Dachser secures SAF, delivering on sustainability strategy
Dachser had announced its intention mid-DEC22 to invest in Sustainable Aviation Fuel in the first quarter of 2023. It has now delivered on this milestone. Since 01MAR23, air freight customers can
opt to have their shipment transported by Sustainable Fuel. They can do this by ticking the Sustainable Fuel option during the online booking process. Though it does not say how many liters have
been purchased, Dachser states that it “has secured a large contingent of SAF for the launch of the new service, so that it will be available to customers on all routes worldwide.”
The aim is to reduce CO2 emissions by 30% by blending SAF sourced from biological raw materials (waste materials from the food industry, catering, agriculture, and forestry), or synthetic base
materials, with traditional kerosine. “The SAF booking option will not be offered free of charge, but is intended to be within an affordable range. The current price per liter for SAF is
several times that of conventional kerosene, which is expected to remain so for years to come due to the limited supply,” the press release explains.
While how the SAF is distributed depends on a number of factors such as aircraft type, load factor, and flight route, every customer has access to an emissions report on request, showing the fuel
purchased and the resulting emissions reduction, and “in the following year, a certificate indicating the emissions saved, the amount of SAF liters used, the year of consumption, and the
exact SAF raw material base,” the release promises.
With this move, Dachser joins a growing number of freight forwarders that are opting for more sustainable logistics. Among them, Kuehne+Nagel, DSV, Schenker, Bolloré, and DHL, for example.
Antonov Airlines fly a massive solar turbine
2022’s “Charter Operator of the Year” (according to The Air Charter Association Excellence Awards), proved its mettle once again last week when it took on the challenge of a particularly large
urgent shipment: An oversize solar turbine needed transporting from San Bernadino in the U.S., half-way across the world to Avalon in Australia. The entire journey – carried out in cooperation
with Air Carter Service - took four days and required technical stops en route.
The solar turbine itself weighed 35.5 tons and measured 11.33 m in length, with a height of 3.63 m – dimensions that only an AN-124-100 can handle. Together with all the additional equipment, the
total weight of the shipment came to 67 tons. Air Charter Service ensured that cranes capable of lifting up to 100 tons were available at the origin and destination airports, while Antonov’s own
engineers operated its special ramp system and onboard winch during the careful loading and unloading of the tall and heavy turbine. After landing at Avalon Airport, Air Charter Service arranged
the shipment’s onforwarding to the gas compressor expansion plant in Winchelsea, Victoria, where the solar turbine and additional equipment were due to be installed.
Olha Danylova, Commercial Executive, Antonov Airlines, explained: “One of the airports on the route was too overloaded to provide us a technical stop, therefore we had to find another one
urgently. Taking into consideration the strict deadline on arriving to the destination, both teams showed the flexibility and rapidly arranged the alternative route. Thanks to well-coordinated
work we completed the project in time.”
Jack Emanuel, Cargo Team Leader, Air Charter Service, stated: “We are delighted to work with ANTONOV Airlines on this crucial project for the energy sector, as the global experts for the
heavy lift cargo transporting. It was pleasure to work with Antonov`s team, their expertise and professionalism ensured the on-time delivery and a satisfied client.”
Challenge Group’s in-house MRO tells its story
For an MRO company that was only founded 5 years ago, today’s Challenge Technic has had a meteoric development – already before it was bought by Challenge Group in 2021, the Icelandic maintenance
provider, then called Jetmx, generated USD 10 million in annual revenues, serving 35 international airlines – among them: Icelandair, Cargo Air, ABX Air, ASL, TUI, West Atlantic. Challenge Group
simultaneously became its largest customer upon acquisition, increasing its workload by 40% almost overnight. “A challenge we gladly met by increasing our expert workforce by 33%,”
Erlingur Petur Ulfarsson, CEO and Accountable Manager at Challenge Technic, said, adding: “We approached our company transition from Jetmx to Challenge Technic [new name in 2022] in the same
way as we always deal with every maintenance project – with a core focus on minimizing downtime and disruption for our customers.” He manages the company out of Iceland together with
Technical Director, Magnus Johannsson, and Maintenance Manager, Sigurdur Steinthorsson.
Challenge Technic has a total of 80 engineers spread over its five locations in Liège/Belgium, Hanover, Cologne and Leipzig in Germany, and Sal/Cabo Verde. They are all uniquely qualified with
multi-aircraft ratings and these combined with Challenge Technic's six approvals from EASA, Israel, the UK, Canada, Bermuda, and Cabo Verde, provide the versatility required to service very
diverse fleets. More MRO locations are to come along with more customers. Two new customers are due to join Challenge Technic this year. Erlingur Petur Ulfarsson, adds: “Exceptional Customer
Care and Operational Efficiency are Challenge Technic's goals for 2023, as the air cargo industry adapts to pre-pandemic supply and demand patterns. We are constantly optimizing our own
efficiency to keep costs at a minimum. The customer care we provide at Challenge Technic is unique: we always have qualified staff on site capable of troubleshooting and ensuring that the
aircraft can maximize its flying hours.”
Bringing aid to Turkey and Syria
Many airlines have been involved in charter operations to bring help to Turkey and Syria following the devastating earthquakes in early and mid-FEB23, killing almost 50,000 people, and displacing
millions. Among them, Avia Solutions Group’s charter specialist, Chapman Freeborn. Neil Dursley, Group Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Chapman Freeborn, commented: “The tragic situation in
Turkey and Syria is heart-breaking. The Chapman Freeborn Emergency Response Team was activated immediately upon learning of the initial huge earthquake; I was travelling in Dubai at the time and
met with Giuseppe Saba, CEO of International Humanitarian City, to discuss the situation and how we could assist.”
