Category Archives: International

PayCargo Capital has signed a deal with Evolve Bank & Trust (Evolve) to allow freight forwarders (FFs) and beneficial cargo owners (BCOs) get credit access at the point of paying freight costs. PayCargo Capital is the exclusive lending partner to users of PayCargo, LLC’s payment platform for vital remittance information between payers and transportation-related vendors. PayCargo has over 67,000 active users remitting and receiving payments. The partnership will immediately fund the PayCargo Line of Credit, which eliminates financial delays contributing to the on-going supply chain crisis, Paycargo said in a statement. Qualified FFs, importers and BCOs in North America who use the PayCargo platform can extend vendor payments by 30 days using credit, the statement added. “PayCargo Capital offers credit terms on freight charges, previously available to only a few large companies,” says Philip J Philliou,CEO, PayCargo Capital. “Clients tell us that our timely credit solution prevents expensive demurrage charges and speeds goods on their way to their final destination. Both air and ocean freight expenses are higher than in prior years and the need for funding is significant. In today’s environment, with Evolve as our lending partner, PayCargo Capital will grow stronger as a technology-enabled financing provider and help more businesses with their cash flow needs.”

With the leasing of four A321ceo freighter aircraft with a capacity to handle 27 tonnes of cargo, Indigo’s Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)William Boulter assured the arrival of A321ceo freighter plane during the first half of 2022, showing the airline’s seriousness about growing its cargo business. He said, “Our cargo business has been one of the successes during the pandemic. We have operated close to 8,000 cargo-in-cabin charter flights.” Currently operating in 71 domestic cities, the carrier has the capability of Cargo operations in each of those pointed. On the topic of the aforementioned four cargo aircraft, he said, “The first aircraft has just gone to Singapore Technologies Engineering Limited as it’s being converted (from passenger aircraft to freighter aircraft) as we speak. It will be out sometime in the first half of next year.” Further, he added, “This will be a statement to everybody that IndiGo is very serious about cargo and that cargo is going to become a significant part of our business,”

SAL Saudi Logistics Services, a member of Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation, launched the extension of its new Jeddah Station. The Jeddah station extension is expected to increase SAL’s annual cargo capacity to over 800K tons in 2030 while providing retailers and companies new premium cargo services at KAIA in Jeddah. Fawaz AlFawaz, chairman, SAL Board said, “The launch of the new extension comes in parallel with the National Industrial Development Program (NIDLP) – one of Vision 2030’s most prominent programs – aiming at transforming the Kingdom into a global logistics hub, contributing to a robust and diversified economy, sustaining the growth of the sector, and creating highly competitive investment opportunities.” AlFawaz also highlighted that this launch realizes the true ground handling potential of SAL where the company utilizes its logistics expertise to provide more developed services and solutions in and out of airports and expertly serve the international markets to strengthen the connectivity of KSA ports with those of the entire globe.

Maersk has signed an all-cash deal to acquire 100 percent shares in LF Logistics for $3.6 billion. “LF Logistics is a well-established and strongly positioned Asia-Pacific-based omnichannel fulfilment contract logistics company,” according to an official statement from Maersk. The acquisition will strengthen Maersk’s capabilities as an integrated container logistics company, offering global end-to-end supply chain solutions to its customers, the statement added. LF Logistics is a private, Hong Kong-based company owned by Li & Fung (78.3 percent) and Temasek Holdings (21.7 percent) that focuses on providing contract logistics solutions to customers in Asia-Pacific organised through two key business units – In-Country Logistics (ICL) and Global Freight Management (GFM).

SF Airlines is rapidly expandin it’s freighter fleet with an additional B767 aircraft. The China-based express carrier last week added a B767-300 widebody freighter (B-221D), bringing its total fleet to 68 aircraft. Since the start of the year, the carrier has added a total of seven freighters: three B757-200s and four B767-300s. “The continuous expansion of aircraft capacity is one of the footholds for SF Airlines to continuously strengthen its aviation logistics capabilities, improve the quality of supply chain services, and promote the high-quality development of civil aviation,” said airlines spokesperson. “The further expansion of the fleet can provide stronger support for the development and operation of international routes, and at the same time, it will provide more adequate transportation capacity guarantee for the approaching Spring Festival logistics peak period.”

