Category Archives: Aviation

To assist in the fight against COVID-19 in India, FedEx Express is working with organisations around the world to deliver critical medical supplies and equipment. An initial shipment of 1,000 critically needed oxygen concentrators on-board a FedEx aircraft was delivered to New Delhi on April 30 as part of a collective initiative by multinational companies. FedEx is also working with Direct Relief to move more than 1,800 pounds of medicine and personal protective equipment to India. “As the impact of COVID-19 continues to grow in India, we are extremely grateful that our mission of connecting the world can bring relief to those most in need,” said Kawal Preet, President, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa Region, FedEx Express. “This is a time to come together so we have mobilized our global network and our team members to help the communities in India where we live and work.” FedEx continues to collaborate with the Government of India, healthcare customers, and the producers of critical medial aid items to provide support where it is needed most. FedEx has a long history of supporting relief efforts across the globe during times of crisis. The company has committed $4 million in cash and in-kind transportation support to help non-profits reach underserved communities with the COVID-19 vaccines around the world. Since the beginning of 2020, the company has transported more than 10,000 humanitarian aid shipments globally toward COVID-19 relief efforts.

Lufthansa Cargo has transported around 10 tonnes of medical equipment from Frankfurt to Delhi on three scheduled flights. On April 29 alone, 280 oxygen concentrators flew to Delhi. The equipment is part of a larger consignment that time:matters, the specialist for high-volume special logistics, is carrying out on behalf of a customer. “We see it as our responsibility to play our part in international aid. The dramatic situation in India shows how important it is to transport relief supplies quickly and easily to where they are urgently needed. That is why we at Lufthansa Cargo, together with the Lufthansa Group, are doing everything we can to maintain supply chains worldwide. This requires enormous flexibility on the part of our colleagues involved, good cooperation with our customers and decisive action on the part of international politicians, for example in special regulations for crews entering a country,” said Dorothea von Boxberg, CEO of Lufthansa Cargo. “Our team of experienced logistics specialists enables global transport solutions despite challenging conditions such as tight capacities, thinned-out flight schedules and closed borders. For medical equipment such as oxygen concentrators or other time-critical and sensitive shipments, individual, transparent and 100 per cent reliable transports are essential. Already in the first wave of the pandemic, time:matters, in cooperation with Lufthansa Cargo and the airlines of the Lufthansa Group, brought medical protective equipment across continents to its destination in the shortest possible time with a maximum of flexibility and boundless commitment,” explains Alexander Kohnen, Managing Director of time:matters.

The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has released the first comprehensive study undertaken on the sustainable transformation of the air cargo industry. As part of TIACA’s Sustainability program, launched in November 2019, the organization performed a widespread industry survey involving supply chain partners from across the globe and from each industry sector and business size. The results have been analyzed and published to form a ‘ground zero’ assessment by which future progress can be measured. The report’s findings will also feed TIACA’s overall sustainability strategy and support enhanced work programs addressing each of the organizations three key areas: People, Planet, Prosperity, supported by innovation and partnership. “Sustainability is one of the key priority areas for TIACA as the air cargo industry must reflect the global society it serves. We must collectively seek to focus on People, Planet and Prosperity. To flourish in the years to come, we must create equal opportunities for all, embrace technology and innovation and ensure we implement environmentally responsible solutions designed to protect the planet today and for generations to come”, stated Glyn Hughes, TIACA Director General. The survey found that 63% of respondents believe that sustainability was more important to the industry in 2020 than it was in 2019, despite the Covid-19 outbreak. Of the various air cargo players, shippers ranked highest, with 87% of them saying that sustainability had increased in importance over the last 12 months. Respondents were also asked how the outbreak had affected their sustainability programme, with 44% saying it had no impact, 37% saying it had a positive impact and 19% saying its effect was a negative one.

