Kuehne+Nagel’s new and cool air cargo hub at CDG
Kuehne+Nagel has more than doubled its air cargo presence at Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris, France, having recently opened its new air logistics hub. 2.5 times larger than its predecessor at the airport’s Cargo City, it includes 4,500 m² of space dedicated to healthcare products, boasting cold rooms and temperature-controlled zones. The facility meets GDP and CEIV requirements, coming under Kuehne+Nagel’s own HealthChain certification. It is also TAPA-FSR A security certified. Further, it caters for R&D and personalized medicine logistics, supported by QuickSTAT, a Kuehne+Nagel company with expertise in personalized supply chain planning. Not just healthcare, but also the high-tech, luxury, aerospace, industrial and automotive industries are to be served at the location, which offers direct runway access and an international network of more than 320 destinations. 300 air freight pallets per week can be handled there.
The new hub meets a number of sustainability targets and carries the BREEAM Excellent certificate. This validates its energy efficiency and reduced carbon footprint. The hub’s roof is equipped with 1,332 photovoltaic solar panels, which will enable savings of around 26.4 tons of CO2 per year.
Heiko Schuhmacher, Regional Head of Air Logistics Europe, commented: “The inauguration of the new hub, located at one of Europe’s best-connected airports, reinforces Kuehne+Nagel's leading position in air logistics and strong ambition on our healthcare focus, as part of our Roadmap 2026.”
Atlas Air Worldwide to settle in White Plains
18,288 m² of leased office space in White Plains, New York, will soon house Atlas Air Worldwide’s headquarter staff: 400 of them, in fact. It announced this week that it was investing USD 4 million in its new corporate headquarters, upgrading the space, equipment, IT, and security, before moving over from its current location (Purchase, New York), in January of next year. Due to committing to retaining 400 full time jobs on its payroll, over a period of five years, in addition to the USD 4 million in investments, the aviation operating services and aircraft provider has also been awarded a USD 2 million capital grant from Empire State Development. The new location marks almost a quarter of a decade that Atlas has been present in New York. It first established its headquarters there in 2000, and employs a further 265 people at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in Queens, New York. Its Global Operations Center, however, is based near the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) in Erlanger, Kentucky, and an Atlas training center is located in Miami, Florida, alongside a number of international operations and logistics centers.
Michael Steen, Chief Executive Officer, Atlas Air Worldwide, said: “Continuing our presence in New York guarantees our access to the top talent critical to our operations. New York has served Atlas and our employees well as we’ve grown into one of the largest cargo carriers in the world.”
Senator Schumer stated: “White Plains get ready for takeoff because Atlas Air Worldwide’s new corporate headquarters is landing right here. I am pleased that Atlas will continue operation of its headquarters here in New York, which will create good paying local jobs and boost the economy. Atlas’ ongoing commitment to the Hudson Valley will help our region continue to soar as home to one of the largest cargo carriers in the world.”
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner, Hope Knight added: “Atlas Air has a long history of job creation and economic growth in this state, and we are pleased to support their transition to White Plains and more importantly, their continued commitment to New York. We look forward to continued growth and investment into the Mid-Hudson Region well into the future.”
DSV’s Executive Board to welcome new CEO on 30SEP24
It’s a whole year away, but the announcement was made this week: On 30SEP24, DSV A/S’ Group CEO since 2008, Jens Bjørn Andersen, will step down and the Group’s current COO, Jens H. Lund (54) will take his place. Between now and SEP24, the two will collaborate to ensure a smooth handover.
Thomas Plenborg, Chairman of the Board of Directors of DSV A/S, lauded Andersen’s achievements, thanked him, and welcomed his successor, who began with DSV in 2002, as its CFO: “DSV has been on a fantastic journey under Jens Bjørn Andersen’s leadership since 2008. He has been instrumental in developing DSV into a leading global freight forwarder with excellent financial results and ultimately in creating significant value for DSV’s shareholders. […] The Board of Directors believes that now is the right time to execute on the succession plan and announce Jens Lund as the future Group CEO. [He] is known and respected both internally and externally as a visionary and strong leader. The Board of Directors is confident that Jens Lund is the right person to drive DSV’s continued growth strategy and further develop our global network, customer services and digital infrastructure.”
