SHORT SHOTS

Antonov manages a complex 82-ton shipment
One of Antonov’s five AN-124s temporarily repositioned in Leipzig, carried out a highly complex operation recently, on behalf of Elite Aviation Dubai. A large and excessively heavy tail shaft required transportation from Sharjah, UAE, to Billund, Denmark for repairs, to later make its way on the return journey. Packed in a cradle, the shipment weighed about 82 tons. All involved emphasized the complexity of the project.
“It was a real challenge for Consignee and ANTONOV as well as for airport`s services team,” Andriy Nazarenko, Flight Manager, Antonov Airlines, revealed. “Loading of cargo required operation on the maximum allowed crane boom lifting height”.
Dmytro Prosvirin, Head of Commercial Bereau, Antonov Airlines, added: “Extremely hot season and a 90-ton payload required departure at the lowest possible temperature in the night. Despite of all the challenges, the shaft was successfully delivered to Billund for repairs and after repairs it was successfully transported back to Sharjah, UAE.”
In charge of supervision on the ground, Elite Aviation’s Eric Philip, explained: “It was a challenging project and especially at Sharjah airport loading/offloading operations need to be finished during daylight as night operation was not allowed. So, all teams (crew and handler) involved needed to make sure that no mistakes happens to make it smooth and successful.”

Go green, Fly Greener
Cathay Pacific Cargo unveiled the next step in its drive to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Called “Fly Greener”, the carbon emissions program includes a calculator that customers can use to ascertain the emissions of their shipments. Based on the cost to offset those emissions, customers can choose to contribute to Gold Standard carbon-reduction projects, each with a social component. Currently, four projects are supported: fuel-efficient cooking stoves for families in Bangladesh, solar-powered hot water for households in India, solar-powered cooking stoves and small biogas plants to families on the Chinese Mainland.
Cathay Pacific is the first of the Asian carriers to demonstrate tangible sustainability measures. Fly Greener has long been offered on the passenger side, and that system has now been extended to include air cargo services. This latest measure adds to the airline’s Corporate Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Program bringing SAF into Hong Kong International Airport for the first time, and the pledge to achieve 10% SAF in its total fuel use by 2030.
General Manager Cargo Commercial George Edmunds said: “The carbon emissions calculator is another tool we have made available to help our customers achieve their sustainability targets to make our business and our industry more sustainable. In tandem with our promotion and development of Sustainable Aviation Fuel capabilities, the calculator will give our customers flexibility to offset their carbon emissions via a suite of accredited carbon offset projects.”
Simon Ng, CEO of Global Logistic System (HK) Co., Ltd (GLSHK), a Cathay Pacific-owned subsidiary that designed the technology, said: “Multiple factors can lead to variance in the amount of emissions generated by a booked shipment. GLSHK helped refine this system with Cathay Pacific Cargo by using a variety of data sources to calculate the emissions for a shipment including the actual flown route, aircraft type, and actual flying distance to maximize the accuracy of the offset for our customers.”
Head of Cargo Global Partnerships Chris Bowden said: “We are excited to be driving industry leadership in Asia for sustainability, and we look forward to working with our customers to promote sustainable air cargo shipments. We know that carbon-offset calculations can be complex and need to be accurate for sustainability auditing purposes. We believe that the ease and simplicity of Fly Greener and the carbon emissions calculator makes the rigor and complexity that goes into carbon emissions calculations straightforward and user-friendly, which is something our customers have been actively seeking.”

