SHORT SHOTS

AirBridgeCargo is WFS ATL’s debut customer
Just a few weeks after Worldwide Flight Services’ announcement that it had won the tender to run the brand new cargo terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (H-JAIA), (CFG reported: https://www.cargoforwarder.eu/2021/05/30/short-shots/), it has revealed that AirBridgeCargo (ABC) is its launch customer. The Volga-Dnepr Group airline has signed a 3-year contract BridgeCargo Airlines (ABC), part of, has signed a three-year contract, which will see WFS handling around 9,500 tons of cargo per annum for ABC, from approximately 100 Boeing 747-400ERF freighter flights. This is the third North American collaboration between WFS and ABC. The other locations are New York JFK, George Bush Intercontinental/Houston Airport (IAH), and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW).
Mike Simpson, EVP Americas at WFS, commented: “AirBridgeCargo is an important and growing customer of WFS, globally. Through multiple contracts in the U.S. and Europe, we are consistently proving our ability to deliver the service excellence ABC demands for its customers, as well as our expertise in supporting the airline’s portfolio of special cargo services, including pharmaceuticals and oversized shipments. The airline and its customers are the first to benefit from WFS’ investment in a new cargo terminal and handling systems in Atlanta, and we are delighted to welcome them as our launch client.”
Caroline Pappas, AirBridgeCargo Director of Sales, North America, added: “2020 has put the air cargo at the forefront, showing its ability for resilience and agility. Together with reliable and trustworthy partners such as WFS, we are happy to contribute with high-quality services for our customers, both in the USA and beyond, especially for special cargo such as healthcare, high-tech, and e-commerce. Together with WFS, we will be able to offer dedicated logistics solutions and the quality level our customers and market expect us to have. Through the capabilities of the new terminal, we will support our existing customers from various industries, as well as attract new ones.”

Xeneta opts for CLIVE’s Dynamic Load Factor Data
Xeneta sees the light! Dynamic Load Factor measuring makes so much more sense than the conventional method. (CFG reported in depth https://www.cargoforwarder.eu/2020/06/28/the-danger-of-not-weighing-in-the-air/ back on 28JUN20), and the Norwegian ocean freight rate benchmarking and market intelligence platform, Xeneta, has opted to include CLIVE’s dynamic load factor and capacity data in its Xeneta for Air Freight module which also displays short-term and long-term rate. The move is due to the increasing pressure on ocean freight capacity, which has seen many sea freight customers shift to air cargo as a temporary solution during the current disruption. “The need to be on top of the two most volatile markets, ocean and air, with on-demand rate and supply-side data has never been more important,” the press release reads referring to its “enhanced Xeneta for Air Freight” module which “delivers a new level of insight into the very latest air cargo developments.”
Paul Mullins, CRO at Xeneta, explained: “The air freight market can prove exceptionally challenging when you’re trying to benchmark rates, assess availability, and get the best value for your cargo and business – and, since the advent of COVID-19, a new layer of complexity has spread over the entire industry. In such a dynamic environment, our customers find that contracted rates simply aren’t actionable and spot rates ‘play by a new set of rules’, with fluctuations that are both difficult to predict and stay abreast of. The result is a lack of visibility when businesses need it most. But by combining our up-to-the-minute rates data with CLIVE’s unique load factor and capacity analyses, we can give customers the accurate market intelligence they need to enter negotiations with confidence. We believe this creates a truly unique proposition right now.”
Niall van de Wouw, Managing Director of CLIVE Data Services, added: “Today’s air cargo market is more dynamic that at any time previously, and that’s why businesses need the fastest and most accurate data. Companies must be able to make informed decisions, based on the latest trends and fluctuations in the market, which we see on a weekly basis. Xeneta clearly sees this too for customers who need a single, integrated tool to make smarter air freight decisions.”

Lufthansa Cargo scores half-a-century preighter flights for EgeTrans
In just six months’ time, since DEC20, Lufthansa Cargo has clocked up 50 preighter flights on behalf of the Baden-Württemberg, Gemany-based forwarding company EgeTrans Internationale Spedition GmbH. The 50th flight recently took off from Frankfurt/Main, Germany, destined for Chicago, USA. On board were various important spare and production parts, particularly intended for the agricultural and utility vehicle industries. Lufthansa Cargo has deployed passenger A340 and A350 aircraft as cargo-only flights to keep supply chains and factories running across the globe. Over 1,500 such flights have been carried out since MAR20.
“It makes us proud that we are able to offer such a tailor-made service to our longtime partner EgeTrans. The wide-ranging expertise within the Lufthansa Group enables us to find quick solutions for our customers and to react to the constantly changing requirements,” Achim Martinka, Vice President Germany at Lufthansa Cargo, said.
“The Lufthansa Cargo preighters fly like clockwork - the airline's reliability and the customer-oriented support from the Stuttgart sales department are a real added value for us,” Florian Naujocks praised. He is the Air Freight Manager at EgeTrans who initiated and is primarily responsible for the joint preighter project.
Just recently, Egetrans published a “Time to say goodbye” post on LinkedIn, too, commemorating its last Lufthansa Cargo MD-11 charter at the end of MAY21, bearing a cargo of galvanized engine blocks again on route from Frankfurt to Chicago for one of its customers. “It's been a pleasure, MD-11”. In its other LinkedIn post on the 50th freighter, it pointed to continued great, long-term cooperation: “Not only are we proud to have handled reliably such a volume in so few weeks, we are also grateful for the great partnership with Lufthansa Cargo Here's to the next 50.”

