SHORT SHOTS

Swissport’s bigger, better cool room at NBO
Ground handler, Swissport, recently upgraded its air cargo center at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Kenya. A new 750 m² cold warehouse directly connecting the perishables hub to the airside, has the capacity to hold up to 110 aircraft pallets, the equivalent of three B747 freighter loads, and is equipped with a flatbed with a ball-mat roller for easy maneuvering of shipments in the warehouse. A vacuum cooler further enhances its temperature-sensitive cargo capabilities. Four cold storerooms dedicated to perishable cargo (+2 to +8°C), and two for pharmaceuticals (CRT +15 to +20°C and COL +2 to +8°C), have been designed to meet growing demand. In 2022, Swissport handled 55,000 tons of cargo in Kenya, 80% of which was perishable cargo out of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Of that, 75% were Fresh Cut Flowers to Europe, for which Swissport established a Fresh Cut Flowers Corridor to ensure efficient transportation directly from the Kenyan farmers to European markets, designed to ensure maximum shelf-life for the vulnerable cargo. The Nairobi facilities are IATA CEIV Fresh and IATA CEIV Pharma certified, ensuring the highest standards of handling perishable and pharmaceutical cargo.
Racheal Ndegwa, Managing Director Swissport Kenya, said: “The Swissport team is very experienced in handling fresh cut flowers – a product that requires a significantly different type of freight built up due to the nature of such produce and the required packaging. Our world-class expertise enables us to maximize the weight, which in turn allows us to realize savings for our clients and ensure the product's quality at the same time.”
Dirk Goovaerts, CEO Swissport CEMEA, and Global Cargo Chair, explained: “Since the launch of our Fresh Cut Flowers Corridor, Swissport in Kenya has been working on perfecting the cool chain solution to deliver a top-quality service which protects the integrity of delicate flowers and maximizes the returns for our clients. Swissport has innovation built into its DNA. The recent upgrades to our air cargo facilities and the refined handling process are significant steps but we will continue to further enhance our solutions. We are a cargo handling leader and want to work with a local cargo community to shape the future of air cargo handling in Kenya.”
Ground handler, Swissport, recently upgraded its air cargo center at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Kenya. A new 750 m² cold warehouse directly connecting the perishables hub to the airside, has the capacity to hold up to 110 aircraft pallets, the equivalent of three B747 freighter loads, and is equipped with a flatbed with a ball-mat roller for easy maneuvering of shipments in the warehouse. A vacuum cooler further enhances its temperature-sensitive cargo capabilities. Four cold storerooms dedicated to perishable cargo (+2 to +8°C), and two for pharmaceuticals (CRT +15 to +20°C and COL +2 to +8°C), have been designed to meet growing demand. In 2022, Swissport handled 55,000 tons of cargo in Kenya, 80% of which was perishable cargo out of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Of that, 75% were Fresh Cut Flowers to Europe, for which Swissport established a Fresh Cut Flowers Corridor to ensure efficient transportation directly from the Kenyan farmers to European markets, designed to ensure maximum shelf-life for the vulnerable cargo. The Nairobi facilities are IATA CEIV Fresh and IATA CEIV Pharma certified, ensuring the highest standards of handling perishable and pharmaceutical cargo.
Racheal Ndegwa, Managing Director Swissport Kenya, said: “The Swissport team is very experienced in handling fresh cut flowers – a product that requires a significantly different type of freight built up due to the nature of such produce and the required packaging. Our world-class expertise enables us to maximize the weight, which in turn allows us to realize savings for our clients and ensure the product's quality at the same time.”
Dirk Goovaerts, CEO Swissport CEMEA, and Global Cargo Chair, explained: “Since the launch of our Fresh Cut Flowers Corridor, Swissport in Kenya has been working on perfecting the cool chain solution to deliver a top-quality service which protects the integrity of delicate flowers and maximizes the returns for our clients. Swissport has innovation built into its DNA. The recent upgrades to our air cargo facilities and the refined handling process are significant steps but we will continue to further enhance our solutions. We are a cargo handling leader and want to work with a local cargo community to shape the future of air cargo handling in Kenya.”

Silk Way West Airlines now proud IATA CEIV Lith Batt holder
Darko Vucic, Vice President, Corporate Quality Assurance & Quality Control, QMS of Silk Way West Airlines, announced on 24MAY23: “Our team has successfully passed all stages of certification and today we can proudly say that IATA recognizes Silk Way West Airlines’ lithium battery handling and transport program as applied. We upgraded our knowledge of IATA’s DGR manual, implementing the latest standards and best practices related to the safe transport and handling of lithium batteries, with further improvement of our safety performance by developing safety risk assessments specific to lithium batteries. The benefit for us, besides procedural improvements regarding the transport of lithium batteries, is to ensure that we continue to maintain the highest applicable [safety standards].”
Thus, Silk Way West Airlines is the latest airline to have been awarded IATA CEIV Lithium Batteries Certification, following hot on the heels of National Air Cargo, which received the certification at the air cargo Europe in Munich a couple of weeks ago. It is a clear and important step for the main cargo airline of the Caspian and Central Asian region, which “is committed to staying at the forefront of industry regulations and implementing all necessary measures to safeguard its operations”.
Slowly, the IATA CEIV Lithium Batteries Certification is becoming an officially recognized stamp of approval, inspiring confidence in the airline’s customers, stakeholders, and industry partners, that the company is compliant with the strict requirements. Silk Way West Airlines underwent a stringent audit prior to certification, where it proved that it has implemented robust processes in line with the relevant regulations and has established best practices to mitigate related risks.

