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Maersk Air Cargo launches South Carolina-Korea flights

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November 2, 2022

Maersk Air Cargo launches South Carolina-Korea flights

AP Moller-Maersk’s Maersk Air Cargo arm has launched scheduled flights between Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina (GSP) and Incheon, Korea (ICN).

They will fly twice-weekly with the first of three newt Boeing 767-300 freighters that have recently been purchased by Maersk Air Cargo, operated by Miami-headquartered cargo airline Amerijet International. It is the first scheduled air cargo operation between South Carolina and Asia.

Maersk Air Cargo was launched in April as an integrated in-house air cargo carrier for the Danish-owned shipping and logistics giant. Maersk Air also operates controlled capacity from Europe into the US, Mexico, South Africa, and Singapore.

Maersk also recently opened a new Chicago Air Freight Gateway facility to add more supply chain integration opportunities for customers using Chicago O’Hare International and Rockford International.

Abu Dhabi prepares to launch state-of-the-art cool chain site

Chris Lewis

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November 2, 2022

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Abu Dhabi prepares to launch state-of-the-art cool chain site

Etihad Cargo, Etihad Airport Services and Abu Dhabi Airports are preparing to launch a new pharmaceutical cool chain facility which will significantly expand capacity at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Etihad Cargo’s customers will gain expanded CEIV Pharma-certified space and temperature-controlled solutions across its global network.

The additional 3,000sq m facility comprises the latest technology and features, including bulk loading docks with levellers, high-speed roll-up shutters, insulation and a real-time temperature monitoring system, which will enable faster and more efficient loading with stricter temperature controls.

It will also feature new X-ray screening for customs inspections within a fully temperature-controlled environment and new dedicated thermal covers.

In the past 12 months Etihad Cargo transported over 50,000 tonnes of cool chain products, including pharmaceutical and healthcare on its PharmaLife and CEIV-certified FreshForward services. The dedicated pharma hub will double Abu Dhabi Airport’s cool chain storage capacity and enhance the airport’s capabilities.

PharmaLife provides solutions from -80 to 25°C using active and hybrid along with traditional containers for temperatures of 2 to 8°C and 15 to 25°C.

Senior vice president global sales and cargo at Etihad Aviation Group, Martin Drew, said: “The expanded infrastructure will offer best-in-class pharmaceutical shipment solutions to Etihad Cargo’s customers and is the latest step in supporting Abu Dhabi’s vision to cement its position as a global pharmaceuticals and life sciences hub.

“This joint venture located at Etihad Cargo’s hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport provides the perfect location to link the Middle East to not only Asia and Europe, but also the US and Africa, so life-saving medicines and the latest treatments can be transported seamlessly around the world to those that need them the most.

“Investment into the carrier’s infrastructure and Abu Dhabi hub will enable Etihad Cargo to meet the future challenges of the pharma supply chain and will play a significant role in co-creating a robust and future-proof healthcare ecosystem here in the UAE and around the world.”

Vice president of business development and regulatory affairs at Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone (ADAFZ), Steven Polmans, added: “The upcoming launch of this dedicated pharmaceuticals storage and handling facility will enhance AUH’s capabilities as a cargo hub and aligns with Abu Dhabi’s vision of becoming a global business, pharmaceutical and life science hub. The strong collaboration between Etihad Cargo, Etihad Airport Services and Abu Dhabi Airports will continue to increase pharmaceutical cargo volumes and further position Abu Dhabi as a major solutions provider in the logistics supply chain.”

General manager for ground and cargo at Etihad Airport Services, Jubran Al Breiki, pointed out: “In addition to offering a fully equipped pharmaceuticals centre, temperature-controlled rooms and 24/7 end-to-end cargo support, the innovative systems within the facility enable pharmaceuticals to be effectively tracked and traced. This benefits Etihad Cargo’s customers and all other stakeholders with greater transparency, real-time status updates and makes the transportation of cargo quicker and more efficient.”

To meet the requirements of personalised medication and treatment, including cell and gene therapies, Etihad Cargo is exploring the utilisation of artificial intelligence to improve forecasting and automation to enhance the carrier’s current capacity and capabilities.

It will also invest further in sustainable solutions to make the transportation of pharmaceuticals more environmentally friendly, in line with Etihad Aviation Group’s sustainability plans and pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. It has already replaced 3,000 containers from its original ULD fleet with a more environmentally friendly, lightweight version and has signed a memorandum of understanding with B Medical Systems to develop and launch the world’s first airline-specific passive temperature-controlled container.

