CARING FOR ULD’S TAKES CENTER STAGE AT LOS ANGELES CONFERENCE
7th September 2016
Taking care of ULDs (Unit Load Devices), (the equipment that is used to pack and load air cargo across the global supply chain), is finally getting the attention it deserves. Last month 117 delegates from 21 countries gathered at the Sofitel Hotel in Los Angeles to hear what they already knew; ULD damage was becoming a global problem. The most recent estimates place ULD damage on a global basis at US$330 million with the number climbing steadily each year. The delegates learnt that 70-80% of the 900,000 ULDs worldwide are damaged by ‘mishandling.’ Costs for replacing these damaged ULDs could easily exceed US$1 billion.
With most ULD damage occurring at the premises of ground handlers, they need to learn more about caring for ULDs. If so, why have they been shying away from conferences like these? Bob Rogers of ULD CARE’s management board has been trying unsuccessfully for years to get more handlers on board to adopt ULD CARE guidelines and initiatives. Meanwhile, the ongoing ‘blame game’ where airlines accuse handlers of damaging their containers and handlers lament that the airlines never pay them enough in the first place, has been a stalemate that few have attempted to change.
Airlines, though are beginning to take some of the initiative to reverse this problem. Saudia’s Chris Notter who also moderates the Annual Air Cargo Handling Conference, acknowledged that airlines were partly to blame, and promised to bring more handlers to the next ULD CARE FORUM to initiate them in ULD care guidelines. Manoj Menon, Emirates ULD Manager spoke about his small successes in getting access to the top brass in the ‘ivory tower’ of Emirates to devote more time and money to ULD safety and security. Sarabjot Uberoi, Executive Director, Ground Handling at Air India demonstrated how training and the positioning of illustrative charts and graphs helped to enhance awareness on safety issues through his organization. Representatives of the ULD leasing community spoke about building lighter and more durable containers as an antidote to poor handling practices, while targeting problematic airport stations in a customer’s network for improvement.
At the end of the day, while a ULD Standard Practice achieves efficiency, quality of output and unity of performance, the challenge is to take ULD regulations and translate them to easy and understandable steps. Perhaps the newly released book “ULD EXPLAINED” distributed to delegates at the conference will help shed some light on this subject.
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BRUSSELS AIRPORT HEAD OF CARGO STEVEN POLMANS APPOINTED TO TIACA BOARD
Miami, USA, 7th September 2016
Steven Polmans, Head of Cargo at Brussels Airport Company (BAC), has been appointed to TIACA’s Board of Directors.
Polmans pledged to continue encouraging greater collaboration across the supply chain to cope with a rapidly changing industry, starting with TIACA’s Air Cargo Forum in Paris next month.
Polmans, who has over 15 years’ experience in the aviation industry, is also the Chairman of the newly-established Air Cargo Belgium Association based at Brussels Airport.
“I strongly believe that more cooperation between all stakeholders is to the benefit of our industry,” said Polmans.
“We are facing challenging but interesting times. Our industry is in need of change, and digitization and innovation must become part of our behavior and culture.
Steven Polmans, Head of Cargo BAC, has been appointed to TIACA’s Board of Directors
“For the past six years at Brussels Airport, I have been committed to bringing the air cargo community together and I am pleased and honored to join the Board of TIACA to continue this work together, with other industry leaders, the TIACA team, and the whole cargo community on a global level.”
Prior to joining BAC, Polmans worked for ground handler Aviapartner Cargo, before moving on to logistics marketing specialist GLU4 BV, where he managed the company’s Benelux operations.
Polmans joined BAC in 2010 and was appointed Head of Cargo in 2012. He oversees the development and implementation of the airport’s overall cargo strategy.
“Steven’s experience and energy will be a welcome addition to our Board,” said Doug Brittin, Secretary General, TIACA.
“TIACA remains committed to representing all segments of the air cargo supply chain, with events such as our ACF serving as a platform for industry to collaborate, explore new business opportunities, and share best practice.”
TIACA’s Air Cargo Forum takes place from 26th to 28th October at the Porte de Versailles in Paris, France.
Thousands of air cargo decision makers will visit leading airfreight companies, including Heathrow Airport, Chapman Freeborn, and Emirates SkyCargo, at the three-day show.
The Forum program will put shippers center stage, with sessions covering Manufacturing Trends Affecting the Industry, Disruptive Innovation and the Cargo Hub of the Future, as well as practical workshops on the latest security and Customs’ regulations.
The Global Shippers’ Forum (GSF) and European Shippers’ Council (ESC) will also host debates on quality initiatives and closer collaboration.
“We welcome Steven to the TIACA Board,” said Sanjiv Edward, TIACA Chairman.
“With his leadership skills and proven ability to promote cooperation among stakeholders, he is a valuable addition to the team.”
For more information on attending the ACF contact Warren Jones, TIACA Director, at wjones@tiaca.org or call +1 (786) 265 7011.
To view the full program visit the ACF website at aircargoforum.org
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IATA: Passenger growth shows resilience into the peak summer period
Air Passenger Market Analysis - July 2016
Released 7th September 2016
Key points from our full report on air passenger markets in July:
• Industry-wide passenger traffic increased by 5.9% year-on-year in July (the first month of the summer peak).
