Germany’s Association of Air Cargo Handlers – VACAD – (founded in Frankfurt/Main, in 2007), is another member stronger – this time industry heavyweight, GEORGI Handling. The air cargo handling company which has bases in Frankfurt and Leipzig, is the third big-name handler to join the organization this year, following in the footsteps of dnata and CHI Aviation Handling, and bringing VACAD’s member numbers up to 17.
GEORGI Handling currently handles around 130,000 tons of freight per year at its Frankfurt (Cargo City South) and Leipzig/Halle sites, employing around 150 employees to work at its 35,000 m² facilities. In addition to the DHL subsidiary European Air Transport Leipzig, its counts customers such as Vietnam Airlines and Air France-KLM.
Diana Schöneich, Managing Director of GEORGI Handling, commented: “VACAD gives a voice to the process segment of the supply chain that is relevant to us – air freight handling – and represents the industry in a solution-oriented and sustainable way. This is extremely important, because air freight handling plays a key role in the execution of the entire process chain and is still too often overlooked and undervalued in its importance due to the contractual constellations between forwarder and airline. Like all air freight handlers, we are constantly faced with the task of having to implement new legal requirements and, as a member of VACAD, we hope to be able to help shape the corresponding framework conditions in a practical way, but also to escalate and intervene at necessary points via the association. We are convinced that only together can we succeed in making the logistics export and import processes in Germany smart, transparent, affordable, and therefore attractive in commercial and procedural terms compared to other countries.”
Claus Wagner, Chairman of VACAD, said: “Whether it’s the duration of the background check, software problems with the Import Control System 2, or the discontinuation of the so-called special control procedure: our members all struggle with similar problems. Problems that we are working hard to solve. As an association, we want to and can make a difference. We are happy about every new member, and see our work confirmed by the addition of several new members this year.”
