Category Archives: Aviation

DB Schenker has transported equipment for a vaccine filling line this week, on behalf of US-based healthcare company Nexus pharmaceuticals. With a total volume of 82 tons, it was necessary to charter an Antonov An-124 aircraft for the flight from Frankfurt-Hahn in Germany to Chicago-Rockford in the US. The transported material comprised of a vaccine filling machine with isolator from the German specialized engineering companies Bausch + Stroebel and Franz Ziel. Once the production line is operational, it has the capability to produce up to 30 million doses of vaccines per month. The design and fabrication of the machine already began years before the pandemic. Thorsten Meincke, Member of the Management Board for Air and Ocean Freight, DB Schenker, says, “With our expertise in intercontinental transports, we want to support the global fight against the pandemic by building up vaccine production capacities where possible. More than ever, logistics truly matters. We are proud to be able to realize short-term air freight solutions for our customers even in times of limited market capacities.” John Cook, Vice President of Manufacturing Operations of Nexus Pharmaceuticals, adds, “Nexus Pharmaceuticals is keenly aware of the need for an increase in global vaccine production capabilities and as such has aggressively taken steps to address the situation. The filling line and associated isolator represent critical pieces and their arrival is the culmination of Nexus’ commitment to addressing medical needs during the pandemic. Nexus’ investment with DB Schenker’s tremendous support was instrumental in the fast-tracking of the commissioning of our state-of-the-art sterile pharmaceutical manufacturing facility.” From the two companies’ locations in Ilshofen and Billerbeck, DB Schenker transported the equipment to Frankfurt-Hahn Airport from where an Antonov An- 124 …

CEVA Logistics has joined United Airlines’ Eco-Skies Alliance, a first-of-its-kind program involving leading global corporations working with the airline to power future flying in a more sustainable way. CEVA Logistics and other Eco-Skies Alliance leaders will work with United to collectively purchase approximately 3.4 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) this year. With nearly 80 per cent emissions reductions on a life-cycle basis compared to conventional jet fuel, this is enough SAF to eliminate approximately 31,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, or enough to fly passengers more than 200 million miles. As an inaugural participant, CEVA Logistics is taking a lead in the air cargo industry to reduce the logistics-related impact on the environment at the source by creating demand for more SAF. In addition to the Eco-Skies Alliance program, which is designated for corporate customers, United is also inviting individual customers to join in the airline’s efforts by contributing funds to purchase SAF, which United will use to help lower the greenhouse gas emissions from its flights compared to traditional jet fuel. Says Mathieu Friedberg, CEO, CEVA Logistics, “At CEVA, we deliver responsive logistics for our customers, and as part of the CMA CGM Group, we’re strongly committed to acting for the planet in the areas of climate change, air quality and biodiversity. With our participation in the United Eco-Skies Alliance, CEVA is taking tangible action today, with an eye on the solutions of tomorrow. Offering a SAF option to our air cargo customers in partnership with United demonstrates CEVA’s commitment to a more sustainable supply chain. We applaud the participation of each member of the Alliance.” Scott Kirby, CEO, United, adds, “While we’ve partnered with companies …

Continuing its efforts to transport COVID-19 vaccines across the world, IAG Cargo has delivered 2.5 million doses into Latin America and the Caribbean since January. The shipments were transported using IAG Cargo’s specialist Constant Climate service via its airside hubs at London Heathrow and Madrid Barajas, two of its three specialist pharmaceutical GDP certified hubs, to the approved Constant Climate stations in the region. Daniel Byrne, Regional Commercial Manager – UK & Ireland at IAG Cargo said, “We are delighted to be able to support Latin America and the Caribbean with their vaccine rollout – a region that is a key part of our network. With our sister airlines, British Airways and Iberia we’ve already transported vaccines into El Salvador, Mexico and the Dominican Republic, and we partnered with Crown Agents to support the delivery efforts into several British Overseas Territories including Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos. With our world-class cool chain facilities supported by highly trained teams and a seamless service we are committed to supporting the logistics to deliver COVID-19 vaccines in the Latin American and Caribbean region, and worldwide.” Fergus Drake, CEO, Crown Agents, adds, “In the global race to secure doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, we strike to ensure no country gets left behind. We’re proud to be working with IAG Cargo to ensure even the most remote regions of the globe get their fair share of the vaccine.”

