JFK’s looking cool, when it comes to Delta Cargo
At 1486 m², Delta Cargo’s new cooler facility is New York-JFK Airport’s largest temperature-sensitive handling unit, provided by its largest airline. From now on, pharmaceutical products and
perishables travelling across Delta’s network out of JFK (which includes around 34 weekly flights connecting 26 cities in Latin American, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and – from this summer
onwards - the Middle East), will be handled in state-of-the-art, designated temperature zones. “The JFK cooler will serve as the premier cold chain facility for pharmaceutical and healthcare
products, while also enabling perishable cargo shipping of produce and fresh goods. The cooler boasts expert temperature monitoring, enhanced control and oversight, and specially trained and
certified staff to ensure precise handling and integrity of the cold chain,” the release underlines, going on to emphasize fast transit times and global connectivity.
Rob Walpole, Vice President of Delta Cargo, promised: “This is just one of the significant investments Delta is making to innovate and expand our service offerings to our Cargo customers. By
expanding our cold chain footprint and leveraging our extensive partner and route network at JFK, we are offering an unparalleled set of options for our customers looking to move
temperature-sensitive shipments through the Northeast corridor.”
Teresa Rizzuto, JFK General Manager, pointed out: “This cargo cooler is the latest of Delta’s significant investments in the transformation at this airport and another example of their
partnership in creating a world-class global gateway at JFK that not only features a best-in-class passenger experience, but also state-of-the-art cargo handling that will strengthen our supply
chain and boost the region’s economy.”
Dachser delivers second double-digit growth year
Dachser this week revealed its 2022 financial results, which – despite the year’s many challenges – saw an impressive 14.9% increase in revenues (though shipment numbers fell), bringing in a
total EUR 8.1 billion – one billion more than the year before, which had also seen double-digit growth. More than EUR 300 million will now be invested (compared to EUR 196 million, last year), in
facilities (an additional 14 are planned to join the existing 163, this year), digitalization, climate action, employees, and network expansion. The first acquisitions of the year have already
been completed: Dachser took over the Dutch food logistics company, Müller, and the Melbourne/Australian-based air and sea freight forwarder, ACA International.
Dacher’s 2022 in statistics: employee growth to 32,850 (around 1,100 new staff joined the company), 2.7 million pallet spaces for contract logistics customers (an increase of 152,000 to previous
year), 81.1 million shipments transported (2.9% less than 2021, though weighing the same as last year: 42.8 million metric tons. Trucking brought in EUR 5.7 billion (+14.2%), with tonnage
increasing 0.4%, despite shipment numbers falling by 2.8%. European Logistics increased its revenue by 13.4%, similar to 2021, but with 3,5% fewer shipments at a constant 30 million tons. Food
Logistics fared very well with increases in revenue (+17.1% to EUR 1.3 billion), shipments (+1.8%) and tonnage (+1.1%). Air and Sea Logistics business brought in EUR 2.4 billion in revenues
(+16.7%), but -7.3% fewer shipments.
Burkhard Eling, CEO of Dachser, commented: “We’re about to break into a new league. Our customers appreciate the resilience we bring to their supply chains and reward this service. Today,
Dachser is increasingly being perceived as the partner for globally interconnected solutions and a consultant for optimized supply chains. During the coronavirus pandemic, our air and sea freight
business raised its profile significantly. Contributing factors were the expansion of the LCL groupage business in sea freight and the air freight charter network, which operated 260 flights last
year, alone. Our customers appreciate how deeply integrated our services are - on land, at sea, and in the air. We will strengthen this USP even further in the future. We expect that, after two
years of exceptional revenue growth but also exceptional burdens on the operational teams, 2023 will now see a return to a bit of normality in logistics and in our business.”
WestJet Cargo readying for take-off on 22APR23
Three out of its four B737-800BCF aircraft are ready to taxi onto the runway, with the first freighter flight scheduled to depart on 22APR23, now that Transport Canada has finally accorded
approval and certification.
The fourth GTA Group aircraft for WestJet Cargo is still undergoing conversion, and is due to join the airline’s fleet later in the year. The converted aircraft, which boast CFM56-7B engines, are
highly fuel efficient and swift to load. The airline is planning routes within North America to being with – serving Calgary, Halifax, Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles and Miami. The narrowbody
aircraft are versatile and their cargo space will add to the bellies of WestJet’s passenger fleet. B737 pilots are already on hand, so there should be no more delays to getting the dedicated
WestJet Cargo service off the ground. Bookings open on 01APR23.
