IN BRIEF, THE LATEST AIR FREIGHT INDUSTRY NEWS:
Amazon runs into trouble with ABX strike
The pilots’ strike at ABX Air, which among others, operates flights for Amazon throughout the United States, has forced Amazon to rethink its carrier strategy for at least the coming weeks.
Although the U.S. courts have forced the ABX pilots to resume duties, it seems that Amazon is not sure whether peace will prevail and has readjusted its capacity spread among its carrier
partners. This leaves ABX Air out of the picture for the moment until Amazon is convinced that there will be no further disruptions.
The pilot strike towards the end of November cost Amazon and DHL Express dearly when both companies were forced to cancel a total of over seventy-five flights.
It seems however, that normality is returning within ABX and that Amazon may well, or even have plans to reinstate ABX into their flight plan.
Netherlands Parcel International starts 12send service
A new same-day intra-European air cargo delivery service has been started by the Dutch company, Parcel International, making use of Amsterdam Airport’s baggage system and KLM’s European
network.
The service has started after the completion of a successful pilot trial during October on KLM routes between Amsterdam and Barcelona.
Both Schiphol Cargo and KLM Cargo management fully back this new service which is named “12send.”
The cargo is processed and loaded through the Schiphol luggage system and is sent directly to the KLM European flights along with normal baggage.
Parcel International claims that same day delivery of e-commerce goods is possible throughout Europe by means of this new “12send” service.
Marcel de Nooijer officially appointed at AF-KL Cargo Executive VP
The Air France - KLM management officially announced on December 16th that Marcel de Nooijer takes up the reins as the Franco-Dutch carrier’s Executive VP Cargo.
In his new position, de Nooijer will join the Executive Committee of the Air France - KLM Group.
Mr de Nooijer looks back on a long history within KLM having started his career there in 1995 and has gained both operational and commercial experience in various positions.
In 2013, de Nooijer was appointed as Managing Director of Martinair Cargo and since November of that year he was also appointed as Executive Vice President of KLM Cargo.
Air Canada - Cargojet MRO partnership in danger
The Canadian all cargo carrier, Cargojet and Canada’s national carrier, Air Canada had planned to establish a joint MRO Centre of Excellence in Western Canada along with two other Manitoba-based
companies, Hope Aero Propeller and Air Base Services.
The partnership with Hope and Air Base seems to be going ahead but the deal with Cargojet which entails the cargo carrier leasing one of Air Canada’s hangers at Winnipeg Airport to start its own
MRO activities has not started despite the fact that Cargojet was offered a C$10 million start-up loan by the government of Manitoba.
Financial problems?
Fraport holds firm in November despite LH pilot strike
Fraport AG, Germany’s largest airport handler is half-way happy with their November traffic figures which despite a costly Lufthansa pilot strike which resulted in 2,600 flight cancellations
affecting 345,000 passengers.
Passenger figures were acceptable whereas cargo throughput was not.
A total of 4.1 million passengers passed through the airport in November, an increase of almost 5% on last year. However, it should be noted that in November 2015 passenger figures were way down
due to a LH cabin crew strike.
Cargo tonnage went down by 2.1% to almost 192,000 tons.
This was to a great part also attributed to much less cargo carried in the Lufthansa bellies because of the flight cancellations.
AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS:
Aerotrans Cargo which is based in Chisinau, Moldavia, is getting ready to receive their first B747 freighter aircraft. The Moldavia operator already has various IL-76Fs in its
fleet along with a single Saab 340F. A B747-400F is planned to join the fleet although there has been no notification of where this aircraft will be utilized.
Bangladesh carrier, Bismillah Airlines, which is a member of the Dhaka-based Mollah Group is said to be wet leasing a Boeing 747-400 freighter. Rumor has it that the aircraft
will be supplied by Aerotrans Cargo (see above). Bismillah Airlines which was founded in 1998 has been in and out of business with a fleet of various Russian and Western built airliners. In
September 2015 they were listed as not having any aircraft on their books.
Scottish carrier Loganair, based in Glasgow will expand their cargo fleet by taking two P2F Saab 340B which are to be converted by Täby Air Maintenance. The first aircraft is
already being converted for January 2017 delivery, with the second to follow in February.
Russian Post has switched operator for their TU-204 cargo aircraft. The Russian postal service had intended to use Moscow Vnukovo based Direct-Avia to manage and operate the
fleet of two aircraft, but have now awarded the contract to Aviastar-TU. Both aircraft operate on Russian domestic routes.
John Mc Donagh
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