A new 50,000 square metres logistics building for the handling of goods was officially opened, after two years of constructions work, at the west side of Brucargo. The building provides large refrigerated storage areas and offers direct airside access, with three logistics companies operating out of the facility including Kuehne+Nagel, Worldwide Flight Services and Expeditors. “Brucargo West not only provides additional first-line facilities for handling activities (WFS), increasing maximum capacity but also anchors the airfreight activities of two global logistics service providers (Expeditors and Kuehne+Nagel),” the airport says. Brussels Airport boasts over 100 logistics companies making it the second most important logistics hub in Belgium, after the Port of Antwerp, for international trade, according to Brussels Airport. Centrally located amongst major industrial centres in Belgium, the logistics area of Brussels Airport is a crucial driver of economic growth in the country and its regions. The airport saw nearly 650,000 tonnes of cargo transported in 2020. Brussels Airport has invested a total of EUR 100 million in the construction of ultra-modern logistics buildings including the Brinks building for the storage of valuable goods. With the new facility, Kuehne+Nagel (K+N) is expanding its activities at BRU for the handling of perishables including temperature-controlled storage and transportation of flowers, vegetables and fruit. The new infrastructure is particularly suited for the handling of pharmaceuticals, such as vaccines, which is one of the niche markets Brussels Airport has specialised in. The airport has over 30,000 sqm of refrigerated storage space. Brussels Airport says K+N’s hub in Brucargo complements the company’s global network of 90+ KN PharmaChain GxP certified air logistics stations. Also tapping the new facility, Expeditors is significantly expanding its healthcare logistics in Europe …

Calling the digitalisation journey of the airfreight industry a long and challenging one, Amar More, CEO, Kale Logistics Solutions, says, “The e-freight concept was initially launched by IATA in 2006 as part of the StB (simplifying the business) programme and became an industry-wide initiative. With more than 30 paper documents being handled for each shipment, the goal established 14 years ago by the e-freight programme was to cut delivery cycle times by 24 hours, accelerate and enhance track and trace processes and eliminate nearly 8,000 tonnes of paper documents annually – the equivalent of 80 Boeing 747 freighters filled with paper.

Çelebi Ground Handling Hungary has successfully completed the all evaluations and audits and received CEIV Pharma Certification for cargo/warehouse operations. Since the start of Covid-19, Celebi Aviation has been taking all necessary actions and making necessary implementations and developments for ensuring the safest transportation environment while the handling of medical aid, especially Covid-19 vaccines. “With our enhanced facilities and ground support equipment, we are more than ready to meet all the expectations. As one of our developments in cargo business we are glad to announce Celebi Ground Handling Hungary is awarded with IATA CEIV Pharma Certificate,” the company said in a statement. IATA had created the Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in pharmaceutical logistics (CEIV Pharma), to help organisations and the entire air cargo supply chain to get on the right track to achieve pharmaceutical handling excellence. CEIV Pharma addresses industry’s need for more safety, security, compliance and efficiency, by the creation of a globally consistent and recognized pharmaceutical product handling certification. By establishing a common baseline from existing regulations and standards, this certification ensures international and national compliance to safeguard product integrity while addressing specific air cargo needs.

Following the increased demand for healthcare shipments during the pandemic, Bolloré Logistics is reinforcing its healthcare product processing facilities with an 800 m2 extension of a pharmaceutical unit with a temperature of 15 degree Celsius to 25 degree Celsius. With the new unit, Bolloré Logistics now boasts a surface area of 2,200 m2 at its Roissy CDG Hub, divided into three temperature-controlled areas of 2 degree Celsius to 8 degree Celsius, 15 degree Celsius to 25 degree Celsius, and -20 degree Celsius. These facilities are reserved exclusively for processing healthcare product shipments in a secure environment managed by teams trained in Good Distribution Practices (GDPs). Three dedicated dock doors ensure the seamless and temperature-controlled flow of goods for total mastery of the cold chain during operations. The new cell also has a racked area with a 550-pallet capacity as well as a mass storage area. The new facility increases Bolloré Logistics’ capacity to manage cross-docking operations and respond to the specific requirements of each product category, including vaccines and nuclear-medicine products. “This investment demonstrates our determination to support the health sector in its logistics challenges. Our facilities and solutions are specially designed to respond to requirements on regulations and operational excellence and are adapted to each category of goods transported,” said Pascal Le Guevel, Director of the Bolloré Logistics Roissy CDG Hub. Bolloré Logistics implements solutions that ensure the safety and integrity of products, including power connections for active containers, monitored unit temperatures, temperature mapping and staff training. The warehouse responds to all the requirements of European GDPs for pharmaceutical products. “With this environment, we are able to deliver complete and needs-adapted solutions to all our customers, from the preparation …

