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LATAM Cargo focusses on Brussels

Heiner Siegmund
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LATAM Cargo focusses on Brussels

Pharma and healthcare were the key topics tabled by LATAM Cargo at the carrier’s Brussels event on Thursday (05SEP24). The trade show was attended by roughly 50 invitees, mainly managers from freight forwarding companies, but also executives from Brussels Airport. And their eyes started to glow at exactly 10:30, when Jorge Carretero, Sales Director Central Europe, LATAM Cargo, presented this news:

“With the start of the winter flight schedule at the end of OCT24, we will operate all of our transatlantic eastbound cargo flights via Brussels.” In total, this will add up to 12 weekly B767F freighter services, which translates into a capacity of around 600 tons. This announcement, confirming former market rumors, explains why the second Pharma Day initiated by LATAM Cargo took place in Brussels, after Frankfurt the year before. Señor Carretero added to his network overview, that ten of the Brussels cargo flights would connect to Frankfurt before heading back to destinations in South America.

The attendees of a Brussels-held pharma conference organized by LATAM Cargo welcomed a B767F at an airport tour that had landed shortly before in BRU – courtesy: LATAM Cargo.

Missing long-term planning security at AMS
However, the manager did not reveal why his airline decided to scrap both Amsterdam and Liège from its itinerary. Forwarding agents indicated that this step was taken by management as result of ongoing political discussion in the Netherlands involving pros and cons of slot cuts at Amsterdam. “The LATAM Cargo guys simply miss long-term planning certainty at Schiphol,” an agent told CargoForwarder Global. Not so in the case of Brussels, following the resounding failure of a recent demand tabled by Transport Minister Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo / Greens) [see here]. The politician loudly advocated a night flight curfew and the banning of B777 freighters operated by integrator DHL Express at BRU, due to noise issues. Following massive protests, Gilkinet’s proposal quickly ended up in the garbage can.

B767F – proving its worth day in, day out
The B767 is an ideal aircraft for the adjusted route network, as it allows non-stop service from Europe to Latin American airports such as Florianópolis, for instance, which do not belong to the top category of cargo hubs. “With our new non-stop connection ex Europe, we have also opened up Florianópolis for pharmaceutical and life science products, in addition to the transportation of general cargo and other commodities,” stresses Señor Carretero.
Brazil is LATAM Cargo’s most important market. “Thanks in part to the uniform B767F fleet, we are now the clear number one in cargo traffic between the EU and South America,” says the manager. Added to this is the belly capacity of its passenger flights, which contribute around half of the total transport capacity offered to the market.

Back in the black
The manager also highlighted the return of the Chilean-Brazilian airline to the New York Stock Exchange on 25JUL24. It ends the dire times that began in JUN20, with the airline’s delisting and the Covid-related insolvency proceedings. Meanwhile, emerged from Chapter 11 protection and restructured, the carrier is again earning money, emphasized Mr. Carretero.

LATAM decision makers Jorge Carretero, Sales Chief Central Europe (standing left), and Matias Cortina, VP Commercial EMEA presented the carrier’s product and network novelties in Brussels to hand-picked industry representatives  – photo: CFG/hs

Control towers control pharma shipments
The cargo division, and in particular the transportation of high-quality pharmaceuticals and life science products, has also contributed to the financial upturn. The transportation of these temperature-sensitive commodities is demanding and requires a great deal of expertise. “This is why we introduced this product in the initial phase very cautiously on point-to-point flights, to be on the safe side, avoiding risky transits,” says Carretero.
In the meantime, however, the processes run smoothly, and control towers monitor the shipments from A to Z. This includes 44 origin-destination routes and 9 connection hubs, enabling transports across the entire network served by the carrier. Cooperating closely with providers of active air cargo containers or thermal solutions to secure the product integrity of temperature-sensitive items is also of great help, namely with DoKaSch TS, C-Safe or Envirotainer. However, in case of distortions, major hiccups or false ground handling mistakes can become expensive. “Last year, temperature matters led to the loss of 35 billion USD worldwide,” the manager said, citing official figures.