The result was an intense search for available aircraft in an already difficult and reduced market, and the demanding operational planning involved to ensure successful charter flights from the
USA, UAE, Germany, Spain, Belgium, India, Saudi Arabia, Denmark, Singapore and the Philippines to the affected countries. Particularly in the case of Syrian operations, Chapman Freeborn’s team
was able to rely on its longstanding experience in securing landing permits, flyover rights, and approvals from the Syrian Civilian Aviation Authority and the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
unfortunately brought about by the many years of civil war there. It still complicates matters because of various embargoes and closed borders. However, Chapman Freeborn can look back on more
than 50 years of arranging humanitarian operations in the face of crisis, be they airlifts, airdrops, search and rescue flights, evacuations, or repatriations. This time, too, thousands of tons
of aid were successful brought to those most in need of it.
“Chapman Freeborn is pleased to support many governments and humanitarian organizations (NGOs), and I'm proud to say that we have the most caring and supportive team in the industry who go
above and beyond, 24 hours a day, every day of the week, to ensure emergency aid reaches the populations of these seriously impacted countries,” he added.
David Tasker, Group Director – Government & Humanitarian, Chapman Freeborn, stated: “The worldwide compassion expressed following this disaster just underlines all that is good amongst
the human race. The whole aviation industry and associated industries were quick to react, with Chapman Freeborn proud to be at the forefront with their support. Our teams work relentlessly to
help those in need and the efforts of the whole industry must be commended. We will, of course, continue to support people in the affected regions over the coming weeks and months.”
Next Generation Courier fast and far-reaching says Qatar Airways Cargo
The cargo airline has systematically been applying its Next Generation approach to its products. In a recent press release, Qatar Airways Cargo showcased its Courier service, hailing it as
“one of the fastest, most reliable and far-reaching express solutions on the market,” according to Miguel Rodríguez, Senior Manager Climate Control Products at Qatar Airways Cargo,
managing the Doha-based Product Management Team in charge of Courier. “In the normal world of large air cargo pallets and containers, small, urgent shipments require particular attention and
care. Following a detailed Next Generation analysis of the Qatar Airways Cargo's small shipment journey, we are now relaunching our Courier product as a faster, more streamlined, and future-fit
service,” he explains. Improvement examples include the phasing out of its Courier Baggage Voucher (CBV), and instead implementing a normal air waybill format. “This enables a far more
streamlined process and greater adherence to regulatory requirements and cargo messaging standards, thus reducing any negative risks,” the release details. Adjustments have also been
made to various drop-off deadlines, taking into account local regulations, airport infrastructures and operational factors, to offer the fastest possible service. Plus, the airline has published
a long list of approved data loggers that customers may use to track their shipments themselves if they prefer to, though tracking is part of the comprehensive service carried out by the
dedicated Qatar Airways Cargo Courier team. “Courier shipments can be delivered in as little as a few hours to up to 2 days." Miguel Rodríguez concludes.
Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways, stated: “Our industry is in an unprecedented state of flux. Traditional business boundaries are being disrupted, as market
requirements dictate the need for a differentiated approach to logistics processes. New technologies are being developed that enable efficient change and open up greater opportunities. The
transport of small cargo shipments is a perfect example. Previously considered to be typical integrator business, these urgent medical transports, fashion samples, small prototypes, or the huge
increase in e-commerce parcels, form a rapidly growing segment in Qatar Airways Cargo's daily business operations.” That growing Courier segment was already 40,000 tons-strong in 2022, much
of it e-commerce, and the airline predicts another record this year. London, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, and Doha are among its largest Courier destinations.
Gross Fuchs goes all-in for CargoAi’s digital solutions
From booking to sustainability to payment: Thanks to the strategic partnership now signed between the Gross Fuchs freight forwarding network and CargoAi, Gross Fuchs members are being introduced
to CargoMART. Once they have an account, they can also access to CargoAi’s Cargo2ZERO sustainability features, and apply for free activation of their CargoWALLET, CargoAi’s latest product. The
latter offers seamless payment within the CargoMART booking platform, regardless of whether or not the forwarder has an IATA Cass Number, AWB stock, or bank guarantees. (CFG
reported) CargoMART is CargoAi’s digital marketplace offering freight forwarders efficiency and visibility of the entire shipment process from planning, to booking and subsequently monitoring
shipments, along with a comprehensive overview of resulting carbon emissions in Cargo2ZERO. Its sustainability solution enables Gross Fuchs forwarders to report on their Scope 3 emissions and
other ESG reporting requirements, as well as take steps to choose the least polluting booking option for their shipment. They can also purchase Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) with Neste, if
desired, during booking.
Viktor André Fuchs, COO of Munich-based Gross Fuchs, stated: “We are thrilled to offer the full scope CargoAi’s digital ecosystem to all our members. We believe that Cargo2ZERO and
CargoWALLET will enhance the overall freight procurement process for all our members. Sustainability is a key focus for us and our members, and with the added advantages of flexible finance
options and global reach, CargoMART is the perfect digital marketplace to our network of freight forwarders.”
CargoAi CEO, Matthieu Petot, added: “We are delighted to see our solutions adopted by Gross Fuchs. By simplifying the procurement process, CargoMART empowers freight forwarders to focus on
what they do best - moving goods around the world.”
Brigitte Gledhill
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