Mammoth signs GTA with STS Aviation Services
STS Aviation Services will be carrying out passenger-to-freighter conversions for Orlando, Florida-based Mammoth Freighters LLC’ 777 conversion program. The two companies signed a multi-year
General Terms Agreement (GTA) on 16OCT22, that will see STS produce 777-200LR and 777-300ER aircraft in its new facility in Manchester, UK. The Manchester (MAN) location, STS’ third UK site, was
leased in APR22 as part of its expansion strategy, and the company has been filling more than 100 jobs in the interim (with another 100 planned for next year). MRO operations will begin there in
the first week of NOV22. STS will carry out AOG services, product support, and spares provisioning throughout Europe for Mammoth, and the first 777 conversions for Mammoth, will begin in
mid-2024.
Mammoth’s Senior Vice President of Operations, David Steinmetz, said: “Ensuring that we have the right modification capacity in place around the world to meet the robust demand for the
Mammoth 777 freighter program is vital to our success. STS has the experience, knowledge, capability, and, most importantly, the high-quality reputation that we look for in an MRO partner. We are
excited to have STS on our team and look forward to a productive, long-term relationship.”
Ian Bartholomew, Managing Director for STS Aviation Services, commented: “This P2F program assures stability in Manchester from day one and means we can forge ahead, investing in entry-level
engineers and trainee schemes giving them development opportunities in the area of major programs and real-life aircraft engineering – when at the same time as taking capacity at Manchester to
around 80% within two years of go live.”
Mick Adams, Chief Executive Officer of STS Aviation Services in Europe, stated: “From the first meeting with the Mammoth team, I could see we had the right DNA and have no doubt this will
develop into a long and fruitful relationship. We are so aligned in our approach and the need for transparency in business, you would have thought we had worked together for years. In STS being
awarded this contract it exemplifies our reputation, not just for MRO but for our executing highly complex and major structural projects such as continues to be the case on the Boeing Wedgetail
program.”
BSL’s first dedicated pharma logistics center
Bolloré Logistics’ French contract logistics subsidiary, Bolloré Solutions Logistiques (BSL), founded in 2020, has inaugurated its first logistics center at Strasbourg airport. Dedicated to
pharmaceuticals, the new facility which offers 10,000 m² of temperature-controlled warehousing, is located in the airport’s business park, Skyparc, and has been operational since JAN22. With
airport facilities, freight operators, airlines, customs, and police all within reach, and favorable motorway connections, pharma logistics can be handled smoothly and swiftly. “Thanks to the
commitment of everyone involved, the entire project took only nine months to complete. The site includes two 5,000 m² cells that are temperature-controlled at +2°/+8°C, +15°/+25°C and -20°C.
These cells are reserved for storage and logistics operations including processing air and sea export flows,” the release states. The site has been awarded BREEAM® Very Good certification
for its high level of environmental performance, and is compliant with the international TAPA FSR B certification, a benchmark of excellence for the safety and security of freight. The latter
secures it “Agent Habilité Logisticien" (Authorised Logistics Agent) accreditation. “There are two pharmacists permanently on site to ensure that operations are processed in accordance with
the public health code and good distribution and manufacturing practices. ISO 13485 certification for medical devices was awarded last September.”
Laurent Foloppe, Bolloré Solutions Logistiques’ Managing Director, said: “We are proud to have invested in this pharmaceutical platform, which is now the largest in our network. Our ambition
for BSL is to continue our investments in Europe with the creation of other logistics centers enabling us to support all our customers, regardless of the sector, in the overhaul of their supply
chain.”
Renaud Paubelle, CEO of Strasbourg Airport, added: “Efficient and sustainable use of available land is a priority for Strasbourg Airport. The new logistics center dedicated to the
pharmaceutical industry, supported by Bolloré Solutions Logistiques, places Strasbourg Airport more than ever at the heart of the region's economic development.”
TIACA names Olivier Bijaoui as 2022 Hall of Fame Recipient
Olivier Bijaoui will be taking the stage together with 2020 Hall of Fame award winner, Larry Coyne, at this year’s Air Cargo Forum in Miami (08-10NOV22), to officially receive their awards during
the Hall of Fame Ceremony. Olivier Bijaoui, who previously held the position of Executive Chairman, President, and CEO of the Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) from 2004-2016, was chosen because of
his achievement in developing WFS from its beginnings as a small cargo handling company initially called SFS, into the world’s largest cargo and ground handling company. By the time he stepped
down in 2016, WFS counted 18,000 employees at a total of 188 airports in 22 countries. It numbered 300 airline partners and annually handled four million tons of cargo (alongside 50 million
passengers). He was selected “based on his vision, tenacity and leadership that helped guide handling agents towards becoming global handling companies,” the release states.
