Lufthansa has extended its long-standing partnership with Swissport at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta Airport to include cargo handling and warehousing.
Swissport already provides ramp handling, check-in and gate services for flights to and from Frankfurt, Germany. Its Nairobi cargo center offers 10,400sq m for general cargo, perishables and temperature-sensitive goods and the facility includes a CEIV-certified Pharma Center.
Swissport recently launched a “flower corridor” cool-chain initiative that brings together all stakeholders from farm operators to airlines and forwarders to extend the shelf life of fresh-cut flowers and reduce waste.
General sales and service agent ATC Aviation has been appointed exclusive GSSA for Latin American carrier Avianca Cargo in Germany and Switzerland. Avianca Cargo’s network covers 50 locations in the Americas, Europe, and Asia with a fleet of Airbus 330 freighters, in addition to passenger bellyhold capacity.
ATC Aviation chief executive Ingo Zimmer, said: “We are thrilled to partner again with Avianca Cargo and support their growth in Germany and Switzerland. As a GSSA, our focus is to provide customized solutions to meet the unique needs of our clients.”
ATC represented Avianca between 2012 and 2019.
Avianca Cargo sales manager EU-Asia, Ignasi Vera, added: “We are excited about our partnership with ATC and the value they bring to our cargo operations. Their expertise in cargo sales and marketing, combined with our extensive network, will enable us to provide unparalleled service to our customers.”
The initiative, which brings together 27 mentor-mentee pairs, includes eight men and 43 women participants from diverse professional backgrounds, including airlines, airports, freight forwarders, IT solution providers, and trade associations.
The second WAL mentorship programme is sponsored by Airblox, IBS Software, and Strike Aviation.
Mentors will share their knowledge and expertise, and the scheme will help improve gender diversity in the industry by empowering future air cargo leaders.
This year’s mentorship includes professionals with expertise in finance, pricing and revenue optimisation, sales, communication, and sustainable business strategies.
The International Convention of Exhibition and Fine Art Transporters (ICEFAT) is launching a set of standards to ensure quality and consistency across its shipping network. , The standards have been developed and audited by assurance, consulting and strategy firm, Ernst & Young.
Members of ICEFAT, an international association of 78 fine art transporters across 37 countries are trusted by insurers, galleries, museums, collectors and institutions to care for and transport the world’s cultural treasures.
ICEFAT’s standards cover all operational areas of art logistics across facilities and equipment, data security, staff and operations. Facilities and Equipment standards include building layouts, inspections, maintenance, fire detection and disaster planning. Data Security Standards involve access control and backing up, Staff Standards HR, resourcing and training, and Operations Standards tackle risk management, packing materials, supply chain management and insurance.
Adherence to the standards is a prerequisite for all ICEFAT Members, each of which is audited prior to acceptance into the association, and again every five years.
Chairman of the steering committee, Jonathan Schwartz, said: “It was long a maxim that the member companies of ICEFAT represented the highest standards, so we took it upon ourselves to create a more robust certification that would include other metrics such as equipment, human resources, security and skillsets. Furthermore, we entered into an arrangement with Ernst & Young so that these Standards would be objectively ranked and reviewed.”
Chair of the ICEFAT membership committee, Santiago Mendez, added: “One of ICEFAT’s primary objectives is to deliver value, confidence, and trust to all the art industry with our Standards. They should be the foremost guidelines to increase the level of professionalism and care in our industry, from museums to insurance brokers, and for former and future members. These standards and audits are a failsafe way to give our organisation the transparency and seriousness required for the onboarding of new members. With the help and knowledge of EY, we will continue working on the audit program that will ensure all members are adhering to these rigorous standards.”
Dachser has acquired ACA International headquartered in Melbourne, giving the German-owned forwarder coverage of Australia and New Zealand.
ACA International employs 56 people and generated revenue of around €75 million in 2021. The privately-owned air and sea freight forwarding company was founded in 1982 has additional offices in Sydney and Brisbane. In New Zealand, ACA International has offices in Auckland, Wellington, and Hamilton. The company also has a branch office in Kansas City, US.
ACA International is also present in the Greater China region but the Chinese locations are not part of the acquisition; Dachser having operates its own locations since 2003.
ACA International’s Adam Cruttenden, will be taking on the role of managing director ASL Oceaniaat Dachser.
Austrian-owned logistics and forwarding company Gebrüder Weiss posted turnover up 18% at €3.01 billion in the 2022 fiscal year. It reported major progress in its Air & Sea division, which closed 2022 with sales at €1.2bn, up 24% on 2021’s €1.0bn, driven mainly by the high freight charges by and air and shipping lines. DPD Austria, which is partly owned by the Gebrüder Weiss parcel service, sustained its volumes and shipped 66 million parcels (2021: 66.5 million).
The Land Transport division posted €1.48bn sales, a gain of 16% (2021: 1,277 million euros). The Home Delivery service performed at last year’s level, delivering some 1.53 million shipments to private households in Austria and Eastern Europe (2021: 1.58 million consignments).
Chief executive, Wolfram Senger-Weiss, commented: “We have succeeded in adhering to and advancing our strategic goals in a challenging environment. We have expanded our position in the core markets of Central and Eastern Europe, the US and Asia, while moving forward with our focuses on digitalization and climate neutrality by 2030. The rewarding results across our divisions are proof positive that we are a solid organization that is fit for the future.”
Middle East owned handling company dnata has promoted Phil McGrane to chief executive in Brazil. He has been with dnata for over 10 years and, since last July, has overseen dnata Brazil’s operations as acting chief executive. He was previouslychief commercial officer.
Dnata has significantly expanded its footprint in Brazil and currently operates at 29 airports in the country, serving more than 15 airlines, having in 2022 acquired the remaining 30% stake in dnata Brazil.
The company offers ground handling, cargo and other services at over 130 airports in more than 30 countries.
Virgin Atlantic Cargo is to launch a new framework for its freight products with a choice of Classic, Priority, and Express service levels.
Classic is the entry service level that delivers all the essentials at a competitive price.
Priority provides preferred access to space and guarantees delivery on time for.
Express offers the fastest solution, with the shortest close out times and highest priority for urgent or last-minute shipments.
Each product group will also come with a selection of core attributes that have been tailored toward the industry’s requirements, including General, Courier, Fresh, Pharma, Valuable, Vulnerable, Cars, Mail, and Custom.
Rhenus Group has opened a new air freight hub at London Heathrow. The Rhenus Gateway will bring all the German-owned forwarder’s handling, aviation screening, unit load device (ULD) build up and break operations in-house.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approved Regulated Screening site is equipped with latest technology, cargo screening and handling equipment, allowing shipments to be handled without the need for third party screening or ULD build up.
The Gateway will also act as a consolidation hub, allowing Rhenus to increase consolidation services globally, working in partnership with the Rhegreen carbon reduction programme for air freight.
Airfreight trucking company Sterling Transportation has recruited Susan Morbit to its team. Based in Newark, New Jersey she will spearhead sales in the Northeast and Midwest, bringing ten years of experience in less than truckload transportation.
Morbit is well known throughout the freight forwarding community and her endearing personality has earned her the nickname Suzy Sunshine among her peers.
Executive vice president of sales, Scott Klever, said: “I am extremely excited to work with Susan again and look forward to the energy she brings. She is enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and extremely dedicated. She is one of the few people that beats me to work in the mornings.”
Women in Aviation and Logistics
