Blog | Air Cargo Vision | Air Cargo News ACV Air Freight News Air Cargo Vision

HACTL keeps dangerous goods under control

-

March 1, 2024

HACTL keeps dangerous goods under control

Hong Kong handler HACTL has launched a Cool Chain Complex (CCC), the largest at the International Airport and the first to include a dedicated climate-controlled facility for storing dangerous substances.

CCC allows import shipments to be unloaded from aircraft, broken down, and either stored or handed to waiting customers entirely within a temperature-controlled environment. Exports get a similar seamless temperature-controlled transit from warehouse to aircraft.

All additional processes, such as check-weighing and X-ray screening, also take place within the CCC’s controlled environment.

The CCC has been designed to minimise the total time and distance between aircraft and storage, with direct airside access and its own dedicated landside truck docks. There are three temperature zones (15°C, 2-8°C, and -25 to -15°C) and all areas have real-time temperature monitoring and full CCTV coverage.

The dedicated area for dangerous substances also has three separate temperature zones – the first of its kind in Hong Kong.

Hactl chief executive Wilson Kwong said the facility was “a real game-changer in the handling of temperature-controlled shipments at Hong Kong’s airport. In addition to offering a seamless, constant-climate handling capability, the Cool Chain Complex means Hactl is the first air cargo handler in Hong Kong to offer a dedicated storage area for hazardous substances, with precise temperature control. This will allow dangerous pharmaceuticals and biological shipments to be stored under tightly-regulated thermal conditions and security, achieving total safety and preserving product efficacy.”

Drones deliver in Dubai

Chris Lewis

-

March 1, 2024

0

UAE-owned handling company Dnata says it has integrated autonomous drones into its cargo warehouse operations in Dubai. Benefits include 20% reduction in processing times of rack inventories and over 99% accuracy in shipment tracking. On average, Dnata’s drones monitor some 1,800 shipments across 2,400 rack locations.

Software by Gather AI, enables the drones to map the environment, collect inventory data, count cases, measure temperature, and read barcodes using only their cameras, without the need for any additional active infrastructure. The drones are paired to a tablet and the collected data can be viewed directly on the device or the web dashboard.

With routine tasks automated, human resources can be allocated to more complex responsibilities. The drones also reduce carbon footprint and improve safety by reducing the need for working at height in the warehouse.

The drones can operate at temperatures between 0 C and 50 C.

FedEx upgrades in south-west Germany

Chris Lewis

-

February 29, 2024

0

FedEx Express has opened an expanded, modernized facility in Karlsruhe in south-west Germany close to the French border. At about 2,500sq m (27,000sq ft approx.), warehouse space is doubled and there is a truck loading ramp as well as 24 loading bays. Sorting is largely automated, reducing times by around a third and almost doubling sorting capacity. A height-adjustable and extendable conveyor belt also facilitates handling of consignments. Three new jobs were created as part of the expansion, and 20 team members now work at the site.

Busy 2023 for aid by air

Brokers

Chris Lewis

-

February 29, 2024

0

Broker Air Charter Service says it has had its busiest year for some time for emergency flights in 2023, including aid movements and evacuations.

In February, an earthquake struck Turkey and Syria. A day later, ACS flew search and rescue teams to the region, along with its own representative to ensure the smooth operation of subsequent aid charters. ACS ultimately arranged charters to move over 2,000 tonnes of relief cargo, including tents, blankets, food and drink and a field hospital on Boeing 737s, 747s, 757s and 777s, Airbus A300s and A330s, and Ilyushin 76s.

Director of humanitarian and government services, Ben Dinsdale continue: “In April, following civil war in Sudan, our response teams in the US, Europe and Middle East were all called into action to evacuate people from the country. Following these evacuations we chartered aircraft over the next month to fly in a large amount of aid, for those displaced by the troubles.”
Typhoon Mawar. which hit the US Western Pacific territory of Guam followed in June, and ACS’s North American teams moved generators, water tanks, tractors and trucks. This was followed in August by the Hawaii wildfires spread which again kept ACS’ North American offices extremely busy, flying in aid, as well as three charters carrying replacement mobile phone towers.
Then, in September, two major disasters struck in North Africa – the earthquake in Moroccan followed by the floods in Libya.

