Category Archives: International

MASkargo successfully flew in the first batch of Covid-19 vaccines to Malaysia. Over 300,000 doses of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine were transported via a passenger-to-cargo flight utilising the Airbus 330-300 aircraft in close collaboration with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Health, Pfizer and DHL Express. Captain Izham Ismail, Chief Executive Officer, MAG Group said, “Being the country’s national carrier, we take this responsibility of transporting the vaccines very seriously, as the success of the vaccination programme is key in helping the country achieve economic and financial recovery.” “Our skilled workforce and adequate infrastructure are vital points in ensuring the safe, secure and hygienic handling, transportation and distribution of the Covid-19 vaccines to Malaysia or any part of the world,” he said. The distribution of Covid-19 vaccines involves highly coordinated transport and security protocols to ensure their safe delivery to key hubs/points of vaccination. MASkargo has conducted live simulations and dry runs during its international and domestic scheduled flights in preparation for the various types of vaccines, of which each has different logistic requirements in Malaysia.

Qatar Airways operates 14 weekly flights from Dubai and daily flights from Abu Dhabi. In preparation for this much awaited recommencement of cargo sales and bookings in the United Arab Emirates, ECS has bolstered its local teams, with a dedicated team supervising the scheduled flights seven days a week. Ehab Matta, Senior Manager Regional Cargo – Indian subcontinent, Middle East and Pakistan, said, “We are delighted to be able to count on ECS Group, with who we share our values of service excellence and customer-centricity. Their perfect understanding of the airline’s processes and their excellent reputation in the region were key factors in our choice.” For the world’s leading GSA, the recommencement of cargo sales and bookings is excellent news for the region. “We welcome Qatar Airways’ return to the Gulf region. At ECS Group, all the teams in place are fully committed and are ready to support our partner, Qatar Airways Cargo, as they recommence cargo sales and bookings,” said Adrien Thominet, CEO of ECS Group. As of February 21, ECS Group, the leading GSSA, with its established presence in the region and strong partnership with the airline in over 20 countries, is supervising the management of cargo capacity via its subsidiary Globe Air Cargo.

Cathay Pacific have flown the first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines to Hong Kong onboard Flight CX391 from Beijing as the airline continues to support the Hong Kong SAR Government’s vaccination programme. Augustus Tang, Chief Executive Officer, Cathay Pacific, said, “This is an important milestone in Hong Kong’s fight against COVID-19 and we are immensely proud to be doing our part in this fight. It is a successful effort, which involves close collaboration with the Airport Authority of Hong Kong, and many of our industry partners and business associates. We stand ready to undertake future shipments using our vaccine solution product and support the Government in its community-wide roll out programme.” The one million doses of Sinovac Covid-19 vaccines were loaded inside six temperature-controlled Envirotainer e2 RAP containers to maintain the vaccine temperature range of 2-8 Degrees Celsius. The shipments were loaded closest to the aircraft doors to allow for priority unloading and upon arrival the aircraft was parked at the South Apron closest to the Cathay Pacific Cargo Terminal at Hong Kong International Airport to reduce the towing time between the parking bay and the cargo terminal. Meticulous planning both within Cathay Pacific and with the shipper and forwarder in Beijing, as well as the consignee in Hong Kong, was critical to ensuring the utmost precision throughout the shipping process. As part of an airport-wide recertification of IATA’s CEIV Pharma accreditation (the internationally recognised quality-assurance scheme for pharmaceutical shipments) at Hong Kong International Airport, Cathay Pacific Cargo, Cathay Pacific Cargo Terminal and ground-handling subsidiary Hong Kong Airport Services (HAS) have all been re-certified. This offers a complete level of quality assurance at every stage of the import and transhipment journey.

