FedEx expands German sites

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December 18, 2023

FedEx Express (is to open a new logistics facility northwest of Leipzig and an expanded, modernised facility in Karlsruhe in the first quarter of 2024. The new facilities will significantly improve sorting capacity.

A new building is being constructed for the 27 team members at Kabelsketal next to Leipzig/Halle Airport. The 17,000sq m site has warehouse space of around 3,400sq m with six truck loading bays, 63 for vans and six for 7.5-tonne trucks. Twelve charging stations will be installed for electric vehicles. Sorting capacity will double compared to the previous set-up and a new loading and unloading concept will reduce traffic in the warehouse to improve safety. The site is also close to a rail station with good connections to Leipzig and Halle.

The location in Karlsruhe will be expanded and modernised on the existing 3,600sq m site to give more handling capacity, doubling the size of the warehouse to about 2,500sq m and with a 24-bay truck loading ramp. Sorting capacity is automated and almost doubled.

It follows opening of a facility in Nufringen in summer 2022 and expansion of its Stuttgart air gateway in 2023.

Acquisition makes GSA a major force in the Americas

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Chris Lewis

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December 14, 2023

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ECS Group has acquired Latin American specialist Americas GSA. With the purchase, it gives the global general sales agency company a presence in 16 countries across the Americas, and puts on track to achieving full coverage of the two continents, from Canada to Chile.

ECS gains a first-time presence in Bolivia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Panamá, alongside its existing network of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and the US.

The agreement covers 42 staff across 13 Americas GSA offices who will join ECS Group’s existing 80-strong workforce in Latin America. They bring long-standing contracts with airlines such as LATAM Airlines, MAS, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss, Korean Air, and Ethiopian Airlines, pushing the group’s airline portfolio up to more than 40 airlines.

Managing partner and chief executive of Americas GSA Pablo Canales, said: “Our vision is to become one of the largest air cargo GSAs in Latin America, not just in terms of network, but specifically as the GSA of choice for comprehensive international solutions delivered with local finesse.

“This partnership with ECS Group brings together a highly professional air cargo organization with a strong global vision, and an established team with in-depth knowledge of the Latin-American market and close relationships with the largest customers in the region.”

Executive chairman of ECS Group, Adrien Thominet (pictured) said that Americas GSA: “not only greatly augments our coverage in Central America, significantly adding to our strong network of committed, local air cargo experts operating across the continent, but since it shares a very similar corporate culture and likewise places great value on professional expertise, it offers a highly promising basis for solid organic growth. Together, we are well poised to shape the future of air cargo in Latin America and have a considerable and positive impact on the success of our customers.”

IAG opens Constant Climate station in Cape Town

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Chris Lewis

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December 14, 2023

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IAG Cargo has opened its fifth Constant Climate station in Africa, in Cape Town, approved for temperature-sensitive healthcare products. It will handle pharmaceuticals including vaccines and medicinal components to support. And will offer connections via London Heathrow to over 100 approved stations worldwide.

IAG Cargo sees South Africa as a critical market for pharmaceutical products to meet the healthcare needs of its population, which relies on imports.

, Head of Pharmaceutical, Jordan Kohlbeck said: “Adding Cape Town to our Constant Climate is an exciting moment as it strengthens our cold chain offering, and shows our commitment to serving the pharmaceutical, bioscience and healthcare industries. For many customers this will support the increasing demand for transporting pharmaceuticals globally, specifically to the African market.”

With the opening of Cincinnati in September, Cape Town is the second Constant Climate station launched in 2023.

((Pic Cape Town))

WFS to handle China Cargo freighters in Miami

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Chris Lewis

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December 14, 2023

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China Cargo Miami resized — ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a member of the SATS Group, has won the contract to handle China Cargo’s freighter flights between Miami and Shanghai Pudong due to launch in January. International Airport. The thrice-weekly Boeing 777 freighter service will be the first by a Chinese airline to the Florida airport.

Expected traffic includes e-commerce traffic, perishables, seafood and general cargo.

