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IAG Cargo restores Asia links

Airlines

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September 30, 2024

IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG) which includes British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling and LEVEL, is to resume services to Bangkok (BKK), Kuala Lumpur (KUL) and Tokyo Narita (NRT) for the first time since 2020.

From 28 October, three rotations per week will operate between London Gatwick (LGW) and Bangkok utilising a Boeing 777 widebody aircraft. There will also be daily services to Kuala Lumpur from London Heathrow (LHR) from 10 November with a Boeing 787 widebody aircraft.

After a four-year hiatus, services to Tokyo Narita will also resart from Madrid Barajas Airport. This will be in addition to the ten weekly services to Tokyo Haneda (HND) from London Heathrow.

Chief sales and marketing officer, Camilo Garcia Cervera, said: “These destinations represent crucial connections for cargo transport and will enable our customers in the Asia Pacific region to tap into our global network via our hubs in London, Madrid, Dublin and Barcelona.”

Hactl digitizes export documents

Chris Lewis

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September 30, 2024

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Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) has opened a Terminal Services Centre – Export (TSCE), embodying new digital processes and document handling features.

Hactl’s Terminal Services Centre has been providing Air Cargo Documentation (ACD) services for airline customers since 1998. By 2023, three quarters of Hactl’s 100+ airline customers were using the facility, which now handles an average of 2,000 air waybills daily; around 80% of which have up to now been paper documents.

Hactl’s new TSCE provides a more pleasant working environment for staff, and utilises many innovative new features to enhance operational efficiency and the customer experience: Agents can now make a Dangerous Goods Inspection Reservation via the COSAC-Mobile app, instead of filling out a paper request on arrival at the TSCE counter.

TSCE staff can now use Real-time build-up monitoring to check ULD build-up progress at workstations in real time.

A new TSC Dashboard provides a comprehensive overview of all export cargo documents being processed.

The new TSCE also supports Export Cargo Document e-Submission, enabling freight agents to submit export cargo documents online in advance, so avoiding last-minute rushes and eliminating counter queuing.

A new Document Submission Hub will enable visiting agents to place their documents into totes instead of handing them to counter staff. The Hub will then check the documents and store them, using an automated archive and retrieval system.

The Document Submission Hub will timestamp and track the documents’ progress through submission and acceptance or rejection (stating the reason for any rejection), and will constantly log progress to provide agents, airlines and Hactl staff with instant, real-time status information.

A Document Management System will collect and collate data from all Export Cargo Document e-Submissions, to assist in consolidating documentation and building cargo manifests for each flight.

Alaska Airlines elects new cargo presidents

Chris Lewis

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September 30, 2024

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Alaska Airlines elects new cargo presidents

The Alaska Airlines board has elected Ian Morgan as new vice president of cargo while Jason Berry becomes an executive vice president at the Alaska Air Group.

Morgan (main picture) will lead the day-to-day cargo operations and its nearly 600 employees. He will also be responsible for managing the continued growth of Alaska Air Group’s cargo business – operated by both Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines. He has held cargo leadership roles at British Airways Cargo, Cargolux Airlines, Centurion Airlines and, as as vice president cargo for the Americas, Qatar Airways.

Berry (pictured below) will provide oversight of the cargo business while continuing in his separate role as President of Horizon Air, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alaska Air Group. He has nearly 30 years of experience leading cargo operations for multiple airlines and at Alaska Air Cargo oversaw the transition of the Boeing 737-400 combi aircraft to next generation 737-700 freighters.

Alaska Airlines officially completed its takeover of Hawaiian Airlines on 18 September, but pledging to maintain both brands.

Air Group president and chief executive Ben Minicucci said: “We couldn’t be more thrilled about this next chapter for Alaska Air Cargo,”. “With these leaders, we’re well positioned for unlimited future success as we grow and expand our cargo operations to deliver for everyone who depends on us.”

Cargo plays a critical role in both the communities the airlines serve. Cargo is a strategic function for the business and enables both airlines to support multiple needs for customers. The company added that the Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines combination was “a unique opportunity to pair complimentary cargo networks that can strengthen both brands globally and domestically, and leverage cargo even more strategically. Both airlines share a knowledge and appreciation for the cargo needs of communities that are uniquely reliant on air travel.”

New North America chief for ACS Time Critical

Chris Lewis

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September 30, 2024

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New North America chief for ACS Time Critical

ACS Time Critical, part of the Air Charter Service Group, has appointed Robert Alleman as chief executive of its North American Time Critical Services, based in the company’s Texas office. He has held similar roles at a specialist courier company, as well as a broker and has worked in the Middle East and across the US.

Alain Chisari is the new big cheese at Swiss cargo

Chris Lewis

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September 27, 2024

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Alain Chisari is the new big cheese at Swiss cargo

Swiss International Air Lines has appointed Alain Chisari head of Swiss WorldCargo. He succeeds Lorenzo Stoll, who left Swiss WorldCargo at the end of July to pursue a career in the healthcare sector. Alain Chisari joined Swiss in 2008 having already acquired 12 years of industry experience with other airlines outside the Lufthansa Group. He is currently Lufthansa Group’s implementation officer for Italian airline ITA Airways one year ago.

