The only way to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, is by taking definite steps towards the goal. WestJet has just demonstrated its commitment by acquiring the first Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to be supplied in Canada. Shell Aviation is the supplier. Not only is Shell Aviation paving the way to cleaner aviation with its SAF production, but it is also making use of the latest technologies in its purchasing and distribution processes: “To supply WestJet with SAF, Shell Aviation uses a program called Avelia, one of the world’s first blockchain-powered digital SAF book-and-claim solutions for air travel. Avelia uses blockchain to provide clear and transparent tracking of the environmental attributes of SAF delivered into the aviation fueling network. Environmental attributes can be allocated to both airlines and business customers, while avoiding issues such as double counting. This means corporations can confidently view verified lifecycle emissions reductions from SAF today, while working to establish sufficient SAF to meet their future net zero or science-based targets,” the release explains.

As is well-known, SAF is up to 80% cleaner than standard aviation fuel, however, supply is still far beyond demand and the industry needs more investment as well as movement on common regulations and standards. In the right environment, SAF is one of the industry’s highest hopes for reduced emissions to meet the 2050 target. Airlines such as WestJet, dedicated to more sustainable aviation, work together with their respective government and industry partners in creating the conditions required for a sustainable, long-term commercial framework for SAF. “SAF acquired from Shell Aviation is blended with conventional jet fuel to meet all certification and safety requirements, while requiring no new investments in aircraft engines, fuel infrastructure or distribution processes,” the release assures.

Angela Avery, WestJet Group Executive Vice President and Chief People, Corporate and Sustainability Officer, stated: “WestJet is committed to enhancing our position as a first mover in sustainability technologies. Just as we pioneered advancements in Winglets and drag reduction, WestJet proudly stands as the first airline to acquire SAF by Shell in Canada. Thanks to Shell’s world-class fuel supply chain and WestJet’s proven track record in sustainability, this first step sets the stage for future collaboration and innovation to encourage investments in this important lever for decarbonization.”

Christine Bassitt, General Manager, Shell Aviation, Americas, said: “We are delighted to supply WestJet with SAF, as we continue to support our customers on their decarbonization journeys, while simultaneously building out the supply chain in Canada to enable more customers to access SAF.”

When Hermes Logistics Technologies (HLT) talks about clouds on the horizon, it is a positive thing. Why? Because HLT is focusing on “maximizing software automation in the cloud” as well as “driving rapid application development” of cloud-native software as a service, according to its press release this week. And it has appointed a responsible in the form of a Chief Technology Officer (CTO), to ensure that these aims are reached. Andrew Knott was announced as CTO on 16APR24, and will lead HLT’s tech development.

Knott joins HLT from Atmosphere 9 Ltd, where he was involved in aviation, aerospace and travel software over the past 7 years, and looks back on a quarter of a century worth of tech and software development – mainly in travel, aviation (including private aviation charter business) and hospitality. 15 of those years have been at CTO level. He is no stranger to leading large teams in complex IT projects, covering everything from SaaS through to machine learning, AI, and large language model (LLM)-based products in technical support applications. Now, at HLT, he will be responsible for implementing the company’s strategy with regard to developing the Hermes Ecosystem and increasing digitalization in the air cargo industry through API integration. The focus is on rolling out fast, resilient, and secure implementation and upgrades to the latest Hermes cargo management system (CMS), using automation, and ensuring that HLT’s products support the cargo handling industry in cost-effectively becoming more efficient and modern in their operations.

Yuval Baruch, Chief Executive Officer, Hermes Logistics Technologies, said: “Andrew is a seasoned CTO and brings a wealth of experience to our team, particularly in leveraging the latest cloud-based technologies for the benefit of our customers. He has built SaaS products from scratch and has been delivering complex software products as native cloud solutions for ten years, so he is well placed to drive the continuous development of our cloud-based SaaS solutions at Hermes.”

Andrew Knott, CTO, Hermes Logistics Technologies, stated: “The Hermes core application is impressive, quickly adaptable, feature-rich and able to fit the many different and complex requirements of customers around the world, putting Hermes in a strong position for growth. The Hermes SaaS product represents a huge opportunity to drive digitalization in the air cargo industry, and when we combine that with the flexibility and efficiency of cloud hosting, the potential gains for customers are vast.”

