Category Archives: Aviation

Lufthansa Cargo is targeting the e-commerce market with the conversion of two Airbus freighters to be used on intra-European services. The Frankfurt-headquartered airline today announced that two of its Airbus A321 aircraft would be converted into freighters to be operated by Lufthansa CityLine. They are set to join Lufthansa’s fleet “from the beginning of 2022”. Lufthansa Cargo chief executive Dorothea von Boxberg said: “Lufthansa Cargo wants to offer customers in the eCommerce segment fast intra-European connections. With the converted A321s, we are meeting our customers’ growing demand for same-day solutions and further strengthening our dense network of global connections as well as our product offering. The selected aircraft type can transport 28t per flight, significantly larger cargo volumes than in the short-haul bellies of passenger aircraft. In addition to forwarders, integrators and postal operators, e-commerce providers will be customers for this offering.”

Chennault International Airport in Louisiana, US, is constructing a new cargo facility that will enable it to enter the airfreight sector. The hub said it started constructing the $4m facility last month. The 10,000 sq ft building is expected to be completed in 12 to 18 months. In a statement, the hub said the project was propelled by $3m in capital outlay funding from the Louisiana Legislature, with the balance of the funding paid by the Chennault International Airport Authority. It also said it is in talks with potential ground handling partners. Currently, Chennault International Airport is recognised as “an emerging aerospace hub” and the new cargo facility is expected to “provide economic diversity and ultimately create new jobs”. Chennault executive director Kevin Melton commented: “Chennault remains a game-changer for Southwest Louisiana — and we’re excited to offer this new opportunity for more development and more jobs.”

Buyers of airfreight capacity should expect the market to get worse before it gets better, according to Bruce Chan, vice president of global logistics at investment bank Stifel. Chan said that belly capacity is not expected to return until 2023 at the earliest. And while rates are expected to ease from their current elevated levels faster than the return of capacity, space shortages in the immediate future are likely to push prices up this year. Chan said: “Does that mean rates will stay this high until 2024? Unlikely, in our view. But there are structural factors that may keep rates higher than before, including the global rise of e-commerce and the fractalisation of supply chains in search of labour, capacity, and production diversification. “And several large freight forwarders have now declared air charter to be a permanent part of their service offering—not just peak capacity infill.” However, in the immediate future “we do expect things to get worse before they get better” for those buying air cargo capacity.

The civil aviation ministry on Tuesday announced setting up of a sub-group comprising members from domestic air cargo agents body DACAAI, AAI logistics arm AAICLAS, various airlines and a joint venture airport, for suggesting ways and means to improve cargo-related infrastructure issues. A virtual conference hosted by the association on Monday on “Rebooting Aviation-DACCAI-Issues and Challenges of Domestic Air Cargo Logistics”, which was attended by Minister of State for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri as chief guest saw the sub groups constitution. The statement said, “With regard to the suggestion of DACAAI for improving infrastructure and other issues concerning domestic air cargo, he (the minister) instantly constituted a sub-group consisting of DACAAI, AAICLAS, airline and JV airport representatives to go into matters that were hindering the growth of domestic cargo by air,”

Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (KIAB/ BLR Airport) has been inducted into the prestigious Airports Council International (ACI) Director General’s Roll of Excellence for the year 2020 for consistently delivering superior customer service. In a letter to Hari Marar, MD & CEO, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), Luis Felipe de Oliveira, Director General, ACI World wrote: “I am delighted to announce that Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru has been chosen by its passengers to join the Airports Council International (ACI) Director General’s Roll of Excellence. I am confident that you will continue to be a role model for airport service quality excellence and work with us to raise the bar in service standards and best practices within the industry.” “BLR Airport is honored to be inducted into the ACI Director General’s Roll of Excellence. I thank our passengers for the trust and confidence that they’ve in BLR Airport. I would like to dedicate this recognition to the BLR Airport community, who came together to ensure seamless operations during these challenging times,” said Hari Marar, MD & CEO, BIAL.

Cathay Pacific Cargo has revealed plans to remove the seats from two more of its aircraft as it predicts an industry-wide capacity shortfall for the peak season. The Hong Kong-headquartered carrier said that while its passenger network is slowly growing, it will offer around 30% of its normal capacity in the fourth quarter, which “leaves a shortfall in vital belly space against anticipated demand for the peak season”. Meanwhile, the airline warned of ongoing supply chain disruption as a result of first the Suez Canal blockage and then the Covid-19 outbreak in the Guangdong Province, which led to strict quarantine and testing measures on workers at ports and in particular on the truck drivers servicing those ports across the Greater Bay Area. The Guangdong outbreak led to greater disruption to ocean shipping operations than the Suez incident.

New York’s JFK International Airport will get its first new cargo terminal in 20 years as part of modernisation programme. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has signed a long-term ground lease agreement with Aeroterm for the development of a $145m, 350,000 sq ft cargo facility on more than 26 acres. The facility will be operated by Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) once completed. The Aeroterm project will demolish two obsolete facilities at JFK and build an expanded facility that will incorporate “advanced technology systems designed for maximum efficiency in the handling and storage of cargo, as well as a dedicated temperature-controlled area for handling pharmaceutical products”. This includes greater ramp capacity to handle three large freighters and more than 50 dock doors. Demolition of the existing facilities is scheduled to begin in September 2021, with project completion expected by the end of 2023.

DHL Express, the world’s leading international express service provider, announced the launch of its OTP-based non-contact delivery service in India today, making it the first international logistics player to offer this service in the country. As an industry leader, the company has always been at the forefront of innovation. The launch of the non-contact delivery service will help to ensure maximum employee and customer safety, amidst the new normal. Commenting on this new offering, R.S Subramanian, Senior Vice-President & Managing Director, DHL Express India said, “The ongoing pandemic has made businesses rethink and re-invent operations. Safety of our employees and customers has always been our top priority, while ensuring business continuity. The launch of non-contact deliveries is a step towards enhancing customer experience, while maintaining safety standards at the time of delivery. It is a win-win for all.”

Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) will capitalise on the growth in its cargo operations through the conversion of an A320NEO into a dedicated cargo-in-cabin aircraft. Flying from 21st June the newly converted aircraft will operate initially five times weekly across the region and further grow RB’s strategic focus in the cargo sector. “We’re delighted to launch this new service to the cargo community to further support the strong regional demand and of course continue our role of transporting essential supplies and services into and from Brunei. Our cargo operation has performed strongly over the last 12 months and this A320NEO conversion allows us to further build on our capability, network and the strategic location of Brunei in the region to maximise the opportunity.” said Captain Khalidkhan Hj Asmakhan, RB’s CEO.

IAG Cargo and Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP Cargo) have partnered with more freight forwarders on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) flights. IAG Cargo has partnered with Kuehne+Nagel (K+N) to complete its first net zero charter chain, comprised of 16 flights, using SAF. Operated between Stuttgart and Atlanta and partially powered with SAF, the charters marked the first time ever that passenger-freighter flights were operated with net-zero carbon emissions. K+N explained in a statement: “As SAF still produces some CO2 emissions, complete carbon neutrality was achieved by substituting each litre of jet fuel kerosene used with 1.25 litres of SAF.” The forwarder added that it is expanding its sustainable services offering to its customers with “innovative and easily customised shipping options”. “The overall commitment so far of 12.7m litres of SAF allows [our] customers to benefit from immediately available alternative fuel solutions to reduce CO2 emissions of their air freight globally,” the company said.