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UK broker signs up Saudi partner

Brokers

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February 25, 2022

Avia Solutions’ UK-based aircraft charter specialist Chapman Freeborn has appointed NAQEL Express as its exclusive partner in Saudi Arabia. Michael Harradine, NAQEL Express director for the global freight forwarding division Michael Harradine, said the partnership would give clients direct access to the cargo air charter and on-board courier capabilities of Chapman Freeborn with direct control and transparency for the fulfilment of air charter needs of global and local firms in Saudi Arabia. He said that NAQEL is the largest overland express carrier in the Kingdom and one of a select group of firms operating as Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) for Saudi Customs.

(Picture: Wolfgang Inderwies)

Record result for IAG Cargo

Airlines

Chris Lewis

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February 25, 2022

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IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group, comprising British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling and bmi, reported record financial results in 2021, with annual revenues up 30% over 2020 of €1,673 million for the year to 31 December. The carrier said it reflected surging demand for air cargo capacity as global trade rebounds. Overall yield for 2021 was up 11.3% at constant currency versus 2020 and sold tonnes were up 21.4%.

Demand for air cargo exceeded 2019 levels throughout 2021 and the business continued to align its network to customer demand with cargo-led flying, increased frequencies on important trade routes and implementing an active charter programme of 745 rotations.

The year ended very strongly with quarterly record revenue of €499 million in the fourth quarter, up from €389 million in Q4 of 2020 thanks to ecommerce and hi-tech flows from South East Asia into North America and automotive parts from the UK and Europe. Hong Kong demand remained very buoyant and from mid-December the business directed volumes to flow via Bangkok as crew quarantine restrictions limited direct flights. IAG Cargo also moved large volumes of what are typically seen as non-airfreight commodities as shippers favoured shorter delivery times and volumes shifted from sea to air against a background of supply chain disruption, port congestion and low inventories.

IAG Cargo managing director David Shepherd said: “Since joining the business in August 2021 I’ve been extremely impressed by the way in which the talented team at IAG Cargo have optimised the opportunities which the market has presented. In 2021 the role of air cargo remained very much in the spotlight. Our people went above and beyond to find solutions to the global capacity crunch and airfreight restrictions. These results are a reflection of their determination and creativity.

“I’m also proud of our work in the fight against Covid-19. In 2021 our cold chain, Constant Climate, service was responsible for shipping millions of doses of life-saving COVID-19 vaccines to almost every corner of the world.

He added that IAG also improved its website and expanded partnerships with third party platform providers.

Russians ‘take back’ Antonov Airlines’ Kiev base

Airlines

Chris Lewis

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February 24, 2022

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Russians ‘take back’ Antonov Airlines’ Kiev base

The BBC has reported that Russian forces may have retaken control of the the Antonov Airlines’ base at Hostomel near Kyiv, quoting Russia’s Interfax news agency.

It says 200 Russian helicopters and a landing force were used to seize it.

On 24 February, a battle was reported to be raging for control of the base, known as Antonov International Airport, 10km north-west of Kyiv. The Russians were understood to have taken control earlier in the day but later, official Ukraine news sources reported that the country’s forces had retaken it.

The BBC said that the fighting there was understood to be the closest that Russian forces have managed to get to the Ukrainian capital on the first day of their invasion. A spokesperson for Antonov Airlines said yesterday (24 February) that all staff had been evacuated from the base and were safe, as far as was known.

It is not known which aircraft, if any, were at the base at the time of the attack. However, earlier reports of the destruction of the unique AN225, the world’s largest aircraft now appear to have been discounted. One unconfirmed report suggests that the AN225 is currently in Georgia.

DHL helps airfreight shippers go green

Forwarding

Chris Lewis

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February 24, 2022

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DHL’s Global Forwarding arm says it is now giving its customers the ability to neutralize their CO₂ emissions for air freight as well as ocean on all trade lanes under its GoGreen Plus service.

Under the scheme, emissions are reduced by replacing the amount of conventional fossil fuel needed with sustainable fuel and customers can pick and choose which parts of their supply chain they want to truly decarbonize.

GoGreen Plus Service can be added while booking online and the appropriate amount of biofuel is purchased for the respective shipment is used in partners’ aircraft or ships.

Lufthansa launches medium-haul freighter network

Airlines

Chris Lewis

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February 23, 2022

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Lufthansa Cargo is to launch an A321-operated medium-haul freighter network from 15 March, including. The network will be centred on Frankfurt and will also cover Manchester, Dublin, Istanbul, Tel Aviv, Malta and Tunis, with Cairo joining the network on 29 March.

The A321F will make its first commercial flight from Frankfurt to Dublin on 15 March.

The German carrier said it was responding to the continuing growth in demand from the eCommerce industry.

The carrier’s chief commercial officer, Ashwin Bhat, said: “With the added medium-haul freighters, we are opening up a whole new strategic business segment. In the future, the A321F will offer attractive same-day and eCommerce solutions within Europe and to selected medium-haul destinations, and the new network represents a major step towards the fast-growing eCommerce segment.