Dense pharma clusters
In his presentation, Samuel Speltdoorn highlighted the importance of the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry for Belgium and therefore Brussels Airport. He spoke of a huge cluster as shown by large brands such as Astra Zeneca, Bayer, Sanofi, GlaxoSmithKline, Boehringer, Merck or Eli Lilly, to name but a few, running facilities in the country. Their doing is backed by universities and research institutes and forms a breeding ground for start-ups. The result: every day, Belgium-based companies belonging to the pharma and life science sector, export products worth 275 million euros. Many of the goods are transported by air to customers located all around the globe. In terms of tonnage, not necessarily value, Brussels has now overtaken Frankfurt as the number one pharma hub in the EU. “So, the cluster policy and our early efforts to become the first CEIV compliant airport in Europe have really paid off,” exclaimed Mr. Speltdoorn.

New offer to reduce CO2
At the end of the event, LATAM Cargo announced another piece of news, primarily addressing freight forwarders: “We launched an ‘Added-Value’ option for pharma shipments,” explained Daniela Vial, Director of Product Development. “Our customers have the choice and flexibility to decide how many greenhouse gas emissions they intend to avoid per shipment, thus reducing their CO2 footprint. The most common interest we see is between 5% and 20% calculated for any given flight,” she illustrates. Asked about the costs, she speaks of great variability, depending on the type of feedstock, the country where SAF is purchased and some other characteristics. In a nutshell, this new “Added-Value” option offers the market a competitive premium product for a slightly higher price. So far, SAF is not produced anywhere in Latin America. That is why LATAM Cargo purchases Sustainable Aviation Fuel either in the U.S. or Europe. However, management emphasizes that LATAM Airlines Group and its subsidiaries in Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, and Paraguay, including LATAM Cargo, support governments and other stakeholders in developing SAF in South America by setting up production plants.

Lufthansa closes in on TAP Portugal

Heiner Siegmund
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Lufthansa closes in on TAP Portugal

Frankfurt and Lisbon are 1,876 km apart. A jetliner takes 3 hours to cover the distance. That is the length of time that Carsten Spohr, CEO of Lufthansa, spent on a plane on Monday (02SEP24), to hold face-to-face talks with the Portuguese government about his airline’s participation in TAP Portugal. Spohr, accompanied by three other managers, entered the main door of the finance ministry shortly after 11:00, local time, for a meeting with infrastructure minister, Miguel Pinto Luz, followed by other talks with high-ranking politicians.

TAP’s 19 A330-900 and 3 A330-200 are the backbone of its long-haul fleet – company courtesy

The reason for the Frankfurt-Lisbon journey: Lufthansa intends to acquire 19.9% of TAP shares. A deliberate move, since this is below the 20% threshold that would require approval from the EU’s antitrust regulator. Thus, Lufthansa can hope to avoid going through the same tough and time-consuming negotiations with the Brussels competition watchdogs as its did during its intention to acquire Italy’s ITA.

Maintaining Lisbon as intercontinental hub
The moment for negotiations about the Lusitanian carrier’s future, seems favorable because the Portuguese government wants to sell a majority stake in TAP, as announced by the government led by former head of state, Antonio Costa. That government was replaced in APR24. Costa’s successor, Luis Montenegro, and his administration are sticking to this goal. Any bidder will have to guarantee to maintain Lisbon as a hub for air traffic to Latin America and take over all current TAP employees. According to Reuters, Lufthansa would have to pay 180 to 200 million euros for TAP. Although the price plays an important role, it is not the decisive factor. Of higher importance is that the new TAP partner maintains and expands the carrier’s South American network; mainly routes to and from Brazil, TAP’s key overseas market.

