SHORT SHOTS

Kerry Logistics Focuses on China F&B Market
Hong Kong-based Kerry Logistics which has over 1,000 service points in 51 countries has decided to concentrate more on the rapidly expanding Food & Beverage market in mainland China. They have appointed Claire Trench to the position of Head of Food and Beverage (F&B). She will be based in Kerry’s Glasgow, Scotland office. Claire Trench has been in the forwarding business for the past 17 years and more recently has held positions working with leading names in the wines, spirits and beer industry.
Her main role will be to give support to various brands who are striving to export their goods into the fast developing F&B marketplace in China. Kerry Logistics also offer their customers cold chain logistics solutions for F&B trading within China.

Capacity to be a problem for peak season
The demand for air freight capacity this year has been very strong. The figures for the first eight months of this year show that capacity demand has grown by double-digit figures and it seems that trend will continue for the rest of the year. The so called peak season is approaching fast and many forwarders are striving to sign up for seasonal charter flights in order not to be left out if applying too late. This applies especially to air cargo charter contracts out of China to Europe and the USA. Some, such as the largest players, have already secured extra flights. others are still trying and it is expected that “full charter“ prices for B747 and B777 freighters, if available, will rise considerably during the coming weeks.

Pharma.Aero continues its growth
The worldwide Pharma.Aero platform has welcomed three new companies into the organization. The two joining air cargo stakeholders are Expeditors and Envirotainer. Additionally, Montevideo Free Airport joined the organization as seventh airport member. Thanks to the new participants, the total number of companies in Pharma.Aero grew to eighteen members.
Nathan De Valck, Chairman of Pharma.Aero, stated on the occasion: “The Pharma.Aero membership base is expanding to include all stakeholders in the pharmaceutical supply chain. Our cross-industry collaboration now involves pharmaceutical manufacturers, airports, airlines, logistics service providers and solution providers.”
The large scope allows the organization to tackle a broad range of improvement projects in the Pharma.Aero working groups. Together with these air cargo stakeholders, “we will develop global pharmaceutical trade lanes, implement best practices and share market knowledge and expertise,” Nathan announced.

Fraport starts new Innovation Website
Frankfurt based Fraport AG has launched what they term as a Dedicated Innovation website (www.innoFRAtor.com) with the aim of providing an exclusive information platform for the air cargo industry as well as for other interested parties. The new website will concentrate on updating the latest innovation topics within the aviation, transport and logistics sectors.
The site will be in both German and English and be split into four main sections. They are: Smart Logistics, Game Changer, Boundless Trade and Sustainability. Information will be presented by means of news items, interviews, company portraits and videos which are meant to give solutions and answers to each relevant industry listed on the website. Felix Kreutel, head of the Cargo & Logistics department stated that: “we want to be a key player in shaping the future of the air cargo transport chain so that our customers here at FRA can continue to benefit from a location that meets all the requirements of an efficient cargo hub.”

Another P2F program starts
The passenger to freighter (P2F) conversion programs of narrow body aircraft have been moving by leaps-and-bounds for the past two years. The demand for converted passenger A320 and B737 aircraft, especially in the Far East, has been enormous. Now, another company joins in on the conversion program. California based C3 Aerospace has announced that they will start P2F conversions for Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. It is understood that they are still awaiting final certification for the conversion program, but that they intend to start with A320 conversions and then move on to A321 aircraft. There has been no mention of a launch customer, but the company states that it is discussing possible contracts with various potential clients. If they start, then they will be the third Airbus conversion outfit on the market. Dresden based EFW and U.S. based Precision Conversions are the other two.

Peruvian charter connection to the USA
Lima based SkyBus Cargo Charters has applied to the U.S. Department of Transport (DOT) for a foreign air carrier permit and has plans to operate ad-hoc cargo charters to destinations within the United States with their single Douglas DC8-73 freighter aircraft. So far the airline has not indicated whether they have pending charter contracts or which destinations are planned within the USA. SkyBus started operations in late 2016 and their one DC8-73F is leased in from SkyBus Jet Cargo which is registered in California.

AeroVis also applies to the U.S. DOT for AN-12 operations
Another application to America’s DOT has been made for cargo flights. This time it is Ukraine based AeroVis Airlines which has applied for a foreign air carrier permit to operate scheduled and charter cargo and mail flights to and from the United States.
AeroVis wants to operate with their two Antonov AN-12 freighters. This aircraft is officially termed as a “short to medium haul“ plane which has a maximum payload of 20 tons and a maximum range of just over 2,000 km. It is ideal for heavy and outsized cargo, but it will be interesting to see what routings AeroVis can manage if they are granted a permit.