Category Archives: International

To liberalise air cargo services in Latin America, the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) two regional offices for the Americas – the South American Regional Office (SAM) and the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACC) Office – have established new multilateral agreement for the development and emergence of the Latin American Civil Aviation Commission (LACAC)’s. The agreement comes into effect immediately among its 10 signatories and establishes expanded traffic rights – called ‘seventh freedom’ traffic rights – that permit airlines from one LACAC Member State to provide all-cargo services between two other signatory States without restrictions on routes and capacity. The 10 states involved are Brazil, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. “COVID-19 has imposed significant constraints on the entire air transport industry, and enterprises of all sizes are re-evaluating their business models,” noted ICAO’s Secretary General, Dr. Fang Liu. “To remain flexible and responsive to the countries’ needs, ICAO is adapting global regulatory approaches where this can aid pandemic response and global recovery efforts.” The agreement will remain in effect for one year, until 31 December 2021, and can be extended for a further year, at the discretion of LACAC States. Besides its immediate impacts in terms of pandemic response and recovery, ICAO encourages other countries to view it as a significant step in advancing the ‘ICAO Long-Term Vision for International Air Transport Liberalisation’. “Our hope would be to see this regional development evolve into a more permanent and global agreement, enabling more liberalised and sustainable 21st century air services,” Liu emphasised. “In the near-term, it should help increase the efficiency of vaccine distribution and, in the longer term, it should enable …

Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) has released the Preliminary November 2020 traffic figures highlighting that the air cargo markets were a silver lining for the region’s carriers, supported by recovery in global manufacturing activity, as passenger demand struggle to pick up. Buoyed by an acceleration in new export orders, cargo volumes carried by the region’s airlines increased for the third consecutive month, although demand as measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK) was still down 11.3 per cent year-on-year. Airlines increased capacity by deploying converted passenger aircraft and maximising dedicated freighter utilisation, helping to ease capacity shortages as reflected in the 6.7 percentage point increase in the international freight load factor to average 69.5 per cent for the month. Commenting on the results, Subhas Menon, Director General, AAPA, says, “Whilst the recovery in global economic activity has broadened across sectors, international travel remains crippled by border closures affecting 60 per cent of Asia Pacific destinations. The recent escalation in COVID-19 cases and emergence of variant strains, have resulted in the reimposition of stricter travel restrictions by several States.” Menon adds, “The near-term outlook for the airline industry remains extremely challenging. Governments need to move ahead with plans to implement harmonised testing protocols as a part of a multi-layered and risk-based approach towards safely restoring air travel, at the same time as vaccinations are rolled out across the world.”

Witnessing a growing demand for air cargo flights between Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong (HKG), Cathay Pacific has launched a new scheduled freighter service between Hong Kong and Riyadh (RUH). These new flights will meet the strong demand for shipments of e-commerce and other general cargo such as garments, providing their customers with reliable, efficient and direct air cargo services offering the high level of quality using its Boeing B747-400 ERF aircraft. Flights will operate once per week every Tuesday with a stopover in Dubai (DWC) on the return flight to Hong Kong, It has launched a number of scheduled and charter services recently to meet the air cargo needs of its customers. Earlier, on December 16, the airline launched a seasonal cargo service between Hong Kong and Hobart in Australia, providing an important airfreight lane for the export of fresh produce from Hobart to various parts of Asia via Hong Kong. Meanwhile in September last year, the airline launched a temporary service to Pittsburgh in the US to serve the seasonal upsurge in demand. In addition to operating a full freighter flight schedule, Cathay Pacific has also been operating thousands of pairs of cargo-only passenger flights, some with cargo loaded in the passenger cabins, and chartered hundreds of pairs of flights from its all-cargo subsidiary Air Hong Kong to provide additional air freight capacity.