Strengthening services to and from Latin America
Provided both sides reach a deal, Lufthansa plans to gradually increase its stake in TAP. However, this will only happen after Lufthansa becomes a majority owner in Italy’s ITA Airlines, where it holds 40% since MAY23. The precondition is that ITA generates sustainable profits, Lufthansa announced. Once accomplished, the Italian government will sell another 40%, but retain a 20% ownership in ITA.

A similar deal doesn’t seem to be intended by Portugal’s Mr. Montenegro and his administration. However, the government has guaranteed to secure a 5% share package for the employees in case TAP is privatized.

So far, neither Lufthansa nor the Portuguese government have commented on the matter. If an agreement is inked, it is not expected to be realized until Q1, 2025, at the earliest.

Air Europa as an option
That would give competitors such as AirFrance-KLM or the IAG Group plenty of time to submit a counteroffer. This applies particularly to the British-Spanish IAG Group after its plans to take over Madrid-based Air Europa turned to dust due to the tough conditions imposed by the EU Commission. Consequently, British Airways, Iberia, Vueling and Aer Lingus are very closely monitoring the European aviation market for takeover opportunities.

Should Lufthansa be rebuffed in Lisbon, it would still have the option of bidding for Air Europa. The Spaniard’s transatlantic network is also attractive, with particularly interesting tourist routes, for example, to the Caribbean. Air France-KLM would have the same option should it encounter closed doors in Lisbon.

Per Astral ad Guangzhou

Brigitte Gledhill
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Per Astral ad Guangzhou
First Guangzhou-Nairobi Astral Aviation connection. Image: Astral Aviation

Kenya-based Astral Aviation Limited has launched its first flight from Guangzhou, China, to Nairobi, with an onward connection to Maputo, Mozambique. This marks a significant step in Astral Aviation’s expansion into the Asian market, aiming to strengthen trade and logistics links between Asia and Africa. Guangzhou, a major hub in southern China, serves as a key gateway for Chinese goods, including high-tech equipment, electronics, e-commerce, perishables, and industrial products.
The new service deploying a Boeing 767 freighter, is designed to meet the growing demand of importers and exporters, providing a reliable and efficient air cargo solution. Astral Aviation’s strategic focus is on expanding its global reach and enhancing its service for its clients, hence more routes can be expected soon. The airline is keen to foster international trade through its innovative and reliable air cargo solutions, and to maintain and strengthen its position as a key player in the air cargo industry. African airlines are on the rise: IATA data shows that African airlines experienced the highest growth in demand, with an 18.4% year-on-year increase, and that the Africa-Asia market saw significant 40.6% growth compared to MAY23, which emphasizes the need for this latest routing. Sanjeev Gadhia, CEO of Astral Aviation, commented: “We are thrilled to commence our operations in China with this new service from Guangzhou. This route enhances connectivity between Asia and Africa and supports the increasing demand for reliable cargo transportation, facilitating the flow of essential goods and contributing to economic growth in both regions. We are grateful to our launch customer, Air Charter Service Hong Kong, The Guangdong Airport Authority Co. Ltd and our GSA IGS Air.”

CMA CGM goes transpacific for the first time

Brigitte Gledhill
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CMA CGM goes transpacific for the first time
Now connecting Hong Kong to Chicago in its first transpacific venture. Image: CMA CGM