Very few charter flights were needed for Morocco, the government there announcing that it did not require overseas aid, so ACS concentrated on Libya, flying over 500 tonnes of tarpaulins, tents, sleeping bags, water purification tablets and other aid.
Dinsdale added: “This list by no means covers all of the emergency humanitarian charters that we did in 2023, but gives an idea of the breadth of charters arranged across the globe. Whilst the majority of the work in my role is supporting longer term relief and development projects, which is ongoing, I am proud that our skillsets can be put to good use in these emergency situations and help out in such tragic circumstances.”

WFS adds Boston and Chicago for Etihad

Chris Lewis

-

February 27, 2024

0

Etihad Cargo has signed a handling partnership agreement with Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a member of the SATS Group, at 12 major international worldwide airports including Boston and Chicago. WFS already handles the Abu Dhabi-based airline in New York JFK and Washington Dulles. Other airports included in the deal are Schiphol Amsterdam, Bangkok, Barcelona, Bengaluru, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London Heathrow, Madrid, and Paris CDG. WFS expects to handle over 150,000 tonnes a year in total.

Etihad Cargo offers a wide range of specialty products including live animals, dangerous goods, valuables and vulnerable cargoes, personal effects, as well as cold chain products for pharmaceuticals and perishables cargoes.

Etihad has been a fast-growing cargo handling customer of WFS since the two organisations signed their first cargo agreement in Frankfurt in 2005.

Kuehne+Nagel looking cool in New York

Chris Lewis

-

February 27, 2024

0

Kuehne+Nagel has extended its New York JFK terminal with a stand-alone 4,500sq ft (418sq m) stand-alone, GxP-compliant, temperature-controlled area and a 10,000sq ft (929sq m). extension to its ambient warehousing.

The new temperature-controlled facility offers two separate areas and can support requirements from +2°C to +25°C for healthcare or perishable cargo, and is GDP and IATA CEIV compliant. It forms part of Kuehne+Nagel’s own HealthChain certification.

It also has C-TPAT security certification including 24-hour CCTV surveillance.

Swiss-based Kuehne+Nagel said that the site would also improve airfreight handling by reducing the number of touch points.

The facility is also certified to Kuehne+Nagel’s EngineChain standards and can also handle batteries and finished vehicle.

Senior vice president, air Logistics for North America, Greg Martin, “I’m particularly proud of the investment we have made to further enhance the temperature-controlled supply chain with end-to-end temperature handling in our facility, as we continue to expand our healthcare footprint and support across North America.”

Kuehne+Nagel sees healthcare and semiconductors as growth areas over the next six years.

Cathay steps up recycled plastic use

Chris Lewis

-

February 26, 2024

0

Cathay Cargo Terminal says it has become the first cargo terminal in Hong Kong to adopt 50% recycled plastic cargo cover sheets for all export shipments built up in its facility. It has increased recycled content from 30%. Material has been lab-tested and in rigorous real-world trials. The new sheets use 50% recycled post-consumer plastic, reducing the reliance on virgin plastic.

Cathay Cargo Terminal became the first facility in Hong Kong to sign up to the IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) programme in October 2023, which provides globally recognised environmental and sustainability standards for the aviation industry.

More Dreamliners for Etihad

Airlines

Chris Lewis

-

February 23, 2024

0

Etihad Airways has taken delivery of three new Boeing 787-9 aircraft at Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport. They will further bolster the carriers fleet as it launches additional destinations including Boston, its fourth US gateway, on 31 March, together with Nairobi, Bali Nice, Malaga, Mykonos and Santorini.

Following the arrival of a Boeing 787-10 received in October 2023, the carrier added new routes to Osaka, Copenhagen and Dusseldorf in the fourth quarter of 2023, as well as Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram in the Kerala region of India on New Year’s Day.