UNICEF has launched the Humanitarian Airfreight Initiative; under this landmark initiative, over 10 leading airlines are signing agreements with UNICEF to support the prioritisation of delivery of COVID-19 vaccines, essential medicines, medical devices and other critical supplies to respond to the pandemic. The initiative will also act as a global logistics preparedness mechanism for other humanitarian and health crises over the longer term. “Delivery of these life-saving vaccines is a monumental and complex undertaking, considering the sheer volumes that need to be transported, the cold chain requirements, number of expected deliveries and the diversity of routes,” said Etleva Kadilli, Director of UNICEF Supply Division. “We are grateful to these airlines for joining forces with the UNICEF Humanitarian Airfreight Initiative to support the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines.” The UNICEF Humanitarian Airfreight Initiative brings together the airlines covering routes to over 100 countries, in support of the COVAX Facility – the global effort aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. Based on the COVAX Facility’s indicative distribution and first round allocation plan, 145 countries will receive doses to immunize around three per cent of their population, on average, starting in the first half of 2021, subject to all requirements being met and final allocation plans. In addition to prioritising shipments of these life-saving supplies, the airlines will take measures such as temperature control and security, while also adding freight capacity to routes where needed. Their commitments are critical to the timely and secure delivery of vaccines and critical supplies. Safe, timely and efficient transportation of life-saving supplies is critical to supporting access to essential services for children and families. COVAX deliveries and the subsequent vaccination of frontline workers will support health and …

Antonov Airlines and Rhenus Projects Logistics USA completed the urgent transport from Ghana to India of a 54-tonne rotor used to generate power requiring immediate repairs. Fellow members of The Heavy Lift Group (THLG), Rhenus Project Logistics USA, chartered the flight to carry the 10.50 m long, 3.89 m wide, 4.13 m high rotor from Accra, Ghana, to Mumbai, India, and back. Antonov Airlines used loading equipment designed by its in-house engineering team, while the external cranes for loading and unloading at airport were arranged by Rhenus Project Logistics USA to ensure the highest levels of safety for the teams and cargo. Antonov Airlines developed technical instructions and Rhenus Project Logistics USA assisted the client in redesigning the skid to ensure the bladed rotor fitted inside the fuselage. “This transport operation required well-coordinated preparation and actions from both partners to fly such outsized and heavy cargo safely,” said Vladyslav Ishchuk, Commercial Executive, Antonov Airlines. “Antonov Airlines showcased its flexibility by providing the AN-124 aircraft on the required dates during an extremely busy period for the customer to minimise any disruption that could have been faced.” “Rhenus Project Logistics USA and Antonov Airlines have an association going back over 15 years, which has involved multiple charter performances for mutual clients and is a testimony to the strength and expertise members of THLG bring to their clients,” said Ritesh Nair, Global Sales Director at Rhenus Project Logistics USA.

Rhenus Air & Ocean is consolidating its position in Germany with the planned takeover of the freight forwarding business of the logistics company, BLG International Forwarding GmbH & Co KG. Rhenus is using the acquisition to tap into new business fields and is making its global network available to the BLG Group. Provided that the cartel authorities approve the development, Rhenus will acquire nine air and sea freight sites on April 1, 2021. The nine freight forwarding sites operated by BLG International Forwarding with about 100 employees are due to be integrated within the existing network of Rhenus Air & Ocean in Germany, which currently has twelve branches, from the beginning of April onwards. They include business sites in Hamburg and Bremerhaven, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Stuttgart as well as Munich. This will enable the company to handle greater volumes through its LCL gateway in Hilden and its air freight hub at Frankfurt, for example. “We’ve gained a strong partner in Rhenus Air & Ocean and it’s making available its extensive network to our customers thanks to its global presence,” says Jens Wollesen, the Contract Board Member at BLG LOGISTICS. “BLG is strategically adapting to changes in market conditions through the sale of our freight forwarding business. Even if we’ll no longer be represented right across Germany in terms of freight forwarding in future, we’ll continue to provide extensive international services in our Contract, Automobile and Container divisions.” “We’ve paved the way for the continual expansion of our air and sea freight activities during the last few years. Thanks to the additional business sites, employees and business activities, we’re consolidating our network in the Air & Ocean division in Germany. We’d also …