CMA CGM AIR CARGO has launched its first transpacific service, marking a significant milestone in its global expansion strategy. On 25AUG24, the inaugural commercial flight connected Hong Kong (HKG) to Chicago (ORD), with a technical stop in Anchorage (ANC). The route is served by a newly delivered Boeing 777-200F, which began operations on 18AUG24. This addition is part of CMA CGM AIR CARGO’s efforts to strengthen its network and support the CMA CGM Group’s goal of offering a comprehensive range of solutions to its clients.
The new B777-200F freighter, operated by Atlas Air, will enhance CMA CGM AIR CARGO’s capacity on strategic routes between Asia and North America. While the service connects Hong Kong to Chicago on the eastbound, the return operates from Chicago via Seoul (ICN) to Hong Kong. The introduction of this aircraft marks the beginning of further developments in the United States.
CMA CGM AIR CARGO plans to expand its fleet with two more B777-200F aircraft in the coming months. A second freighter will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2024 and will operate another transpacific route connecting mainland China to North America, providing customers with seven frequencies per week. A third aircraft is expected to join the fleet in 2025, further increasing capacity and reach.
For the past two years, CMA CGM AIR CARGO has operated two Boeing 777-200F aircraft based at Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG), serving routes between Europe and Greater China, including five weekly flights to Hong Kong and four to Shanghai. The B777-200F is renowned for its capacity, range, fuel efficiency, and lower operating costs, making it a highly economical choice for long-haul freight operations.
Damien Mazaudier, CEO of CMA CGM AIR CARGO, commented: “The launching of this new route between Chicago and Hong Kong is a strategic milestone in the development of CMA CGM AIR CARGO. We are very proud to extend CMA CGM AIR CARGO’s reach to the United States, a strategic country for the Group. This opening comes with the delivery of a third B777 Freighter, a very efficient long-range aircraft that will allow us to serve our customers on new routes across the Pacific and to respond to dynamic market conditions. This new asset also plays a key role in contributing to greater sustainability in air freight, in line with the CMA CGM Group’s ambitions.”

Challenge Group appoints Technical Director

Brigitte Gledhill
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0
Challenge Group appoints Technical Director
Petur Thor Gudjonsson is Challenge Technic’s Technical Director. Image: Challenge Technic

Challenge Group announced this week that it has appointed Petur Thor Gudjonsson as Technical Director at its MRO subsidiary, Challenge Technic. Gudjonsson takes on the role at the Challenge Technic base in Reykjavik, Iceland. He joined Challenge Technic as a Safety Manager in NOV23, and brings over 20 years of experience in Line Maintenance. Having trained at the Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, before the turn of the Millennium, Gudjonsson has since held Engineering and Shift Team Lead positions at known companies such as Air Atlanta, SO Tech, Wow Air, and GMT. He is well-versed in dealing with both Boeing and Airbus fleets, which Challenge Group underlines makes him the perfect fit to lead Challenge Technic’s expanding technical operations.“Since joining the Group, Petur has consistently excelled in roles focused on Safety and Quality, showcasing exceptional dedication, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards. His appointment as Technical Director is a testament to his outstanding performance,” the release states. “Under Petur’s leadership, Challenge Technic is poised to not only enhance its service offerings but also reinforce its position as a leader in the aviation maintenance sector. Petur’s depth of knowledge, coupled with his passion for innovation, aligns perfectly with Challenge Technic’s mission to provide the safest and most reliable services to its customers.”

CargoAi appoint Olivier Veyrac to boost CargoWALLET

Brigitte Gledhill
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0
CargoAi appoint Olivier Veyrac to boost CargoWALLET
Fintech expert, Olivier Veyrac joins CargoAi. Image: CargoAi

CargoAi’s CargoWALLET, launched in FEB23, has quickly become a popular choice for handling cargo payments in over 47 currencies. To further accelerate its growth, CargoAi has appointed global payment expert, Olivier Veyrac as Senior Vice President for CargoWALLET.

