Air Canada Cargo has joined the Pharma.Aero cross-industry collaboration platform. It will work with other key stakeholders in the pharmaceutical transport sector. In addition to its new cold chain facility, Air Canada Cargo also operates live-monitored, temperature-controlled certified aircraft containers, like the Envirotainer Releye RLP and larger RAP, as part of the AC Absolute solution.
Lufthansa to double short-haul freighter fleet
Lufthansa Cargo is to increase its short- and medium-haul freighter fleet from two Airbus A321F aircraft to four by the end of July. Extensions to the flight schedule on short- and medium-haul routes are currently still being planned.
The German carrier is also adjusting its long haul freighter route network. Weekly frequencies to destinations in China served by Boeing 777F aircraft will be increased and combined, offering more flexible capacity.
It will offer a total of ten freighter flights per week to Shanghai two of which will also fly to Chengdu. The number of weekly flights to Hong Kong will increase from five to six, including one stop in Almaty, Kazakhstan last part of the network in 2019. The combined service from Frankfurt via Mumbai to Hyderabad will also be increased to two flights per week.
American Airlines is ready for the big day – are you?
Unlike many males around the world, the folks at American Airlines Cargo are well prepared for next week’s Valentine’s Day.
Out of Europe, the carrier expects to fly 50% more flowers than in 2022, or more than 417 tonnes, for the Valentine’s Day peak. Using its trucking network and widebody aircraft, the airline is transporting Dutch tulips and roses to the US and beyond by way of London Heathrow (LHR) and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG).
Roses and carnations have always been a strong export from Ecuador and Colombia. Throughout the year, these flowers travel via Miami International Airport before continuing domestically or on American’s transatlantic network to Europe. More than 70% of the fresh flowers that American carries from Ecuador and Colombia are roses, and for Valentine’s Day, that number increases to 90%.
American Airlines Cargo teams in the Americas and Europe have long transported a wide range of fresh flowers, including roses, tulips, carnations, lilies, peonies, and baby’s breath, to help celebrate a wide variety of special days, not only for Valentine’s Day but several other celebrations, including Emperor’s Birthday in Japan, Easter, Mother’s Day in the US and Europe, All Saints Day, US, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
American Airlines Cargo Sales Director for EMEA & APAC, Emma Oliver, comments: “It’s always exciting to see flowers move across our network this time of year. Our teams are passionate about the careful handling of these shipments, knowing we play an important role for our customers and ultimately the people around the world who will celebrate Valentine’s Day with flowers we carry.”
No matter the season, celebration, or type of bloom, American’s cargo team is at work moving fresh flowers wherever they need to go. The carrier also has an expansive cold-chain network, with many of its major stations to help keep flowers fresh on their journey across the globe.
And remember guys, don’t forget to call in at the gas station on your way home from work this evening. Hopefully they’ll have a few stems – and they won’t have wilted too much.
Cathay offers sea-air freight with a difference
Cathay Pacific Cargo and the Cathay Pacific Cargo Terminal have become the first carrier and first cargo terminal operator to have cargo shipments accepted in Dongguan and moved by water to Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) by ship for outbound shipment.
The HKIA Logistics Park in Dongguan has been developed by the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) and allows shipments to be security screened, built up and accepted as cargo for flights before being loaded on ships that unload in a secured area at HKIA, from where pallets and ULDs can be towed straight to a waiting aircraft.
A pilot scheme will migrate to a permanent facility from 2025.
Ethiopian ponders US flights via Malta
Ethiopian Airlines is planning to launch flights from its Addis Ababa hub to Malta and onwards to US cities, according to press reports. It follows talks between the Maltese and Ethiopian prime ministers to discuss a number of issues, including aviation.
Current Ethiopian Airlines to North America operate with a refuelling stops in Dublin or Lomé, but it appears that the flights under discussion would treat the island as a commercial origin and destination.
The move would restore US services between Malta after an absence of several decades.
More earthquake aid on its way
A Lufthansa Cargo Boeing 777 freighter departed Frankfurt on 10 February at with aid destined for Antalya, mainly winter clothing, blankets, food and hygiene items. They were donated by Turkish communities in Hesse and Baden-Württemberg, as well as by local companies in and Lufthansa Cargo employees.
The Lufthansa Cargo subsidiary time:matters, which specializes in emergency logistics, and Lufthansa Cargo’s customs service provider CB customs broker, organized the operation. Lufthansa Group employees who volunteer in the FRA Community of the HelpAlliance, had been consolidating and preparing the cargo for the free flight since Wednesday evening.
The Lufthansa Cargo team at the Istanbul station will receive the relief supplies after landing and bring them to the crisis area.
