Etihad to launch Madrid freighter flights

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June 24, 2024

Etihad Cargo will launch a new freighter route to Madrid on July 15. The twice-weekly Boeing 777 freighter flights between Abu Dhabi and Madrid will add over 200 tonnes of cargo capacity for Europe and increase the total number of flights to Spain to 25 per week.

Madrid is a key European fashion hub, and the route will also boost e-commerce shipments from Asia to Europe via Abu Dhabi.

Etihad Cargo’s existing European freighter network includes six weekly flights to Amsterdam and three to Frankfurt. With the addition of Madrid to the network, Etihad Cargo’s freighter flights to Europe will increase to 11 per week.

DSV to speed aid to children worldwide

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Chris Lewis

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June 24, 2024

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Danish forwarding and logistics company DSV is to provide aid agency UNICEF with in-kind flights for swift delivery of essential supplies during emergencies, as well as funding to enable timely support to children around the world. DSV’s flexible g commitment will allow UNICEF to mobilise resources swiftly, guaranteeing that supplies reach the children who need them most, no matter how remote their location.

DSV will draw on its industry expertise to work with UNICEF to strengthen supply chains – with a regional focus on Latin America – to improve children’s access to essential goods and services. An important aspect of strengthening supply chains is enhancing the capabilities of the supply chain workforce.

WFS to handle American in Copenhagen

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Chris Lewis

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June 20, 2024

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Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a member of the SATS Group, has extended its partnership with American Airlines in Europe with a new cargo handling contract in Copenhagen to support the launch of daily Boeing 787 flights to Philadelphia.

WFS is already handling American Airlines’ cargo in France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the UK.

At the end of 2022, WFS opened its third new cargo terminal at Copenhagen airport, adding a further 3,700 square metres of capacity. Copenhagen is also one of more than 25 global airports in WFS’ network with a dedicated GDP-certified pharmaceutical handling facility to support customers in Medicon Valley in Greater Copenhagen.

The direct flights from Copenhagen will also give American Airlines’ customers in Sweden fasterconnections with the US.

WFS now handles some 100,000 tonnes annually in Copenhagen for more than 20 online airline customers and a further +150 offline carriers.

Time:matters opens Shanghai courier terminal

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Chris Lewis

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June 19, 2024

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Lufthansa’s high speed logistics arm, Time:matters has opened a courier terminal at Shanghai Pudong Airport. It will reduce handling times by up to two-thirds and it has direct apron access.

The tmCT can monitor shipments on the apron until loading and informs the customer proactively in the event of irregularities. There is also a designated receiving dock, an X-ray system, and a dedicated counter for documentation.

Handling times will be reduced from about four hours for exports and six hours for imports to 120 minutes and 150 minutes, respectively. The terminal is open 24 hours, 365 days a year.

The facility is being constructed in collaboration with terminal operator PACTL (Shanghai Pudong Int’l Airport Cargo Terminal Co. Ltd).

Lufthansa Cargo to fly first freighters from Munich

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Chris Lewis

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June 17, 2024

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Lufthansa Cargo is to operate freighters from its south hub at Munich for the first time from 6 July with a twice-weekly A321F flight with Istanbul. Munich is already an important centre for Lufthansa’s bellyhold capacity and the airport authority has been pushing the carrier to add all-cargo capacity for some time.

Lufthansa Cargo operates a total of 38,000sq m at Munich including a CEIV-certified Pharma Hub MUC. Until now, these have mainly been transported from the Bavarian capital to destinations all over the world via the belly capacities of Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines, Discover Airlines, Austrian Airlines and SunExpress passenger aircraft, or by road feeder. #

Lufthansa Cargo chief executive, Ashwin Bhat, said: “For our southern German customers in particular, Munich Airport offers ideal conditions for the fast and reliable transportation of air freight. With the launch of our cargo operations out of Munich, we are laying the foundation for aligning our network even more closely with the needs of our customers in the future and continuing to manage it flexibly.”