UPS has ordered 19 767 Freighters with Boeing. The new order highlights the 767 Freighter’s operational efficiency and payload capability to serve customers at a time of robust air cargo demand. Based on the 767-300ER (Extended Range) passenger jet, the 767 Freighter carries up to 52.4 tons of revenue cargo with intercontinental range, serving as a flexible platform for long-haul, regional and feeder markets. UPS currently operates 236 Boeing freighters including the 747, 757, 767 and MD-11. “The Boeing 767 is the most versatile aircraft we operate. Our plan to purchase 19 aircraft and take delivery between 2023 and 2025 aligns with the strategy and capital expenditure forecast shared during our June 2021 Investor and Analyst Day. It also supports our sustainability efforts by making our fleet more efficient and improving reliability,” said Nando Cesarone, U.S. Operations President, UPS. The deal adds to a record-breaking year for Boeing freighter sales, including 80 firm orders for new widebody freighters and more than 80 orders for Boeing Converted Freighters, says the official release.

Menzies Aviation’s Sydney and Melbourne bases are recognised by IATA with the Center of Excellence of Independent Validators for Pharmaceutical Logistics accreditation (CEIV Pharma) accreditations. The CEIV Pharma programme is a multi-stage process of independent audits, validation and training, which upskills employees and ensures that handlers upgrade their procedures, processes, risk assessment methodology and infrastructure for the delicate handling of time and temperature-sensitive pharma products. This accreditation formally endorses Menzies’ ability to safely handle high-value, time-sensitive and temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals transported into and out of LHR (London Heathrow Airport) and BUD (Budapest Airport), in line with shipper requirements and with the speed and consistency required.

MYCRANE, the world’s first digital platform for the search and selection of cranes – has announced the appointment of an exclusive pan-India franchisee. The free-to-use MYCRANE service will be operated in India by Mumbai-based Sahil Freight Express Pvt Ltd. Established in 1986, the company has extensive experience in the freight and logistics sector. As an exclusive distributor for Scheuerle in the past, Sahil was responsible for introducing the manufacturer’s globally-renowned SPMTs, modular platform trailers and semi-trailers to the Indian market. In addition, Sahil has handled a number of heavy lift projects, and was the pioneer in establishing the concept of NVOCC/ LCL (less-than-container-load) consolidation as a service provided by freight forwarders in India. The franchise partnership agreement was signed at Expo 2020 Dubai, currently taking place in the United Arab Emirates, by MYCRANE founder and director Andrei Geikalo and Suhail Shaikh, the chairman and managing director of Sahil Freight Express Pvt Ltd. Andrei Geikalo said: “India has one of the fastest digitising economies in the world, as well as a very positive outlook for the Indian cranes and construction sector, so we are delighted to be opening the MYCRANE service in the country. In Sahil Freight, we have the right partners who have a proven track record of introducing new products and services to the market. I have no doubt MYCRANE will be a big success in India.” The crane market in India is expected to grow strongly in the coming years. The ongoing expansion of roads and metro railways and the routine maintenance and upgrading of oil refineries, cement and power plants are all driving demand for cranes.

The all-inclusive trans-Pacific container shipping rates to North America stayed afloat in the week to Dec. 17 by a renewed push to restock retail inventories in the period between the calendar year-end and Asia’s Lunar New Year celebrations beginning Feb. 1, which will curb factory and transport operations. August-September-peak season approach to the holiday shopping season saw more acceptance of premium service fees in addition to ocean freight rates by the shippers as compared in the week to Dec 17. Sources said that some shippers were shopping around the market for the best rates or deferring cargoes until after Lunar New Year, where possible. But demand has increased from a lull in October-November and Asian export hubs have come face to face with a growing shortage of empty equipment as the holiday import rush places more equipment out of position. As carriers impose General Rate Increases with expectations of higher demand, the premium rates for Southeast Asia-to-North America cargoes have seen a hike this week.

Qatar Airways and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that Qatar Airways became the first carrier to make a transaction on the IATA Aviation Carbon Exchange (ACE) using IATA Clearing House (ICH). The IATA Aviation Carbon Exchange (ACE) is a centralised marketplace where airlines and other aviation stakeholders can trade CO2 emission reduction units for compliance or voluntary offsetting purposes. IATA and Qatar Airways reach another landmark milestone that encourages carbon markets to respond to the needs of the aviation sector. This initiative enables opportunities to simplify processes to ensure the successful implementation of Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), while also supporting the successful implementation of voluntary offsetting programmes. With Qatar Airways making the ACE transaction using IATA Clearing House (ICH), it benefits from the IATA Settlement Systems and Clearing House for seamless and risk-free settlement of funds.