IN BRIEF - THE LATEST AIR CARGO INDUSTRY NEWS
LH Cargo approves CSafe RAP
Lufthansa Cargo is the latest airline to approve the introduction of the CSafe RAP Temperature- Controlled container into service. The carrier intends to introduce the container throughout their
network of more than 300 destinations in 100 countries.
The CSafe container is specially designed using the company’s registered ThermoCor VIP insulation which the company states offers an innovative cooling and heating system which is unique to the
industry.
The CSafe temperature controlled unit maintains pre-defined temperature set-points throughout the total transport time and is, the company says, effective in the extremist of outside conditions
ranging from -30C to +54C. Thorsten Braun, Senior Director of Industry Development & Product Management at LH Cargo stated that: “ with the addition of the CSafe RAP we are further expanding
our portfolio of active cool containers, which is second to none, while intensifying our existing relationship with CSafe.“
Delta Cargo reports Q2 drop
Atlanta-based Delta Airlines Cargo has not been able to report on a good second quarter of this year. Figures released for Q2 which ended on 30. June show a 17 percent drop in air cargo revenues
to US$186 million. Consequently, first half year revenues then only amounted to US$378 million. In their report Delta Cargo blame the drop on lower yields and declining volumes.
All-in-all, the carrier is not doing badly. Total first half year operating revenues for all sectors reached US$35.5 billion which is a six percent rise compared to 2018. The resulting overall Q2
profits are said to be very satisfactory. Delta received their newest Airbus A321 in July which will be powered with biofuel and carbon offsets which will help reduce carbon emissions.
ABC flew racehorses from Moscow to Amsterdam
Nine precious racehorses traveled on board an ABC B747-8F scheduled flight from the Russian capital to Schiphol Airport to take part in a competition in the Netherlands. During loading and the
entire journey, the animals were looked after by AirBridgeCargo’s dedicated ‘abc care’ team. In a release, the carrier points out that “one of the crucial contributors to successful
transportation is the minimization of the waiting period – within warehousing premises, on the apron, before and after loading/offloading.”
The ‘abc care’ squad did their utmost to shorten before-the-flight standard procedures and set the required environmental conditions during the flight, reads the release.
‘Equine transportation stands apart from other animal transportations as we are dealing with precious animals whose well-being and comfort influence sports success,” highlighted Fedor Novikov,
Deputy General Director, Special Products and Services, AirBridgeCargo Airlines.
“Air transportation is the most preferable way of journey, as we cover greater distances within short times. After several adaptation days we were able to take part in the tournament winning the
second place,” commented Tatyana Kosterina, the horse rider of 11-year-old Diavolessa VA.
Saudis eye Hyperloop
The Arabian country inked a deal with Virgin Hyperloop One for building a 35km test and certification track. Starting point will be King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), located 100km north of
Jeddah. A Hyperloop journey from Jeddah to the country’s capital Riyadh is expected to take 1:15h, beating today’s 10 or more hours needed to bridge the distance. Virgin Hyperloop One’s
technology features depressurized tubes that carry on-demand passenger or cargo “pods” at velocities of up to 1,080 km/h.
“Having Hyperloop at King Abdullah Economic City is going to act as a catalyst for a Saudi Silicon Valley effect and galvanize our software development, high technology research, and
manufacturing industries,” stated secretary general Mohanud Helal.
“Our Hyperloop system could help enable Saudi Arabia to become a global transportation powerhouse, nurture the nation’s innovation and entrepreneurial culture, and grow an innovative knowledge
workforce,” stated CEO Jay Walder of Virgin Hyperloop One.
Korean Air to shut three domestic cargo sheds
Seoul Incheon-based Korean Air has decided to shut down three of their domestic cargo terminals in a bid to improve cargo revenue results. The three terminals are at Daegu, Cheong Ju and Gwangju
domestic airports where it is said that business has dropped considerably. It is not clear whether this is a temporary move on the part of Korean Air and that maybe the locations will be reopened
at a later date.
Korean Air has been suffering under quite a drop in cargo sales during the first half year. These are said to have gone south by almost 14 percent. A continuing rise in fuel costs is also said to
be a main contributor to the losses.
Turkish Cargo continues growth trend
The Istanbul-based cargo arm of Turkish Airlines, Turkish Cargo is continuing with its growth pattern and says that figures for May have been very satisfying for the carrier. Expansion in the USA
has been particularly good with an almost 35 percent increase in tonnage generated compared to the previous year.
