Category Archives: International

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) adds a new ‘quote and book’ function to IATA Net rates and IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG), becomes the first carrier to integrate the feature. This will enable airlines to offer freight forwarders dynamic pricing for booking their shipments. “The pandemic has accelerated the appetite for digitalization across the air cargo industry. IATA Net Rates new ‘quote and book’ function simplifies and accelerates the rate distribution and booking process between airlines and freight forwarders, saving valuable time by eliminating manual, labour-intensive processes. We are pleased to expand our Net Rates partnership with IAG Cargo to support their efficient cargo rates distribution and booking capabilities, across the different airlines of the group,” said Frederic Leger, Interim Senior Vice President for Commercial Products and Services, IATA, & President, CNS. The Net Rates platform can be accessed through Net Rates online or integrated with customer systems, accelerating the distribution of rates to market while simplifying and reducing the cost of rate handling procedures.

The UAE-based port operator, DP World has opened a new empty container park of 46,539 m² at Southampton to extend storage capacity amid the peak pre-Christmas season. The new facility will be able to hold additional empty containers to strengthen resilience for customers and keep supply chains moving when dwell times at terminals across the United Kingdom (UK) have increased. Furthermore, the new empty park of US$4 million (£3 million) is part of DP World’s ongoing US$54.3 million (£40 million) investment this year at Britain’s second-largest container terminal. “We now have 25% more storage capacity at Southampton than before which will enable us to maintain productivity and service levels for the vital next few months and beyond,” noted UK Chief Executive of DP World, Ernst Schulze, who went on to add that volumes can now be switched quickly and easily between locations, giving customers more control over their supply chains and increasing security of supply for critical goods coming into the UK.

Turkish Cargo, one of the strongest cargo flight networks, contributes its strength to Turkey’s medical exports. Flag carrier air cargo brand has been carrying Turkey’s medicine and medical products to over 50 countries in five continents for over 25 years. In the nuclear medicine sector, Turkish Cargo plays an important role for cancer patients transporting high quality diagnosis and treatment products in Turkey and abroad. Flag carrier air cargo brand carries radioactive cancer diagnosis medicine used in the treatment of cancer and tumors to Germany, Colombia, India, Algeria, Taiwan and all around the world. With 8 percent market share in medical transportation, national brand gives hope to cancer patients by providing fast and safe transportation for radioactive medicine with half-life, which are produced at night by Eczacibasi-Monrol.

Freighter operator Pacific Air Cargo has introduced a new airfreight tracking and notification service, PACTRAK. The tracking service is integrated into the company’s website and allows customers to know the status of their shipment at any point in its journey. The system offers shipment update notifications through SMS text messages, emails, or both. Notifications can also be tailored for different milestones during the journey, such as flight departure or arrival. “We are pleased to offer this innovative and state-of-the-art tracking service to our partners,” said Tanja Janfruechte, Chief Executive of Pacific Air Cargo. “We believe that PACTRAK will make shipping with Pacific Air Cargo even more convenient, and we look forward to introducing other enhancements and useful tools in the future.”

DHL Express launched the construction of a new stand alone, logistics hub, at the Abu Dhabi International Airport (ADIA). The 15,000sqm facility, on a 30,000sqm airside/landside plot, located in ADIA’s Future Cargo Area, is being developed in partnership with Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone Authority (ADAFZ) – a wholly owned subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Airports – and Middle East General Enterprises (MGE). DHL’s new airport facility constitutes the company’s latest investment in strengthening the global trade links of the UAE’s capital and acts as a consolidated hub inclusive of an Import & Export Gateway, Service Center, Logistics Center & Road Network, with an initial head count of 210 employees. The new facility features a 10,800sqm built-up area, with future expansion potential to increase capacity by an additional 50%. The facility will be well equipped to handle up to 3,600 inbound and outbound/ transit shipments per hour, amounting to 86,400 shipments a day, with the ability to service customers in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, as well as supporting other countries of DHL network and providing solutions that will improve their efficiency. It will additionally follow the most up to date TAPA security regulations, employing the latest technologies across all of the operation.