IPP Air Cargo is getting ready to fly
A year after CFG reported on the expected birth of a new cargo airline Vietnam (see: https://www.cargoforwarder.eu/2021/06/20/vietnam-is-gearing-up-for-its-first-own-cargo-airline/ ), belonging to billionaire Jonathan Hanh Nguyen, the first Boeing 737-800 BCF aircraft is preparing for delivery to Vietnam from Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Co., Ltd. (GAMECO), where it is completing conversion. It will be one of four freighters that are expected to arrive before the end of the year, and – following the authorization of an Air Operator Certificate (AOC), by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, IPP Air Cargo will become the country’s first dedicated cargo airline. According to Routes, it will be “led by CEO, Le Hong Thuy Tien, while former Polar Air Cargo COO, Lars Winkelbauer is engaged as an advisor” (though IPP Air Cargo’s own posts have previously put Lars Winkelbauer as CEO.) Until now, 29 international airlines from 16 countries, are involved in air cargo to and from Vietnam, alongside five local carriers offering belly capacities for air cargo. Phillip Nguyen, CEO of IPP Travel Retail, told delegates at the Routes Asia conference in JUN22, that IPP Air Cargo intends to commence operations in SEP22, with initial flights to Hong Kong and Singapore.
IPP Air Cargo has rapid expansion plans. Not only does it envisage a steep increase in its fleet: five freighters in the first year of service, rising to seven aircraft in the second year, and increasing further still, to 10 in its third year, but it also has clear geographical and networking plans – initially with Singpost and Cainiao with regard to regular mail and e-commerce traffic, and it has already signed an MoU with Australia's Wagner Corporation regarding the creation of a Commerce Corridor for perishables, consumer, and industrial commodities, between Toowoomba (WTB) in Queensland and Vietnam from MAR23 onwards. The airline aims to be profitable within the space of three years.

Checking out Zhengzhou’s North Cargo Terminal
Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport’s North Cargo Terminal is very close to full launch on 07SEP22, after heavy investment has created a 160,000 m², state-of-the-art freight facility capable of handling 600,000 tons, and bringing the airport’s total air cargo capacity to 1.1 million tons. Three airlines graced it for the first time, last Tuesday, with another 10 planned over the course of the next week, to test the terminal’s capabilities. According to American Shipper, one of those airlines was Volga-Dnepr Airlines, with an Antonov An-124 super freighter: “The Russian carrier is limited to flying Soviet-built An-124 and Ilyushin-76 jets because Western sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have blocked its large fleet of U.S.-made Boeing freighters from flying.” Hainan Airlines was another, and Cathay Pacific, the third – the latter delivering “a long piece of industrial equipment and left for Hong Kong with 107 tons of electronic products, clothing, molds, vaccines, caviar, and other goods, according to a Zhengzhou airport news release.”
In fact, the Cathay Pacific flight was a cooperation with Dimerco Express, who issued a press release on the event, regarding the test flight: “The Zhengzhou Terminal has been growing in importance as China’s Central Plains area continues to open up to more manufacturing and trade activity. With 77 freight forwarding offices across China, Dimerco is very involved in managing freight to and from China’s inland regions, as well as its east coast hubs. The new addition is state of the art, with advanced automation for scanning, weighing and moving cargo within the terminal. The facility also offers a large cold chain area, a new customs inspection area, and 101 shipping docks to make it fast and easy for trucks to move to and from the facility.”

TIACA issues a warning of bogus hotel agents
It is incredible the number of scammers that are out there – from false nephews, to bogus policemen, and now even fake “housing companies”. TIACA issued a warning earlier this week, referring to its upcoming event in Miami in November, and reminding participants that “Connections Housing is the only approved, official housing vendor for the 2022 Air Cargo Forum and Exhibition.” This was due to reports that “unauthorized housing companies may be contacting you advertising cheaper rates and may imply or claim an affiliation with the ACF, TIACA Transport Logistic or Messe Muenchen. Unfortunately, some past attendees and exhibitors have fallen prey to these companies that engage in false or deceptive practices and, in some cases, completely scammed the participant.”
In the past, some participants were duped and booked with outside of Connections Housing, only to find that the hotel they thought they had reserved, had not information on their reservation, or that deposits were not returned, or that they had to move hotels at short or no notice, or simply received a room very different to what they had thought they were booking. “This has caused great hardship and significant financial loss to these companies and individuals. Reservations made through an agency other than Connections Housing will be at your own risk,” the press release warns. “If you are contacted by another housing service trying to sell hotel rooms, please notify Connections Housing before providing any company or personal, credit card or banking information.”
The official link for hotel booking is: https://www.aircargoforum.org/tradefair/for-exhibitors/#hotel