Former forwarding chief joins Swissport

Chris Lewis

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September 26, 2024

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Ground services and cargo handler Swissport International has appointed former Kuehne+Nagel chief executive Detlef Trefzger as a non-executive director. During his tenure at Kuehne+Nagel, from 2013 to 2022 he developed the company into the world’s largest transport and logistics service provider and invested heavily in new technologies and digitalization as well as in sustainable transport and logistics services. He was also responsible for the acquisition of Apex International, which significantly expanded Kuehne+Nagel’s airfreight presence in Asia.

Lufthansa Group airlines to impose SAF surcharge

Airlines

Chris Lewis

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September 25, 2024

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Lufthansa Group airlines to impose SAF surcharge

Lufthansa Cargo and Swiss WorldCargo will include the rising costs of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in the price index of their existing Airfreight Surcharge (ASC) from 1 January 2025. From that date, a statutory SAF blending quota of initially 2% will apply for departures from European Union (EU) countries. Countries outside the EU are also planning to introduce or have already introduced mandatory SAF blends.

The Indian government, for example, is working on a mandatory quota of 1-5% from 2027 and Singapore will require airlines to add 1% SAF to flights departing from Changi Airport starting in 2026. The target is three to five percent by 2030. By then, the EU will require 6%, and the UK and Japan 10%.

The ASC, introduced in 2015, is a combined surcharge to cover rising costs beyond Swiss WorldCargo’s control mainly for fuel, currency, air traffic control and security measures. and is added to the net price of each shipment.

Cathay adds DFW flights

Airlines

Chris Lewis

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September 25, 2024

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Cathay Pacific will launch its first ever of non-stop passenger flights between Hong Kong and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) on 24 April 2025, complementing its existing freighter services to the city via Anchorage.

It will operate the passenger route with Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, operating in both directions on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

To cater for the growing demand during the air cargo peak season, Cathay Cargo is meanwhile operating five additional return freighter flights per week to North America starting in September, bringing the total to 37 per week.

American adds to CEIV Pharma network

Chris Lewis

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September 24, 2024

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American Airlines Cargo has added New York John F. Kennedy International Airport and Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport to its network of CEIV Pharma-certified US stations.

The carrier also recently achieved re-certification of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport, which were first certified in 2021, and has maintained it for Miami International and its headquarters.

American also operates out of more than 30 CEIV- or GDP-certified locations around the world including Amsterdam Schiphol, Dublin, Frankfurt, Paris Charles De Gaulle, Rio de Janeiro and Shanghai Pudong.

It currently has master lease agreements for temperature-controlled containers, with Envirotainer, CSafe, and Sonoco ThermoSafe.

Head of customer experience, Eric Mathieu, said: “The new CEIV certifications underscore our commitment to the safe and effective handling of pharmaceuticals and other Life Sciences commodities. We will continue to grow our cold-chain network and focus on how we can offer customers the best products and network for temperature-sensitive shipments.”

CVG breaks ground on logistics park

Chris Lewis

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September 24, 2024

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Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) has broken ground on the first development at its Global Logistics Park. The 4.5 acre site is being leased by F&F for the development of an 80,000sq ft cargo facility with airside access and will include processing space, offices and a minimum of 18 truck docks. The site is expected to be complete in early 2025.

CVG is home to Amazon Air’s Hub and DHL Express’ Global Superhub for the Americas and express currently makes up the majority of cargo volume at the airport. As well as direct airfield access, the Global Logistics Park will allow cargo to be separated from passenger traffic, and distinct operating areas for cargo handling and multi-modal distribution.

CVG has two nonstop transatlantic flights to London on IAG Cargo (British Airways) and to Paris-CDG on Delta Air Lines and is the sixth largest cargo airport in North America.

F&F is a joint business partnership between Fred Murphy, chief executive of FEAM Aero (pictured, left, with Rivien Murphy) and Frank Tamanko, president of Cincinnati-based Bascon (right).

More than $33 million of federal infrastructure funds were invested in rebuilding the airside ramp and more than $3.6 million in Kentucky site development funds were allocated to the project.

Fred Murphy said: “CVG Airport has been a great partner for many years now, and when it comes to expanding your business and embracing new types of businesses, there is no better place to grow. This new development makes a lot of sense to us as we continue to expand our operations at CVG. With FEAM Aero’s deep roots in the aviation industry and our growing presence in cargo maintenance and support, this facility will enable us to further streamline operations and meet the increasing demands of cargo logistics.”

Frank Tamanko added: “This project represents a significant opportunity to leverage our expertise in building infrastructure that meets the demands of today’s evolving logistics landscape. By partnering with CVG, we are not only contributing to the growth of the airport but also providing the necessary facilities that will drive innovation and support cargo operations for years to come.”

CVG chief executive, Candace McGraw, concluded: “In recent years, air cargo has been booming at CVG. We are the only dual cargo hub airport in North America, and as we look to continue to diversify the airport’s capabilities, partnering with F&F made sense to launch development for general air freight activities at our Global Logistics Park. The groundbreaking of this development is a significant milestone in our vision to create a self-sufficient aviation ecosystem at CVG.”