SHORT SHOTS

Dnata touches down at Brussels Airport
Sources state that Emirates Group ground handling subsidiary, Dnata, has won the third airside cargo handling license at Brussel Airport. The cargo handling licenses which are up for renewal this year are issued for a seven-year period which ends in 2025. Up to now Brussels Airport has limited airside access to two companies only. The cargo community has been lobbying for the abolition of this duopoly for years, hoping that this will lead to better service levels.
Apart from Dnata, the present license holders Aviapartner and Swissport as well as Spanish handler Acciona, have reacted to the tender. It is said that Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) submitted their application too late. Even if the advent of Dnata still has to be officially confirmed, it does not come as a surprise. They would be a newcomer to Brussels. They entered the handling scene in Amsterdam in 2015 by taking over Aviapartner’s business activities there.

Final run for local rule implementation in AMS
The airlines represented at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in the Coordination Committee Netherlands have endorsed KLM’s compromise on the allocation of 25% of non-used slots to the cargo industry. A fixed contingent of flights will be reserved per season for cargo operations based on former year’s statistics. So far there has been no information on the exact number of slots the air cargo industry will have at its disposal. The proposal will also provide the allocation of slots resulting from cancelled flights. It remains unclear if the rule will compensate the loss of historical rights incurred by the cargo carriers. The local rule for Schiphol still needs the approval of the Minister of Infrastructure, Cora van Nieuwenhuizen. She has stated earlier that she was willing to support the rule, which has to be screened by EU regulators. Interested parties such as the umbrella organisation Air Cargo Netherlands (ACN) and Transport & Logistiek Nederland (TLN), have urged the minister to speed up the process so that the rule can come into effect during the coming summer season.

Western Global to expand scheduled cargo operation
Sarasota, Florida-based Western Global Airlines (WGA) has filed documents with the U.S. Department of Transport (DOT) which are applications to expand their scheduled cargo network. The DOT reports that WGA has put in an application for a so called ‘Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity,’ which if granted, would allow the carrier to operate scheduled cargo flights from points in the U.S. to other countries which already have Open Skies agreements with the United States via intermediate points. The airline already operates cargo services between the U.S. and mainland China, as well as Hong Kong. Apart from this, WGA also has the right to operate interstate and foreign cargo charters with their fleet of two B747-400Fs and eleven MD-11Fs.

Hermes appoints new Chief Technology Officer
London, UK-based Hermes Logistics Technologies (HTL) which is one of the leading suppliers of air freight cargo management systems, has appointed Alexis Labonne as Chief Technology Officer. The company is presently in the process of rolling out their latest management system, which is called Hermes 5 (H5). Mr Labonne who has an extensive software development and architectural background, joins Hermes after having held positions as CTO for companies such as Hitachi Consulting, British Telecom and KPMG.
Hermes which has been offering airlines and air cargo handlers digital handling solutions since 2002, will roll out their latest version (H5) this year. It is said that a leading European handling agent will be the first to use the new system.

Frank Van Gelder new Secretary General of Pharma.Aero
Brussels-headquartered Pharma.Aero has announced that Frank Van Gelder will take up the position of Secretary General for the association.
Pharma.Aero provides its members with end-to-end advice and solutions in air transportation for pharma shippers as well as being active in carrying out local and regional discussions for the industry. Frank Van Gelder joins at a time when the pajama industry is looking for better service levels and supply chain solutions. He has held top positions within the air cargo industry during the past years, especially in relation to special products such as pharma and perishables. His vision remains that supply chain improvement and innovative approaches towards time and temperature critical commodities, are essential for this part of the industry.

WFS gains United recognition in AMS
Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) Amsterdam operation has been acknowledged by United Airlines for its ‘outstanding achievement’ and has gained United’s Best Station of the Year award for the Europe, Middle East, India and Africa (EMEIA) region for the third year in succession. WFS handles more than 210,000 tonnes a year in AMS and has a portfolio of more than 40 airline customers there. United and WFS have been partners at the airport since 2004. The U.S. carrier operates to Houston, Chicago, Newark and Washington with more than 1,300 flights per annum.

DHL Express orders B767-300F
At the recently held Singapore Airshow, DHL Express announced that they have placed an order with Boeing for a B767-300ER BCF aircraft. This will be a P2F conversion unit, but both parties are keeping quiet so far on where the aircraft originates and what delivery slot has been agreed to. When finished, it is assumed that the aircraft will most probably be allocated to one of DHL Express units in Germany or the UK. DHL Express already operates a fleet of 34 freighters, many of which are the B757-200F variant.

John Mc Donagh / Marcel Schoeters