IN BRIEF - THE LATEST AIR CARGO INDUSTRY NEWS.
BRU to acquire more pharma dollies
Brussels Airport, which was a leader in promoting pharmaceutical transport and the first airport to gain IATA CEIV accreditation, has decided to considerably increase their ‘pharma dolly
fleet.’
In 2016 the airport introduced the first pharma dollies which allowed temperature sensitive goods to be carried under constant temperature-controlled conditions to and from the airport’s cool
facilities to the aircraft parked on the tarmac. Four of these pharma dollies have been in service since then and now the airport has more than doubled the fleet by adding a further five units.
These five APT’s are more modern than their predecessors, having among other things an automated temperature reporting system, more energy efficient cooling and can be operated autonomously for
several days. With this new acquisition Brussels is intent on keeping its position as a benchmark for the pharmaceutical industry.
Paris-Vatry gets new OPS Head
Although overshadowed by its big brothers Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Paris Orly (ORY), Vatry Airport which is situated 150 km east of downtown Paris, is trying to make a name for itself as
an attractive air cargo airport.
The airport Board of Directors has now announced the appointment of Marcus Farrell as the new Head of Operations. This move is part of the Paris - Vatry Airport plans to further develop the
airport for cargo and passenger operations.
Mr Farrell started his career with the long defunct American carrier Trans World Airlines (TWA) in Paris in 1985. He spent many years with Air France as Operations Duty and Training Manager and
in 2017 he left to take up an assignment with Qatar Airways.
Vatry Airport offers a 24/7 service and presently has two freight terminals with a capacity of 12,000 sqm which includes a 2,500 sqm perishable centre and refrigerated hangers. The airport is
hoping for full IATA CEIV accreditation in 2019.
LATAM starts Bogota-Huntsville cargo service
It seems that freight forwarder Panalpina was the driving force behind LATAM Cargo’s decision to introduce a weekly freighter service between Bogota, Colombia and Huntsville, Alabama. The new
service started on Sunday December 2nd and is in response to Panalpina’s desire to reduce travel time for their customers on the South America to North America routes. This new direct service
means that cargo carried now does not have to transit through Miami.
The B767 freighter reaches Huntsville after four and a half hours and can carry around 50 tons per flight. Most of the cargo carried is of a perishable nature and is handled directly through
Huntsville’s recently inaugurated Perishable Center.
Kenya investigates illegal Khat transport
It’s not officially termed as air cargo, but the illegal transport of Miraa which is better known as Khat, is a lucrative business in the Middle East and Africa.
Khat is a mild stimulant, but officially falls under the dangerous drug list and when chewed for a considerable time, relaxes the body and mind. The Kenyan Civil Aviation (KCAA) is now wanting to
clamp down on the illegal transport by air of this drug between Kenya and Somalia where it is in high demand. Investigations are ongoing against three small Kenyan carriers who are alleged to be
carrying Khat on their regional passenger services to Somalia. The licenses of two airlines were suspended earlier this year, but now the KCAA has renewed investigations into the trafficking
between both countries as they fear that there may be more airlines involved.
Antonov moves the whole group
Musicians and pop groups are used to giving concerts in various countries throughout the world. They easily fly from London to Sydney, Los Angles to Frankfurt and almost anywhere where their fans
ensure full concert houses or stadiums.
However, moving their equipment, which decades ago was not the case, has become somewhat of a logistical nightmare. It’s not just a few boxes these days. Complete stage set-ups and numerous
electrical systems which are all personally geared to the musician’s programmes have to move as well. Antonov Airlines is one of the few cargo carriers which offer ample space on the main deck of
their massive AN-124 freighter fleet for the transport of this voluminous cargo. They recently transported the stage and concert equipment for the American pop-star Taylor Swift from Brisbane,
Australia to Auckland, New Zealand and then onto Tokyo’s Narita Airport. A staggering total of 635 tons of equipment and light-show systems were moved within 36 hours between Brisbane and
Auckland, ferried by various AN-124 flights. The same was completed on the Auckland to Tokyo route.
A lucrative source of revenue for heavy lift carriers.
Hactl gets Best Station Award
The Hong Kong-based air cargo handler is no stranger as far as receiving quality awards is concerned. They have often been nominated for excellence awards and have received many. Last week they
were given the Best Station award at the first ever held Pride of Ground Handling Awards ceremony held at the GHI 20th Annual conference in Gothenburg, Sweden. There were more than 100 entries
received by the jury panel for awards in five categories. Best Station, Best Handler-Airline innovation, Ramp, Safety and Rising Star and Unsung Hero.
The award was handed over to Hactl’s CEO, Wilson Kwong by the well-known airline handling industry stalwart John Willis.
Hactl recently also received the “Smart Airport Technovation Award - Operational Excellence.” They received the award in recognition of their “Smart Cargo Locating” project which was recently put
into motion in their Super Terminal 1 facility at Chep Lap Kok Airport.
ACS wins Asian Business award
UK-based Air Charter Service (ACS) which boasts 22 worldwide offices and almost 15,000 annual aircraft charter contracts, has been given the Best Charter Broker award at this year’s ‘Icons of
Aviation’ organised by the Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA) at a ceremony held in Hong Kong.
ACS has been active in Asia for the past ten years and the award was collected on behalf of the company by their Director of Private Jets Asia, Jams Royds-Jones.
John Mc Donagh
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