Etihad Cargo has strengthened its ability to transport COVID-19 vaccines around the world after receiving UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) approval to expand dry ice carrying capabilities across its Boeing Dreamliner and Boeing 777 fleet. The GCAA approval ensures the UAE national carrier’s main Boeing fleet can now carry up to five times more dry ice per flight, enabling it to provide enhanced frozen and deep-frozen conditions required for various vaccine types, including the Pfizer, Moderna and Sputnik vaccines which currently need to be stored between -70°C to -18°C. “Securing GCAA approval for our dry ice carrying capabilities is an important step forward for Etihad Cargo. Not only does it heighten the carrier’s credibility in assuring product integrity, it further elevates the enabling role the airline is playing in the UAE and Abu Dhabi’s efforts to provide a greater number of vaccines across Etihad’s network,” said Andre Blech, Director Global Cargo Operations, Etihad Aviation Group. Air transportation of dry ice – the solid form of carbon dioxide – is strictly controlled under the applicable dangerous goods regulations as it becomes CO2 gas upon evaporation. “Etihad Cargo will ensure optimum safety of its expanded carrying capabilities by adhering to all regulatory requirements, including package compliant protocols and mandatory training,” added Blech. An acknowledged leader in the air transportation of pharmaceuticals, Etihad Cargo is the first Middle Eastern carrier to gain IATA’s Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) certification for pharmaceutical logistics and is a key component of Abu Dhabi’s complete HOPE Consortium supply chain solution to facilitate vaccine availability to Abu Dhabi and the world. As part of the HOPE Consortium, which is spearheaded and regulated by the Department …

Budapest Airport and the Chinese-Hungarian business and logistics development company CECZ/Utlink signed a cooperation agreement, aimed at establishing the aerial Silk Road between Hungary and China and creating dedicated logistics centers at the two airports, to handle freight traffic. The newly signed cooperation agreement is expected to bring important economic opportunities and foster a significant expansion of air freight between Hungary and China, by connecting Budapest Airport (BUD) and Zhengzhou Airport (CGO), while also providing significant logistics advantages for Hungary, the ECE countries and China. Within the framework of the agreement, the partners – BUD, CGO and the logistics development company CECZ/Utlink Central European Trading and Logistic Cooperation Zone – jointly establish what the press release calls the “aerial Slik Road” between the two countries. László Mosóczi, Minister of State for Transport Policy said, “According to the government’s plans, Hungary could become the cargo, logistics and distribution hub for Central Europe. This strategic objective can be achieved if the largest possible proportion of the goods transported between Europe and the Far East reach their destination via Hungary. In harmony with the policy of opening to the east, we are therefore continuing to work to connect continents and regions with modern and safe logistics solutions. We are also looking for ways to deepen and expand cooperation with our Chinese partners, in line with our joint goals.”

In order to expand its fleet to meet growing demand for cargo transportation, Silk Way West Airlines has signed a purchase agreement with Boeing. According to the agreement, Silk Way West Airlines will purchase five state-of-the-art Boeing 777 Freighter aircraft, with delivery planned over 2023-2027. The agreement was signed at a ceremony in Baku on April 28, 2021 attended by Rashad Nabiyev, Minister of Transport, Communications and High Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Zaur Akhundov, President of Silk Way Group, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Azerbaijan Earle D. Litzenberger, Stan Deal, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. This is the first order for Boeing 777 Freighters in the Central Asia and Caspian region. The Boeing 777F is the largest twin-engine freighter on the market, with a range of 9,200 km and a maximum payload of 102,000 kg. As the world’s most efficient and environmentally friendly freighter, the latest additions to the Silk Way West fleet will contribute to the airline’s sustainability goals, as well as being a particularly cost-effective option in terms of maintenance and operating expenses. “We envision an integrated transport network in Azerbaijan, and airline transportation plays a critical role in this. I believe this contract will help solidify Azerbaijan’s position as a regional transportation hub and a reliable airline partner in international trade and commerce,” said Nabiyev. “The signing of this agreement is a new milestone in the growth of our company. I am confident that the acquisition of these new aircraft and the start of this project will further strengthen the company’s leading position in the global air freight market for the next …

Cathay Pacific Cargo has taken a significant step towards the end-to-end digitisation of the global supply chain by taking the lead in its third pilot of IATA’s ONE Record initiative in Hong Kong. The success of this pilot marks a major milestone for Cathay Pacific Cargo, which has pioneered the implementation of this initiative. Tom Owen, Director – Cargo, Cathay Pacific, says, “ONE Record is a very important programme, which is going to set the future standard for air cargo.” IATA ONE Record creates a ‘virtual shipment record’ for all shipments; a single-record view of a shipment that will enable data to be shared by all stakeholders across the air cargo industry. The programme builds on paperless operations of the e-AWB (Electronic Air Waybill). Cathay Pacific Cargo was the first airline to implement 100 per cent e-AWB operations in its home market and the airline has been the leader in its implementation around the world for the past 10 years, contributing to Hong Kong’s reputation as the leading international air cargo hub. IATA’s ONE Record initiative enables end-to-end transparency of consignments as they pass through multiple links in the chain from shipper to agent, airline, warehouse and statutory authorities such as customs, all following IATA’s protocols for APIs – the interface that enables users to connect to the system – security and data sharing. Henk Mulder, Head of Digital Cargo, IATA, adds, “The ultimate aim of the ONE Record programme is to enable a data-led digitisation of the global supply chain in order to improve service, speed and reliability, through the standardisation of competing or overlapping systems of the different stakeholders in the air cargo industry into one of shared …

