Category Archives: Aviation

IAG Cargo has reported commercial revenues of €302 million  over the period from July 1 to September 30, 2020, an increase of  14.1  per cent on the same period in 2019 at constant currency. The carrier has announced its Q3 2020 results. Overall yields for the quarter  were up 113.4 per cent on the same time last year at constant currency, reflecting the extra costs of a flying programme that continues to retain a substantial cargo-only schedule. Lynne Embleton, CEO at IAG Cargo, commented, “The stark impact of COVID-19 on aviation continued throughout Q3. The overall market was weaker than pre-pandemic levels, but the continued squeeze on available air cargo capacity across the global market was the key dynamic in the quarter as carriers continued to ground aircraft. “The IAG Cargo team have been absolutely focused on creating solutions for customers so they can continue to move goods around the world. Q3 saw a significant ramp up in our network, with routes and frequencies added across the Atlantic, to Africa, Asia and the Middle East. By the end of Q3, we were operating more than 3,000 cargo flights per week and we will further develop our network into Q4. “This scheduled capacity continues to be supplemented by bespoke charter operations. Whilst the demand for dedicated charters peaked in Q2 – coinciding with the urgent movement of PPE – customers have continued to make use of our charter offering over the last three months.

Blue Dart Express Limited has posted ₹414 million profit after tax (previous year ₹140 Million) for the quarter ended September 30, 2020. The company declared its financial results for the quarter July – September 2020; revenue from operations for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 stood at ₹8,644 million. Balfour Manuel, Managing Director, Blue Dart said, “Macroeconomic indicators and the opening up of the economy, signals a greener future for the nation. We see our customers’ businesses coming back on track with an exciting festive season around the corner for which we are fully prepared. We are cautiously optimistic for what the future holds for the economy as a second wave of pandemic is expected to hit the country in the winter season. We have also consolidated our position over this quarter for our key products. As pharmaceutical organisations and the Government of India work in tandem to roll out a COVID-19 vaccine, Blue Dart is gearing up to provide logistics support when a prospective vaccine candidate does arrive. Our network continues to be the reason we remain the government’s as well as every citizen’s trusted express logistics provider.” “The company has navigated through the crisis well; performance during the quarter has been supported by better revenue realization and cost efficiencies initiatives,” he adds.

The Bolloré Logistics team in India handled and transported oil well equipment including the wellhead and the x-mass tree running tools on behalf of the oil & gas exploration and production company Hindustan Oil Exploration (HOEC). The project involved ensuring the door-to-door delivery from HOEC’s yard in Mumbai Via port of Nhava Sheva to the port of Singapore. The development of the solution included a shipment survey, proposing and implementation of a waterproof packaging solution, safe transport to the container stuffing station, re-export customs formalities, sea freight and final delivery to contractor’s yard in Singapore. The team was confronted with challenges on coordination and safe execution of operations amid the Covid-19 pandemic and also overcome the weather conditions with Cyclone “Nisarga” and heavy rains associated with the monsoon period for successful execution of the shipment. HOEC thus expressed satisfaction for the realization of this end-to-end project while underlining our professionalism in terms of QHSE.

In an executive summary of mid-year outlook for Indian aviation in FY2021 released by CAPA India, “Cargo volumes are expected to reach pre-COVID levels much earlier than passenger traffic. In September 2020, international cargo was down just 13.6 per cent year-on-year (compared with -87.8 per cent for passengers), while domestic volumes were down 20.0 per cent (compared with -65.1 per cent for passenger traffic). Recent economic indicators also suggest that exports are showing a significant recovery. As passenger services resume and belly capacity increases, it is expected that the demand for cargo charters will soften, as has been observed in recent weeks. Airline networks will remain extremely dynamic during COVID with carriers likely to operate to an evolving set of destinations, including those which it may not have served prior to the pandemic. There may be some permanent shifts in networks even once the market stabilises. CAPA India has regularly urged the Indian aviation industry to push for structural change. Policy and regulations must be based on global best practices, costs must be rationalised, and corporate governance must be transformed to ensure that operators demonstrate the highest level of accountability to shareholders, banks and their staff.

In reaction to the growing demand from various customers, the logistics provider has now extended its scheduled weekly charter services until the end of the year. The airfreight peak season is in full swing and industrial production is picking up again, especially in the automotive, high tech and retail industries. To help maintain customers’ supply chains, cargo-partner has been offering multiple weekly air charters from China and Hong Kong to Europe since March 2020. Stefan Krauter, CEO, cargo-partner, anticipates that the demand for charter services will remain high. He says, “Since the beginning of the year, we have received numerous requests for full- and part-charter transports of urgently needed goods, the majority of which came from the pharmaceutical, healthcare and PPE sectors. In recent months, we have also noticed a growing demand from the high tech and automotive industries. In view of the expected peaks in the coming months, we advise our customers to start planning early to secure their supply chains.”

