Silk Way West Airlines has operated its inaugural Boeing 777F flight from Seattle to Baku, Azerbaijan. It is the first of seven similar aircraft that will be delivered over in the next seven years until 2030. It offers more payload and extended range, opening up new possibilities for connecting Baku with key global cargo hubs.
Sterling adds LA-Texas routes
Airfreight trucker Sterling Transportation is expanding its LTL services to include lanes connecting Los Angeles to Dallas and Houston.
It has moved shipments to Florida from the West Coast for three decades and in the past few years, has added service from Texas into Florida and recently added westbound cargo from Florida into Texas.
Chief executive Keith Davis, said: “Dallas is becoming an important hub. In April we moved to a significantly bigger facility in that city with plans of expanding our services.”
Barlow to run risk management for Global Critical Logistics
Global Critical Logistics, whose brands include Rock-it Global, Dietl, Dynamic International, CARS, and Cosdel, has appointed Amanda Barlow as vice-president of risk management and business affairs. She was previously at Roanoke Insurance Group.
She will manage the group’s insurance and spearhead development of its global ATA Carnet programs. GCL group is the largest ATA Carnet user in the US. Rock-it Global was recently chosen by the US Council for International Business to pilot the digitized eATA Carnet program, which Barlow helped develop.
Barlow is also an Airforwarders Association director and chairs its Technology and Cybersecurity Committee and sits on the US Department of Commerce’s District Export Council of Southern California.
RKN wins American’s approval
DoKaSch Temperature Solutions has achieved technical approval for its Opticooler RKN active containers with American Airlines Cargo, in addition to the Opticooler RAP container which is already well established with the carrier. DoKaSch managing director, Andreas Seitz, said: “The US is one of the biggest and most important export market for pharmaceuticals. Approval by American Airlines Cargo is therefore an important step for our growth strategy in the region.”
Is this Turkish Airlines’ cutest cargo ever?
Turkish Cargo has played a vital role in bringing koala bear Yani from Hong Kong to a new home in the UK.
She was born in Australia but brought to a Hong Kong zoo park, and was left alone after the other koalas she lived with at the park passed away.
However, she is now being rehomed at Longleat Safari Park.
After obtaining all the necessary permits for Yani’s transfer, a flight plan was developed from Hong Kong to the via Istanbul, all in accordance with IATA Live Animal Regulations. After arriving in the United Kingdom, Yani was placed in quarantine for a period and, following all health checks, was introduced to her new companions.
Saudia Cargo appoints MD
Saudia Cargo has appointed Loay Mashabi as managing director. A former deputy minister for logistics services at the Ministry of Transportation and Logistics, he has worked in both the private and government sectors as well as a board member of Saudia Cargo.
British airport to be testbed for autonomous freight truck
UPS and automotive firm Aurrigo are collaborating in a project to deploy an autonomous electric vehicle designed to move heavy cargo loads to and from aircraft at the UPS hub at East Midlands Airport.
The Auto-Cargo,will be able transport a standard full-size cargo pallet or two half-size aviation industry standard containers or Unit Load Devices up to a totalof 7.5 tonnes and can tow a further fully loaded cargo trailer.
It will allow the limited numbers of security-cleared drivers to perform other roles around the airport, while also producing zero tail pipe emissions.
The programme is supported by matched funding from Innovate UK, the UK Government’s innovation agency, and CCAV. The two companies will develop and pilot Auto-Cargo at East Midlands Airport over a 14-month period.
Aurrigo chief executive, David Keene, said: “This vehicle allows an airfreight operator to help decarbonise and automate its ground operations for lower emissions and greater efficiency. By combining the tractor and trailer into one unit, we save space, which in a busy cargo hub like East Midlands Airport is vital to efficient loading and unloading of aircraft.’’
WebCargo wins Chapman Freeborn
Following yesterday’s announcement that it had recruited transatlantic carrier Norse to its online platform, Freightos’ WebCargo has also recruited charter company Chapman Freeborn. The broker covers routes, such as Liège to Chicago, Dubai and Singapore, and organizes part-charters, backloads and other solutions for ad hoc, peak-season and project cargo.
It is a member of the Avia Solutions Group, the world’s largest ACMI air charter company with a fleet of 173 aircraft and 11,500 staff in 68 countries.
WebCargo to spearhead Norse invasion of US
Transatlantic carrier Norse Atlantic Airways has signed a deal to offer its cargo capacity on the WebCargo by Freightos booking platform.
It will open up real-time booking for forwarders on its flights to and from Europe to seven destinations in the US.
Later this year, Norse plans to open capacity from London to Barbados and Jamaica, and from Oslo to Thailand, further expanding WebCargo’s footprint in Asia and the Caribbean.
The airline operates a fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners serving destinations including New York, Los Angeles, Orlando, Washington, San Francisco, Boston, Oslo, London, Berlin, Rome and Paris.
WebCargo chief executive, Manel Galindo, commented: “We’re excited to play a supporting role in Norse Atlantic’s growth as their primary air cargo digital sales platform. It’s a win-win for all–the thousands of forwarders currently on WebCargo, who will benefit from the increased cargo capacity, and the speed and flexibility of WebCargo’s unparalleled platform has the power to boost Norse’s cargo sales and brand growth.”
Norse Atlantic head of cargo, Jennifer Bendelow, added: “Cargo will play an important role in the future of Norse. Partnering with WebCargo is a testament to our commitment to innovation and to delivering exceptional services to our customers.
“Our Viking spirit of ingenuity, coupled with WebCargo’s platform, will extend our reach to key freight markets.”
WFS launches auto vehicle trial in Barcelona
Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a member of the SATS Group, has started a proof-of-concept trial of autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) at its cargo terminal at Barcelona Airport.
The trial of Linde AGV forklift trucks will last for seven months and, if successful, similar machines will be rolled out across other WFS stations in the Europe, Middle East, Africa & Asia (EMEAA) region.
They will move cargo from the breakdown areas to racking storage locations within the warehouse as well as to the cargo delivery area.
Two types of AGV forklifts have been chosen for their ability to provide automated transport of pallets and to serve both low and high cargo storage positions. The trial has also integrated WFS’s Cargospot Mobile warehouse management system, supplied by CHAMP Cargosystems, with AGV Robotic WMS to provide a one-system solution.
WFS is actively exploring automation, with trials also including AGV ground handling tractors to move cargo between warehouse and airport apron operations.
The AGV forklift trial will explore how the vehicles are able to reduce the number of transport tasks currently undertaken by personnel, giving them more time for other important duties, as well as assess opportunities for productivity improvements.