Kirsten de Bruijn, WestJet Executive Vice-President, Cargo, commented: “Today is a long-awaited milestone for WestJet Cargo and the GTA Group, that will now enable us to disrupt the air cargo
industry in Canada, by providing our customers with more choice, competitive prices, and the exemplary customer service synonymous with the WestJet brand, but unique to the air cargo industry. We
thank Transport Canada for its dedication to certifying these aircraft, which will serve to better support Canada's national transportation supply chain through increased competition and capacity
within Canada's air cargo market. Today's announcement was made possible by our incredibly talented team of cargo experts and the GTA Group, our valued partner, who have worked diligently towards
this achievement that brings WestJet Cargo one step closer to fulfilling our mission to bring competitive cost advantages and reliable on-time performance to Canada's underserved cargo
landscape.”
Mario (Mauro) D'Urso, Chairman of the GTA Group of Companies, added: “Today is an exciting day for the GTA Group as we celebrate this highly anticipated moment that will bring our partnership
with WestJet Cargo to new heights. Through the capacity of these four dedicated freighters, we are now in an excellent position to meet the needs of the rapidly growing Canadian cargo
market."
Wiremind celebrates a year of digital cargo innovation
Since launching its air cargo specific vertical, Wiremind Cargo, in FEB22, Wiremind has seen significant expansion, both in terms of staffing, employing a team of 20 dedicated professionals, as
well as in airline customers. Qatar Airways opting for Wiremind’s Revenue Management and Overbooking modules (both innovative products launched in 2022), as well as its original flagship product,
SKYPALLET, was a particular highlight for the company, as Nathanaël de Tarade, Chief Executive Officer of Wiremind Cargo, confirmed: “We are thrilled to have exceeded our expectations in the
first year. Significant customer demand led us to develop optimization-related solutions earlier than originally planned. For us, Qatar Airways' decision to choose Wiremind is a testament to our
product strategy, and we are delighted to receive their endorsement. Our newly formed cargo team has demonstrated exceptional agility and expertise, expanding our customer base to over 20 air
cargo companies within a short period of time. This includes regional and global passenger and cargo airlines, as well as other stakeholders such as GSAs and freight forwarders. We anticipate a
continued increase in client numbers in the upcoming months, given the ongoing interest in all our products. Our existing customers have also expressed a desire to expand their use of our current
suite of solutions.”
Another highlight was joining CargoTech early in the year, as this opened up access to additional expertise and investments, enabling Wiremind Cargo to establish a strong organizational and
technical foundation, and a comprehensive product portfolio, including the launch of its CARGOSTACK CMS. The latter is seeing much interest from smaller and medium-sized airlines looking to
improve their end-to-end cargo management processes. Wiremind will continue to expand and evolve its product offering in 2023. “As a company, we continuously aim to evolve and enhance our
offerings based on our clients' needs and industry advancements. We are excited about the future and the potential opportunities it holds and will continue to build on our current strong
foundation,” Nathanaël de Tarade forecasts.
Three huge shipments on three flights in seven days
deugro Netherlands, together with deugro Italy, deugro Saudi Arabia, and deugro Air Chartering, carried out three urgent air charters on behalf of a Saudi client when a petrochemical plant in the
kingdom suffered production shutdown. The task was carried out over 7 days and three charter flights: heat exchange equipment weighing a total 252,216 kg and having a total volume of 811 m³,
required transporting from Italy and Belgium to Saudi Arabia. A tricky endeavor given that the shipment contained convection modules measuring 1,100 x 310 x 340 cms and weighing 54,500 kg, which
meant that the only possible aircraft was an AN-124-100. Due to the current war on Ukraine, there are only few AN-120-100 available, so this posed the first challenge. Additionally, the weight of
parts of the shipment meant that the AN-124-100’s own on-board crane could not be used, and external cranes had to be sourced at origin and destination for loading and offloading. The third
challenge was ensuring the correct in-flight conditions for the shipment with regard to temperature and pressure change rates (an AN-124-100’s cargo hold is not fully pressurized).
The main modules were picked up from the Italian supplier near Milan, while another part had to be sourced from a Dutch supplier at short notice, and taken to Ostend-Bruges Airport, Belgium.
