MV El Matador’ within 46 hours, at the discharge rate of 31,263 MT per day. The vessel was berthed on arrival without any pre-berthing delay with singular focus on faster vessel turnaround considering strong vessel line-up in waiting. Limestone and other mineral cargoes are mostly handled with conventional mode at all Indian ports; wherein above operational feat is certainly one of the highest minerals discharge record against industry standards. The breakthrough productivity was achieved with the usage of Port’s state-of-art Gottwald Shore cranes & vessel cranes and seamless co-ordination at the Port ensuring safe and efficient operations. Commenting on Company’s initiatives, Jakob Friis Sørensen, MD, APM Terminals Pipavav, said, “We are proud of another productivity achievement at our port. Discharging the minerals at the rate of 31263 MT per day is an outstanding feat and shows our infrastructure capabilities, flawless planning, and co-ordination among our teams at the Port. We are committed to extend the best services to our customers by moving their cargoes safely and in the least possible time at our port through continuous infrastructure development.”

Containership charter rates have stormed to new record highs with analysts warning that the scarce tonnage available could see prices remain at extraordinary levels for much of the year. Broking reports that busy Pasha Group had taken the 2,756 teu X-Press Mekong for 50 days from the end of February for a stunning $175,000 a day have been confirmed by liner data provider Linerlytica, the highest rate ever paid for a containership of this capacity. Details of the charter stipulate that the price escalates if it is redelivered late. The prompt delivery of the vessel is understood to have pushed prices higher, with very few vessels now available for swift charter. Pasha Group, and its Jones Act liner Pasha Hawaii, have been sending charter rates northwards repeatedly in the opening weeks of 2022. Pasha had teamed with wholesaler Costco to make some big plays in the charter market, taking seven charters for ships ranging in size from 2,100 to 3,500 teu with most taken on a three-year basis.

Qatar Airways announced a new order for GE9X engines as part of its global launch order of up to 50 Boeing 777-8 Freighters. The commitment, which includes 34 firm 777-8 orders and an additional 16 purchase right options, also includes GE90 engines for an additional order of two Boeing 777 Freighters. The total value of the order with GE is more than U.S.$6.8 billion list price, including spare engines, a new order for GE90-115B engines, and a TrueChoice™ services agreement to cover the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of the engines. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: “With our status as the world’s largest air freight carrier, Qatar Airways has ambitious plans for the future of its cargo operations. As operators of the Boeing 777 family, including the global launch customer of Boeing’s 777-8 Freighter aircraft, we are delighted to have GE as our partners and these contracts for GE engines further cement the strong relationship between Qatar Airways and GE. We are confident that Qatar Airways’ focus to drive towards a sustainable future will be very much supported by the efficiency of the GE9X engines.” The GE90 engine family is the exclusive powerplant on Boeing’s 777-300ER, 777-200LR, and 777 Freighter aircraft. Since its entry into service in 1995, the GE90 engine has accumulated more than 108 million flight hours and has been among the most reliable in the industry with a world class dispatch reliability rate of 99.98 percent.

GEODIS, a global leading transport and logistics services provider, will provide airfreight, ocean freight, contract logistics and customs brokerage solutions for its customers in a wide range of market sectors, including automotive and FMCG from it’s new site strategically located at Brisbane Airport. The new site will have easy access to key locations, being only 14km from the central business district, and 22km from the Port of Brisbane. It will serve the growing logistical needs of GEODIS’ customers. The planned 4,500m2 warehouse facility, which is due to be operational by second half of 2022, will feature 4,000 pallet locations, 1,500m2 of bulk space, and a cool room for perishable goods supply to marine and hospitality logistics customers, especially cruise lines. Stuart Asplet, GEODIS’ Sub-Regional Managing Director, Pacific Regional Director Sea Freight, Asia Pacific said: “At this new facility, GEODIS will showcase its expertise in import and export services including customs brokerage to ensure complete supply chain transparency. GEODIS in Brisbane already has a strong package of solutions for our customers. This new, strategically positioned facility will not only enable us to meet the fast-changing needs of our customers today but will give us ample room to grow our offerings in the market.” BNE Property is delivering the purpose-built warehouse at Brisbane Airport’s Export Park, a precinct home to large-scale warehousing, freight handling, and distribution centres, as well as catering, wholesaling, and storage facilities.