• Market developments reflect a range of influences, with a subdued economic backdrop but lower fares.
• European carriers' international traffic trend has eased, but domestic India remains in a league of its own.
• The seasonally-adjusted passenger load factor has remained in a narrow band at a historically-high level.
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CAL Cargo Now Flying Puerto Rico-Rome
September 5, 2016, Tel Aviv, Israel
CAL Cargo Airlines, provider of specialized professional worldwide air cargo services, announced today that it will be offering flights from Liege (Belgium) to San Juan (Puerto Rico), via JFK. The return route flies from SJU to Liege (LGG), via Rome (FCO). The full route is TLV-LGG-JFK-SJU-FCO-LGG-TLV, with trucking connection to all European and US destinations.
Beginning on September 15, with 1 weekly night flight to JFK on day 3, the company expects to expand the service in the next few months.
"We’re thrilled to open the flights to SJU,” said Offer Gilboa, Chairman and CEO of the CAL Group. “We recently added a third B747-400 freighter to our fleet, and now with SJU we are continuing our momentum to expand our network throughout the Americas”.
Gilboa continues: “Our entire infrastructure is built to provide a rapid solution for the complex cargo, time and temperature sensitive goods such as Pharma, being our no. 1 product. We identified SJU as a hub for this kind of cargo transport, which is why we targeted it as our next destination. Given our equipment, team and experience, CAL is uniquely positioned to support the needs of the local catchment area."
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MIA UNVEILS NURSING SUITES FOR TRAVELING MOTHERS
MIAmamas program is one of the largest in the U.S. for nursing moms
MIAMI, September 1, 2016
On the heels of National Breastfeeding Month, Miami International Airport today unveiled a comprehensive program for nursing and pumping mothers. The MIA program includes eight custom-branded MIAmamas (pronounced “mia mamas”) nursing suites located on each of MIA’s concourses, with two in Concourse D and one in the Concourse E Satellite facility. Passengers can locate the new suites via MIA’s free mobile app, MIA Airport Official.
“Nursing moms are free to feed or pump anywhere at MIA, but these suites now give them an option that is private and peaceful,” said Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio T. González. “We’ve made it our goal to provide our passengers with the latest, most customer-friendly services available, and the MIAmamas nursing suites are the latest way that we are accomplishing that goal.”
MIAmamas nursing suite
Manufactured by Vermont-based Mamava, the MIAmamas suites are self-contained, mobile units with two comfortable benches, a fold-down table, an electrical outlet for plugging in a breast pump, and a door that can be locked for privacy. The 4-foot-by-8-foot suites are meant for individual use, but can fit mothers with luggage, other children or a travel companion. Interior surfaces of the lactation suites are made of food-service-grade Fiberglass and Corian®.
After a press conference by MIA and Mamava officials to announce the program, event attendees were able to view the interior of a nursing suite. MIA has also launched an airport-wide employee awareness campaign for the MIAmamas program.
new mom Adele Valencia with five-month-old Lily Louise Valencia
“MIA has become a role model for other airports with this comprehensive initiative, and we couldn’t be happier to celebrate with them,” said Mamava Co-founder and CEO Sascha Mayer. This program speaks volumes of their commitment to support their nursing travelers and customers, ensuring that moms - anywhere in the airport - have a dignified space in which to pump or nurse. I couldn’t think of a better way to wrap up National Breastfeeding Month!”
To learn more about the MIAmamas program, visit http://www.miami-airport.com/nursing.asp.
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ATSG to Webcast Presentation at Cowen & Company Global Transportation Conference
WILMINGTON, OH – August 31, 2016
Air Transport Services Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATSG) today announced that it will make a webcast presentation at the Cowen & Company Global Transportation Conference at the Boston Harbor Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts on Wednesday, September 7, 2016, at 8:35 a.m. Eastern time.
Joe Hete, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Quint Turner, Chief Financial Officer, will discuss ATSG’s business model and its strategy as the leading independent provider of converted Boeing 767 freighter aircraft, with a full range of complementary services. They also will review the company’s results for the first half of 2016 and its outlook for the rest of the year.
ATSG will offer a live audio webcast of the presentation, with associated slides, via a link on its website, www.atsginc.com, or at wsw.com/webcast/cowen35/atsg. A replay will be available via the same sites for 30 days.
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Breaking Transportation Records at the Olympic Games
LACHS Transported Hundreds of Horses to Rio Olympic Games
August 29, 2016, Liege, Belgium
Liege Air Cargo Handling Services (LACHS, Liege) announced today that
it exported 180 horses and 80 tons of equipment to the Rio Olympic
Games, with more to follow. The transportation required five charter
flights to collect horses and equipment from 32 different federations.
All the horses were stabled before the flights in the brand new horse
inn managed by LACHS. Some of the horses arrived a day before the
flight to ensure maximum rest before the events.
This week LACHS will be operating five charter import flights to
return the horses and equipment.