Bolloré buys Australian Lyanair Logistics
Bolloré has added another feather to its bow in Australia, with the acquisition of Lynair Logistics. Since 01AUG22, Bolloré Logistics Australia is the sole owner of Adelaide-headquartered Lynair Logistics. For the moment, Lyanair gets to keep its brand name, and operations with continue as normal. Established in South Australia since 2002, Lynair Logistics is a logistics company specializing in air freight, ocean freight, customs clearance, global shipping, and logistics throughout the world.
Thibault Janssens, CEO of Bolloré Logistics, Pacific Region, commented: “The acquisition of Lynair Logistics further strengthens our presence in Australia, and we are pleased to welcome our new, experienced and highly capable team members into the Bolloré Logistics Australia family.” David Guarnera, State Manager of Victoria and South Australia, Bolloré Logistics Australia, added: “Lynair will carry on its business as usual and will have the strong support of Bolloré Logistics Australia as well as its global network.”
“We have achieved very well to be where we are today as a reputable international freight and logistics company. This, of course, comes with a great team of staff working together, along with the support and trust of our customers that we have established over the years. Being powered by Bolloré Logistics will offer more features and resources for our team to ensure that customers continue receiving high levels of service.” said Augustin Paul, Managing Director of Lynair Logistics.
Meanwhile, in other Bolloré Logistics news, the company announced that it joined the Shippers’ Coalition for Low Carbon Maritime Transport in JUL22, with the aim of supporting wind-assisted propulsion solutions for container ships due to go operational in 2024, and thus reducing CO2 emissions in sea freight. “Bolloré Logistics is a leader in global maritime transport. That is why it is essential that we play an active role in decarbonizing maritime freight transport. Maritime transport of goods accounted for 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 and is set to reach 10% by 2050. By joining this association, we want to be proactive and to head in this direction for the long term,” said Irwin Lefebvre, Bolloré Logistics’ Ocean Procurement Director.

CargoAi now hosts Caribbean Airlines Cargo
“CargoAi is delighted to announce that Caribbean Airlines Cargo successfully went live on the www.cargoai.co platform on 08JUN22. Caribbean Airlines has placed a strong focus on improved customer service both on the passenger as well as on the cargo side, and user experience is what CargoAi excels in,” Matthieu Petot, CEO of CargoAi revealed.
Caribbean Airlines Cargo has joined the growing number of airlines that are opting for eDistribution, given the many benefits it brings, and has chosen CargoAi’s digital solution platform on which to share its capacity. International freight forwarders can now see and book capacities to all destinations served by Caribbean Airlines Cargo, including, but not limited to, Trinidad, Jamaica, Guyana, and Barbados.
Marklan Moseley, General Manager, Cargo and New Business, Caribbean Airlines, commented: “We see three major benefits in offering our capacity on CargoAi. First and foremost, our customers have access to a customized, easy-to-use e-booking system, allowing them to streamline their shipping processes more efficiently. Secondly, our capacity offers now reach a great many more potential and new customers around the world, and thirdly, these increased sales activities will ultimately boost our commercial cargo operations, enabling us to further enhance our service offers. A win-win all round.”
Matthieu Petot points out that the smooth transition to go-live was thanks to a solid IT base: “The existing pre-integration between CargoAi and CHAMP's CargoSpot system was a strong accelerator when it came to connecting Caribbean Airlines Cargo to our marketplace and API Suite. The ability to integrate a company in an average of only three weeks, regardless of the size of its network, is one of CargoAi's major strengths. Our customers appreciate the fact that most of the work is done by our CargoAi teams, and therefore only a limited resource investment is required on the airline's side.”

Brigitte Gledhill

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