Category Archives: Aviation

UK-based start-up carrier Hans Airways has selected Air Logistics Group as its general sales and service agent (GSSA) for cargo sales across its network. The exclusive GSSA agreement, effective from August 1, will see the GSSA providing the carrier with full cargo sales, marketing, online booking and customer service support across its network. Stephen Dawkins, chief executive at Air Logistics Group, commented: “Hans Airways is an exciting new face in the airline industry and will be operating on a vital trade route between the UK and India. We are confident that their new service from the UK to India is just the start, and that we can build the cargo business across the Hans Airways network as it expands.” Ian Davies, chief operating officer at Hans Airways, added: “In Air Logistics Group, we are confident that we have chosen a partner capable of providing the selling expertise, fast response times and service levels and that the freight community will expect from [us]. With experienced staff, and the network to provide effective coverage of our planned routes, Air Logistics Group is well-positioned to be the face of the Hans Airways cargo team.”

Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (KIAB/ BLR Airport/ www.bengaluruairport.com ) has processed 483,460 kgs of mangoes in four months from March to June, 2021. The month of June witnessed highest movement of mangoes with 169,882 kgs. A total of 158,936 kgs were processed in May, 110,886 kgs in April and 43,776 in March. This year, Doha emerged as the leading destination for mangoes from Bengaluru, with 140,000 kgs, followed by London (68,000 kgs) and Singapore (55,000 kgs). Backed by two reputed cargo terminal operators – Air India SATS and Menzies Aviation Bobba Bangalore- BLR Airport has the infrastructure required to ensure the fruits reach their destinations maintaining their quality as well as freshness. To ensure quality and freshness, mangoes are stored and moved to the aircraft within the required temperature range, reducing waiting time at terminals.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has extended the exemption allowing airlines to carry cargo in the cabin of aircraft. The exemption had been due to expire on July 10, but Airlines for America and others petitioned the administration to extend the exemption for another year. They argued that cargo capacity was still constrained due to fewer passenger flights and that allowing flight to carry cargo in the cabin would help alleviate supply chain constraints. In the end, the FAA agreed the exemption until the end of the year. “The agency determined that airfreight capacity has not yet been fully restored to all communities, especially those which are dependent on passenger airplanes for such service,” the FAA said. “The FAA therefore finds that a short-term extension of this exemption will be in the public interest by supporting the continuity of the carriage of airfreight.”

High ocean freight rates caused by service disruption is helping push forwarders and shippers to use airfreight. In its latest market summary, airline association IATA said that air cargo is benefitting from “exceptionally congested” container shipping supply chains. It pointed out that the cost-competitiveness of air cargo relative to that of container shipping has improved over recent months, with the average cost of air cargo in May six times more expensive than seafreight, compared with 12 times more expensive pre-crisis. “Improved competitiveness compared to sea shipping should continue to make air cargo a bright spot for airlines while passenger demand struggles with continued border closures and travel restrictions,” said Willie Walsh, IATA director general.

Qatar Airways Cargo announces the further roll out of third-party eBooking platform WebCargo by Freightos across the United States of America*, effective 19 July 2021. Forwarders in the USA will be able to conduct eBookings with access to live rates and available capacity on the WebCargo platform. This will further improve their booking experience with the airline, resulting in higher efficiencies and instant responses for confirmation. The cargo carrier has an extensive network in the United States spanning 12 cities with 145 weekly flights, thus offering customers more than 4,700 tonnes of cargo capacity every week. Qatar Airways Chief Officer Cargo, Guillaume Halleux said: “Following our successful launch across Europe, we are glad to introduce WebCargo throughout the United States of America, steadily extending digitalisation across our organisation. We are actively pushing for digitalisation in air freight as it brings in efficiencies and provides multiple benefits for our customers such as 24/7 visibility of price and capacity as well as real time confirmation to name a few.”

Lessor BBAM has signed up for more B737-800 freighter conversions from Boeing as it looks to capitalise on the strong express and e-commerce markets. The company announced the order of a further 12 B737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters, bringing its total orders and commitments for the aircraft to 31. The deal also represents the first time that Costa Rica-based MRO COOPESA will convert the model on behalf of Boeing. “The Boeing Converted Freighter programme is extending the life and enhancing the value of the 737-800s in our fleet,” said Steve Zissis, president and chief executive of BBAM. “We are growing our Boeing order book to meet the strong demand we see worldwide for narrowbody freighters, and we are proud to be the launch customer for the conversion lines at COOPESA.”

Air cargo demand returned to growth in June following a drop in May as a result of public holidays. The latest statistics from CLIVE Data Services show that air cargo demand in June increased by 1% compared with the same month in 2019 (used for comparison due to impact of Covid) after declining by 4% in May. Niall van de Wouw, managing director of CLIVE Data Services, said: “June’s performance data was relatively strong and seems to confirm that May’s decline was a one-off, as we anticipated, impacted by the public holidays during that month. The global air cargo market now seems to be back on track, reflecting what The Economist has described as the ‘long goodbye’ to Covid’s impact on our everyday lives”. “In June, we once again saw no signs of recovery in capacity. It is abundantly clear that airlines are micromanaging their flights because the pressure is everywhere and, in the case of cargo-only services by passenger airlines, the capacity out there is expensive to operate.

Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Aviation Group, and CargoAi, the SaaS application which provides air cargo digital solutions, have partnered to elevate the carrier’s API accessibility for freight forwarders as part of its digitalisation strategy. During the past few years, Etihad Cargo has accelerated its development of technology advancements which have provided simplified customer experiences through a number of partnerships. This has culminated in the launch of its brand new digital platform, etihadcargo.com. Their latest collaboration with CargoAi will further enhance this through the provision of brand-new API accessibility for freight forwarders the world over. “Digitalisation has been at the core of Etihad Cargo’s strategy over the last three to five years, and continues to be a focus in driving digitalisation and streamlining processes across the air freight world. Our partnership with CargoAi supports this vision, and provides an additional tool which delivers a rapid and fluid digital booking services platform,” explained Martin Drew, Senior Vice President Sales & Cargo, Etihad Aviation Group.

Delmos Aviation, a part of Sentro Group continues to ramp up its air cargo network in CIS Nations with the launch of its first smaller capacity aircraft cargo charter flight between India & Uzbekistan. The first flight took place on July 7th on DEL– TAS route on A 320 PTC smaller capacity aircraft to deliver essential medical equipment and pharmaceuticals products from India to the region. The cargo charter flights can also carry cross-border e-commerce products such as apparel and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG). Delmos Aviation focuses on improving regular cargo operations between India & Uzbekistan and other CIS Nations, as India is the primary exporter of essential pharma supplies to the region. We are so excited to launch regular cargo charter services and are happy to provide an enhanced and streamlined cargo charter experience across the entire network. The charter flight on 7th July is a pilot flight project. It has been a milestone for all.” said Dr Naveen Rao, Group Chairman.

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.”