In the coming months, Etihad Cargo will be participating in Pharma. Aero’s green pharma lane project, expanding on the successful launch of Pharma Corridor 2.0.

SEKO hires Hans Hickler

Chris Lewis

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November 1, 2022

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SEKO Logistics has appointed Hans Hickler as president of the Americas. Hehas worked with the company for the past seven years in an advisory role through Ellipses Advisors, a company he started in 2012 and his previous experience includes chief executive positions multinational ocean, express and 3PL companies. Prior to starting his own business, Hickler served as CEO of Asia Pacific for Agility Logistics.

Based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Hickler will report directly to James Gagne and Steen Christensen, SEKO’s chief operating officer – International.

Still in business: Antonov Airlines moves vital satellite for Elon Musk

Chris Lewis

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October 27, 2022

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Still in business: Antonov Airlines moves vital satellite for Elon Musk

Ukraine-owned Antonov Airlines has carried a civil telecommunication satellite on one of its AN-124-100-150 aircraft from Toulouse, France, to the US for Elon Musk’s SpaceX company.

The heavylift airline, Antonov Airlines a division of Antonov Company, headquartered in Kyiv, has been temporarily relocated to Leipzig, Germany to allow continued operation of its fleet of five AN-124-100 Ruslan aircraft with payloads of up to 150 tonnes. The Antonov Airlines base at Hostomel, near Kyiv, came under heavy bombardment at an early stage of the Russian invasion, resulting in the destruction of the unique Antonov 225 freighter.

The satellite was moved in cooperation with Bollore Logistics Space to the Nasa Shuttle Landing Facility in Titusville.

The cargo weighed a total of 50 tonnes including a special container measuring 14.69 m in length, 5.45 m in width, and 4.22 m in height, designed by Airbus Defence and Space specifically for moving safely these types of satellites to the Space Center.

The SpaceX programme is developing the Starlink communications system which has played a vital role in Ukraine’s battle with Putin’s forces.

Bollore Logistics projects department manager, Yorann Marc, said: “As permanent users of this type of aircraft, we are pleased to welcome the “Ruslan” on the market to perform the sensitive transports like the movement of the satellites to the different launch pads. The communication channel stayed always active in last months, and we were impressed by Antonov Airlines agility to maintain continuity of service after painful events occurred their home-base in Hostomel.”

Antonov Airlines commercial executive, Sergii Bilozerov, added: “The expertise of the Antonov Airlines technical crew and engineers guarantees the smooth and efficient transport of this delicate and unique cargo. An external crane in conjunction with the onboard crane and winch of the AN-124-100-150 was used to load and unload the container CTH04, as well as special loading equipment designed and manufactured by Antonov’s in-house engineers.”

UPS to open Dublin healthcare site next year

Logistics

Chris Lewis

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October 26, 2022

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UPS to open Dublin healthcare site next year

UPS is to open its first dedicated healthcare facility in Dublin in late 2023. It will offer nearly 6,000sq m of space to support Ireland’s pharmaceutical and medical device industries in delivering next generation biologics, critical vaccines and vital healthcare equipment to patients around the world. The facility will create 30 jobs initially, and comes at a time when 80% of pharmaceutical drugs in the EU require cold-chain logistics and transportation. More than 50% of all new drugs in the global pharmaceutical pipeline are cutting edge biomedical drugs – such as vaccines – that tend to be temperature-sensitive.

Recently appointed UPS Healthcare vice president for international sales, Cathy O’Brien, said: “This is a significant investment by UPS in Ireland and a demonstration of our commitment to enabling truly global healthcare supply chains.

“Our new facility supports the quality and regulatory needs of manufacturers, many of whom are providing critical upstream activity, and we provide them with resiliency and scale. UPS Healthcare is now offering the first truly dedicated freight, small parcel and logistics offering in Ireland, including cold chain management services. Ireland is a world leader in research, biologics and healthcare innovation, and we are confident that our clinical to commercial service offering will drive value for the Irish healthcare and economic ecosystem in the years to come.”

UPS recently announced its planned acquisition of the Bomi Group, which has temperature-controlled facilities in 14 countries in Europe and Latin America, adding nearly 3,000 highly skilled team members. With the approved completion of this acquisition by 2023, UPS Healthcare will have more than doubled the footprint of its facilities since 2020.