Aerolíneas Cargo receives second B737-800 freighter
On May 21, 2023, Aerolíneas Argentinas welcomed two new aircraft to its fleet: The long-haul passenger A330-200 and the Aerolíneas Cargo-destined B737-800 both landed in Argentina early on the Sunday (21MAY23), having flown from origins in the United States
Hailing from the Marana regional airport in Arizona, USA, the A330-200, bearing the registration LV-KHT, landed in Ezeiza, becoming the ninth Airbus to join Aerolíneas Argentinas’ passenger fleet. It can carry over 270 passengers and will be deployed on the airline’s long-haul routes to destinations such as Miami, New York, Madrid, Rome, as well as popular domestic routes like Bariloche, El Calafate, Iguazú, and Ushuaia during peak seasons.
The lady in white in the image showing the registration LV-KHQ is the second B737-800 cargo aircraft to join Aerolíneas Argentinas. It will now undergo its first revisions, before transferring to the FADEA workshops in Córdoba to receive its new livery. The aircraft came from Dothan Regional Airport in Alabama, USA, via a layover in Punta Cana. Equipped with essential features such as smoke detection, a hydraulic loading gate, and a fully opening door for the entry of vehicles, machinery, and containers, the plane can accommodate loads of up to 24 tons and/or 12 pallets. The first of these two freighters has been operational since 03MAY23, having had its inaugural flight to Rio Grande, Tierra del Fuego.
The addition of these two cargo planes is a significant milestone for Aerolíneas Argentinas, since it marks the first time in 16 years that the airline has cargo aircraft in its fleet. The last occurrence was during the private management of Marsans between the end of 2005 and 2007, with intermittent operations of this type of aircraft in the 1970s.
Pablo Ceriani, President of Aerolíneas Argentinas, highlighted the importance of the new fleet members: “These two incorporations will serve to boost both incoming tourism and our cargo business, two pillars of this management. Incorporating a fleet is always good because it means that the company is growing at a good pace.”
The press release also revealed that the airline is looking to add another Airbus A330 and three Boeing 737-MAX aircraft later this year as part of its fleet renewal strategy.

DANX and Tromsø Budbil Sentral join forces
Time-critical logistics specialist DANX has joined forces with Tromsø Budbil Sentral (TBS), the largest supplier of courier services in northern Norway, in a move that aims to increase DANX's presence in the region – in particular, its network expansion into the hard-to-reach areas: a company milestone that will enable service and sector growth.
DANX, which belongs to the DANX Carousel group, will offer strategic investment and resource support to TBS, and at the same time benefit from TBS' established local customer network that reaches from Narvik to Kirkenes. TBS has been operating in northern Norway for two decades and possesses a fleet of temperature-controlled vehicles capable of carrying up to 8,000 kg. This collaboration combines the expertise and resources of both companies.
As a result of this partnership, DANX will be able to offer a pre-7 a.m. delivery service of regular and temperature-controlled goods to destinations that are usually more challenging to reach, thus offering a good service USP in the northern Norway market. Following hot on the heels of DANX's recent joint venture with Polish logistics specialist, ILS – a move that has already shown network success for DANX in Poland, improving its time-critical and in-night logistics solutions in Eastern Europe – the integration with TBS, now, brings DANX another step closer towards its goal to become the European leader for time-critical in-night logistics within the DANX Carousel group.
Ole Larsen, Managing Director of DANX in Norway, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: “By joining forces, we strengthen our offering to northern Norway, expand our network, and progress the DANX Carousel group's ambition to become the European leader for time-critical in-night logistics. We're looking forward to working with the TBS team to further develop their network, solution, and sector offering which will bring about more success together in the future.”
Frank Riise, Managing Director of TBS and, courier service operation lead as the company integrates with DANX, commented: “We are looking forward to growing with DANX and are excited about the commercial and operational possibilities that will arise as well as the new developmental employee opportunities. This integration with DANX represents a great opportunity for TBS and we look forward to continuing to deliver an excellent level of service to our existing customers and hopefully to many more.”