To further enhance its pharma handling capabilities globally, dnata has added four high-tech ‘cool dollies’ to its Australian cargo fleet, becoming the first air services provider to offer a fully integrated, temperature-controlled cool chain for pharma and perishable shipments in this important market. Offering a closed, temperature-controlled system, the specialised containers will ensure safe and seamless delivery of temperature-sensitive goods, including pharmaceuticals and vaccines, between aircraft and dnata’s state-of-the-art cargo facilities. dnata will operate two cool dollies each at Sydney Airport (SYD) and Melbourne Airport (MEL), providing maximum safety to airline partners and their customers at every stage of the handling process. Dirk Goovaerts, dnata’s Regional CEO for Asia Pacific, said, “We are thrilled to be the first cargo handler in Australia to launch advanced cool dollies in our operations. Our latest investment underlines our commitment to ensuring reliable and safe end-to-end transportation of pharmaceutical products across the supply chain. We stay focussed on providing continual improvements that enhance the safety and security of our customers’ pharma shipments.” Vanessa Orth, Chief Commercial Officer, Sydney Airport, said, “Sydney Airport has played a pivotal role throughout the COVID-19 crisis, facilitating the movement of essential workers, medical supplies, agricultural exports, and thousands of people going and coming home. We applaud dnata for their investment in the resilience of Australia’s pharmaceutical supply chain, an investment which will ensure Sydney Airport continues to play its central role in the nation’s air cargo network.” Shane O’Hare, Chief of Aviation, Melbourne Airport, said, “We congratulate dnata for investing in cool dolly services, which will enable greater movement of temperature-sensitive goods around Australia. The product will certainly add to dnata’s existing cargo capability at Melbourne Airport which is …

LATAM Cargo Group had a positive performance during the 2021 Valentine’s Day season, which, together with Mother’s Day (April and May) represents the peak of the fresh flower export activity. In 2021, the company carried 7 per cent more flowers than in 2020, totaling more than 13,200 tonne. The good figures are due to LATAM Group’s uninterrupted operations in Colombia and Ecuador, despite the big challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of capacity. In fact, the Group has increased its online offering to satisfy the needs of its customers –in this case flower producers– who depend on connectivity and exports to sustain their businesses. For example, during the season that began three weeks before Valentine’s Day –January 18 through February 09– LATAM Group took off some 225 times from Bogota, Medellin and Quito with their loads of roses, spray roses, alstroemeria and gerberas from Colombia, and roses, gypsophila and alstroemeria from Ecuador to the United States. Miami is the main transit destination for fresh flowers and is also one of the world’s largest distribution hubs and home to the cargo operations of LATAM Airlines Group. From here, flowers are distributed primarily towards North America and Europe. Compared to a regular period, in Colombia the company carried 7 per cent more tonne per week during the Valentine’s Day season, successfully serving the demand from the flower sector. In Quito, Ecuador, capacity was added to transport the flower production to Miami, increasing the number of tons carried each week by 7 per cent, and raising capacity to Amsterdam (The Netherlands), the second destination for Ecuadorian flowers. “It is in times of difficulty like the current pandemic that our commitment to …

Frankfurt Airport (FRA) cargo throughput (comprising airfreight and airmail) rose by 18.1 per cent to 176,266 metric tonnes in January. Despite the ongoing lack of capacity for belly freight (transported on passenger planes), Frankfurt Airport recorded its second-highest January cargo month ever. Factors contributing to the growth in cargo tonnage included the later timing of the Chinese New Year, which is being celebrated in February2021. Last year, this typically low-traffic holiday occurred in January. Aircraft movements at FRA contracted by 63.7 per cent to 13,196 take offs and landings. Accumulated maximum take-off weights (MTOWs) decreased by 54.5 percent to some 1.1 million metric tonnes. The airports in Fraport’s international portfolio reported mixed results for January 2021, but all of them experienced traffic reductions compared to the same month last year. The pandemic situation in the respective airport regions or countries was the primary factor impacting passenger traffic during the reporting month.

The Bolloré Group has acquired a majority stake in OVRSEA, a digital freight forwarding company that harnesses technology to simplify and optimise international transport for businesses. The alliance demonstrates the complementary fit between Bolloré Logistics and OVRSEA. Together, the two firms will bring businesses greater simplicity, transparency and responsiveness in the management of their international transport and at the same time contribute to the development of French expertise internationally. The alliance will enable OVRSEA to open up to new markets by relying on Bolloré Logistics’ experience and network of global sites, while preserving its philosophy, management and employees. The people behind the success of the start-up remain more committed than ever to writing this new chapter and the company intends to double its workforce by the end of the year. And by 2025, OVRSEA aims to achieve annual revenue of €200 million.For its part, Bolloré Logistics will be able to expand its range of services and provide its customers with an all-digital experience. “The Bolloré Group is investing in OVRSEA because it is convinced of its potential. In just three years, the French start-up has revolutionised the international freight-forwarding sector by developing a 100 per cent digital platform designed to make global trade easier for its customers. Our acquisition of a majority stake in OVRSEA will serve to step up our digitalisation,” said Cyrille Bolloré, Chairman of the Bolloré Group.