Since its introduction, CargoWALLET has grown to count more than 5,000 airlines, freight forwarders, ground handling agents (GHAs), and logistics service providers among its users. The platform allows freight professionals to make payments from 150 countries using local payment methods. CargoWALLET’s instant cross-border payment capability is especially appealing to freight forwarders, as it enables airlines to receive instant payments from customers without having to resort to cash, suffer long settlement times, or await bank guarantees. And since CargoWALLET integrates directly with freight forwarders’ Transport Management Systems (TMS), it facilitates faster payment and reconciliation through various payment methods. In fact, this integration reduces cross-border payment processing times from days to seconds and lowers bank fees. CargoWALLET has even enabled some import customers to settle their accounts electronically for the first time. Olivier Veyrac is tasked with removing the remaining hurdles in the freight customer payment journey so that it is simpler and faster still for logistics companies to handle transactions globally.
Matt Petot, CEO of CargoAi, said: “Positive customer feedback and the rapid success of CargoWALLET show that the industry is keen on adopting reliable payment solutions. CargoWALLET has reached critical adoption in its early version. I am delighted that Olivier Veyrac has joined us as Senior Vice President of CargoWALLET to take it to the next level. Olivier Veyrac has extensive financial technology and technology integration experience, working with companies across the world. Furthermore, his experience scaling global BtoB payments solutions and commercial partnerships will prove invaluable to the success of CargoAi fintech venture.” Olivier Veyrac commented: “CargoWALLET offers the broadest reach by far in the industry with the enablement of over 200 payment methods from 150 countries. It meets the security and confidentiality requirements demanded by the strict banking regulations, making it one of the strongest options in the industry. There is still room for improvement. More new features, more partners, and more countries are my goals for the coming months.”

Every dog has its day over at WestJet Cargo

Brigitte Gledhill
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Every dog has its day over at WestJet Cargo
VIP pet services on board WestJet Cargo. Image: Lemon Queen

… or should that read Every Dog has its Flight, because WestJet Cargo has just expanded its Pet Transportation Services to include three new European destinations. The announced was published on International Dog Day, 26AUG24. The latest destinations are: London Gatwick (LGW), London Heathrow (LHR), and Edinburgh (EDI). This move addresses the increasing demand for secure and reliable international pet travel between Canada and Europe and underscores WestJet Cargo’s dedication to providing specialized care for pets throughout their journey.
WestJet Cargo’s pet transportation service is designed to cater to the unique needs of all pets, including brachycephalic breeds that require extra care during air travel. As per IATA’s Live Animals Regulations, pets are transported in pressurized, temperature-controlled cargo holds. Their owners receive detailed pre-flight preparation guidelines, and WestJet Cargo keeps them updated throughout the journey, offering support should any unforeseen changes occur.
Booking arrangements can be made either online or via WestJet Cargo’s customer service. The service expansion complies with European regulations and meets the specific requirements of international pet travel.
WestJet Cargo began the year with pet transportation services to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). These have now been complemented with the three new European stations, and because of ongoing strong demand, some routes scheduled to pause later this year will resume next year. WestJet Cargo also plans to use its extensive passenger network to further expand its pet transportation services across Europe.
Kirsten de Bruijn, Executive Vice President of WestJet Cargo, underlined: “At WestJet Cargo, we recognize that pets are beloved members of the family, and their safety and comfort during travel are our utmost priorities. By extending our pet transportation service to LGW, LHR, and EDI, we are enhancing connectivity for pet owners and ensuring that their pets receive the highest standard of care throughout their journey.”

ECS Group appoints new EFIS MAROC Commercial Director

Brigitte Gledhill
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0
ECS Group appoints new EFIS MAROC Commercial Director
Zouber Hachemaoui is EFIS MAROC’s new Commercial Director. Image: ECS Group

