Turkish Cargo has received IATA Smart Facility Operational Capacity Certification for its SmartIST Terminal in Istanbul. it confirms that its operational procedures comply with all IATA regulations including those for dangerous goods, ULDs, temperature control, live animals regulations and perishable cargo. The IATA SFOC Certification is granted following detailed examinations by independent auditors and demonstrates compliance of handling and storage processes.
IAG Cargo flies aid to hurricane-hit island
IAG Cargo has delivered critical aid to Grenada to help with recovery from Hurricane Beryl, which struck the Caribbean island in early July.
The carrier, whose brands include British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus and Vueling, worked with organisations including the Grenada Overseas Association Manchester, All Saints Parish Church Bedford and the Grenada High Commission in the UK to transport aid on a British Airways 777 to Maurice Bishop International Airport. Goods shipped included first aid kits, water purification systems, bedding, non-perishable food items and hygiene items.
Dallas Forth Worth brings customs checks airside
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) said on 14 August that it had become the first airport in the country to operate a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Centralized Examination Station on the secure side of an airport.
Compared with operating outside a secure airfield environment, it expedites the direct transfer of cargo from planes to the CBP inspection facility, reducing transportation costs and enhancing efficiency and security, says DFW. The CES was made possible through a partnership between CBP, DFW Airport and dnata Cargo USA, the airport added.
With CBP officers on site, the CES ensures faster inspections and optimal use of CBP resources. It also features the latest non-intrusive inspection technology to expedite cargo exams and speeding up delivery of imported goods.
International e-commerce clearances have increased from just 16,000 in 2020 to 20 million packages in the 2023 fiscal year and, in the first half of fiscal year 2024, have already exceeded 23 million.
DFW’s executive vice president operations, Chris McLaughlin, said: “The CES is a key part of supporting DFW Airport’s rapid growth of international e-commerce package clearances. We’re just beginning to tap into our immense business potential in cargo, thanks to our location in the center of the country, coupled with our extensive air service network. We thank our partners at CBP for choosing DFW as the first airport in the nation to lean into this new operating model.”
CBP Dallas Area port director, Jayson Ahern, added: “By expediting the commercial flow of legitimate goods, this innovative Centralized Examination Station has proven to be an economic stimulus to the region. CBP has assigned officers, agriculture specialists, and supervisors to this facility since its inception, we have seen greater speed and efficiency in clearing cross-border e-commerce and imports targeted for inspection. For the American consumer, it means their products make it to their doorstep faster and safer.
“This CES will serve as a model for future port efforts throughout the United States. Together with our DFW and dnata partners, we’re proud to be on the front end of this innovative effort.”
FedEx offers Asian customers high tech tracking
Federal Express has launched FedEx Surround, offering customers enhanced control and visibility of shipments en route using advanced sensor. The system is based on a lightweight sensor able to transmit precise location every two seconds via Bluetooth Low Energy to WiFi access points or gateway devices throughout its network, allowing packages to be tracked hundreds of times compared with only a few dozen of times with traditional scanning equipment.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning can predict potential disruption. Priority boarding and handling and cold chain support, along with 24-hour support is available from dedicated teams is also available.
FedEx Surround is currently available in Singapore and Hong Kong, and will shortly be rolled-out to China, Japan, Malaysia, Australia, Korea and Taiwan.
Etihad Cargo reorganises for growth
Etihad Cargo says it has transformed its organisational structure to enhance customer experience and drive growth. The new structure will enable the carrier to align more closely with the needs of its customers with a new allocation of regions and a dedicated Customer Experience Department.
The network is now divided into four regions managed by newly appointed directors: South Asia and Oceania (SAPAC, India, Vietnam, Australia) led by Bernard Lee; North Eastern Asia (China, Hong Kong and Macau, Korea, Japan, Taiwan) led by Jacqueline Han Lin Ni; Europe and Americas (North Europe, Central Europe, South Europe, UK and Ireland, Americas) led by Rainer Krammer; and Africa, Middle East and CIS (GCC, UAE, Africa, Levant, CIS) led by Grant Kemp.
