SHORT SHOTS

The Pressure is on for the Fourth Quarter, TIACA warns
In fact, the pressure has never been off these past 18 months, as the industry has dealt with challenge after challenge: Pandemic, flight groundings, e-commerce booms, ad hoc PPE transports, ever-changing restrictions and regulations, and then typhoons, strikes, lack of staff across many airports (particularly within China) leading to shifts in supply chains to alternative airports, and on top of all that; major disruption and delays in the sea freight industry, pushing even more cargo onto an already critically tight air cargo capacity situation. And now with the pressure cooker of Black Friday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, et al, in what is normally a peak season anyhow, TIACA warns “that the industry is facing unprecedented challenges to deal with expected fourth quarter demand for air cargo services,” encourages shippers to cooperate early on with forwarders to secure required capacities, and urges authorities to facilitate movement: “Governments are urged to fast-track ad hoc charter permits and consider supporting 7th freedom regimes where they are being implemented. States are also urged to work with industry representatives to identify in advance potential system blockages in order for them to be addressed before they further impact supply chains. Supply chain disruptions are already being experienced in certain markets and the situation is projected to worsen.” The answers lie in data sharing, planning, preparing contingency plans for all eventualities, communication, and close, quick cooperation.
Steven Polmans, TIACA Chairman commented “TIACA's membership is drawn from all sectors of the supply chain and we are hearing concerns expressed by each sector. Air cargo has played a vital role these past 18 months and is facing a potentially record fourth quarter, but planning must start now. Resourcing and capacity will be issues, handling and facility space will be an issue, delivery and drivers will be an issue. We should be proud of the innovative, agile and flexible approaches adopted by the industry these past 18 months and now we must equally rise proactively to these new challenges as the weight of customer expectations mount.”

DSV opens Gigantic Gauteng Headquarters
Africa’s largest, integrated logistics center was inaugurated on 23SEP21. DSV’s new headquarters, DSV Park Gauteng, near O.R. Tambo International Airport between Johannesburg and Pretoria in South Africa, is a centralized facility aimed at providing seamless service to customers and creating a stronger, more efficient logistics network in and for South Africa. Spanning around 130,000 m², the facility houses DSV’s entire supply chain solutions management, from first to last mile. It houses a 79,000 m² logistics warehouse, a 41,000 m² cross-dock facility, and 10,000 m²of office space, and includes DSV’s Air & Sea, Road, Solutions, and Shared Services divisions. The inauguration was held as a virtual ceremony today, hosted by DSV Africa CEO, Keith Pienaar, who states: “The inauguration of DSV Park Gauteng once again underlines DSV's strong commitment to South Africa and our will to grow the business in the region. DSV Park Gauteng consolidates several smaller offices and warehouses around Johannesburg into one large, modern logistics center. The foundation of our values and culture is to promote an inclusive workforce and sustainable business practices. One consolidated facility will enhance collaboration and offer truly integrated supply chain solutions for our clients and customers. With DSV Park Gauteng, DSV has developed a large-scale modern logistics center which captures the essence of our consolidation strategy to create larger and more efficient facilities, enabling us to have many of our business units together under one single roof.”
Brian Almind Winther, EVP and Head of Group Property, DSV, added: “We have packed the new DSV facility with solutions such as an innovative sorter that can handle 12,000 packages every single hour. Throughout the whole building process, we have also utilized our global experience to construct buildings where sustainability and resource optimization have been fundamental in all processes.” Those sustainability measures include biometrics, solar power, translucent roof sheeting, recycling stations, LED motion lighting, boreholes and water filtration systems – all designed to reduce environmental impact. Also, local contractors and the community were involved in the development of DSV Park Gauteng.
Construction is underway in Cape Town, too, where the DSV Park Cape Town
logistics center in the Western Cape, close to Cape Town International Airport, its harbor and industrial and commercial hubs, will also serve to further strengthen the South African logistics network.

CargoAi enables total rate overivew with new module

CargoAi has launched an industry-first with it new Rate Management functionality. It is what airlines, GSAs and forwarders alike have been asking for ever since the air cargo digital solutions platform came into being: the possibility to view and manage all their rates in one place: street, contract, spot, interlines, etc. The clear overview greatly facilitates decision processes and leads to considerable efficiency gains, for both freight forwarders and carriers. The new Rate Management module also includes a “Booking Request” functionality, so that freight forwarders can also make an e-booking request directly via the platform to all airlines. “On the freight forwarding side, detailed cargo capacity booking requests with flight, dimensions and rates are sent to any airline or GSA via a standardized e-mail (or FFR in booking systems). For airlines and GSAs who don't have eBooking API available, this new functionality allows them to still achieve e-Bookings and thereby benefit from the advantages of a digital distribution process: simplicity, time saving and cost reduction,” the press release reveals. “This is made possible thanks to CargoAi's unique and complete live schedule solutions that provides the most accurate schedule data in Air Cargo and has been the backbone for the eQuote (Spot) requests functionality.”
Matthieu Petot, CargoAi’s CEO, explains: “Like all the features we are launching, Rate Management with the integrated Booking Request option is a further step towards the digitalization of the entire air cargo distribution and procurement process. We developed it following feedback from users of www.CargoAi.co, who are seeking services which have a direct impact on their bottom line, while having a much better visibility and ability to manage their booking requests. Airlines and GSAs can still modify, confirm or reject a booking.”