In September LACHS will handled two flights with 70 horses for the
Paralympic games, taking place in Rio. On the same day, together with
CAL Cargo Airlines, they will handle an additional charter to YYC (66
horses).
Horses arrive from Stansted Airport
Credit: Gabriel Nascimento
FEI Photos
In mid-September the same operation will be repeated: 66 horses will
be transported for the Longines Masters in Los Angeles.
In May 2016 LACHS was awarded a three-year contract to manage the
Horse Inn at Liege Airport. The Horse Inn is intended for horses being
transported by air and to accommodate them during transit by road. It
represents a total investment of €2.6 million. The new infrastructure
is designed to upgrade Liege’s overall service provision for the
transportation of live horses.
“Horse transport movements are delicate and sensitive,” says Yossi
Shoukroun, LACHS General Manager. “As experts in the transport of
non-standard cargo such as live animals, we have invested a tremendous
amount to ensure top-of-the-line infrastructure for this valuable
cargo.
Europe’s #1 ground handler for horses, LACHS (specialized in dedicated
charters as well as scheduled routes) boasts tremendous experience in
complex equine projects, including multiple charters of horses, and
can setup a special infrastructure to handle a mass of horses on a
tight timeline.
LACHS offers specialized flooring for horses, collapsible horse stalls
and both standard and custom built crates for smaller animals.
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LATAM Airlines Group awards ULD management to CHEP
24 August 2016
LATAM Airlines Group, Latin America's largest airline company, has awarded the management of its containers and pallets to CHEP Aerospace Solutions, the leading global provider of outsourced Unit Load Device (ULD) management and repair solutions.
This new agreement will see CHEP managing one of the largest outsourced ULD fleets in the industry, and will meet LATAM's ongoing objective to deliver operational efficiencies. Following the acquisition of LATAM's existing 13,000 ULDs, CHEP will start operations on the 1st September 2016. As part of the five-year agreement, CHEP will have ULD management staff in Santiago, Chile, and São Paulo, Brazil, as well as open a regional operations centre in Miami, USA, to support ULD management functions across the Americas.
LATAM Cargo Senior VP Operations and Services, Carlos Larrain, said: "The management of the company's ULDs is a critical business activity, and the decision of LATAM Airlines Group to outsource to CHEP has been preceded by an in-depth due diligence process and detailed analysis of several ULD management options offered in the industry. The unique capability of CHEP to combine ULD management with its global ULD repair services was the decisive factor. We chose CHEP's hybrid ULD solution given that the containers are part of a dedicated, co-branded fleet retaining weight savings, and the pallets being supplied from CHEP's pool. Thanks to CHEP's network synergies and lean business model LATAM will be able to operate with approximately 30% less ULDs. This considerably reduces operational costs and improves efficiencies, allowing the company to focus further on its clients' needs and providing the highest level of service in the industry."
CHEP Aerospace Solutions President, Dr. Ludwig Bertsch, said: "With great honour comes great responsibility and we are committed to providing the highest level of service to LATAM as well as to all our customers. With LATAM's dense network in South America, CHEP now serves even more airports on all continents. The participation of such a strong airline in our unique ULD pooling model will provide further synergies and more benefits for all our customers which confirms that sharing standardised assets across the industry drives cost savings and improves efficiencies. We look forward to building a successful partnership with LATAM for many years to come."
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Chapman Freeborn OBC boosts hand-carry team with multiple appointments
MIAMI, July 26, 2016
Chapman Freeborn OBC today announced a series of new appointments as the business
continues to expand its global hand-carry services. The company has gained several experts
from the aviation and express logistics industry in order to satisfy the increased demand from the
market.
The Cologne-headquartered on board courier (OBC) specialist has promoted Pasquale Bellarosa
to the position of director of sales and operations. Bellarosa - who has been with Chapman
Freeborn OBC since 2011 - will oversee the operational management and will be taking care of
the account management for existing clients.
Tobias Riener, who recently joined Chapman Freeborn OBC in the role of director of business
development is introducing hand-carry services to new markets. Riener brings with him over a
decade of aviation industry experience having previously worked in a senior position with a
competitor.
In response to increased demand, the 24-hour operations division has also been strengthened
by a further five broker appointments since the start of the year – including Torsten Meller, Stefan
Hirche, Andre Dornbusch and brothers Patrik and René Weyrich.
Together the OBC team brings a wealth of operational expertise as well as a variety of
experiences from the aviation and express logistics industry to the company.
The Cologne-based team works closely with the firm’s additional hand-carry hubs in Hong Kong
and USA - as well as the full Chapman Freeborn network of over 30 locations worldwide – in
order to provide the client with optimised transport solutions for their shipment requirements.
The news of the appointments in Cologne follows the recent announcement of two further sales
professionals hired in India, as the business continues to go from strength to strength in new
markets globally.
Nikolai Bergmann, managing director at Chapman Freeborn OBC, said:
“Over the past 10 years we have established ourselves as a leading provider of OBC services
and now is the right time to take our capabilities to the next level. We have enriched our team
with a wide range of experienced and excellent professionals who continuously develop and
diversify our services - enabling us to further grow.
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