IN BRIEF - THE LATEST AIR CARGO INDUSTRY NEWS
BRU and MVD build Pharma Corridor
Brussels Airport and Montevideo Free Airport have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a corridor for pharma shipments between Europe and South America and to develop new pharma
certified lanes. The step follows their mutual launching of a Good Distribution Practices (GDP) compliant route between both airports to facilitate regional distribution to Brazil, Argentina and
other South American countries via Montevideo Carrasco Airport. Managing Director Bruno Guella of Carrasco International stated on the occasion of signing the MOU:
“The way Brussels Airport Company have positioned themselves as a pharma gateway with state-of-the-art infrastructure, pharma-oriented processes and internal quality standards up to par with the
most demanding has definitely helped shape our mission and vision. We are happy to be in continuous collaboration with Brussels Airport Company and very excited for what is to come.”
Nathan De Valck, Cargo Development Manager at Brussels Airport Company, replied to this:
“It is great to see companies such as MVD Free Airport who operate in very challenging regional contexts strive for greatness and help pave the way for a safer, reliable and standardized pharma
distribution. When we first started exchanging ideas and information, we were very pleasantly surprised to learn we were speaking the same language and that a lot could be accomplished together
and also being part of Pharma.Aero as well.”
ABC increases route frequencies
Moscow-based AirBridgeCargo Airlines is to increase frequencies on its major Asian routes. The carrier which has registered an average of 5% annual growth in Asia during the past years will up
its flights due to increased customer demand.
This includes increased operations as of the end of March of six weekly flights to Shenzhen, eight services to Tokyo’s Narita Airport and two to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. These destinations
have proven to be in high demand by ABC’s clients during the past year, and hence the increase in frequencies. Shenzhen is the latest Asian station to have been added to ABC’s network and since
its inauguration at the end of last year, demand for space has increased considerably the carrier states.
LH Group honoured for corporate citizenship
The Lufthansa Group of companies has been honoured by The Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC) for what they term the carrier’s sustainable corporate actions. LH Chairman of the
Executive Board, Carsten Spohr received the honour at a special dinner held in Washington DC last Wednesday evening. The FMC also honoured the Lufthansa Group for its activities in Cargo Human
Care in Kenya, a project which is sponsored by LH Cargo and where doctors treat and care for hundreds of needy children in Kenya every year (CFG, 27th Jan.).
Carsten Spohr commented on receiving the laurels that: “sustainable commercial success is only possible if we also live up to our social responsibilities and our responsibility for the
environment.”
Antonov’s barred for Somalia operations
Antonov AN-24, AN-26, AN-32 and AN-12 turboprop transporters which are often used to carry cargo and passengers for the African Union Mission in outlying African areas, have been banned from
Somalia’s airspace by the Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA).
The ban which was issued on March 15th is apparently because the SCAA has determined that there are hardly any certified maintenance (AMO) facilities in the East African region which are capable
of safely servicing the aircraft and keeping them reliably airworthy. The ban also refers to what the SCAA sees as a lack of traffic collision avoidance systems (TCAS) on hand for the aircraft as
well as the fact that their noise certification does not meet the standards laid out by the country.
WFS gets BRUcargo award
BRUcargo’s annual award has been given to Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) for what the airport terms as the handler’s good service quality and support of community projects. This is the first
time that a cargo handler has received the award which the Brussels Airport Company has now given for the 13th year in a row.
WFS is no stranger to Brussels Airport, having provided cargo handling services there for almost 27 years. They handle more than 140,000 tons annually at BRU for around 60 different customers.
Steven Polmans, Head of Cargo & Logistics, Strategic Development at Brussels Airport Company stated that: “we are happy that, for the first time, a handling agent wins the BRUcargo Award. It
not only shows the importance of a handling agent to the overall cargo product we want to offer as an airport, but it confirms that, today handling agents can still make a considerable
difference.”
Tigers launches Instant Freight Quote
Hong Kong-based Tigers Ltd who are specialists in e-commerce fulfillment, transportation and supply chain solutions have chosen technical start-up company Doozee to help them launch their new
Instant Freight Rate Quote Engine.
The Doozee platform will be offered free of charge by Tigers to freight forwarders and will, they say, also be offered to postal operators in order to give them ‘final mile solutions for
e-commerce.’ The company says that this new tool will be available to Tiger’s extensive international agent network and will be hosted on the Tigers SmartHub:Connect portal. This, they say, will
then ensure that customers have access to live quotes between all of Tigers’ global locations. “Doozee is a free of charge, agnostic plug-in and play for everybody, says Mark Gatenby, Chief
Information Officer at Tigers, and is a significant step in the digitalisation process for Tigers,” he adds.
Hactl wins Raya Airways
Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) which gives more than 100 airlines handling services, has won the Malaysian freighter operator, Raya Airways as a new customer for ground handling at
Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok Airport.
The carrier operates five weekly flights into HKG from their home base in Subang with Boeing 767 freighter aircraft and are in the meantime recognised as being the designated Malaysian national
cargo carrier. The Hactl contract is for a one-stop service including ramp handling, terminal handling and documentation. The airline also offers charter services and has a single B757F and B737F
aircraft on their books.
American Cargo gets new European Sales Director
Tim Isik will take up the role of Director Cargo Sales - Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) for American Airlines Cargo.
Mr Isik previously worked in American Airlines Passenger Channel Sales team, where he headed the carrier’s leisure sales business throughout the UK, Ireland and Iceland. He has a long history
with American, having also worked in Corporate Sales where he was responsible for the handling of some of American’s most important strategic accounts. Roger Samways, VP, Sales at AA Cargo stated
that: “his experience and focus on the customer experience makes him the ideal person to lead such an important and integral part of our operation.” He will be based at London Heathrow Airport.
John Mc Donagh
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