Amid the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic which has resulted in an acute shortage of oxygen in the country, SpiceXpress has airlifted 800 oxygen concentrators from Hong Kong to Delhi via Kolkata for emergency use and distribution across the country. Ajay Singh, chairman and managing director, SpiceJet, said, “SpiceJet is firmly committed to the service of our fellow Indians in these most trying and difficult times. Along with SpiceHealth, we have airlifted 800 oxygen concentrators from Hong Kong for emergency use in India and we are looking at bringing more than 10,000 oxygen concentrators in the coming days from across the globe.” “We carried medicines and medical equipment and fruits and vegetables to all corners of India and the world when the pandemic hit us last year helping our country and our fellow citizens when they needed it the most and we will continue to serve with the same vigour. We have transported a record 88,802 kg of Covid vaccine shipment with a total dosage of 34 million Covid vaccines between January 12-April 12, 2021 and our efforts will only grow stronger from here.” SpiceHealth, a healthcare company launched by the promoters of SpiceJet, has been actively involved in the country’s fight against Covid-19. Since its launch in November 2020, SpiceHealth has conducted more than two million RT-PCR tests and has spread its operations across fives states – Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra, Kerala, Uttarakhand.

Kuehne+Nagel’s start to the 2021 business year was marked by a strong demand in transport services, especially for pharma and e-commerce fulfilment. Kuehne+Nagel achieved an excellent result in this environment; net turnover of over CHF 6 billion, EBIT of CHF 431 million and earnings for the period of CHF 318 million were all significantly higher year-on-year. Dr. Detlef Trefzger, CEO of Kuehne + Nagel International AG, says, “Exactly one year ago, when we were still at the beginning of the pandemic, we decided to commit to our proven strategy. Upon reflection, we are assured that we chose the correct path. In the first quarter of 2021, we were well-prepared to serve our customers’ robust demand for high quality logistics services despite the tense market environment. We expect this environment to remain challenging for the remainder of another atypical year.” Sea Logistics The positive profit trend reversal in Sea Logistics, already noted in the second half of 2020, continued in the first quarter of 2021. Kuehne+Nagel delivered intensified service to meet exceedingly high customer demands particularly in the US, in an environment of limited container capacities, reduced terminal productivity and increasing demand. Volume growth was particularly strong in the consumer goods segment. Container volumes in the first quarter of 2021 were up 2% year-on-year at 1.1 million TEU, despite a decline in recyclables demand. The unit’s net turnover was nearly CHF 2.4 billion and EBIT CHF 206 million. The conversion rate reached a record high of 42.7%. With a new alert feature in the online Seaexplorer platform, Sea Logistics customers are informed promptly about irregularities in container transport. This transparency proved particularly helpful to remedy disrupted supply chains during the Suez …

Responding to a boom in e-commerce and general cargo traffic, Australian airfreight consolidator Consol Alliance has increased its services from the UK to four Australian Airports. Consol Alliance now serves Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane a total of 20 times weekly, using premium carriers and a proven transhipment routing. All cargo is pre-palletised before presentation to carriers for added security, safer transits and faster handling. The company is offering both door-door and airport-airport options. A steady rise in demand throughout 2020 is seeing Consol Alliance now handling a record 300 tonnes of airfreight per month on the UK-Australia trade lane alone, and the company has already processed 500,000 inbound e-commerce parcels in the first quarter of 2021. Alana Raitt, National Airfreight Product Manager, says, “Having successfully maintained a totally reliable service throughout the last year, despite the considerable challenges, we are pleased to announce this increase in capacity and frequency to Australia, with over 20 consolidations per week from the UK. Capacity has not been an issue for us. We make bookings one month in advance, and have pre-allocations to all airports. Our consistent support for carriers and our excellent carrier relations have given us a strong edge in securing space for our customers.” Although the normal services do not allow for outsize or project shipments, these can be accommodated on a back-to-back (separate AWB) basis, still receiving attractive rates. Consol Alliance is also attracting dense cargo by offering discounts based on its ability to optimise pallet capacity by carefully combining dense and volume cargo. “For Dense cargo, we will always beat competitors’ pricing, and our local arrival charges are also discounted,” adds Alana. Consol Alliance says its service quality …