UPS is also investing in UPS Premier, a technology-enabled express delivery service, that upgrades small packages with advanced sensor technology as well as ensuring a priority lane in UPS’s global network. Earlier this year, UPS Healthcare expanded its specialized temperature-controlled fleet across Benelux and Italy, adding to existing cold chain transport services in the UK, Italy, Hungary, and Poland.

Two more years for SkyTeam chief

Chris Lewis

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October 26, 2022

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The 11-member SkyTeam Cargo alliance has re-elected Saudia Cargo chief executive Teddy Zebitz, as chairperson of its executive board. He will lead SkyTeam for a further two years. Other members of Skyteam are Aerolíneas Argentinas Cargo, Aeromexico Cargo, Air France-KLM Cargo, China Cargo Airlines, Czech Airlines Cargo, Delta Cargo, ITA Airways Cargo and Korean Air Cargo. Aeroflot Cargo is currently suspended.

DHL to strut its stuff Stateside for fashion retailer Boohoo

Chris Lewis

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October 26, 2022

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DHL to strut its stuff Stateside for fashion retailer Boohoo

Deutsche Post DHL Group’s DHL Supply Chain arm has to manage UK fashion retailer Boohoo Group‘s first US distribution centre. It will lead the operation of a new 1.1m sq ft site in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, southeast of Harrisburg. The location, expected to open in early 2023, will allow the company to offer next-day service to the New York City metro region.

Boohoo has been servicing the US through the UK since 2006, but growing order volumes and customer demand has made a distribution centre for direct-to-consumer fulfillment in the US a necessity.

DHL Supply Chain will hire 1,000 associates in its first year, with nearly 2,500 more expected over the next three years. DHL Supply Chain plans to introduce highly automated solutions, like an Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) and a high-speed pouch sorter at the site in the next three years.

Hactl to handle CMA CGM’s new freighters

Chris Lewis

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October 25, 2022

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Hactl to handle CMA CGM’s new freighters

Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) is handling CMA CGM Air Cargo’s new Hong Kong services. CMA CGM Air Cargo is the cargo airline of the CMA CGM Group, a global player in sea, land, air and logistics solutions.

It is operating five scheduled flights per week from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport to Hong Kong with new Boeing 777F aircraft. Hactl will provide terminal- and ramp handling, as well as documentation services.

New report details the FedEx effect

Chris Lewis

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October 25, 2022

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FedEx worked with 360,000 suppliers globally employing over 16.5 million individuals and with a combined annual revenue of $700 billion, said the Memphis-headquartered carrier in its latest 2022 Economic Impact Report.

In the document, produced in consultation with Dun & Bradstreet, FedEx analysed its effect on economies around the world in its 2022 fiscal year. It added that its global economic activity supported 193,000 additional jobs beyond the FedEx worldwide employee base in FY 2022, 20,000 more than in 2021.

Small businesses made up 88% of the FedEx supply chain, it added. More than half of the FedEx supply chain spend in each region went to small businesses—which collectively supported roughly 810,000 small business jobs around the world.

•FedEx invested $6.8 billion—a 15% increase over 2021—in facility improvements, network optimization and infrastructure improvements.

The report found that FedEx played an integral role in helping businesses recover from the pandemic while overcoming strained supply chains and economic challenges.

Nearly 550,000 employees worldwide moved an average of 16 million shipments each day through 5,000 facilities.

FedEx Corporation president and chief executive, Raj Subramaniam, said: “All around the world, FedEx helped individuals, businesses, and communities emerge from the pandemic by moving goods and providing services that connect humankind and power the global economy. The report illustrates the ongoing and important work we do every day, including supporting small- and medium-sized businesses which are the backbone of our local communities. We call this, the FedEx Effect.”

FedEx donated over $86 million to charities and local non-profits. The company also served as a critical conduit for food and aid deliveries and donations to Ukraine and Shanghai, among others.

IAG tests sustainable film

Chris Lewis

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October 25, 2022

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IAG Cargo is trialing a new biodegradable reduced-thickness polyethylene film with manufacturer Verpa Folie and US based BioNatur Plastics. The new sustainable material is 15 micron thick, 100% recyclable and biodegradable by landfill. The UK-based carrier says it will save up to 15 tonnes of virgin polyethylene a year. Not only does the material have an indefinite shelf life, prohibiting unnecessary waste, it can also be used for food and temperature-controlled items.