GEODIS’ AirDirect is getting bigger
OCT21 will see GEODIS’ AirDirect Europe-Asia connection being expanded as a twice-weekly service between London Stansted (STN) via Amsterdam (AMS) to Hong Kong (HKG) and back (STN/AMS) joins its schedule. With this, GEODIS points out, “APAC customers will have access to almost 80 percent of European destinations within 24 hours,” and will be deploying its new A330-300 full-freighter for some of the flights. Aimed at increasing pharmaceutical, high tech, and retail traffic, the new service offers AirFast, AirFlex, and AirSave services along with much needed guaranteed capacity, and, in combination with its Asian road network, connects more APAC origins to markets in Europe and the Americas. GEODIS is concentrating heavily on growing its APAC business, offering cross-border trucking along the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur-Bangkok axis, and multi-modal gateway services beyond these hubs.
Onno Boots, President and Chief Executive Officer, Asia Pacific, GEODIS, commented: “The strength of our network in Europe plays a critical role in driving our growth in APAC. Opening up new and in-demand routes to better address our customers’ needs is a pivotal element of our aim to increase our footprint in growth markets. Our business in APAC has seen steady and significant growth over the past few years and therefore we want to add more routes into our current network.”
“While taking care of our customers’ priorities across the region, it’s very important for us, as a recognized service provider to factor in the demands of end users, who are comprised of high tech, automotive, and industrial customers,” Chris Cahill, Managing Director, North Asia Sub-Region at GEODIS, added. “Having our own network combined with our recently expanded logistics facilities gives us unparalleled security and end-to-end control over every aspect of the operation, maintaining optimal conditions for the cargo, but also ensures our customers enjoy reliable capacity for moving supply parts to production facilities or finished goods to their destinations.”

Atlas Air solidifies integrator partnerships
Atlas Air Worldwide (AAWW) announced last week, that it is now wet-leasing two B747-400 freighters to FedEx. The aircraft are already flying for FedEx, supporting their increasing express and e-commerce network. The new ACMI (aircraft plus full-time aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance) contract signed by the two companies as part of a long-term agreement, comes on top of an existing multi-year peak season contract to provide FedEx with a minimum of five aircraft during the fourth quarter. John W. Dietrich, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlas Air Worldwide, stated: “We are pleased to grow our long-term relationship with FedEx. This agreement reflects the continued strong demand for airfreight capacity, particularly in the express and e-commerce markets. Atlas is a leader in supporting express networks, with a focus on operating the most modern, fuel-efficient aircraft to deliver high levels of on-time performance for our customers.”
Just as week prior, Atlas Air Worldwide also announced the extension of its agreements with DHL Express, to operate 20 freighters – again supporting express and e-commerce markets. The DHL-Atlas partnership goes back to 2008, and has solidified over the years to include a long-term agreement for six dedicated 747-400Fs to fly key Trans-Pacific routes. Plus, DHL owns 49% of AAWW’s subsidiary, Polar Air Cargo, since 2006. Atlas Air now operates four different aircraft platforms for DHL Express, including: 6 B747-8 freighters, 2 B747-400 freighters, 8 B777-200 freighters, and 4 B767-300 freighters. John W. Dietrich, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlas Air Worldwide, commented: “DHL Express is a global leader in express and e-commerce, and it is our privilege to contribute to their continued success. These agreements build on our successful 13-year partnership. We look forward to continuing to provide DHL Express with critical capacity through our modern, fuel-efficient fleet. As this agreement indicates, Atlas is capitalizing on the strong global airfreight market conditions as we deepen relationships with our customers.”
“We are pleased to extend our long-standing and valued partnership with Atlas Air,” Rob Hyslop, Executive Vice President Aviation at DHL Express, said. “Continuing to utilize Atlas and its global operating capabilities enables us to best serve our customers and their continued high demand for fast international shipping, fueled by the megatrend of e-commerce and the overall importance of global trade.”

Daenen is Brussels Airlines’ new Head of Corporate Communications
Reporting directly to Brussels Airlines’ CEO, Peter Gerber, Kim Daenen has succeeded Wencke Lemmes as new Head of Corporate Communications at Brussels Airlines. Wencke Lemmes moved to become Head of Customer Experience, Product and Marketing on 15MAY21, yet remains responsible for Public Affairs and Lobbying. Kim Daenen has been with the airline since 2009, starting out in its e-commerce department before moving to Social Media Management, building up its social media communications strategy, and then joining the Corporate Communications department as a Media Relations Manager and Spokesperson in 2014. Her background includes a Master’s degree in Translation & Business Communication, and a Master’s in Journalism. In her new role, she will be responsible for further developing the airline’s public relations and communication strategy.
Peter Gerber, CEO Brussels Airlines, commented: “With our turnaround plan REBOOT Plus, a new Brussels Airlines will emerge, in which change will be the one constant. To make this new Brussels Airlines and the profound investments in our future a success, transparent and extensive communication will be key. We are convinced that Kim is the perfect fit for this challenge and will make the communications and public relations strategy future-proof.” Kim Daenen, Head of Corporate Communications at Brussels Airlines, stated: “Our company has gone through tremendous change in recent years and will continue to do so. In the coming months and years, one of our key priorities will be to transparently communicate our sustainability ambitions. Next to this, our focus will continue to be on our Belgian ambassadorship, our key market Africa and our ongoing improvements and investments to become a structurally sustainable company, offering perspectives to our employees and stakeholders.”

Brigitte Gledhill

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