Time:matters upping Sameday Air service where it matters
Not just across the Channel with its cooperation with BusinessWings and Sovereign Speed (CFG reported on 09JUN21: https://www.cargoforwarder.eu/2021/06/09/businesswings-and-time-matters-offer-joint-cargo-flights/), but also across the Big Pond. time:matters has dramatically increased its Europe-USA service, adding more than 30 additional direct flights between Paris and ten US Sameday Air destinations. Capacity that is much sought after and will help guarantee the dispatch of time-critical shipments. Filtering in to Paris (Charles de Gaulle Airport) from across France (Bordeaux, Nantes, Lyon, Nice, Marseille and Toulouse) and 13 other European stations in 9 countries (Barcelona, Berlin, Budapest, Geneva, Gothenburg, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Madrid, Milan, Porto, Rome, Stockholm, and Warsaw), urgent shipments weighing up to 38 kgs will be able to connect to ten stations in the United States: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Washington D.C., and of course vice versa.
“We are pleased to offer especially our customers in the U.S., France and the Benelux countries even more attractive and faster transport solutions via our comprehensive Sameday Air network with the numerous direct connections,” Alexander Kohnen, CEO of time:matters, confirmed. “In particular in these challenging times with tight air freight capacities, we support our customers in the best possible way to maintain their supply chains.” time:matters provides a valuable service to customers mainly from the aerospace, mechanical engineering, life science, electronics, and automotive industries.

Hellmann Contract Logistics invests in New Zealand
28 milllion euro is the investment that full-service provider Hellmann Worldwide Logistics is putting into the lease and development investment of a new 19,200 m² ambient warehousing complex dedicated to multinational manufacturer Techtronic Industries (TTI). Located at New Zealand’s Auckland Airport, the highly efficient, state-of-the-art facility is due to be commissioned this JUL21, and will be built in line with the specifications of the New Zealand Green Building Council and the latest requirements regarding sustainable construction. Consisting of an ultra-high, 16,000 m2 ambient warehousing complex and a 3200 m², cantilevered canopy, the complex will enable storage for up to 29,000 pallets at up to ten pallet levels high. Hellman will handle full contract logistics for TTI there, and has the expansion of the contract logistics product segment on its global growth strategy agenda.
Chris McCagney, Managing Director Hellmann New Zealand, outlined: “The fact that we built an individually tailored warehouse for TTI further cements Hellmann´s business relationship with the client, which is a world leader in global brands such as MILWAUKEE, AEG and RYOBI power tools. The new warehouse is designed to build in flexibility and scale to adapt and grow as TTI's requirements of tomorrow develop. For example, the complex will have no columns and enhanced floor specifications which allows for future investments in innovative robotic-based material handling and automation solutions. At the same time Hellmann has developed an environmentally-sustainable and highly-efficient facility both for their staff and clients.”
TTI has been rapidly expanding in New Zealand, according to Australia and New Zealand Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, Grant Edhouse: “We needed a new facility with a longer-term contract logistics arrangement to support our future growth. The extended height, capacity, operational efficiency and flexibility of the complex has been specifically developed to cater for TTI's needs for a considerable period of time. By consolidating our operations into this new complex, we will be able to optimize and future proof our supply chain to the benefit of our retail partners and end users of our products. This new complex is also a great example how you can create a really exciting form of architecture within a functional industry build, and it supports the desire of both Hellmann and TTI to lead the way in quality of facilities and workplace.”

Large enough to handle, small enough to care

“Large enough to handle, small enough to care” is the mission of K2 Project Forwarding AS (K2), a joint investment venture of the Bergen, Norway-based shipping transport company, Peak Group and Frankfurt, Germany-headquartered logistics specialist, deugro group, aimed at offering quality project freight forwarding in Norway. “Customized solutions at the best price for clients,” the press release outlines, pointing to a service range which “includes global project freight forwarding, supply chain consultancy, engineering, re-supply, and spare part logistics”. The independent company will be headed by CEO, Leif Arne Strømmen, in position since 03MAY21, and an expert in the freight forwarding business with a varied background in innovation, projects, oil and gas, and marine logistics. “Leif Arne Strømmen has achieved significant results in his previous positions and will contribute strongly to the development of K2 Project Forwarding AS,” said Jan-Petter Slethaug, CEO, Peak Group. “The establishment of K2 Project Forwarding is based on our strategy to develop freight forwarding further in Peak Group, and we have a strong belief that we will provide the market with the highest quality solutions, both technical and conceptual.”
Didrik T. Martens, Chairman, Peak Group, described the venture’s goal: “We aim to offer the Norwegian project market a dedicated, highly qualified, and independent project freight forwarder, and we have the ambition to make a difference in the Norwegian forwarding market.” This will be achieved by combining deugro network’s best-in-class global logistics solutions with the industry and project expertise (both national and international) of K2’s highly-qualified staff.
Thomas C. Press, CEO and Owner, deugro group emphasized: “We are happy to enter into this partnership, as we have found the right partner and the right individuals in Peak Group and K2 in Norway.” Klaus Strahmann, Senior Executive Vice President, deugro group added: “This is the next milestone in a very important and future-orientated market where we are going to combine local excellence and experiences with global competences and strengths in project freight forwarding.”

Brigitte Gledhill

We always welcome your comments to our articles. However, we can only publish them when the sender name is authentic.