WFS has handled China Cargo in Los Angeles since 2006 and now handles 18 freighter services a week, along with its all-cargo services to New York JFK from 2022, now served by seven freighter flights per week.

The handling partnership also extends to Seattle, a technical stop for China Cargo flights where WFS handles more than 20 flights, as well as an extra 30 to 50 charter services annually during the peak season for cherry exports.

US gateways spearhead Menzies green plastics move

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Chris Lewis

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December 14, 2023

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Menzies Aviation is switching to biodegradable plastic in its cargo operations. M&G Packaging’s BioNatur Plastics will first be used in its cargo operations at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Miami International Airport (MIA), where the switch will reduce long-term plastic waste by the equivalent of over 5 million water bottles each year. Plans to continue rolling out the sustainable material will follow across all US cargo operations, and into Europe and the UK.

BioNatur Plastics are fully recyclable in normal waste collection streams and biodegradable in a landfill environment, speeding up the process from 1,000 years to less than 8-12 years. It leaves no trace of microplastics when it degrades and reduces the reliance on fossil fuel-based plastics, which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

Menzies adds that products made from BioNatur Plastics also outperform regular plastics with the same thickness as a result of its superior elongation and puncture resistance. With added strength, the plastics can be used in thinner amounts, minimising the quantity of plastic waste overall.

Menzies Aviation head of sustainability and corporate responsibility, Katy Reid, said: “Waste is a top priority for many of our stakeholders, and the introduction of BioNatur will not only help make our cargo operations more sustainable, but also ensure we’re working in partnership with our customers to meet their own ESG goals.

“Our cargo operations utilise various packing materials and our priority is to continue reducing the volume of plastic use and waste, increase recycling, and source materials that minimise any impact on the environment. Adopting BioNatur represents a key milestone for our cargo operations as we continue to grow our business responsibly and sustainably.”

Global head of cargo, Beau Paine, added: “Our cargo business has expanded rapidly, growing from 49 locations in 2021 to 75 this year, and we have ambitious plans to take this even further. Our cargo operations utilise various packaging materials and replacing our cargo-use plastic products with BioNatur Plastics will not only dramatically reduce waste levels but supports our long-term sustainability targets.”

Angel Rodriguez to run ASF Air

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Chris Lewis

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December 13, 2023

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Charleston, South Carolina-based logistics company ASF has appointed Angel Rodriguez as president of its Air arm.

He brings over 30 years of supply chain experience and in his most recent role at Flexport, delivered airfreight solutions to meet the needs of Fortune 100 and 500 clients and delivered the highest tonnage and revenue contributions by anyone in the history of the company. At Panalpina, he spearheaded solutions for all modes of transport with a focus on consumer and retail clients worldwide.

He said: “I’m thrilled to join ASF, a company with strong values of putting people first, honor, integrity, and unmatched customized services. ASF’s expertise and personalized service is a welcome capability for the shipping industry. Our clients benefit from our trusted, transparent way of doing business, and deserve the best service possible.”

Pharma.Aero and Cool Chain Association to collaborate

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Chris Lewis

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December 13, 2023

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The Pharma.Aero collaboration platform for life science airfreight has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Cool Chain Association, an industry association specialising in temperature-controlled logistics, to harmonise processes in the sector.

The MoU outlines the associations’ shared commitment to foster collaboration and enhance transparency between the life science and perishable supply chain.

The associations aim to compare critical control points identified in the CCA’s perishable trials with those recognised by Pharma.Aero in the pharmaceutical supply chain, using IATA’s CEIV Pharma and Fresh certifications as benchmarks to identify shared standards for improving the cold chain.

Pharma.Aero and the CCA will collaborate on projects to review and recommend new industry processes and guidelines.

CCA board chairman and head of global healthcare, Cargolux, Stavros Evangelakakis, said: “Our partnership with Pharma.Aero is born out of a shared goal to improve the quality and safety of the cool supply chain. We believe that we can achieve so much more through cross-industry collaboration than we ever could working independently in silos.”