Three flights took off for Saudi Arabia from Milan, Italy, with consignments weighing 86.81, 71.50, and 67.50 metric tons, respectively. The latter flight touched down in Ostend-Bruges Airport to
collect an additional four packages weighing 26.41 metric tons. At King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, each aircraft was unloaded in just three to five hours, and deugro
Saudi Arabia team ensured the quick onforwarding to the 100-km distant construction site.
Joost Maranus, Senior Project Coordinator, deugro (Netherlands), explained: “Due to the critical schedule, an air charter solution was selected to provide the shortest transit time. This
allowed for choosing the airports of origin and destination as close as possible to the supplier locations and the plant site, and the schedule of the flights could be planned in accordance with
the manufacturing schedules.”
Pavel Kuznetsov, Head of Air Chartering, deugro, added: “Thanks to deugro’s long-standing strategic relationship with the carriers, and despite the severe shortage of these aircraft in the
view of the military conflict in Ukraine, we were able to successfully lock in the aircraft for the required dates of transportation.”
DSV to acquire S&M Moving Systems West and Global Diversity Logistics
Two U.S. transport and logistics companies are due to join the DSV umbrella, in a move to boost its semiconductor service offer and “align with its new Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport operations
and support DSV's growing cross-border services to Latin America,” the release maintains. They are both headquartered in Arizona, in Phoenix and Chandler, and run by the same family: S&M
Moving Systems West and Global Diversity Logistics, and bring expertise in domestic road freight, international air and sea freight, warehousing, tradeshow logistics and specialist semiconductor
logistics solutions. DSV expects that these transactions will be completed in APR23, bringing the companies’ 130 employees and 93,000 m² of logistics facilities in 11 sites across Oregon and
Arizona into the DSV fold. The negotiated price has not been published.
Robert Greene, Executive Vice President, DSV Road U.S., said: “We have recently expanded our cross-border operations to facilitate the growing trade between the U.S. and Mexico. We are
currently supporting a range of customers across various industries and can now provide a reliable alternative to Miami. With two official gateways into Latin America, we are better placed to
support customer needs, particularly during busy periods and congestion.”
Niels Larsen, President DSV Air & Sea U.S., added: “[These companies] also provide access to a strong heritage and a wealth of knowledge and experience in the semiconductor industry. DSV
will approach this integration with integrity, transparency, and respect for both organizations and the people in them. We are now looking forward to embarking on this new chapter, welcoming our
new colleagues to DSV and working together towards future growth for our customers and DSV."
Steve Todare, President S&M Moving Systems West, added: “What started with a single truck over 100 years ago, has evolved and grown significantly. As a family-run business, we have strong
values, dedicated employees, and a focus on excellent customer service, which is a shared core value with DSV. I am proud of what we have achieved and excited for this new chapter of our story
with DSV.”
Brooke Todare, President, Global Diversity Logistics, stated: “We have now become part of the third largest global logistics provider and gain access to an extensive network, digital
platforms and comprehensive service offerings. This will enable us to continue to support our customers by enhancing our existing solutions and capabilities. We're looking forward to joining DSV
and bringing together our expertise, assets, and not least, our talented people.”
A.P. Moller-Maersk kicks off Europe-China freighter service
20MAR23 saw A.P. Moller – Maersk’s first scheduled Europe-China freighter flight take to the air. Since then, three weekly flights will connect Billund, Denmark (BLL) and Hangzhou, China (HGH),
and have been planned in response to increasing customer demand. The aircraft deployed is the first of Maersk Air Cargo’s three newly converted Boeing 767-300 freighters, A.P. Moller – Maersk´s
own cargo airline, based at its newly opened air freight hub at Billund Airport in Denmark, which includes a fully equipped, 4000 m² import, and 13,000 m² export facility, with separate cold
storage, dangerous goods, scanning, and ULD handling areas. Maersk Air Cargo, flight operations, pilots, aircraft maintenance, and freight forwarding teams are all available there to serve Maersk
customers.
Michel Pozas Lucic, Global Head of Air in A.P. Moller – Maersk, announced: “With the introduction of our new service between Europe and China, we have taken another leap with our customers in
providing true integrated logistics. We want to ensure that our customers have the visibility, reliability, and resilience in their supply chains. In this, air freight with scheduled flights and
controlled capacity represents a crucial part of our customers´ end-to-end logistics needs.”
It was not just the shipping-turned-airline company’s inaugural flight, but also the first scheduled air cargo operation between Denmark and Asia – a connection that is predicated to become
increasingly popular for high value and time sensitive cargo between Scandinavia, Northern Europe, and the entire Asia-Pacific.