Thermo King, by Trane Technologies (NYSE: TT), has launched its expanded portfolio of cold chain solutions in India, which can keep vaccines at temperatures from a range of +25 degrees Celsius to as low as -70 degrees Celsius. The company’s advanced cold chain technologies will help address the unique challenges of COVID-19 vaccine distribution in India, whose large population is spread across vast and varied geographies, from densely populated cities to far-flung rural communities. “Safety and reliability of the cold chain is critical to meet the urgent need for everyone to have access to vaccines,” said Allen Ge, President, Trane Technologies in Asia Pacific, in adding, “Our recently launched SuperFreezers were initially developed to flash-freeze high-end seafood. Our teams quickly adapted and developed a good solution for COVID-19 vaccines transport, which require ultra-cold temperatures to prevent degradation. We’re proud to support this historic effort in India and around the world with our technologies and cold chain expertise.” COVID-19 vaccine distribution is expected to start in India in the coming weeks, following the central government’s announcement of guidelines for states and Union territories for distribution of vaccines once they become available. The first approved COVID-19 vaccines must be kept at deep-frozen temperatures down to -70 degrees Celsius, and will be shipped in dry ice. A container using dry ice may require re-icing if it sits for an extended length of time, such as during a long haul or on the airport tarmac, or if the contents are exposed to ambient temperatures during transfers. Thermo King’s refrigerated solutions can extend the life of dry ice or even eliminate the need for it. Now, Thermo King products are being used by transport companies …

To offer the latest sustainable, advanced passive equipment, Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP Cargo) has signed a new airline lease agreement with pharma container manufacturer va-Q-tec. Va-Q-tec’s advanced passive containers can maintain various temperature ranges between -80 °C and +25 °C, set at the start of the journey, for up to 10 days, without any external power supply. Christel van Dael, Business Development Manager – Pharmaceutical Logistics, AFKLMP Cargo, said, “Offering va-Q-tec’s solutions is of great importance in view of the logistical challenges we face in transporting coronavirus vaccines worldwide. Together we can deliver vaccines to the world in a secure and sustainable manner.” Dr Joachim Kuhn, Chief Executive & Founder, va-Q-tec, added, “va-Q-tec pioneered advanced passive containers which use high-tech vacuum insulation and phase change materials. With our unique and patented technology, we ensure safe, cost-efficient and green shipments around the globe without an external power supply. Our containers save valuable energy, resources and CO2 due to their optimal temperature maintenance and lightweight properties. Due to this outstanding technology, we have proved that we are a very reliable partner for our clients even during this challenging time of the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, we are now proud to partner with Air France KLM Martinair Cargo Group and ready to solve any thermal logistic challenge.”

Ethiopian Airlines-DHL and African Electronic Trade Group have partnered to transport historical parcels in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The partnership is meant to invoke the start of trading of the AfCFTA market and the operations of the African e-commerce platform in the continent. The first batch of the goods has arrived at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport on January 1 at a ceremony graced by high-level officials from the public and private sectors, AU, DHL and Ethiopian Airlines Group. Working in collaboration with African Union Commission and the business community with a vision to enhance intra-and inter-African trade, the African Electronic Trade Group transports fragile trophies to various African countries as African Continental Free Trade Area commences. The smooth and reliable connection between the source and the final destination is possible because of the partnership between Ethiopian Airlines and the African Electronic Trade Group. This partnership joins the pre-existing continental partnership between Ethiopian Airlines and DHL that has strengthened the multimodal logistics systems established by Ethiopian at its hub in Addis Ababa. Commissioner General of the Eswatini Revenue Authority remarks, “Tremendous opportunities exist digitally enabled cross border trade through the implementation of ASYCUDA world, customs to customs data exchange, coordinated border management, single windows and other similar mechanisms pursued under the regional economic communities, which need to be the norm rather than the exception in Africa. The African Continental Free Trade Area brings momentum behind our commitment for enhanced ease of doing business that we are addressing in partnership with the business community, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade and all members of the National Trade Facilitation Committee.” The fragile goods have passed through Eswatini, South …

In a bid to build an exclusive Vaccine Air Freight Corridor Product called ‘HYDXB-VAXCOR’ (‘Hyderabad to Dubai global Vaccine Corridor), GMR Hyderabad International Airport & GMR Hyderabad Air Cargo (GMR-HYD) and Dubai Airports are coming together, and the MoU for the same was signed by Pradeep Panicker, CEO-GMR Hyderabad International Airport, Saurabh Kumar, CEO-GMR Hyderabad Air Cargo and Eugene Barry, EVP-Commercial, Dubai Airports Corporation in a virtual ceremony. As per the MoU, GMR-HYD and Dubai Airports will be according priority to the temperature sensitive Vaccine shipments moving between GMR Hyderabad and Dubai Airports for further connections to various Continents as part of the “HYDXB-VAXCOR” and build this service offering as a key differentiator and value proposition for the Vaccine Customers and Logistics Stakeholders. This agreement will lead to the roll out of customised and simplified processes and infrastructural support to streamline the journey of Covid-19 Vaccine right from the manufacturing unit to the airport and hub logistics to delivery to end-customers. As part of this joint initiative, Dubai Airports has identified GMR-HYD as a key strategic air cargo partner to leverage its global distribution eco-system, while GMR-HYD will leverage Dubai Airport as a key Strategic Collaborator towards facilitating the Global Vaccine Supply Chain with provision of Value Added Services for Vaccine Exporters and Imported from both the countries. The Partnership also entails Technology Collaboration, under which both the entities will explore and work together on an Integrated IT Solution that will provide End-to-End Visibility including Shipment Temperature and Status Tracking for the Customers while Cargo is in Transit between HYD and DXB and during its onwards journey to various global destinations. Commenting on this development, Pradeep Panicker, CEO, GMR Hyderabad …