DP World, announced the launch of its new digital logistics platform, CARGOES Logistics. The platform provides customers with a single-window solution enabling seamless, safe, secure, and efficient movement of their cargo. With CARGOES Logistics, customers can choose from multimodal logistics options, ship freight by sea, road, and/or rail, get instant quotes, swift booking confirmation and multiple secure payment options in three simple steps – Search, Choose & Book. It will offer easy and swift cargo booking from origin to destination. The first phase of launch will immediately offer customers access to book cargo from UAE to India as well as India to multiple destinations across the Middle East, Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, the Far East and North Africa. CARGOES Logistics aims to address complexities and inefficiencies that exist in global supply chains including multiple handovers, inefficient tracking and limited visibility of a shipment across the supply chain. The new digital platform will enhance transparency by providing deep tracking of cargo with real time insights, end to end visibility & predictability, an all-inclusive price with no hidden charges and highly efficient end to end digital experience backed by DP World’s extensive network of integrated logistics assets and best-in-class service levels. It will facilitate ease of doing business, boost reliability & flexibility and provide seamless experience to customers for all their logistics needs.

Globalia concludes its 2nd Virtual Meeting successfully, which was organized to expedite networking among the members and reunite them virtually. After the great reception of their 1st Online Conference, Globalia’s team worked hard to surpass the previous meeting experience. The Virtual Meeting that was held on 14th and 15th October, 2021, presented a perfect opportunity for the members to assemble on one platform and consolidate relationships with their network partners without having to leave their homes. Members participated in more than 1150 one-to-one video-conferences during the two days of the event. The professional and user-friendly meeting platform created by Globalia made for a seamless conferencing experience. It ensured that all the video-conferences were automatically organized according to the agenda and time zone of the delegates.

Brussels Airport Company and skeyes signed an agreement where Brussels Airport will become a 50 percent shareholder in SkeyDrone, a subsidiary of skeyes. SkeyDrone offers a range of services that enable safe and efficient drone operations. With this acquisition, Brussels Airport intends to play an active role in the drone technology developments and in the provision of drone services to various industries in Belgium and abroad. Over the past year, Brussels Airport has worked closely with skeyes and SkeyDrone on various drone projects in fields such as intrusion detection, aerodrome safety, operational efficiency, etc. “Brussels Airport’s investment in SkeyDrone is strategic and goes beyond investing in drone know-how and technology. It is an investment in co-creating the future of unmanned air traffic together with 2 key players in this field, skeyes and SkeyDrone. With SkeyDrone, we can fully explore, develop and commercialise drone management systems and drone services that can be used on a daily basis by clients in various industries,” says Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport Company.

After 21 months of construction, the world’s first zero-carbon intelligent container terminal in Tianjin Port was officially put into operation. The terminal is a 200,000-ton container terminal with a designed annual throughput of 2.5 million TEUs. The terminal adopts an intelligent horizontal transportation system that connects its key facilities to realize real-time information interaction of all production factors. The artificial intelligence robots of transportation here are equipped with various sensors to be their “eyes and ears”. Therefore, compared with traditional container terminals, the intelligent terminal in Tianjin can save manpower, time and cost, while maintaining a world-leading efficiency. The terminal is operated all by wind and photovoltaic power, achieving zero-carbon emission in energy consumption and production.

Blue Dart, has launched its ‘Diwali Express’ offer to uphold the joy of the festive season. The offer will be valid from October 11th 2021 to November 06th 2021. A discounted rate of 40% can be availed on all Diwali Gift shipments, both domestic and international; providing customers with a one-stop solution for all their logistics needs. While the Domestic Offer will be applicable on Domestic DP shipments weighing between 2kgs to 10kgs, the International Offer will apply on International Non Doc and TDI 12 Non Doc shipments weighing between 2kgs to 10kgs, 15kgs & 20kgs. Blue Dart consistently upgrades its products and services to ensure that customers receive nothing but the best. With this offer, customers can avail this service at a discounted rate and send gift hampers, sweets, apparel and much more to their near and dear ones at over 35,000 locations within India and 220 countries across the world. Ketan Kulkarni, Chief Commercial Officer, Blue Dart, says, “Blue Dart has always kept the customer at the centre of our business, and we continue to go the extra mile to bring our customers and their loved ones closer together, even if they are miles apart. The Diwali Express offer is launched, keeping this in mind. We want our customers to feel the happiness of the festive season and share this with their loved ones. We are keen to continue providing our customers with an incomparable value proposition, ensuring that our customers’ shipments reach their loved ones in perfect condition, well within time.”