Maersk is building a global air freight network, having also launched scheduled air freight services between Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina (GSP), and Incheon, Korea (ICN), this time
operated by Miami-headquartered cargo airline Amerijet International. And it recently opened a new Chicago air freight gateway facility to add more supply chain integration opportunities for
customers using Chicago O’Hare International and Rockford International.
Investment in air cargo is vital, says AfA, with new lobbyist
Michael Taylor, Managing Partner, Diakon Partners, has been brought on board by the Airforwarders’ Association to push U.S. Congress to invest in air cargo infrastructure at U.S. airports, many
of which have been sadly lacking in improvements for years. The AfA press release speaks of “crumbling infrastructure,” hampering efforts to provide high-quality cargo services.
“Taylor will represent the interests and concerns of both AfA and partners the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA), having been set three key objectives,
including the education of key Members of Congress about the economic importance of air cargo, the critical need for investment in air cargo at U.S. airports, recommended actions, and the costs
of inaction,” the release states.
The Airport Congestion Committee (ACC), formed in 2022 by AfA, NCBFAA, and the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA), looks to develop solutions in the areas of: technology and
automation; service standards; airport facilities and infrastructure; staffing and hours of operation; and regulatory and paperwork challenges, to relieve congestion and other challenges at
airports that are hampering cargo operations. On the basis of a Recommendation Paper based on industry input, Taylor, who brings more than three decades’ worth of experience in government and
public affairs at all levels, as well as 15+ years of experience in multimodal transportation policy, is tasked with educating congress on the importance and value of the U.S. air cargo industry,
and pushing for measures to relieve airport cargo area congestion.
Brandon Fried, Executive Director, AfA, stated: “AfA's engagement of Mr. Michael Taylor in this critical role will greatly enhance our efforts to convince members of Congress of the urgent
need to strengthen U.S. air cargo, to enable it to thrive as the critical link it is in the global supply chain and to protect the many thousands of jobs it creates. Both AfA and the NCBFAA set
up the Congestion Committee in 2022 to conduct an inquiry and its findings were conclusive that investment in air cargo infrastructure at federal level across the U.S. was vital […]: this has
never been more clear than in the face of the COVID pandemic. Having sustained the aviation industry and, in large measure, regional economies and the morale of the population, both AfA and
NCBFAA members are reliant on investment if air cargo infrastructure is to be able to support the demands of the sector for the future.”
Man and machine is the way forward, says RAFT founder
CEO, James Coombes, who co-founded Raft in 2017 with Nisarg Mehta, Chief Technology Officer, is convinced that “the future of freight forwarding relies on human expertise augmented by
technology,” as stated on a technology panel at the recent FIATA HQ meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.
Raft is a freight platform that deploys AI to automate and optimize freight forwarder operations across the entire lifecycle of the shipment, including areas such as Finance, Customs, Operations,
Sales, Visibility and Emissions. James Coombes, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, said: “We are at a critical inflection point, where it is not enough to be simply a transactional
freight forwarder. This is a unique moment in time where automation technology is finally at a place where it can impact the traditionally human-centric operations of a freight forwarder. The
future of freight forwarding relies on human expertise augmented by technology and AI applications, putting automation and transparency up front and center.”
Having worked with customers and seeing how their internal communication workflows, operational processes, and communication with third-party services, function, Coombes identified many
possibilities for improvements, also with regard to management reporting and visibility. “We could see that companies with operational know-how did not have machine learning engineers, and
vice versa. We built an operations automation platform, backed by AI, to enable forwarders of all sizes to meet evolving customer expectations in a cost-effective, scalable way. Our customer base
is growing, and we are already deploying our technology to a large range of freight forwarders, helping to revolutionize the way they work to change the landscape for the better,” he
explained, emphasizing that operations automation is key to business resilience and a sustainable future for the forwarding industry.
Dr. Stéphane Graber, FIATA Director General, commented: “FIATA is helping its members to embrace digitalization at their own pace, through its Digital Strategy, meanwhile introducing the
latest innovative software via its Digital Lab webinar series. FIATA encourages its members to explore the Raft solution, which integrates with forwarders' TMS platforms to make the entire
shipping process more visible.”
Dr. Ivan Petrov, FIATA President, stated: “FIATA welcomes innovative tools such as the one provided by Raft which enables mid- and small-sized freight forwarding companies to benefit from the
advantages brought by new technologies.”
Brigitte Gledhill
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