B&H Worldwide has signed a three-year exclusivity deal with Advantage Future Tech (AFT) to manage its inventory and shipping services in the US. Advantage Future Tech is a global distributor of OEM turbine engine parts, avionics and, satellite components. B&H will be responsible for managing AFT’s inventory within its Miami and Los Angeles facilities from where it will onforward shipments throughout the country.
Air Partner airlifts Gaza aid
Air Partner’s cargo division has completed an operation to transport 92 tonnes of humanitarian relief to Gaza, including blankets, fleeces and hygiene kits- total of over 39,000 items.
The material was carried on three flights across three days using an A300F aircraft from Brindisi airport in Italy to Al Arish (in Egypt, carrying a total of over 39,000 relief items.
The charter firm’s cargo team also arranged refuelling of the aircraft at the Egyptian military airport which has limited fuel storage.
WFS first to deploy 3D pallet-building software
Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has become the first air cargo handler to deploy Cind’s ContourSpect 3D modelling software at stations in Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia following a successful Proof of Concept at Copenhagen Airport.
ContourSpect creates a 3D model of cargo loaded on pallets and compares this in real-time with the selected virtual contour, eliminating the need for manual measurements by immediately indicating if the ULD build-up is out of contour. It uses 3D cameras positioned around the ULD build-up area to monitor the contour frame
Cind’s chief executive, Marcus Schelin, said: “Since the launch of ContourSpect in early 2023, we have witnessed considerable interest from the entire air cargo industry. WFS proves to be the ideal partner to extend our solutions, and it is inspiring to observe their strong commitment to enhancing industry safety and efficiency.”
Another next-gen 737 for Modern Logistics
Brazil-based Modern Logistics has taken delivery of a second 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) following its acquisition last year of the first such aircraft in the country.
The availability of the two next generation aircraft will significantly enhance Modern Logistics’ capabilities in other Latin American markets, particularly Argentina, Colombia, and Central America, as well as establishing a facility in Miami.
The company, founded in 2012, is an integrated logistics company based in São Paulo, Brazil and offers a one-stop-shop model using air freighters to speed up supply chains. It operates a 32,000sq ft cargo facility at Viracopos airport able to accommodate several cargo aircraft simultaneously.
Both 737 NGs are leased through Babcock & Brown Aircraft Management (BBAM) and are more cost efficient in terms of ton-miles transported and have a cargo capacity some 10% larger than the previous generation of 737s.
Modern Logistics chief executive Cristiano Koga stated: “The additional capacity and efficiency of the new aircraft will assure the future success of the company by hastening entry into international markets and better responding to the needs and requirements of our clients.”
Currently, Modern Logistics has three Classics 737s in its fleet and will operate both classic 737s and NGs over the near term.
Trilatec offers lightweight alternative to timber in airfreight
German company Trilatec says that its squAIR-timber product can offer weight savings of 80% compared with tradition wooden beams in air freight pallets.
The cardboard fiber composite material is made of 100% recyclable paper and despite considerable weight savings, does not compromise on load-bearing capacity. A meter of the weatherproof material can carry up to 5. The cardboard fiber composite skids are certified for use in air freight and can be placed under containers and pallets.
Trilatec says its product is being used by DHL in Frankfurt and Paris, Kühne + Nagel, Lufthansa Cargo, Emirates SkyCargo and Cargolux.
The latter’s senior vice-president global logistics, Johannes Bruijs, said: “We use the lightweight squAIR-timber elements as a substructure for all pharmaceutical shipments. They have no disadvantages compared to wood, but their significantly lower weight brings many advantages and helps to save a considerable amount of CO2.”
He added that squAIR-timber also saves a lot of time during handling. Only one person and no forklift truck is required for assembling.
American Airlines slashes plastic waste again
American Airlines Cargo says it reduced long-term plastic waste by more than 150,000 lbs, the equivalent of 8.6 million water bottles, in 2023. This is a result of a continued relationship with M&G Packaging and its BioNatur line of biodegradable plastic products for air cargo.
The carrier began transitioning to BioNatur Plastics products at major US hubs in early 2022, reducing long-term plastic waste by the equivalent of 6.4 million water bottles in the first year. In 2023, American expanded its use of the biodegradable products to include regional domestic stations, such as Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Honolulu International and Minneapolis-Saint Paul, as well as Carrasco International Airport and Santiago International in Latin America.