Today, Olivier Bijaoui is President and Owner of OB Invest, and was recently appointed as advisor to ground handler Alliance Ground International (AGI) (CFG reported)
Sebastiaan Scholte, Chair, TIACA's Chairman's Council, declared: “Olivier Bijaoui is a great recipient for the 2022 Hall of Fame Award. He has shown leadership and drive that has catapulted
the ground handling sector into the global air cargo arena. It is amazing how he has built a global handling company from scratch. We look forward to formally inducting him into the Hall of Fame
in Miami.”
CargoConnect is ECS Group’s solution to capacity maximization
“Collaboration is always beneficial for business, but becomes absolutely crucial in times of chaos, as we have all seen over the past two years. Since we already foster solid business
relationships with the world's largest freight forwarders and airlines, we were in the unique position of having a central overview of existing controlled capacity programs and certain charter
operations. As such, CargoConnect was able to provide much-needed support in quickly matching cargo with any available capacity – maximizing load factors and efficient space utilization.”
With those words, Jorrit Dubois, the coordinator of ECS Group’s 24/7 CargoConnect team, based in Paris, highlighted the group’s unique cargo-capacity-matching service that was launched in SEP20,
“to counteract the mass disruption and uncertainty within the air cargo industry, caused by the domino effects of the pandemic,” as the release explains. The capacity need has not abated
and the GSSA continues to offer the service. It holds regular meetings with the air cargo heads of many of the largest forwarders, thus developing the capacity-matching product, as well as adding
further services, such as charter arrangements (particularly during Covid), bidding for programs, and increased selling of rest-capacity on forwarder-controlled capacity programs. In addition,
CargoConnect draws on intelligence from ECS Group's in-house Revenue Management team, to identify and secure the optimum business mix, also supporting freight forwarders in marketing any
remaining capacity on their own dedicated programs.
Adrien Thominet, Executive Chairman of ECS Group, stated: “Among the ten Abilities that make up our Augmented GSA Concept, CargoConnect is a unique and clear example of how ECS Group goes
beyond what is contracted, combining its well-established business relationships and local market knowledge to deliver swift solutions to pressing capacity issues. By pooling and sharing
capacity, our freight forwarder and airline customers are able to improve flight utilization, which is not only financially rewarding, but more importantly, also increases customer satisfaction
and ultimately ensures more sustainable operations.”
Italy’s newest cargo airline opts for cargo.one
ITA Airways Cargo is venturing into online bookings and has selected cargo.one as its first marketplace partner. The global partnership was announced on 19OCT22., almost to the day of the
airline’s first anniversary (founded 15OCT21). The move will introduce the airline’s capacity within and to Italy to the many thousand international freight forwarders using cargo.one, from this
quarter. A welcome addition, given that, as Italy's national carrier, ITA Airways Cargo has the largest Italian market, whether in the air via its Rome Fiumicino Airport hub, or its large Road
Feeder Service network. Alongside its digitalization drive, ITA Airways also has a strong sustainability focus and is investing in a modern and environmentally-friendly fleet numbering 74
aircraft by the end of this year. It aims to become “the greenest fleet in Europe by 2026”. According to cargo.one, ITA Airways Cargo’s decision to offer its capacity on the digital platform,
sets it up in good stead for the future, since cargo.one's latest Digital Sales Trajectory Report forecasts that “on average, the share of bookings via digital channels is expected to rise
from 20% in 2021 to 40% in 2023, and will hit almost 60% by 2025.”
Moritz Claussen, Founder and Co-CEO of cargo.one, stated: “We're proud to contribute to the growth of ITA Airways Cargo by delivering its first digital sales channel - a vital step in its
digital transformation journey. The airline is savvy to pursue a digital strategy with customer centricity at its core. Freight forwarders will benefit immediately from the efficiencies and
competitiveness that booking ITA Airways Cargo digitally will now unlock.” In gaining ITA Airways Cargo as one of its more than 35 airlines, cargo.one is consolidating its presence as “the
go-to choice for freight forwarders needing rapid and comprehensive visibility of the global market and the ability to book and confirm shipments at speed,” the release maintains.