Dubai-based airline Emirates meanwhile said it was setting up an airbridge with the International Humanitarian City (IHC), to transport urgent relief supplies, medical items and equipment to support on-ground aid efforts and search and rescue activities in Turkey and Syria. The first shipments were due to fly on 10 February, consisting of thermal blankets and family tents from UNHCR, followed by World Health Organisation (WHO) and World Food Programme (WFP) relief cargo of medical kits and shelter items, co-ordinated by the IHC in Dubai.
More consignments of blankets, tents, shelter kits, flash lights, water distribution ramps and trauma and emergency health kits were due to be transported on Emirates.
Emirates SkyCargo plans to dedicate cargo space for around 100 tonnes of humanitarian relief goods during February across its daily flight operations to Istanbul.
Emirates signs second North America deal with Air Canada
Emirates SkyCargo has signed a memorandum of understanding with Air Canada Cargo, building on the two airlines’ strategic commercial partnership announced last year.
The two carriers will work closely on initiatives including expanding cargo interline options and block space agreements, pending any required regulatory approvals. The aim is to offer freight customers access to more capacity on a combined global network.
Air Canada Cargo will have access to Emirates SkyCargo’s network through the belly-hold of Emirates scheduled passenger flights to over 140 global destinations, as well as the additional capacity offered by 11 freighters currently. In return, SkyCargo will have access to over 60 cities in Canada and more than 150 cities across five continents through Air Canada Cargo’ Boeing 767 freighters and the belly-hold capacity of its scheduled passenger flights.
Both airlines bring particular experience in handling unique cargo, such as oil and gas drilling equipment, car parts and pharmaceuticals.
Emirates SkyCargo signed a similar MoU with United Cargo in the US in September last year.
Managing director, commercial, at Air Canada Cargo, Matthieu Casey, commented: “This agreement enables both carriers to work more closely to optimize our respective freighter and belly capacity throughout each of our extensive and complementing global networks. Customers will benefit from these additional synergies by having access to an even greater array of options, destinations and streamlined handling when shipping globally.”
His Emirates counterpart, divisional senior vice president, cargo, Nabil Sultan, added: “Emirates SkyCargo is committed to being a leading player in the global air cargo industry providing our customers with the highest standards of products and services. Cooperating with Air Canada Cargo will offer our clients added value through more rapid reach to new destinations in Canada via our Toronto and US gateways.”
Etihad steps up Europe space
Etihad Cargo is to operate new routes from its Abu Dhabi hub to Copenhagen in Denmark and Düsseldorf in Germany and will also introduce additional services to Frankfurt.
The carrier currently operates seven passenger and four freighter flights per week to Frankfurt. From 1 May, Etihad Cargo will increase weekly flights from eleven to 15 with the introduction of four new services.
From 1 October, Etihad Cargo will provide cargo capacity out of Denmark with the introduction of four weekly flights and will reinstate three weekly flights to Düsseldorf.
Denmark is home to a number of major international pharmaceutical companies and the country has become an established biotech and pharma hub in Europe.
Etihad Cargo currently offers four dedicated freighter services from Abu Dhabi to Amsterdam and two weekly freighter flights to Frankfurt, which connect to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport in the US, along with cargo capacity on its passenger network.
Vienna pharma jumps by two thirds
Vienna Airport Pharma Handling Center (VPHC) increased its total tonnage by 64% in 2022 compared to the previous year, handling over 3,600 tons of pharmaceuticals, biotech products and other temperature-sensitive goods. It offers two large cold storage facilities offer warehousing options for temperatures ranging from 2 to 8 degrees Celsius (150 square metres) and 15 to 25 degrees (1,600 square metres). Movable refrigeration equipment also guarantees a secure connection between the air and land sides.
Quake hits Turkey and Syria freight
The earthquake in Turkey and Syria has damaged transportation infrastructure, including that crucial to delivering aid, reports the Freightos platform.
Roads and bridges have been hit and the southern port of Iskenderun shut down as stacks of containers toppled and started a fire.
Rail service is disrupted in the region, though major east-west traffic – which is concentrated in northern Turkey – will probably not be affected, it says.
Air cargo congestion is being reported at many smaller airports as passenger flights are cancelled and arriving aid shipments begin to overwhelm handlers, though the major air hub in Istanbul remains open.
The aid-driven increase in demand for air cargo into Turkey could push rates up, Freightos adds.
Meanwhile, Turkish airline Pegasus said on 8 February that it had operated additional flights to and from earthquake-affected zones to deliver aid and emergency suppliesAs well as offering free domestic passenger flights from Adana, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Gaziantep, Kayseri, Malatya and Şanlıurfa on 7-12 February it is inviting anyone who wishes to send aid and relief equipment to the earthquake-affected regions to coordinate with Kızılay (The Turkish Red Crescent) and the local authorities to deliver the aid to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport, which will then be transported free of charge on Pegasus aircraft.
To help animals affected by the earthquake, the carrier has transported pet carriers in aircraft cabins to all the airports in earthquake-affected zones.