Category Archives: International

WestJet Cargo announced a new agreement with Flexport, the global leader in supply chain technology, to offer new airfreight solutions for Canadian exports into Asia. Under the unique agreement, WestJet Cargo will deliver Canadian cargo to O’Hare International Airport (ORD), where Flexport operates dedicated freighters from the U.S. to key air freight hubs in Asia, including Incheon International Airport (ICN), Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), effectively expanding the global reach for WestJet Cargo and their customers. Given the surge in demand for Canadian products in key Asian markets, particularly perishables like seafood, WestJet Cargo and Flexport’s comprehensive solution meets the needs of customers in Halifax and the surrounding regions at a pivotal time. “We’re thrilled to collaborate with WestJet Cargo to provide a creative, dependable air freight solution for Canadian exporters looking for greater access to Asian markets,” said Neel Jones Shah, EVP of Global Key Accounts and Chief Customer Officer. “Our collaboration with WestJet Cargo is the latest example in Flexport’s mission to make global commerce so easy there’ll be more of it; by creating a fast lane for Canadian exporters to move their goods, we can break down global trade barriers and boost export volumes for these producers.” “This partnership with Flexport opens new doors for WestJet Cargo, and reinforces our commitment to our customers and Canadian economic growth. Together, we offer cutting-edge logistics solutions to meet the growing demand from Canadian exporters to Asia, particularly with regards to our valuable perishable cargo. Using ORD as a connection point, we are seamlessly able to transfer cargo within a matter of hours, further ensuring the freshness and integrity of key Canadian perishable exports,” …

LATAM Cargo is set to transport 196 horses for the 2023 Pan American Games in Chile. Horses from the US, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, and Paraguay, were transported via their B767F cargo planes. The process included compliance with the rigorous procedure offered by ALIVE, animal care as part of LATAM Cargo’s product portfolio, to ensure care and professional handling of the animals as part of it. Juan Pablo Márquez, Senior Cargo Operations Manager in Chile for LATAM Cargo, said, “It is a recognition of our extensive experience in this type of transportation, our logistics, and the specialized personnel that allows us to provide top-level handling to ensure the well-being of these animals. We will continue working to deliver a service with the highest quality standards for our customers.”

iThink Logistics announced its partnership with FedEx to offer seamless shipping solutions and savings in cost to e-commerce sellers targeting international markets. The partnership will provide a comprehensive solution that will simplify international shipping and enhance operational efficiency. It also offers an “exclusive opportunity for sellers to access discounts of up to 76% on key FedEx services.” E-commerce providers can avail of FedEx’s 2-3 day delivery service, FedEx International Priority Express, while expanding their reach to over 220 countries. For heavier shipments, it offers the advantage of speeding up deliveries in 3-4 business days through FedEx International Priority Freight. From iThink, the collaboration will offer their API integration option, enabling sellers to easily sync their FedEx accounts with iThink Logistics’ SAAS platform.

SF Airlines has expanded its fleet to have 85 freighters. The latest freighter added to the fleet is a Boeing 767-300, which is the eighth new aircraft that has been unveiled by SF Airlines this year. The Boeing 767-300aircraft is expected to be used in the air-express delivery market, catering to the upcoming Double 11 shopping spree and other logistics peaks. The other freighters included in the SF Airlines fleet are Boeing 747-400ERFs, 767-300BCFs, 757-200Fs, and 737-300/400Fs. The airline has been adding an average of six freighters to its fleet each year since its launch in 2009, and their network now expands across Asia, Europe, and North America. 

The aviation market intelligence and consulting company, IBA has predicted a potential oversupply of the Boeing 737-800 passenger to freighter (P2F) aircraft with 60 conversions forecast for this year alone. IBA also mentioned that conversions for 737-800 have been faster than any of the other P2F programmes. The organisation said, “The total 737-800 P2F fleet is on course to surpass the 757-200 P2F fleet of 311 aircraft, which IBA believes suggests a risk of oversupply based on the rapid fleet growth. Indeed, the 737-800 continues to lead the narrowbody conversion market with conversions of the A321-200 remaining steady as expected with 20 planned for this year.” For the next 20 years, Boeing estimates a demand for approximately 2,800 production-plus-conversion deliveries.

Cathay Cargo joined hands with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) for the first time to offer ONE Record data protocols for intermodal sea-to-air shipments accepted at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) Logistics Park in Dongguan for export from Hong Kong. IATA’s ONE Record initiative implements end-to-end transparency for consignments and logging progress as they pass through multiple links in the supply chain. Tom Owen, Director, Cathay Cargo, said, “This pilot also showed ONE Record’s flexibility, and being able to accept cargo from an upstream cargo terminal and then log its transit by boat was a world first. It also shows ONE Record’s value in enabling services such as Ultra Track and other use cases that we are continuing to explore.

Çelebi India announces partnership with Uganda Airlines to support ground handling services for the airlines at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai. The inauguration took place with the direct flight from Entebbe to Mumbai on 7 October. Çelebi India leads the sustainability movement within the Indian ground handling industry, and aims to help the Indian aviation industry attain carbon neutrality. Tauseef Khan, CEO, Çelebi Ground Handling India, said, “We are delighted to bring our ground handling expertise to Uganda Airlines in Mumbai. We anticipate a long-term partnership as Uganda Airlines expands its footprint in India. Our commitment remains steadfast in providing seamless services and contributing to the growth of aviation in India.”

Jeena Criticare Pvt. Ltd. has been awarded with the Good Distribution Practices (GDP) certification by the International Standards Organization Quality Assurance Registrar (ISOQAR). The certification is an internationally recognized standard for the distribution of pharmaceutical and healthcare products, and stands testimony to Jeena Criticare’s unwavering commitment to maintaining safety and quality standards for transportation and distribution of products in the healthcare industry. Anil Agarwal, Director, Jeena Criticare, said, “We have relentlessly worked towards preserving the integrity of pharmaceutical products throughout their intricate journey, ensuring they reach patients in an ideal and optimal state. We are taking a substantial stride towards a safer, more efficient, and globally interconnected pharmaceutical supply chain.”

According to WorldACD Market Data, September saw an increase in global air cargo tonnages and average rates, compared to August. Full-month tonnages rose t0 almost 3 per cent and there has been an increase of rates by around 5 per cent at the end of September, compared to the beginning of the month.  The report further stated, “The figures reflect a slight post-summer seasonal strengthening of the market, which appeared to have stabilised in recent months following a year and a half of persistent decline – or adjustment back towards pre-Covid patterns of supply and demand. Preliminary figures for September as a whole indicate that tonnages were down, year on year (YoY), by two percent, the smallest YoY monthly decline this year.”

Traffic figures for August released by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) showed decline in air cargo market demand for export orders. Demand in freight tonne kilometres (FTK), had a  1.8 per cent year-on-year fall in August as compared to the subdued volumes in August 2022. Subhas Menon, AAPA director general, said the airlines showed a “7.6 per cent decline in international air cargo demand, reflecting prevailing weakness in international trade flows. In addition, the normalisation of container shipping rates affected the demand for air shipments of non-time sensitive goods”. The international freight load factor recorded a 6.6 per cent point decline to average 58.8% for the month, and accounted for 9.2 per cent year-on-year expansion in offered freight capacity.