“On one hand, available capacity in the global airfreight market continues to be scarce and, at the same time, end consumers expect short delivery times. With the medium-haul freighter, we can close this gap and continue to reliably and quickly provide our customers with the capacity they need with the same quality and expertise for which Lufthansa Cargo is known.”

The converted aircraft has been fitted with a reinforced floor, a roller system and a large cargo door and offers 24 pallet and container positions in the main and lower decks.

A second freighter is expected to enter service in late summer. Both will be operated under a wet lease agreement by Lufthansa CityLine, each under Lufthansa Cargo flight numbers. Lufthansa describes the twin-engine Airbus A321 as one of the most versatile aircraft in its class. Able to carry containers in the main deck, it offers fast loading and unloading and therefore enables very efficient flight operations.

Globe Air to sell Azul space in US

GSA

Chris Lewis

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February 22, 2022

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Brazil’s Azul Cargo has selected ECS Group’s subsidiary, Miami-based Globe Air Cargo as its exclusive GSSA in the US.

Globe Air Cargo is now responsible for all cargo sales and administrative services for Azul’s entire US business and will assist Azul with flight operations. Azul – a subsidiary of Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras – operates an A330 passenger and passenger-to-freighter fleet out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Orlando International Airport to Viracopos-Campina International Airport in Brazil, nine times a week. The GSSA plans to also develop the airline’s business from offline US destinations with dedicated Azul sales representatives.

Globe Air’s regional vice president North America Danny Olynick, said: “We aim to maximise Azul’s revenues and support it in accessing new destinations across the US, both online and offline. What is particularly attractive about Azul is its focus on e-commerce cargo deliveries all the way through to the last mile across Brazil: a fascinating expanded network challenge that we are more than happy to participate in.”

Lufthansa and Röhlig get together to cut carbon

Chris Lewis

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February 22, 2022

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Lufthansa and Röhlig get together to cut carbon

Lufthansa Cargo has joined forces with forwarder Röhlig Logistics to offer customers a sustainable transport service on selected routes, with investment in certified climate protection projects compensating for CO2 emissions that arise as a result of airfreight. Röhlig Logistics is initially committed to decarbonising air freight on four selected routes – Frankfurt to Atlanta, Mexico City and Shanghai and from Hong Kong to Frankfurt – expected to offset around 1,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Ten carbon offset projects run by non-profit organization myclimate, include biomass schemes in Brazil, efficient cooking stoves in Burundi, Nigeria and Kenya and community reforestation in Nicaragua.

Swiss returns to Tampa and Delhi

Airlines

Chris Lewis

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February 21, 2022

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Swiss World Cargo is to serve Tampa, Florida and Delhi, India again from 2 March. Flights between Zurich and Delhi will operate three times a week and twice a week to and from Tampa with an Airbus A340-300. Furthermore, Tampa will be a trucking hub for shipments to Dallas, Greenville, Houston, Jacksonville, Memphis, New Orleans and Orlando.

Qatar Airways approves Releye RAP

Airlines

Chris Lewis

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February 21, 2022

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Qatar Airways Cargo has approved Envirotainer’s Releye RAP temperature-controlled airfreight container, launched on 9 February.

The new container has already been approved by Swiss WorldCargo.

Based on the same platform and technology as the three-pallet Releye RLP launched in 2021, the Releye RAP is the second in a family of temperature-controlled containers that Envirotainer is developing. Envirotainer says it offers the largest internal volume for temperature-controlled air freight shipments, and hence makes more efficient use of air cargo capacity, achieving the best total landed cost and the lowest CO₂ footprint in the industry.

Chief Officer Cargo, Guillaume Halleux, said: “The Releye RAP’s capability of covering transit times and delays without the need for recharging, together with the possibility to track and monitor the product condition, location, temperature, humidity, battery levels, door openings, and location of the shipment, offer a superior stability that sharply contrasts the uncertainty that the pandemic continues to bring. With its exceptionally low CO2 footprint, the Releye RAP is fully in line with our sustainability strategy.”

Shell first to supply SAF to Singapore

Technology

Chris Lewis

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February 18, 2022

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Petroleum giantShell says it has become the first supplier of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to customers in Singapore.

It has also completed the upgrading of its blending facility there. SAF is currently approved for use in aircraft when blended in a ratio of up to 50% with conventional jet fuel and having a blending facility in the region enables a more efficient operation by moving neat SAF in bulk from production sources and then delivering blended SAF parcels to where it is needed.

The SAF supplied is made from waste products.

Shell Aviation, global president, Jan Toschka, said: “Alongside investing in our capabilities to produce SAF, we are also focused on developing the regional infrastructure needed to get the fuel to our customers at their key locations.”

Shell wants to produce around 2 million tonnes of SAF a year by 2025 globally. To support this, it has outlined plans for a biofuels facility at the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Singapore, capable of producing 550,000 tonnes of low-carbon fuels a year, including SAF.