SHORT SHOTS

Fraport stays on the road in July
Germany’s largest airport operator, Fraport, recently published their July figures which show that the positive trend of the first six months of this year is being continued.
Cargo throughput in Frankfurt again showed positive results with a 4.2% increase up to just over 188,000 tons. Passenger numbers grew in July to 6.4 million which is a 4.4% increase on the same period last year. Total aircraft movements for the month rose by 2.3% up to 43,482 take-offs and landings. The Fraport Group’s international portfolio delivered well with the 14 Greek airports showing a combined traffic growth of just under 10%, handling some 5 million passengers. Despite the present reluctance by part of the traveling public to spend their vacations in Turkey, Antalya Airport which is also run by Fraport showed an amazing 64.9% rise to 4.2 million passengers.

Virgin Atlantic Cargo appoints new San Francisco agent
UK-based Virgin Atlantic Cargo has decided to appoint Alliance Ground International (AGI) as their cargo handler in San Francisco in order to meet the demands of what they term as their growing cargo operations on the U.S. West Coast. Virgin Atlantic operates twice daily flights from London Heathrow to SFO along with a further three weekly flights to the west coast city from Manchester. Figures published for 2016 show that the carrier was able to increase their cargo volumes from the UK to San Francisco by 18% and that the first six months of this year show a further 15.5% increase in tons carried.
AGI, which is one of the largest U.S.-based ground handlers also handles Virgin Atlantic Cargo in Miami, New York-Newark and Orlando.

1GSA sets up in Russia
The network for independent cargo GSSAs - 1GSA, has set up in Russia by appointing Moscow-based TEK Poseidon as their new member for Russia. 1GSA now boasts having members in 12 countries with applications from further aspirants pending.
The latest member for the Russian market, TEK Poseidon, was formed in 2002 by a group of individuals who had gathered experience in freight and logistics operations and sales and has since developed into a company which deals in forwarding, express operations, warehousing, road transport liner agency and ocean consolidation. TEK Poseidon with its main base in Moscow now also operates out of offices in Riga, Saint Petersburg, Klaipeda, Minsk as well as Helsinki and Hamburg. A Tashkent, Uzbekistan office is also in the planning for the near future.

Jettainer offers foldable horse stalls
Frankfurt-headquartered Jettainer who is one of the leaders in outsourced ULD management has come up with a new service segment for the transport of horses by air.
Special transport boxes for horses which when not in use can be folded down to less than half of their size, are now on offer for short or long-term rental to interested parties.
The stalls which can transport up to three horses at a time, come with a broad loading ramp and fully adjustable portions in the upper area. Non-slip materials are used so that the animals cannot injure themselves when being transported. When being sent back to their origin empty, the horse stall can be folded down and is then easily transportable on lower deck aircraft positions at less cost.

John Mc Donagh