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Air Canada unveils Toronto cold chain site

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Air Canada has inaugurated its $16 million cold chain handling facility at its Toronto Pearson International Airport, expanding and enhancing capabilities for pharmaceuticals, fresh food and other perishables.

The upgraded facility features over 30,000sq ft (2,787sq m) of temperature-controlled areas and an expanded cooler to fully meet the requirements of cold chain shipments, including pharmaceuticals. These enhancements are the first step in a multi-year investment plan for the facility and are part of several planned infrastructure investment projects for Air Canada Cargo.

The extended cooler can accommodate more unit load devices (ULD) and loose shipments with +2°C to +8°C and +15°C to +25°C temperature requirements, provides additional racking and an upgraded dedicated area for active temperature control units.

The renovations also include installation of energy efficient equipment such as temperature controllers that constantly monitor the conditions inside the facility and only regulate the temperature as needed, so reducing energy consumption. Rapid roll-up doors have also been installed to minimize energy loss when the cooler is accessed. LED lighting has been installed throughout the facility.

Air Canada vice president, cargo, Jason Berry, said: “This is an exciting day for Air Canada Cargo as we take another step forward in our evolution. The enhanced temperature-controlled facility is the only one of its kind for a Canadian airline and positions Air Canada Cargo to continue successfully growing our business, including the launch of our dedicated freighter aircraft. This investment, and the others that are to follow, will allow us to better serve our customers and I am very excited for what the future holds for Air Canada Cargo.”

Cargo iQ fills in the gaps

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Airfreight organization Cargo iQ has made key updates to its Quality Management System (QMS), adding a Visibility Maps function and new milestones to its Route Map Planning.

Cargo iQ Route Maps, which enable the journey of an air cargo shipment to be planned and monitored, could until now only be created if all flight details were available in advance.

If segments remained missing when the shipment started to move, no Route Map would be available and an error message would be sent to the airline, leading to reporting gaps.

An incomplete Route Map, known as a ‘Visibility Map’, can now be created on the Cargo Data Management Platform (CDMP) when a status update has been received for a shipment, even if gaps remain in the data.

Further improvements to the QMS are the addition of Freight into Warehouse (FIW) and Freight out of Warehouse (FOW) milestones to the Route Map, meaning that shipment handover between the warehouse handler and the ramp handler can now be monitored and recorded.

“As Cargo iQ turns 25, we are focused on embracing digitalization, for example by providing truck drivers with technical tools to send shipment status updates, as the path to a seamless and transparent supply chain,” said Cargo iQ executive director Lothar Moehle (pictured).

Over the past 25 years, Cargo iQ membership has grown to include more than 60 members from the supply chain, most recently including small- to medium-sized enterprise (SME) forwarders.

Moehle added: “We are working on the specification and simple communication and messaging tools for Road Feeder Services (RFS) to bring improved planning and monitoring capabilities for shipments travelling under AWB on the roads.”

Emirates to reopen Dubai World central hub

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Emirates SkyCargo is to return to dual hub operation in Dubai and will be reactivating its cargo hub in Dubai South, Emirates SkyCentral, for dedicated freighter aircraft from 26 March.

In April 2020, Emirates SkyCargo consolidated its freighter and bellyhold passenger cargo operations at Dubai International Airport in light of the suspension of passenger flights during the early stages of the Covid pandemic, in order to expedite transport of essential supplies and medical items across the world.

Emirates SkyCentral DWC was inaugurated in 2015 and has an annual total cargo capacity of more than a million tonnes. The terminal features extensive cool chain handling facilities as well as a dedicated pharma handling zone certified for EU GDP standards. Dedicated aircraft parking stands in close proximity to the terminal allow for rapid and efficient transportation of cargo.

A fleet of dedicated trucks operating 24-hours basis will connect the two airports with connection times of under five hours for high priority cargo, from wheels down at DXB to wheels up at DWC and vice-versa.