Chief executive of Flughafen München, Jost Lammers, added: “The launch of regular cargo flights to Istanbul by Lufthansa Cargo is very good news for the Bavarian export industry and for Munich Airport. Above-average growth rates in the current year have already shown that Munich Airport is also becoming increasingly important as a hub airport for cargo. The attractiveness of Munich Airport as a cargo location will now receive a further boost through Lufthansa Cargo’s commitment.”

Air France KLM takes up Solar Challenge again

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Chris Lewis

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June 14, 2024

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Air France KLM Martinair Cargo has renewed its partnership with the Brunel Solar Team for the 2024 Sasol Solar Challenge in South Africa in September. It will handle air transport and related logistics for the team’s solar vehicle, the Nuna 12s and, to minimise environmental impact, will offset the fuel required to transport the vehicle from Amsterdam to Johannesburg with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Into orbit with Antonov

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Chris Lewis

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June 12, 2024

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Ukranian carrier Antonov Airlines and forwarder Proair have delivered a satellite and related equipment from Ankara, Turkey to Florida.The satellite was transported in a special container fixed to the frame. For loading the piece into the cargo cabin of the AN-124-100, a low-profile cargo ramp was used in combination with external cranes. The Türksat 6A satellite is the first geostationary communication satellite to be built in Turkey.

Charles Szar to lead AeroTransCargo

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Chris Lewis

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June 12, 2024

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AeroTransCargo has appointed Charles Szar as president. He brings over 30 years of commercial, civil aviation, and military aviation/aerospace experience to the carrier, from roles in the US, including in the airforce and military, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. He is based in Sharjah, UAE.

The charter and leasing cargo airline operates a fleet of five Boeing 747-400 freighters.

Britain’s Bournemouth ready for the rush

By

Chris Lewis

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June 11, 2024

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Bournemouth Airport and handler Cargo First are gearing up for peak season, with resident operator European Cargo due to bring additional A340-600 freighters on stream shortly to cater for growth in Far East to UK e-commerce.

European Cargo already operates three converted Airbus A340-600 freighters on China-UK routes (Chengdu and Haikou) with further aircraft due to commence operations in the coming months, Bournemouth says that busy London hubs are already constrained and volatility in the Red Sea continues to drive multi-modal cargo solutions.

Bournemouth Airport managing director Steve Gill, said: “Our collaboration with European Cargo has established Bournemouth as a reliable and cost-effective hub for e-commerce and other air freight into the UK, with a proven track record of delivering a highly efficient service for time-sensitive consignments for our customers. With European Cargo’s additional freighters coming on stream shortly and the constraints facing other UK hubs, we see a significant opportunity to grow the market further as we ramp up for the peak season.”

He added that Cargo First had recruited 15 new staff to warehouse, aircraft handling and security roles in the last year and was looking at longer term infrastructure investment to create more dedicated cargo facilities at Bournemouth.

European Cargo chief executive Jason Holt added: “We recently celebrated the first anniversary of flights from Bournemouth to Chengdu and in our first year operated almost 300 flights carrying some 20,000 tonnes of cargo. With our fourth fully converted long-haul freighter expected to enter service in July and two more by October, we see continued growing interest in our aircraft and services. We continue to gear up to handle the autumn peak and accompanying additional services coming on stream in the next few months.”

European Cargo’s Airbus A340-have a maximum payload of 76 tonnes and a cargo capacity of 440 cubic metres.

Both Bournemouth Airport and Cargo First are part of the UK’s privately-owned Regional and City Airports (RCA) group. RCA also owns Coventry Airport, Exeter Airport and Norwich Airport as well as executive jet centres.

Qatar Airways signs deal with Malaysia’s MASkargo

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Chris Lewis

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June 10, 2024

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Qatar Airways Cargo and Malaysia’s MASkargo have memorandum of understanding for joint cargo business operations. The two carriers will offer enhanced connectivity via their hubs at Hamad International Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport. It follows the expanded codeshare agreement signed in 2022 to offer more passenger connections. Qatar Airways Cargo is the launch customer for the Boeing 777-8 freighter and has purchased 34 aircraft with options for 16 more. Malaysian Airlines has obtained 20 new A330neo aircraft for passenger aircraft with belly-hold capacity.