Lödige furnishes Brisbane Airport’s ULD handling facility
Technical cargo terminal solution provider, Lödige Industries, has successfully equipped the new ULD handling facility at Brisbane Airport. The 5,000m² building was fitted out with comprehensive technical equipment in order to be able to handle the increasing volumes of cold-chain perishables alongside growing general cargo in the Queensland market. Scheduled to commence operations in 2023, the new air freight terminal in Brisbane is set to revolutionize cargo handling, as Lödige’s state-of-the-art handling solutions are designed to maximize operational efficiency whilst at the same time meeting the latest sustainability and labor safety requirements. The newly installed system includes convenient truck docks that ensure seamless loading and unloading processes for various types of trucks. An intelligent and efficient transport system consisting of roller decks, castor decks, ball decks, and ram protection has been incorporated. Additionally, elevating workstations have been integrated to streamline operations. Notably, the equipment provided can handle temperature-sensitive perishable goods and adheres to safety regulations governing forklift operations and labor work in the vicinity of the facility. In line with the commitment to sustainability, the truck docks and elevating workstations are powered by electricity.
Lödige Industries has a strong presence in the APAC area and not only caters to the specific needs of the region, but also ensures the project's timely completion. As part of the overall package, an on-site service contract has been established to cover the inspection and maintenance of the ULD handling system. Lödige Industries boasts similar success stories in the Australian market, having worked with well-known clients such as Australia Post, dnata at Melbourne Airport, and "The Lennox" in Sydney's Parramatta district, which features Australia's first robotic parking system. In 2021, the company expanded its footprint in Australia through the acquisition of MecFab Enterprises, an Australian firm specializing in plant manufacturing and maintenance at airports, with branches in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

What goes down, must go up: AfA’s Brandon Fried positive
Brandon Fried, the Executive Director of the Airforwarders Association (AfA), remains optimistic about the air cargo industry's outlook for the peak season. While the World ACD reported that global air cargo chargeable weight flown in Q1 2023 saw an 11% drop compared to the previous year, Fried believes this to be a “post-Covid normalization” rather than a decline. He emphasizes that the industry should not crash but rather normalize after the exceptional volumes experienced during the pandemic. Fried believes that the second half of the year – in particular the expected Q4 peak - holds promise as consumers continue to spend and passengers are eager to fly, however solutions do need to be found for the labor and infrastructure issues currently still limiting full growth potential.
Although Q1 saw a drop in overall tonnage by 16% in the Asia Pacific region and 18% in North America, and certain economists are forecasting a serious U.S. recession later this year, Fried is still positive that cargo volumes will increase again during the end-of-year peak season. He notes that current freight rates are artificially lower due to airlines operating more aircraft than necessary in anticipation of increased demand and to accommodate the backlog of passengers waiting to travel. “This will benefit freight forwarders in the long run because airlines want to tailor pricing to attract business. It also indicates a departure away from the traditional freighters we saw during the pandemic, and we can expect some of the older freighters to be phased out. Now's the time for freight forwarders to really show their creative strength because they have to anticipate what's coming around the corner,” he believes.
Labor shortages and union negotiations continue to cast a shadow over U.S. supply chains, impacting global trade flows. Fried calls on freight forwarders to be creative logistical problem solvers and prepare for a challenging future. Looking ahead to 2024, he predicts an improvement in air and ocean freight demand. “We have a new baseline, and we need to stop comparing to before the pandemic. It's a new world, we're seeing a new geopolitical order: the Russian war in Ukraine, rising labor costs, Chinese manufacturers moving out of China to elsewhere in Asia, South America, Mexico. Manufacturers are diversifying, and we can expect to see regionalizing of supply chains in the U.S. and globally. A different political structure will have a significant impact on supply chains,” he concludes.

Olivier Boccara is Bolloré Logistics Asia Pacific’s new CEO
Bolloré Logistics has announced the appointment of Olivier Boccara as the new CEO of Bolloré Logistics Asia Pacific. He will take over from Cyril Dumon, who held the position since 2016. Based in Singapore, Boccara will continue to implement the development strategy set forth by his predecessor. Additionally, he plans to initiate new projects to develop key sectors such as aeronautics, healthcare, luxury goods, and cosmetics.
Following a Master's degree in Management, Boccara came to the Bolloré Group in 1994, and has enjoyed a varied career, including at SAGA where he eventually became its CEO in 2007. He was promoted to CEO of Bolloré Logistics France in 2016 and has recently been serving as Global Chief Commercial Officer, overseeing sales and marketing for Bolloré Logistics worldwide.
With around three decades in the business, Boccara can boast a number of professional achievements, including key roles in significant structuring projects such as the merger of the SAGA and SDV subsidiaries in 2015, and the acquisition of a majority stake in Ovrsea, a digital freight forwarding start-up, in 2021.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the new role, Boccara stated, “I am delighted at the prospect of building on the solid foundations laid down by Cyril, who has greatly contributed to positioning Bolloré Logistics as a leading logistics player in the Asia-Pacific region. I have complete confidence in our existing teams, and together we will strive to further develop the immense potential of this region and expand our operations to better serve our customers.”

Brigitte Gledhill

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