Jens Bjørn Andersen, Group CEO of DSV A/S, thanked the Board, commenting: “I am proud of the results that we have achieved as a team in DSV during my years as Group CEO. Through large acquisitions, integrations, and challenging logistics markets, we have managed to support our customers, create value for our shareholders and – not least – to bring sustainability higher on the agenda.”
Over on LinkedIn Jens H. Lund, Group COO and Vice CEO of DSV A/S, stated: “After more than 20 years with DSV, I’m proud to be stepping into the role of Group CEO of DSV - Global Transport and Logistics […] I’ll have some considerable shoes to fill. Over the last 15 years, Jens Bjørn Andersen has successfully steered DSV to becoming one of the leading global freight forwarders. [He] has been a source of inspiration, a driving force behind our growth and a great colleague and collaborator. […] I look forward to building on our existing foundations and am confident that with our shared purpose, vision, and strong strategic focus, we will be well positioned to continue to grow and tackle future challenges.”
Hellmann and BlueBox working SmartAir! together
At the recent Logistics Summit in Dusseldorf, Germany, Hellmann and BlueBox Systems presented the learnings from their joint work on successfully digitizing the logistics company’s operations. They pointed to the benefits of start-ups and traditional companies working together to improve operational efficiency and transparency. It has been two years now, that Hellmann has been using BlueBox’s intelligent cargo tracking solution, which Hellmann markets as ‘SmartAir!’ to its customers. The easy-to-use web-based tracking solution allows users to check the status of their shipments in real-time, across more than 130 airlines and 1600 airports. Around 40 million status messages are available every day on the platform, alerting users to potential arrival delays and giving them the chance to act accordingly.
Stefan Borggreve, Hellmann’s Chief Digital Officer and member of the Executive Board, said: “BlueBox Systems delivers fresh ideas, agility, new technologies and above all speed – for example in implementation – to this partnership. They are on fire about their product and are very determined. When working with start-ups, we benefit from the fact that they can experiment easily, due to their lean structures, and thus learn very quickly.”
Martin Bernemann, Chief Technical Officer at BlueBox Systems, added: “A big advantage for us, is Hellmann’s market overview and market access, as well as the different perspectives that automatically exist in corporate projects. In turn, Hellmann gets fresh know-how, state-of-the-art technology, and agility from us. So, both sides benefit.“
Lena Haartje, Key Account Manager Smart Solutions at Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, explained: “When collaborating with start-ups, it’s important for us to give them access to resources and mentoring as soon as possible, and without a lot of bureaucracy. Another crucial point is that when working together with start-ups, you don’t just treat them as suppliers, but meet them as equals.”
Bernemann agreed: “When companies and start-ups work together, both sides want transparency. The start-ups expect clear communication from the companies, how far the decision-making process really is. And the companies expect clear communication from the start-ups, what they can really deliver. At BlueBox Systems, we place a high value on communicating proactively and delivering as promised. That’s our claim.”
Lufthansa Cargo dresses its 4th freighter in Sharkskin
Since less than two weeks (13OCT23), another Lufthansa Cargo 777F has been flying in its new sustainable uniform: it is the fourth freighter in the airline’s fleet, to sport the CO2-efficient AeroSHARK technology. The transformation of the fleet began in FEB23. Lufthansa Technik is tasked with modifying Lufthansa Cargo’s entire fleet by the end of 2027, in an effort to achieve full CO2 neutrality by 2050.
As originally reported in CargoForwarder Global in 2021, AeroSHARK is a functional surface film that imitates the microscopic structure of shark skin. It texture enables the aircraft to glide through the air more freely, reducing the aerodynamic drag on the fuselage and engine nacelles. This, in turn, reduces the amount of fuel needed, and thus lowers the amount of emissions. AeroSHARK was jointly developed by Lufthansa Technik and BASF. “As with the previous modified freighters, Lufthansa Technik expects fuel savings of about one percent. Calculated over Lufthansa Cargo's entire 777 fleet, this will save more than 4,000 metric tons of kerosene per year and thus almost 13,000 metric tons of CO2emissions. This corresponds to about 53 cargo flights from Frankfurt to Shanghai,” the release explains. Aircraft Number Five will undergo modification during its regular maintenance layover in AUG24.