Aramex has officially gone live with their rollout of WiseTech Global’s integrated logistics execution platform, CargoWise, across its global network. The CargoWise rollout represents an integral milestone in Aramex’s digital transformation journey that strategically leverages innovative solutions to satisfy evolving customer needs and allows the company to swiftly adapt to changing market conditions. The scope of the implementation will cover the freight forwarding product across Aramex’s global network. Aramex’s unique approach sees CargoWise implemented simultaneously across its worldwide network of 1,200 freight forwarding specialists, spanning Asia, Europe and the Middle East. CargoWise will support Aramex’s freight forwarding and customs operations and enhance the overall user experience for their employees and customers. “Through a single platform, CargoWise provides configurability, automation and real-time visibility across our global freight operations. The results will be a high ramp up of business benefits that will be felt across all the freight community of Aramex,” noted Mohammed Sleeq, Chief Digital Officer, Aramex. “The CargoWise rollout marks an exciting period of digital transformation for Aramex, and it supports their commitment to technological innovation enabling more efficient movement of goods globally,” observed Richard White, Founder & CEO, WiseTech Global.

Bolloré Logistics and Transport Intelligence has recently joined forces to jointly administer a global survey with 422 professionals (shippers, service providers and financial institutions) shedding light on the impacts of the Covid-19 crisis on the supply chain and future structural changes in the medium term. Administered in July and August 2020, the survey confirms that for 72% of respondents the Covid-19 crisis will shape the global supply chain on a lasting basis. Thirty-one per cent said that the remoteness of supply areas and their concentration in a limited number of countries could be reconsidered. However, 61% of respondents believe that the crisis will not call into question globalisation as a business model. The survey also reveals that the pandemic has heightened trends having emerged in recent years. These include the importance of real-time visibility of goods flows for increased responsiveness to unforeseen incidents (76%), the introduction of greater supply and flow-planning flexibility (64%), and sustainable development as a key performance criterion in logistics solutions (67%). “To control risks as part of the new situation created by the global pandemic, we are harnessing our capacity for resilience to foster the competitiveness of our customers internationally and to ensure supply-chain continuity. We are supporting our import and export customers in the recovery of their businesses by focusing on three objectives: the robustness of our transport plans, secured by alternative solutions; agility, with strong local expertise and empowered teams; and sustainability, by proposing eco-responsible solutions,” said Thierry Ehrenbogen, CEO, Bolloré Logistics. The survey results also highlight the positioning of Bolloré Logistics, which more than ever is asserting its ‘People Powered Innovation’ brand positioning by investing over the long-term in the company’s digital transformation …

To accommodate high demand during peak season, DSV Air Charter Network has increased the airfreight capacity by adding charter services. The company has added New York as a destination with part charters twice weekly from Belgium in Europe, beginning the week of October 19. Trucking connections from New York supports reliable feeding and distribution within the USA. It has also added an additional weekly round trip between Luxembourg and Huntsville. The company said its airfreight charter service is ideal for handling special cargo such as pharmaceuticals, electronics, oversized oil and gas equipment, helicopters, cars, radioactive and explosive cargo, as well as high-value goods. Mads Ravn, head of global airfreight procurement at DSV, commented: “Production is picking up across the transatlantic, and with belly capacity down by 50% year on year, we are again expanding the DSV air charter network to meet demand. “New York will be added this week with twice weekly part charters, and we are expanding our capacity on the legacy DSV Panalpina route from Luxembourg to Huntsville and back with a third weekly rotation.” DSV uses less congested airports — such as Luxembourg and Huntsville — in its air charter network “to ensure faster turnaround on the ground and reduce the risk of delays”.

IAG Cargo has restarted its direct service from the United Kingdom to Tokyo. The service will run year-round, three times per week from London Heathrow. Restoring the London – Tokyo service, which was paused due to coronavirus, will be welcomed by IAG Cargo’s customers on both sides of the Pacific. Tokyo is particularly significant for the export of pharmaceutical goods, which can be moved seamlessly using IAG Cargo’s Constant Climate service. This state-of-the-art cold chain product is specially designed to process time and temperature sensitive pharmaceuticals. Last year, the route played an important role in supporting the British Museum to transport over 200 pieces from Japan for a special manga exhibition, with the help of IAG Cargo’s Secure product. Alec Rayner, Area Commercial Manager for Japan & Korea, IAG Cargo, said, “Japan is an important part of our network and we are pleased to be reopening London Heathrow-Tokyo Haneda for our customers. The route is vital for them to stay connected with their trading partners worldwide, allowing the movement of Japanese pharmaceuticals, automotive and manufacturing goods to reach hundreds of destinations.”

With an aim to improve the sustainable transport of perishables and pharmaceuticals, The Cool Chain Association (CCA) and IATA have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). As partners, the two groups will develop joint programmes including temporary task forces and round tables, for specific initiatives such as the transport of vaccines and life science products. They will also share feedback, experiences, knowledge, and best practice. As a first step, CCA took part in IATA’s recent webinar on the industry’s readiness for the transportation of vaccines and life science products. Nicola Caristo, CCA secretary general and airline partner manager, SkyCell, said, “Both CCA and IATA have a common interest in ensuring the secure handling and transport of perishables and pharmaceuticals by means of robust standards. “Through this agreement we are establishing a formal basis of collaboration to better assist the global industry to improve, as well as increasing sustainability and reducing waste. “We will be working together to promote the implementation of methodologies and quality criteria such as the Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) Fresh and Pharma programmes.” Meanwhile, CCA members are planning a new series of data sharing tests, under a project called the LAX Initiative, to monitor perishable shipments on global trade lanes in a bid to improve supply chain management and reduce food loss.