CCA secretary general and senior quality manager, SkyCell, Nicola Caristo,added: “By promoting harmonious processes across perishables and pharma we hope to facilitate a holistic and sustainable approach to air cargo, highlighting where the industry can simplify operations with better handling, reduce waste with improved data visibility, and increase profits with more efficient processes.”

Chairman of Pharma.Aero, Trevor Caswell, commented: “We are excited about the prospect of joint industry projects that will not only drive advancements but also set new benchmarks for industry collaboration. By joining forces, we aim to leverage our collective expertise to address the evolving challenges in the life science temperature-controlled logistics.”

CCA recently launched a pharmaceutical trial in partnership with its member, Lamprecht Pharma Logistics, to identify pain points in the pharmaceutical supply chain and optimise performance.

Air Canada adopts Opticooler’s little sister

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Chris Lewis

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December 13, 2023

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DoKaSch Temperature Solutions’ Opticooler RKN container is now available on Air Canada Cargo’s wide-body international flights, following approval of the equipment. The carrier has already approved Opticooler’s RAP model. The Opticooler is smaller version of the Opticooler RAP, with space for a single pallet compared with five for the RKN. Both containers are battery-powered and can keep products at between two and 30°C.

Air Canada’s widebody fleet operates to over 300 cities on six continents along with interline and trucking partnerships.

The technical approval of the Opticooler will enable Air Canada Cargo to strengthen its cool chain capacities for its AC Absolute service for pharma producers and their forwarders.

Managing director, commercial at Air Canada Cargo, Matthieu Casey, said: “We have always been focused on a strong cool chain integrity within our network because the supply of lifesaving medicines is absolutely crucial. Thanks to our global network, we can provide highly reliable and quick transport to a wide variety of destinations. The Opticoolers provided by DoKaSch Temperature Solutions meet our high standards and will help support our extensive cool chain network in the Americas and beyond.”

A valuable addition to WestJet Cargo’s portfolio

By

Chris Lewis

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December 12, 2023

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WestJet Cargo is to launch a service for high-value freight in January 2024. SafeAir will initially be available between Canada and the US, but will shortly be expanded across the carrier’s entire network for items such as banknotes, jewellery or precious metals and stones.

Security measures prevent tampering, pilferage, and unauthorized access, include third-party oversight, direct supervision, storage protocols and high security containers. Each container bears a unique serial number and is sealed with individually numbered metal seals. All valuable cargo is escorted by security agents and transported separately to and from the aircraft.

The service has been developed in collaboration with specialist freight forwarders and will debut between Toronto Pearson, Calgary, Vancouver and Los Angeles.

Product manager at WestJet Cargo, Nawal Mir, explained: “Every step of the valuable handling process has been painstakingly analysed, potential risks identified and measures implemented to mitigate them. All hands on deck, all eyes on the ball, and absolutely no loopholes allowed. We’ve created a true ‘Freight Knox’ service at four of our stations and will roll it out to other destinations as soon as we are certain they are ready and capable of delivery.”

The high value service is initially available between Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), Calgary International Airport (YYC), Vancouver International Airport (YVR), and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). All other stations will be launched in priority of customer demand from next year.

Wipro rolls out MACH system Menzies-wide

By

Chris Lewis

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December 12, 2023

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Wipro’s New Cargo Management System is being rolled out across the handler’s worldwide network. Following a launch of Menzies’ cargo operation at Bucharest Otopeni Airport in Romania, the MACH system will be deployed initially at ten air cargo locations, with plans to implement the system across Menzies’ global network by the end of 2024.

Wipro says that MACH is a significant enhancement of Menzies’ current cargo management system, with a modern user interface and easy navigation, while its Cloud-based architecture ensures accessibility. It integrates with other systems helping and improves data accuracy as all electronic information is populated automatically across the system.

Menzies will roll out MACH to ten air cargo locations – Macau in China; Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland in New Zealand; Sangster Intl. and Kingston Jamaica in Jamaica; Ontario, Vancouver, Calgary; and Amman in Jordan – by the end of the first quarter of 2024 and plans to implement it across the Menzies’ global network by the end of 2024.