ECS Group has appointed Zouber Hachemaoui as the new, onsite Commercial Director for its Moroccan GSSA branch: EFIS Maroc. Hachemaoui took up his new role on 05AUG24. EFIS Maroc is the region’s market leader in air cargo services, and the only local GSA capable of offering significant air freight experience. It caters to a loyal client base. ECS Group is looking to strengthen its presence in the region and build on Morocco’s potential to become a key African hub. Hachemaoui is tasked with expanding EFIS Maroc’s reach and providing tailored solutions to its customers as the company is set for growth in Africa. He brings almost 30 years of cargo experience in France at leading companies including IAG Cargo, Corsair International, ATC Aviation Services AG, Express Air Cargo, and a previous 2.5-year employment at ECS Group. He joins ECS Group over from GSSA Hiline Cargo where he was Branch Office Manager in Orly for 6 years.
Adrien Thominet, Executive Chairman of ECS Group, explained: “This appointment aligns with our strategy to embed strong sales expertise locally, reflecting the standards we uphold across the entire ECS Group network. With over 20 years of experience in the GSA field, Zouber is exceptionally well-suited to lead our operations in Morocco, where he will play a crucial role in driving commercial development and enhancing our partnerships with airlines and freight forwarders.”
Zouber Hachemaoui commented: “It is an honor to be part of such a dynamic and innovative organization. My main objective is to consolidate our network and continue delivering top-tier service to our customers. Morocco and Africa present immense growth potential, and by leveraging ECS Group’s extensive network, we can unlock new opportunities and solidify our position in these markets.”

Sabotage threatens freight industry

Heiner Siegmund
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0
Sabotage threatens freight industry

The Putin regime is intensifying its hybrid warfare against NATO and EU member states. The latest escalation: for several weeks, parcels sent by private individuals from various locations in Europe carried by integrators have caught fire during transportation. Western intelligence services suspect that the sabotage is a response by Moscow to the permission given by some NATO states to Ukraine to use Western weapons to shell military control centers and airfields on Russian territory in Kyiv’s fight for survival. 

The Boeing757Fs are the backbone of DHL Express’ European operations, while cooperation partners also use other cargo aircraft – courtesy: DHL Express

According to agency reports, DHL Express has already been affected twice by sabotage. The most serious incident happened last July when a parcel caught fire that was handed over to the integrator in a Baltic state, addressed to a customer in Europe and routed via Leipzig Airport. The consignment with the incendiary device ignited a cargo container, causing other shipments to burn. Thanks to rapid intervention of ground workers at Leipzig Airport, however, the flames were quickly extinguished.

The package delivery company confirmed that this was not the only case, since other incidents have happened before. Consequently, DHL took measures in all European countries aimed “to protect our own staff, operations and facilities,” a DHL spokesperson told the German Press Agency – dpa. Management is cooperating closely with the relevant authorities, is stressed in a statement.

Warning message
Alerted by increasing security incidents threatening the air freight and logistics industry, the German Office for the Protection of the Constitution sent a notice to transportation companies last Wednesday (28AUG24). In its letter it warns that further parcels with “unconventional incendiary devices” have been or will be dispatched. Sensitizing employees and precautionary measures are highly recommended steps in the advice. As things stand, it can be assumed that the “unconventional incendiary devices were sent deliberately to damage freight service companies and other logistics infrastructure in western countries,” remind the Constitution Protectors, stressing the urgency in their warning message.   

All of the affected parcels detected so far contained electrical items and vials filled with liquids. The high shipping costs of the parcels were regularly “economically disproportionate to the value of the goods,” emphasizes the Office in its write. It is an open secret in security circles that Russian sabotage and espionage activities in Germany and across Western Europe have increased significantly in recent weeks and months, seen by the rapidly growing amount of drones spotted across critical and sensitive infrastructure such as airports or telecommunication facilities.

Proxy war
To carry out such espionage activities, the Russian secret service recruits individuals belonging to shadow armies consisting of right wingers or radicals from the extreme left all across Europe. Consequently, military experts are already talking about a Russia-NATO proxy war. In case a perpetrator is identified, the Putin regime can claim to have nothing to do with the occurrence.  

Despite Moscow’s obscuration tactics, security circles hold that Russia is becoming increasingly ruthless in its drone campaign targeting military bases or critical infrastructure in Germany and other EU states. Mainly affected are those sites, where Ukrainian military personnel are being trained. Alarmed by warnings of sabotage, Lufthansa Cargo is also increasing its vigilance. However, there have been no incidents involving incendiary devices in its own operations to date, a spokeswoman told the media. “We are generally aware of the current developments. We are in close contact with the authorities.” The transportation of air freight is subject to strict safety regulations, she stressed. The same applies to DHL, FedEx or UPS.