The Customer Experience Department is led by Lubna Allaham and will develop additional customised customer-centric solutions.
Etihad Cargo has also appointed Rayan Alhaddar to the new role of senior manager of business development.
On 14 August, Etihad Cargo reported a 17% increase in tonnage in the first half of 2024 compared with 2023. Tonnage in the East increased by 19% and by 20% in the Western region The UAE saw a 15% growth.
Air Charter Service opens in Dublin
Air Charter Service, has opened an office in Dublin, its first in Ireland. It is headed by Alex Sadler, who joined ACS more than 11 years ago at the company’s London headquarters and most recently opened and ran the office at Gatwick Airport.
ACS’s chief executive, Justin Bowman, commented: “Ireland has always been on our list of where we wanted an office. In fact, it was at a company conference in Ireland more than 20 years ago that our chairman, Chris Leach, first laid out his global expansion plans for ACS to the rest of the team. This move will help us to better serve our existing customers in the country and to grow our client base further.”
The office is located in on St Stephen’s Green in central Dublin, which is home to several other aviation companies.
WFS to handle Turkish Airlines in Denver
SATS Group handling arm Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has won a three-year contract from Turkish Airlines for ramp handling and cabin cleaning services at Denver International Airport in Colorado.
WFS will provide services including aircraft pushback, baggage handling, cargo loading/unloading and airside cargo transportation. It already provides ground handling services for Turkish Airlines in Chicago.
WFS has also won a five-year license to provide ramp handling for aircraft at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport’s Terminal 4 from 1 October. WFS is already an established provider of passenger services for airlines at JFK, serving 12 airlines across all terminals.
Hactl steps up battery safety
Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) has opened a dedicated Lithium Batteries Storage Zone,equipped with CO2 fire suppression systems and fire-proof partitions to segregate battery cargo from other shipments. Increased provision of fire extinguishers will also help to contain any battery fire and reduce the risk of spread.
Hactl’s automated Box Storage System (BSS) has also been re-programmed to store all stillages containing lithium batteries in positions which are more accessible for fire-fighting, and isolated from other cargo types.
Hactl chief executive Wilson Kwong said: “Shipments containing lithium batteries are an important revenue stream for the air cargo industry, but the potential risks of handling lithium batteries are well known. This fact, coupled with the ever-increasing tonnages that we are required to handle, means that we must take every possible precaution.
“Hactl has already invested in an intelligent cargo thermal detection system in order to provide advance warning of any exceptional conditions that may indicate the impending risk of a battery fire. The new Zone takes this proactive approach still further, ensuring that any battery fire can be effectively contained and then quickly extinguished.”
Air Europa joins Cargo.one
Spanish carrier Air Europa has joined the Cargo.one platform. From late summer, forwarders in EMEA and Latin America can book capacity through the platform and more of the carrier’s130 destinations in North America, the Caribbean, Middle East and Africa will be added in coming weeks. Ultimately, Cargo.one will allow the airline to promote its air cargo services to 20,000 freight forwarders in 121 countries. The carrier operates a fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 737 aircraft through its hubs in Madrid and Barcelona.
Kuehne+Nagel SAF scheme saves Mercedes-Benz 11,000 tonnes of CO2
Kuehne+Nagel says Mercedes-Benz has been able to reduce around 11,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions in the past twelve months thanks to its use of Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The forwarder has been using SAF for the car maker’s shipments to the US for over a year, including to its plant in Alabama.
SAF has been used on charter flights with Kuehne+Nagel’s own Boeing 747-8F cargo aircraft on the route from Stuttgart in Germany to Birmingham, Alabama.
Mercedes-Benz Group board member for production, quality and supply chain management, Jörg Burzer, said: “Logistics is a key part of the automotive value chain. By using sustainable aviation fuel for air freight transport, we can reduce emissions along our value chain and take an important step towards net carbon neutrality. We are delighted to reach another milestone in sustainable logistics together with our partner Kuehne+Nagel.”