American plans to continue replacing traditional plastic used for stretch wrap and pallet covers with BioNatur products, which contains an organic, food-safe additive that allows anaerobic bacteria to digest the plastic in a landfill. Outside of a landfill, the plastic has an indefinite shelf life and performs exactly like traditional plastic.
Regular plastic can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade in a landfill. BioNatur plastics will biodegrade under landfill conditions in only 8 to 12 years. The end products are fully recyclable in normal waste collection streams, and with added strength, can be used more thinly, minimizing plastic use.
Air France-KLM and CMA CGM to cancel cooperation deal
Air France-KLM and CMA CGM are to end their strategic air cargo partnership, signed in April 2023, blaming “the tight regulatory environment in certain important markets” which had “prevented the cooperation from working in an optimal way”.
At the time that the deal was signed, the partners said that approval had been gained in all markets except except US, Canada, Mexico, Russia, Turkey and Mauritius. An Air France KLM spokesman said that that was still the case and that approval had still not been obtained in those countries.
The carrier and forwarder will withdraw from their existing agreements from 31 March. However, they have begun discussions on new terms and conditions of a commercial relation to operate independently from that date.
Both groups remain committed to work collaboratively, to ensure cargo customers can continue to benefit from their respective networks.
CMA CGM remains a core shareholder in Air France-KLM but have agreed that CMA CGM will step down from the Air France-KLM board of directors on 31 March.
CMA CGM and Air France-KLM signed what they described as a “long-term strategic air cargo partnership” announced in May 2022 with an initial duration of 10 years. The two carriers would combine their cargo networks, full freighter capacity and other services, using the airline’s hubs at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam
The two operators’ combined capacity consisted of up to 12 full-freighter aircraft, six operated by CMA CGM Air Cargo, initially based at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport and six from Air France-KLM based at Paris.
The partnership also covered Air France-KLM’s belly aircraft capacity, including over 160 long-haul aircraft.
Xeneta appoints CRO
Ocean and air freight rate benchmarking and intelligence platform Xeneta has appointed Tonia Luykx as chief revenue officer.
She has worked for businesses including Sift, Google, Dropbox and Amazon, and says: “In terms of the potential to transform how ocean and air freight is bought and sold and how supply chain procurement divisions operate, we have only scratched the surface.”
Luykx added: “There isn’t one other organisation that has the global data network of benchmarks and market insights anywhere else in the world, so it is market-leading with huge potential to grow. We have not even started to quantify the level of automation and operational efficiencies we can bring.”
Singapore Airlines recertifies CEIV Fresh
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has gained IATA CEIV recertification for perishable at its Changi hub, valid for three years from 1 February 2024. Eight other stations – Amsterdam, Barcelona, Brussels, Frankfurt, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong SAR, Hyderabad and Zurich – are currently certified under the quality corridor network. SIA became the first airline in South East Asia to receive the CEIV Perishable certification in 2021 and remains the only airline in the region to hold it.
It offers a Thrusfresh dedicated cold chain service including priority uplift and handling, quick ramp transfers cold room facilities and dry ice top-up.
Cargo.one gains China giant
HNA Cargo, one of China’s largest air logistics groups and agent to China’s fourth largest airline, HNA Aviation Group, is to partner with the cargo.one digital booking platform. It said it would shortly offer freight forwarders in 107 access to HNA Cargo capacity including routes into China and across Asia Pacific
HNA Cargo manages air cargo subsidiaries with a combined fleet of 600 aircraft spanning 11 airlines including Hainan Airlines, Suparna Airlines, Tianjin Air Cargo and Hong Kong Air Cargo, operating 2,000 international and domestic routes, including connections between China and the US, Europe, Australia, Middle East and across Asia.
Vice president of HNA Cargo, Qiushi Zheng, commented: “This digital partnership helps ensure that we benefit fully from our transportation capacity and can achieve optimal distribution. As our first global digital sales channel, cargo.one adds value with its high quality booking solutions and delivers us unique access to thousands of freight forwarders of all sizes through its impressive footprint. During our collaboration, cargo.one has impressed our teams with its technical proficiency and strength of purpose to accelerate and optimize our digital sales gains.”
Cargo.one founder and co-chief executive, Moritz Claussen, added: “With currently more than 50 digitally connected airlines, no other platform can deliver forwarders access to such superior differentiated supply, whether through our web-based application or API suite. As the go-to partner for digital distribution, cargo.one will ensure that HNA Cargo offers are always front of mind in every relevant market.”