Ashwin Bhat, CEO of Lufthansa Cargo, explained: “The special coating significantly reduces the frictional resistance of the aircraft. Together with the lightweight cargo equipment we already use today, this technology will enable us to save 5,493 tons of kerosene per year. This is an important step on our way to becoming 100 percent CO2-neutral in the air by 2050.”
First ever sea-to-air ONE Record shipment
Cathay Cargo, Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), and IATA have set a world-premiere with the first multimodal ONE Record pilot: Sea-air shipments from forwarder Yusen, were logged and followed as they travelled from the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) Logistics Park in Dongguan in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) (which was opened in FEB23. CFG reported by sea to Hong Kong International Airport for export by air to Bangkok, Manila, and Tokyo. IATA, AAHK, and Cathay Cargo worked to enable intermodal shipments accepted in Dongguan, to have all their data milestones and security data available within IATA ONE Record, for secure and regulated end-to-end shipment transparency (from shipper to agent/airline/warehouse/customs, etc.). It was also the first time that cargo acceptance was logged outside the origin airport’s cargo terminal. “That acceptance registered as an acceptance milestone on the data journey in ONE Record. The system then generated data notices when the bonded shipments were unloaded for export at HKIA. From there, the shipments triggered the normal ONE Record shipment milestones as they completed their journey to collection by the eventual consignees,” the release explains. Information that Yusen could access from its account in the one-stop digital cargo-management system, EzyCargo™, using an interface designed by Global Logistics System (GLS) HK Co Ltd. GLS was heavily in the development of IATA ONE Record technologies and led the technical and system readiness work for the pilot.
Cathay’s Director Cargo, Tom Owen, stated: “Cathay Cargo continues to be a trailblazer in terms of digitalizing systems ready for the ONE Record implementation in 2026. It also shows ONE Record’s value in enabling services such as Ultra Track and other use cases [plus] ONE Record’s flexibility. Being able to accept cargo from an upstream cargo terminal and then log its transit by boat was a world first.”
Cyrus Chan, Yusen’s Manager Air Freight Forwarding Division, applauded the improved collaboration and visibility that ONE Record brings: “ONE Record is gaining traction and will become the global standard, and we are keen to be an early adopter to align with industry best practice and future developments in air-cargo operations.”
Max Xie, Regional Vice President North Asia for IATA, congratulated all involved: “This pilot brings ONE Record to a new level, demonstrating the effectiveness of the standard in supporting the intermodal transport of cargo. When fully implemented, this will further strengthen Hong Kong’s status as a key air-cargo hub.”
Elizabeth Berman is GCL’s first CPO
The event logistics consortium, Global Critical Logistics (GCL – home to Rock-it Global, Dietl, Dynamic International, CARS, and Cosdel.GLOBAL) this week appointed its first Chief People Officer in the form of Elizabeth Berman. She takes on the responsibility across all of GCL’s aforementioned brands. Which CPO is a first for GCL, it is a role that Berman is well-versed in, having held the same position in a variety of companies including Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment, Nike, Estee Lauder, and Vevo – in other words, she brings experice from the sports, entertainment, and hospitality industries served by GCL. Her responsibilities at GCL will be focused on a people-oriented approach to all of GCL’s diverse verticals, and the creation of a best-in-class, functioning HR infrastructure. “She has a track record of leading in rapidly changing, high-growth environments and is passionate about achieving a company’s vision by attracting and developing top, diverse talent, and building extraordinary levels of employee engagement,” the release states.
Daniel Rosenthal, President and Chief Executive Officer of GCL, said: “I am a firm believer in building on our 45-year foundation by investing in our team and culture. Elizabeth is the perfect partner to build out the people function. She combines leadership and compassion with data-driven decision-making and strategic thinking. By ensuring the right tools, resources and infrastructure are available and accessible to all, Elizabeth will help our people support our customers, thrive in their jobs, and seize the many opportunities we have for career development.”
Elizabeth Berman commented: “I’m looking forward to advancing our global culture, while preserving each individual companies’ legacies. In particular, I am excited about ensuring that the continued growth of GCL will positively impact employees’ careers. Core to my role, I will be ensuring our approach focuses on individual growth and development, while introducing new career pathways across the GCL portfolio.”
Brigitte Gledhill
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