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Lufthansa Group partners join PharmaAero

Chris Lewis

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April 25, 2023

Lufthansa Group partners join PharmaAero

Lufthansa Cargo, Swiss World Cargo and the Lufthansa Group’s time:matters fast logistics arm have joined the Pharma.Aero interest group. Pharma.Aero is an international collaboration platform for medical technology and pharmaceutical companies, as well as freight companies and airport operators. The Belgium-based organization now has more than 50 partners and members.

Time-critical medical technology or temperature-sensitive medicines such as insulin or vaccines require professional and fast transport by air freight in special refrigerated containers and with exacting handling requirements.

Lufthansa Cargo transports up to 1,400 tons of pharmaceutical goods weekly to more than 250 stations, including around 30 CEIV pharmaceutical locations.

Swiss World Cargo is also a trusted niche partner for transportation of high-value, time-sensitive and high-care pharmaceutical shipments.

Time:matters moves critical and temperature-sensitive products, such as cell material and medical samples by air, rail and road, as well as by specially trained onboard couriers.

Turkish Cargo joins Li-batt program

Chris Lewis

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April 25, 2023

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Turkish Cargo has joined IATA CEIV Lithium Battery certification scheme. The program is designed to improve the safety during the handling and shipment of the lithium batteries throughout the supply chain.

The carrier’s chief executive Bilal Ekşi said: “We are strongly committed to maintaining the supply chain for the lithium battery products and diligently fulfilling our responsibilities in this regard.”
IATA global head of cargo Brendan Sullivan added: “Having Turkish Airlines, one of Europe’s largest cargo carriers achieve CEIV Li-batt certification is a significant boost for meeting shippers’ expectations in terms of the safe transport of goods containing lithium batteries.”

One Air flies the flag for Britain

Airlines
GSA

Chris Lewis

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April 24, 2023

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The UK has a new cargo airline operating a Boeing 747-400 freighter, after the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) granted an Air Operators’ Certificate to One Air. After successfully completing its proving flight in July 2022, the new airline iexpects initial demand for flights from the UK to Europe, the Middle East and Asia. It will also ultimately offer freighter services to China and the US.

One Air has dry leased its first freighter and is now the only UK operator of the B747 and it plans to add a second B747-400 during 2023. Headquartered in Kingston, close to London Heathrow, One Air has recruited a team of 90 air cargo and aviation professionals, and a 40-strong air crew with pilots recruited from Cathay Pacific, Emirates Airline, Norwegian Airlines, and other major carriers.

One Air is majority-owned by CEO, Paul Bennett, who stated: “The important role freighter services played in supporting the UK economy and the public throughout the pandemic demonstrated the level of demand which exists for a British cargo airline. We are proud to be meeting this need and to have the opportunity to leverage longstanding business relationships with freight forwarders, logistics providers, and charter brokers serving the UK market. We expect to add our second 747F later this year and have the financial resources to grow in line with the level of demand we see.”

The airline will review its fleet plans, including the potential for other aircraft types, later in the year.

Chris Hope has joined One Air as chief operating officer and accountable manager, bringing 35 years’ previous experience.

He said: “I am delighted to have been given this opportunity to join the leadership team behind this exciting new venture. One Air has a forward-thinking and customer-centric approach and we will use our entrepreneurial spirit and resources to grow sustainably. We will be supporting British businesses and the UK economy, starting with the 90 direct jobs in our own organisation and the countless secondary jobs we are creating with our partners and suppliers.

“Over the past two years, the cargo market in the UK has clearly shown resilience in the face of unprecedented disruption to the aviation industry. Now the industry is entering a new phase of recovery and growth and we look forward to being at the heart of this.”

Jon Hartley and David Tattersall have also been recruited as chief financial officer and chief technical officer respectively.

One Air has appointed Air One Aviation as its first Global Sales Agency, while Dnata will act as the airline’s handling agent in London Heathrow.

Air Canada flies first Basel freighter

Airlines

Chris Lewis

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April 20, 2023

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Air Canada Cargo’s first 767 freighter flight from Montreal to Basel touched down in Switzerland on 20 April. Connecting one of Europe’s premier pharmaceutical hubs to its North American network, the flights will operate twice per week.

Managing Director, commercial, Matthieu Casey, said: “We are excited to be returning to Basel, this time with our freighters, to serve a key market in Europe for pharmaceuticals. The capability of our freighters, combined with our temperature-controlled containers and cool chain facility at our Toronto global hub position us to serve this critical market with reliable, year-round service, and ensure these important shipments can move safely and in a timely manner throughout our global network.”

Trio sign up to Sustainable Engine Alliance

Chris Lewis

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April 19, 2023

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German forwarder Kuehne+Nagel, Atlas Air, and aircraft maintenance firm SR Technics Group have signed up to a Sustainable Engine Alliance, which pledges to set new industry standards for low-carbon aircraft engine supply chains.

The alliance members aim to reduce their collective environmental. Some of the first joint initiatives include deployment of sustainable fuels, engine stand management solutions and a global digital interface for emission transparency, reduction and avoidance. The initiative is expected to reduce engine supply chain related scope 3 emissions ahead of the aerospace 2050 sustainability targets.