To serve growing demand between Asia Pacific and the U.S. and Europe, DHL Express has strengthened its flight network using its Boeing 777 freighters to offer weekly capacity of almost 2,350 tonnes. With over 1,730 tonnes of capacity per week, DHL’s dedicated flights operated by Kalitta Air will cater to increased demand for express logistics services from Oceania. AeroLogic will add 610 tonnes of capacity as it flies six times a week to and from Leipzig via Hong Kong, Singapore and Bahrain. DHL Express’s South Asia Hub in Singapore as the common point of transit will help to consolidate and facilitate deliveries from Asia Pacific to the US and Europe. Operated by DHL Express’ partner airline Kalitta Air, one of the aircraft is flying five times a week from the United States to the DHL Express South Asia Hub in Singapore, via Sydney. From Singapore, the aircraft will make stops in Hong Kong and Japan before returning to the US. In addition, Kalitta Air will operate a new flight route that plies between Singapore and Sydney six times a week. The other aircraft – operated by AeroLogic, the joint venture cargo airline of DHL Express and Lufthansa Cargo – will fly six times a week from Leipzig to Hong Kong and Singapore before making a stop at Bahrain and returning to Leipzig. By scheduling both Kalitta Air and AeroLogic flights to cross load in Singapore places a growing significance of the South Asia Hub, which serves as a conduit for Oceania customers looking to expand their reach to the rest of Asia Pacific, the US and Europe. The new dedicated flights and aircraft will also help to strengthen DHL’s service …

Carrying eight tonnes of cargo, SpiceXpress has launched a freighter flight connecting Mumbai and Delhi in India with Bangkok in Thailand. The airline’s Boeing 737-800F aircraft will be used on twice weekly flights to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. The flight will carry cargo including automotive parts, electronics and perishables. Sanjiv Gupta, Chief Executive, SpiceXpress, comments, “We have been operating cargo flights to Bangkok for a long time and I am delighted that we have commenced scheduled freighter operations to Thailand today. Bangkok is one of the biggest centers of trade, commerce and tourism in Southeast Asia and launching scheduled cargo services between the two countries will help in seamless import and export of essential commodities in these very challenging times.”

In an expansion of its support for global healthcare and pharmaceutical customers, CEVA Logistics has announced a new sub-brand, FORPATIENTS, to support better patient outcomes through the company’s broad range of healthcare logistics services. CEVA FORPATIENTS offers healthcare and pharmaceutical companies end-to-end logistics solutions that place the patient at the center of the supply chain. As part of the suite of solutions, the company is also introducing a new temperature-sensitive logistics product that will begin service in the second quarter of 2021. The CEVA FORPATIENTS suite of healthcare logistics now encompasses temperature-sensitive solutions, pharma and biopharma, medical devices, consumer health, hospital and home care as well as diagnostic and laboratory services. Centralising its global healthcare offerings under the FORPATIENTS umbrella gives greater visibility of CEVA Logistics’ range of services to its customers and assures them of the central position of the patient. The company is also launching an advertising and social media campaign to show how logistics solutions support common medical procedures and healthcare needs. The new CEVA Logistics’ solution requires investment in temperature-controlled facilities around the world. With the support of its parent company, the CMA CGM Group, a world leader in shipping and logistics, CEVA has committed to operating a network of more than 40 such airfreight stations by the end of 2021. Some of the stations will also offer other services, such as contract logistics support. In all, the stations will allow CEVA to not only service major healthcare gateways in regional markets, but also to supply more than 1,450 healthcare trade lanes globally. Through the global network, CEVA will welcome a broad range of customer shipments in conjunction with its temperature-sensitive packaging solutions, including active and …