Qatar Airways Cargo took delivery of three brand new Boeing 777 freighters on January 1, bringing its total freighter fleet count to 30 freighters, consisting of two Boeing 747 freighters, 24 Boeing 777 Freighters and four Airbus A330 freighters. It will introduce these freighters on its long haul scheduled routes and will also operate them as cargo charters, supporting global trade and the movement of time and temperature sensitive goods. Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive, Qatar Airways Group, says, “With the arrival of these new freighters, we are injecting much needed capacity in the market helping support global supply chains at a critical time during the pandemic. The added capacity will enable us to support the logistics around the Covid-19 vaccination which is projected to be one of the greatest logistical challenges for the industry. The 777F’s fuel-efficiency, long range and high capacity will support our airline to be more sustainable and operate additional non-stop flights to further destinations around the world, facilitating the movement of time and temperature sensitive goods. With our investments in innovation and fleet, we are able to fulfil our customers’ logistical requirements and support the continuity of global trade.” Ihssane Mounir, Senior Vice President, Commercial Sales and Marketing, The Boeing Company, says, “During these challenging times, Qatar Airways Cargo has been transporting humanitarian relief and medical goods to those in need and we are proud that their growing fleet of 777 freighters is supporting such a commendable effort. We deeply appreciate our long-standing partnership with Qatar Airways and their confidence in the 777 freighters as the backbone of their expansive global air cargo operations.” The Boeing 777 freighter is an efficient, long-range, and high-capacity freighter, …

MSC has announced a new direct service from India to West Africa, the MSC India Africa Service (IAS), effective from week 3, 2021 to enhance its services to customers shipping goods between India and Africa. The MSC IAS will provide a direct, fast and reliable service to our clients further demonstrating our commitment to the Indian trade, connecting Northwest and South India to West Africa, with a call at Colombo in Sri Lanka. On the way back, this new service will also connect South Africa directly with the Middle East, Pakistan and India. The rotation of India Africa Service will be as follows with the first sailing MP The Law, ETD Mundra on January 24, 2021: Mundra – Nhava Sheva – Colombo – Port Louis – Tema – Lome – Cotonou – Cape town – Durban – Jebel Ali – Abu Dhabi – Port Qasim – Mundra

Turkish Cargo carried the first batch of the Covid-19 vaccines (Sinovac), procured from China by the Ministry of Health, to Turkey. Loaded inside 17 containers equipped with dedicated cooling systems, the Covid-19 vaccines have been delivered to the officials of the Turkey’s Ministry of Health after having been successfully transported from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) to Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB) via a dedicated flight. Contributing to the continuation of the food and medicine supply chain, Turkish Cargo, on top of its considerable flight network power, has increased its capacity by 30 per cent to lend its support in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. The cargo carrier also enhanced its cold chain shipment scale to 25 thousand tonnes per month thanks to the capacity to satisfy additional 150 aircraft pallets, reinforcing its capability for carrying vaccines around the world. Holding the IATA CEIV (Center of Excellence for Independent Validators) pharma certificate, Turkish Cargo, maintains the cold chain at the optimal conditions with its TK Pharma product which was designed to carry pharmaceuticals such at global standards. Maintaining its continuous dialogue with the pharmaceutical manufacturers, forwarders, airports, ground handling companies and the national authorities, the flag carrier is capable of satisfying a wide range of requirements of the pharmaceutical manufacturers by making use of dedicatedly cooled containers and means such as dry ice for the shipments at ultra-frozen range (-70°C). Turkish Cargo, which creates a global pharmaceutical corridor between more than 400 destinations by transporting pharmaceuticals to the key and certificated destinations such as Mumbai, Brussels, Istanbul, Singapore, Dubai, Basel, London and Amsterdam, reaches more than 300 destinations, 96 of which are direct cargo destinations, and continues to offer service …