Global head of aerospace at Kuehne+Nagel, Erik Goedhart, commented: “Collaboration is key to industry-wide improvements in aerospace sustainability. With the Sustainable Engine Alliance, we will set new standards for responsible sourcing and engine transportation, while creating further awareness within the industry to minimise environmental impact of engine supply chains jointly. I am confident that together with Atlas Air and SR Technics we will pave the way for future sustainability efforts in aerospace. And we invite other value chain companies to join us.”

Tower signs Saudia deal

Chris Lewis

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April 18, 2023

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Saudia Cargo has added Tower Cold Chain to its approved roster of temperature-controlled containers for shipping pharmaceutical, biotech and life science products, with a new global rental agreement.

Tower containers ensure up to 120 hour protection for products that require an internal temperature between -80°C and +20°C.

It follows a similar deal signed earlier in April between Tower and Cathay Cargo.

Antonov Airlines keeps the home fires burning in Germany

Chris Lewis

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April 17, 2023

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Antonov Airlines keeps the home fires burning in Germany

Antonov Airlines and German forwarder Rolf Riedl moved a power supply skid for an LNG terminal from Tekirdag, Turkey to Hamburg, Germany on one of its AN-124-100-150 aircraft – the biggest single piece transported by the Ukraine-owned carrier in 2022.

To load and unload the 19m long, 4.24m wide and 4m high unit Antonov used a special loading ramp, in conjunction with external cranes.

The carrier’s commercial executive, Volodymyr Goncharov, said: “A floating LNG terminal was scheduled to go into operation in Elbe port at the beginning of 2023 to ensure uninterrupted gas supply to Germany so that German households are warm and cozy. We are grateful to Rolf Riedl for entrusting with the important task of transporting the equipment and look forward to continuing to provide excellent service in the future.”

Sterling opens bigger, better Texas site

Chris Lewis

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April 14, 2023

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Sterling opens bigger, better Texas site

Sterling Transportation has opened a new facility in Coppell, just north of Dallas Forth Worth Airport.

The new building boasts 14 dock doors, 54,000sq ft of space, and capacity for over 8,000 pallet positions.

It will also be a certified Container Freight Station with full transloading capabilities.
“I’ve heard it said many times, ‘Everything is bigger in Texas.’ That statement is very true for our new DFW facility,” said vice president of sales, Jaye Fenner.

Puerto Rico launches air cargo life science community

Chris Lewis

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April 13, 2023

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Puerto Rico launches air cargo life science community

Puerto Rico (PR), the number one bioscience manufacturing hub in the US by export volume, is launching a Government-backed Life Sciences Air Cargo Logistics Community.

It will bring together all parts of the supply chain with the objective of making the US territory the most important Life Science hub in the Americas. The Caribbean island lies about 2,000km west of Miami.

The PR Air Cargo Community, supported by the PR Department of Economic Development (DEDC), will include airlines, airports, forwarders, integrators, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, ground handlers and hauliers. It will work to improve the quality of cargo handling and market Puerto Rico’s capabilities in the Life Science sector around the world.

A number of companies who will be joining the new Community have already started the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) certification process as part of the initiative.

Secretary of the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DEDC), Manuel Cidre, said: “We aim to put Puerto Rico firmly on the map as the best quality airfreight hub for life science in the Americas. The new Community is open for everyone in the supply chain to join and our group will also act as the Voice of the Industry with legislators and other stakeholders.”

Twelve of the world’s 20 top-grossing pharmaceutical companies, including Johnson & Johnson, Amgen, and Abbvie operate on the island, manufacturing eight of the 15 globally top-selling biopharmaceutical products.

“We truly believe we’re heading in the right direction,” said David Olan, transportation lead, PR operations at Johnson & Johnson. “The new Air Cargo Community will give us the forum to define our opportunities to drive a consistent and solid Supply Chain logistics on the island.

“We will be able to create a more reliable and quality-oriented ecosystem that is aligned with our Life Science and Healthcare sector and at the same time, it will help us to meet and/or exceed our customers’ demands.”

Twelve out of the top 20 medical device companies also manufacture on the island, including Medtronic, CooperVision, and Boston Scientific, manufacturing products such as pacemakers and implantable defibrillators, surgical instruments, lab devices, dental equipment, and vision correction goods.

PR is designated by the US Department of Transportation as an international air trans-shipment hub, which allows unencumbered trans-shipment at its three international airports.

The community will initially aim to improve the overall quality of airfreight operations in PR by adopting best practices and a standardised way of operating, represent the community, lobby on its behalf with legislators and authorities and raise awareness internationally about PR’s airfreight capabilities and life sciences expertise.

“We have a well-trained, highly adaptable, bilingual workforce and decades of experience in manufacturing life sciences,” said Cidre. “We have the full backing of Customs, and, through cooperation and a focus on sustainable, state-of-the-art, standardized air logistics, we will improve all parts of the shipment journey.”

A Community Board will include, along with community members, the DDEC, Invest Puerto Rico, the Industry University Research Center, Aerostar Airport Holdings, and the Port Authority of PR.

The new Community and Board will meet for the first time in April to plan its next steps.

ACS opens in Mexico City

Brokers

Chris Lewis

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April 12, 2023

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Air Charter Service has opened a new office in Mexico City, its 12^th in the Americas and 30^th in total. It is headed by Marco Circosta, who joined ACS nine years ago, and has worked in multiple ACS offices around the world, along with focussing on the Mexican market for the past two years.