Spotlight on… Rüdiger Franke, CEO TRIWO Hahn Airport GmbH

Heiner Siegmund
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0
Spotlight on… Rüdiger Franke, CEO TRIWO Hahn Airport GmbH

CargoForwarder Global’s ‘Spotlight On …’series showcases a different aspect of the air cargo industry every week to highlight its manifold career opportunities: from airlines to forwarding agents, ground handlers, road feeder companies and all the other ancillary service providers.Yet, without airports, the air cargo industry would not function. And here, too, there are remarkable differences in the airport landscape – be it in size, operational timeframes and the availability of slots, or the services rendered to customers. Hahn Airport, a former U.S. Air Force base, has had an eventful history since its conversion from a military to a civilian airport in 1993. In APR23, the project developer, TRIWO AG took over the airport as a result of insolvency proceedings. Since then, Rüdiger Franke (RF) has been responsible for the airport. How does his day look, and what is his advice for those who want to work in air freight?

Rüdiger Franke’s challenging task is to make Hahn Airport a top address for air freight throughput  –  photo: HHN

CFG: What is your current function? And what are your responsibilities?

RF: In my role as Managing Director and CEO, I am responsible for the operation of Hahn airport.

CFG: What does a normal day look like for you? Or is there such a thing?

RF: There is actually no such thing as a normal day at an airport. We are a company with constantly changing challenges due to rapidly changing conditions and flight schedules. The 24/7 operation in particular, requires flexibility from all employees, including the organization of their work processes and their time management. Coordinating all this is sometimes demanding but pleasing, once accomplished.

CFG: How long have you been in the air cargo industry, and what brought you to it?

RF: I’ve been in aviation for 25 years, but I’ve only really been in the cargo sector for three years. I joined the company with the task of stabilizing Hahn Airport in its insolvency phase and bringing the sales process to a positive conclusion. This was impressively achieved with the takeover by TRIWO AG.

CFG: What do you enjoy most about your job?

RF: Above all, it is little routine but the daily versatility that fuels me, combined with the fact that hardly anything goes according to a pre-set formula. But what also thrills me are the aircraft that land and take off here at the airport, every single day; their distinctive sound and elegance. These are very impressive moments, particularly induced by the largest jetliners such as the cargo jumbos.

CFG: Where do you see the greatest challenges for Hahn and in our industry in general?

RF: The main challenge for Hahn Airport, is to get it back on track, economically. This also applies to the industry as a whole, that is challenged by globalization uncertainties combined with rapidly changing political and global economic conditions, which demand an enormous degree of flexibility from airlines, airports, forwarders, and handling agents. This not only applies to cargo, but to passenger operations, as well.

CFG: What advice would you give to people looking to get into the air cargo industry? Any particular training they should aim for?

RF: A sound education is necessary to understand and grasp the interrelationships existing in this industry. Profound IT and digitalization skills also help to master the logistical challenges in connection with eCommerce, ground handling requirements, customs brokerage or e-booking processes. Therefore, training in these areas is highly recommended to master the daily requirements. A good level of common sense is helpful, too. That makes life easier to handle.

CFG: If the air cargo industry were a film/book, what would its title be?

RF: ‘Bees and ants point the way to success’. I don’t think it’s too far-fetched, but an animal movie about the realm of ants or bees would describe it well. It’s the little creatures, working collectively towards achieving a common goal, that succeed. According to the motto: it’s the group that counts, rather than the individual often driven by selfishness.

CFG: Thank you, Rüdiger, for your insights.

If you would like to share your personal air cargo story with our CargoForwarder Global readers, feel free to send your answers to the above questions to cargoforwarderglobal@kopfpilot.at. We look forward to shining a spotlight on your job area, views, and experiences.

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