Swissport Japan opening third Japanese air cargo center
Swissport Japan, the 2006-founded ground services joint venture between Swissport International AG and Marubeni Corporation, will be opening an air cargo center at Central Japan International
Airport (Centrair) on 01NOV22. This will be the company’s third facility alongside Narita International and Kansai International Airport. Located on the north side of International Cargo
Warehouse 1 at Chubu Centrair International Airport, it will provide air transport and logistics for the many large manufacturing companies in the central Japan’s Tokai region.
Kazunari Yoshida, President and Managing Director of Swissport Japan, said: “We are very grateful for the support we have received from Central Japan International Airport Corporate, Nagoya
Customs, and Central Japan Airport Customs Office on this project. We believe demand for international air cargo will continue to grow. As a member of Japan’s logistics industry, we are eager to
contribute to the development of the Tokai region, one of Japan’s three major economic zones, with our operations at Centrair.”
Stephan Kaeser, Director & COO of Swissport Japan, stated: “We are very pleased to announce the opening of our third international cargo warehouse in Japan. It has been our long-time goal
to open an international cargo center at Central Japan International Airport ever since we started our cargo operations at Narita and Kansai International Airport 11 years ago. We look forward to
offering our services in the Tokai market.”
Novo Nordisk and Kuehne+Nagel in SAF pact
As part of its commitment to the Science Based Targets initiative, Kuehne+Nagel shift to a low carbon business model is achieved by a reduction in its own carbon emissions, and by supporting its
customers with their transition to lower CO2 levels. It does the latter by offering sustainable fuel solutions for air cargo shipments. This is what its customer, Novo Nordisk, has now opted for:
a total of 12 million liters of SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) will be used to transport the major global healthcare company’s shipments by air in 2022. Novo Nordisk’s own environmental goals
are to achieve zero CO2 emissions through operations and transport by 2030. With the deployment of 12 million liters of SAF, Novo Nordisk will be able to replace fossil fuel for all Kuehne+Nagel
air freight shipments this year, and avoid 30.000 tons worth of direct emissions. Kuehne+Nagel, itself, is consciously investing in the adoption of alternative aviation fuels and expanding its
offering.
Yngve Ruud, Member of the Management Board of Kuehne+Nagel responsible for Air Logistics, declared: “Novo Nordisk is not only leading the way in driving change to defeat diabetes and other
serious chronic diseases, but also in their shipping by using sustainable options. I am pleased that with our global SAF solutions, customers can easily switch to low carbon air transport. It’s
another step on the way to the “zero impact” goal and yet another signal for more sustainable fuel production and use globally.”
Dorethe Nielsen, Vice President of Corporate Environmental Strategy at Novo Nordisk stated: “This is yet another step in Novo Nordisk’s continuous support of the development of sustainable
aviation fuel. Our air freight accounts for most of our product distribution emissions as we provide life-saving medicines to patients around the world. We want to drive change in this area to
help pave the way for other companies to also transition and cut emissions.”
MNG selects Joramco as its MRO provider
Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE)’s engineering subsidiary, Amman-based Joramco, active in maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) since 1963, has been selected by MNG to carry out C checks and
main landing gear and engine replacements on its A300 and A330 cargo aircraft. The agreement comes into effect in the first quarter of 2023.
Joramco’s CEO, Fraser Currie, commented: “We, at Joramco, are thrilled to welcome MNG Airlines to our facility, and we are grateful to be entrusted with the carrier’s cargo fleet. Joramco has
steadily built a stellar reputation as a world-class MRO and a high-quality service provider. We hope this new agreement will open the door for further future cooperation, as the cargo market is
constantly growing, and we look forward to receiving more business endeavors from the Turkish market due to our highly competitive and attractive offers.”
Ali Sedat Özkazanç, General Manager of MNG Airlines, said, “We are delighted to make a contract with Joramco which will meet our maintenance requirements from Middle East. I am confident that
the collaboration between MNG Airlines and Joramco will continue to add value to both companies. We are currently working on draft contract for next year”.
It has been a successful week for Joramco, with regard to MRO clients. At the MRO Europe event in London last week, the company also signed agreements with Spirit Aerosystems, TUI fly, CAE,
flyadeal, and euroAtlantic Airlines, alongside MNG Airlines.
Brigitte Gledhill
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