In total, Etihad now operates 43 Dreamliners and a total fleet of 88 aircraft including the Airbus A380, A350, A320 family, and Boeing 777.

Rock-it pioneers digital ATA carnet in the US

Chris Lewis

-

February 22, 2024

0

Rock-it pioneers digital ATA carnet in the US

Rock-it Cargo a Global Critical Logistics (GCL) company, has issued and processed the first US digital ATA Carnet, oreATA Carnet. It was for a time-critical shipment of microphones from New York JFK to London Heathrow Airport.

The microphones were designed by Emmy Award-winning costume designer Perry Meek and were needed for the TPi Awards Ceremony in London on 26 February.

They were hand-carried to the UK by Rock-it and will be returned to the US after the show, celebrates excellence in the live events industry.

Chief operating officer at the US Council for International Business (USCIB), Declan Daly, said: “With the help of our partners, including US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the International Chamber of Commerce World Chamber Federation (ICC WCF), our service providers, and Rock-it Cargo, we’ve taken a crucial and exciting first step to finally bring the ATA Carnet into the 21st century.”

USCIB chose Rock-it Cargo to pilot the eATA Carnet because it is one of the largest ATA Carnet users in the US, moving time-critical freight for the live entertainment and TV and film production industries, which are highly dependent on ATA Carnets to ensure the show goes on.

The ATA Carnet permits the temporary, duty-free, and tax-free import of commercial goods and are essential to the success of live event tours, as they provide the ability to clear Customs in over 100 territories expeditiously and efficiently.

“Like other legacy paper processes, if the ATA Carnet does not modernize and become a digital solution, then touring artists and other traditional ATA Carnet users will no longer experience the positive benefits from using ATA Carnets” said Rock-it Cargo vice president of risk management and business affairs, Amanda Barlow (pictured, left). “We are grateful for the forward-thinking efforts of the ICC WCF, USCIB, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and other ATA Carnet guarantee associations who have created the digital ATA Carnet solution, and for their tireless efforts to achieve the implementation of the eATA Carnet across all accepting Customs administrations.”

Fellow GCL company, Dynamic International processed the UK’s first eATA Carnet at London’s Heathrow Airport in 2022.

Bangkok joins WFS certified pharma network

Chris Lewis

-

February 22, 2024

0

Bangkok joins WFS certified pharma network

Bangkok Flight Services (BFS), the joint venture between Bangkok Airways and Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) and a member of the SATS Group, has achieved Good Distribution Practice (GDP) certification for its pharma facility at Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

The award takes the number of GDP or IATA CEIV Pharma certified facilities available to WFS customers globally to 27, with two further locations in North America aiming for certification later in 2024. WFS, and other SATS subsidiaries now operate certified pharma handling facilities in locations including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bangalore, Beijing, Brussels, Dallas Fort Worth, Dublin, Frankfurt, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Johannesburg, Kuala Lumpur, London Heathrow and Gatwick, Miami, Mumbai, New York JFK, Paris CDG and Philadelphia.

BFS managing director, Stewart Sinclair, said: “BFS, WFS and SATS have a shared commitment to ensuring the safe and secure handling of temperature-controlled, life-enhancing pharma cargoes. This is evident by our investments in best-in-class pharma centres in Europe, Scandinavia, North America, the Middle East, India and Asia, and more certified facilities will join this network in 2024. These operations are vital to maintaining the integrity and compliance of pharma shipments as well as to supporting premium and special cargo products offered by our customers.”

BFS received its GDP certification from independent audit body Escem/TüV Rheinland following a stringent two-day assessment of the facility by Global Pharma Solutions.

The facility consists of three zones offering 120sq m (1292sq ft) of capacity including over 215 storage positions with temperature ranges of 15-25°C and 2-8°C. There are also charging stations for active cargo containers.

In 2024, BFS is investing to increase the capacity of its pharma storage to support growing customer volumes. Over 20 of the 80 airlines handled by BFS in Bangkok now regularly ship pharma cargoes.