Handler AGI opens new JFK site

Cargo handler AGI has opened a location at New York JFK’s Building 22. Launch customers are Cargolux Airlines and Turkish Cargo, the latter beginning operations on March 15.

The 82,000 square foot building has three levels of racking for imports and AGI also is providing export screening through its canine partner, Global K9 Protection Group.

The facility will provide 150-180 new jobs.

Building 22 is AGI’s third facility at JFK, joining Building 21 operated on behalf of Delta Cargo and Building 71.

First flight for Lufthansa short-haul freighter

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Lufthansa Cargo A321 freighter lifted off for its first commercial flight from the carrier’s main Frankfurt base to Dublin on 15 March.

The aircraft, registration D-AEUC was christened ‘Hello Europe’ before departure and is operated by Lufthansa’s CityLine short haul passenger arm.

Lufthansa Cargo chair and chief executive, Dorothea von Boxberg, said the new freighter would allow the carrier to offer same-day and e-commerce solutions within Europe and to selected medium-haul destinations. The aircraft will initially serve Dublin, Manchester, Istanbul, Tel Aviv , Malta and Tunis with flights to Cairo (being added on 29 March, served two to three times a week from and to Frankfurt.

A second A321F is expected to enter service in late summer, which will allow more destinations to be added.

One of the first missions of the new freighter will be to fly aid cargo to Poland.  The carrier’s chief commercial officer, Ashwin Bhat added that the plane would provide Lufthansa with more flexibility. It could, he said, be used for charter services or even ACMI leasing deals.

Digital broker recruits tech guru

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Digital air cargo broker CharterSync has appointed Andy Evans as its non-executive director. Over the last 20 years, he has founded, built and sold three media and technology businesses including one of the UK’s first digital publishing businesses and the UK’s first podcast production company in 2005.

B&H moves on-airport in New Zealand

Aerospace logistics specialist B&H Worldwide has moved its New Zealand operation to a new on-airport site at Auckland Airport.  The company has been operating in the country since 2012. It gives easy access to all facilities at the largest and busiest airport in the country. In addition to warehousing and offices the new site also has ample yards for devanning. The B&H team in Auckland led by country manager, Lee Hedges will also offer specialist dangerous goods services.

Qatar Airways offers a thoroughbred service

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Qatar Airways Cargo has transported 190 of the world’s finest horses to and from equestrian events in Qatar and Saudi Arabia recently.  

They include the Amir Sword Festival in Doha, the Saudi Cup in Riyadh and the Longines Global Champions Tour in Doha.

The horses came from Ireland, the UK and all over Europe, travelling via the Horse Inn at Liège Airport and Hamad International Airport in Doha.

All were safely returned to their countries, on board three charter flights from Doha to Liège in February and March.

First flight for Releye RAP

Envirotainer has made the first commercial shipment using its new Releye RAP temperature-controlled container aboard a Swiss WorldCargo flight. The shipment started in Basel, Switzerland, landing at JFK in the US and comprised three Releye RAP units and two RAP e2 units, on behalf of a Swiss pharmaceutical company. The unit’s integrated live monitoring checked all shipment details through the journey, with Envirotainer’s new Control Tower service ready to respond to any critical event, should one have occurred.

Digital solutions to speed Abu Dhabi airfreight

Abu Dhabi Ports Group has introduced a suite of digital airfreight solutions as part of its Advanced Trade and Logistics Platform (ATLP). It will streamline the movement of air cargo shipments to and from all five airports in Abu Dhabi. It aims to reduce reduce waiting times by 80%, improve delivery time through customs integration, enhance track and trace visibility, introduce digital payment channels and enhance warehouse utilisation through an automated appointment system.

In addition to reducing the amount of paperwork needed for air cargo shipments by 90%, the new services also cut down on unnecessary trips to the airport for air freight by providing digital access to all required documentation, as well as online payments and handling of documents to the ground handler.

Yousef Al Riyami, chief technology officer (right) and Jubran Al Breiki, director Etihad Airport Services