This pattern was also obvious in the Far East with 19.3 percent growth and a 12.2 percent rise in tonnage sold in the Middle East & South East Asia regions. The airline maintains that due to
the increases, they have managed to maintain the position as the 7th largest cargo carrier with regards to tonnages flown. Turkish Cargo operates a fleet of 10 A330Fs, 5 B777Fs and 4 B747Fs on
routes across the globe. In addition, the airline offers plenty of belly capacity in their long-haul passenger fleet.
IBS Software upgrades to Cargo Data Management
Cargo iQ member, IBS Software has after successfully setting up their Cargo Data Management Platform (CDMP) has passed the Cargo iQ audit programme for the same.
The audit in order to gain CDMP certification began with a predatory phase which was then followed by a pre-assessment and a final assent which resulted in a successful certification. IBS
Software are specialists in creating IT solutions for the logistics, transport and travel industry. On the cargo side, this means that IBS clients can carry out direct reporting to Cargo iQ by
means of their end-to-end air cargo management platform, iCargo.
Zimbabwe’s NHS takes FastJet to court
A fight has been going on for some time between Harare, Zimbabwe-based National Handling Services (NHS) and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania-based Fastjet. The Zimbabwean press reports that NHS has taken
out a summons in the Zimbabwean High Court against Fastjet, claiming that the carrier owes them around US$ 150,000.
The claim is that NHS states that the airline did not honour a handling contract which they both signed back in 2014. It is reported that NHS had issued various invoices to Fastjet, which should
have been honoured by the carrier at the end of the first week of each month. NHS claims that this never happened and the amount they are now suing for is inclusive of interest accrued over the
five-year period.
Eastern Air Logistics goes for an IPO
Eastern Air Logistics which is the Shanghai, China-based China Eastern Airlines cargo arm, has made it known that they are to file for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in order to gather
sufficient funds to expand the fleet of their subsidiary, China Cargo Airlines.
The carrier operates six leased B777Fs and China Cargo would like to extend the leases for a further six years. They also have need of a further two B777Fs in the future. Apart from the present
six 777Fs, China Cargo operates three elderly B747-400 freighters. The additional funds generated by a successful IPO would also be used to purchase spare GE90 engines for the B777 fleet.
Ron King passed away
U.S.-cargo veteran Ron King suddenly died on 19 July, only three days before celebrating his 77th birthday. He has been in logistics for almost half of a century and has left an immense imprint
on the air cargo sector in the USA in general and on Volga-Dnepr’s development in particular, the Russian carrier states in an obituary.
King joined Volga-Dnepr in 2001 as a Commercial Director in the USA and during almost 14 years was building the image of Volga-Dnepr in the USA, gaining new projects, attracting new customers,
strengthening Volga-Dnepr’s market position and sharing his tremendous knowledge with colleagues.
“During his time with Volga-Dnepr, not only has he reinforced the company’s position, but has also been a tutor to the whole team members who engrossed his knowledge, experience and personal
approach to business development,” notes the carrier.
Ron King will be sadly missed as “he was a true personality who possessed the unique knowledge of air freight. His contribution to Volga-Dnepr will always be highly appreciated,” commented
Konstantin Vekshin, Executive President of Charter Cargo Operation at V-D.
FLEET NEWS
Chengdu, China-based Sichuan Airlines is reported to have taken delivery of the first of three ex- Qatar Airways Airbus A330-200 freighters, All three aircraft are being
leased by Sichuan Airlines who plans to use them on long haul sectors, with Brussels Zaventem being mentioned as the first destination.
Qatar Airways has now reconfirmed that they will definitely take delivery of the five B777Fs which were reserved through an MoU signed by Qatar Airways and Boeing at this year’s
Paris Air Show. Delivery will start sometime in 2020.
Madrid-headquartered Swiftair which operates a fleet of more than 40 cargo aircraft on Spanish and North African cargo routes, has decided to add three B757-200 freighters to
their fleet. They operate seven B737Fs, twenty-six ATR42/72Fs and ten Embraer EMB120Fs.
Jakarta, Indonesia-based My Indo Airlines which operates on regional routes with two B737-300Fs and a single B737-200F, are said to be close to ordering a converted B737-400
freighter (P2F). The delivery date has not been revealed.
John Mc Donagh / Heiner Siegmund
Write a comment
Martin Schlingensiepen (Wednesday, 31 July 2019 11:50)
Dear Heiner,
thanks a lot for your recent article about Mr "airfreight security" Harald Zielinsky.
Harald really deserves a big hand, as he did drive forward innovative security solutions in the airfreight and logistics industry for decades, when he was head of security at Lufthansa Cargo. I wish him all the best for the future.
Best Martin