And no, it is not Simon Watson himself, given that he already founded CharterSync which became a CargoTech member last summer. It is, however, his latest company, Aerios, fresh out of the company box this month. “Aerios transforms the air cargo charter industry by connecting carriers with air cargo charter professionals and brokers into a single digital solution,” the press release promises, and Simon Watson elaborates: “We created Aerios to fill a glaring gap in the air cargo charter industry. Our software does more than just digitalize existing operations; it transforms them, giving access to operational data and market intelligence in real-time. This means fewer errors, faster and more informed decisions, allowing our clients to scale their operation in a cost-efficient manner, whilst driving for increased revenue.” The aim is a single digital workflow enabling air cargo charter professionals and carriers to connect with each other. Aerios is the first software solution to combine communications and air cargo charter operations into a single tool, and uses the potential of AI-driven data to enhance operations and maximize revenue in the air cargo charter industry. It removes the need for repetitive, manual input processes, and does away with stand-alone tools, creating a single digital ecosystem instead, which gives companies the freedom to focus on the human aspect of their business.

Aerios was founded as a separate company, independent of CharterSync and is also a member of the CargoTech group. It is the first of its kind to centralize communication and air cargo charter operations into a single tool. “With Aerios, air cargo charter professionals now have a powerful tool to navigate an ever-evolving market, strengthening their ability to efficiently meet demands and explore new business opportunities. By embracing the innovation that Aerios represents, the air cargo charter industry can expect a significant transformation of its operations, marking the beginning of a new era of productivity, transparency, and profitability. Aerios does not just offer a software solution; it presents a new way of thinking and acting in the air cargo charter world,” the release declares.

TIACA reported on the official launch workshop for its first, global TIACA BlueSky Airport Community Program, on 15APR24. Jointly held by TIACA and Air Cargo Belgium, and sponsored by Brussels Airport, the workshop brought together six ‘pioneering companies’: Aviapartner, dnata, EFL Global, Ninatrans, Swissport and WFS, a member of the SATS Group. Under the guidance of Change Horizon, participants were taken through the benefits and principles of BlueSky, learned about sustainability factors, and were instructed on how to prepare for the BlueSky assessment and verification process. The assessment process for 15 community members will be sponsored by Air Cargo Belgium and Brussels Airport Company, who have pledged to co-share the fees and formally establish the first BlueSky community, following the launch of TIACA’s BlueSky program back in 2022. It is the only program in the air cargo and logistics industry that currently offers a verified independent assessment of a company’s sustainability credentials based on 8 critical points: Decarbonization, Elimination of waste, Protection of biodiversity, Support for local economies and communities, Improvement of lives and social well-being, Efficiencies and profitability, Attraction, retention, and development of employees, and Building and nurturing of partnerships.

Steven Polmans, TIACA Chair, said: “One of TIACA’s main focuses is to collaborate and unite the industry. The holding of this workshop and launching the first BlueSky Community shows how much we can get done if we work together for a common front. This initiative is focused on creating a sustainable future by assessing and tracking where an airport community is on its path towards a sustainable air cargo future.”

Geert Aerts, Chief Cargo & Real Estate Officer, Brussels Airport Company, commented: “Brussels Airport believes that the future of air cargo needs to be sustainable and is, constantly taking initiatives and implementing improvements towards it. At the same time, we are encouraging our stakeholders to also become more sustainable. By supporting the TIACA BlueSky program we are supporting our partners within our community in their efforts. With this first TIACA BlueSky community program, Brussels Airport continues to pioneer, in collaboration with our tight-knit Brucargo community towards a more sustainable cargo industry.”

Freek De Witte, Director Air CargoBelgium, added: “This is a landmark moment for BRUcargo and the air cargo industry at large. By coming together as a community to participate in the BlueSky program, we are not only highlighting our commitment to sustainability but also setting a precedent for collaborative progress on a global scale.”

It was all about containers over at Etihad this week and the airline’s focus on temperature-controlled products. Following on from the launch of its pharma hub, the refurbishment of its perishables facilities, and the Qualified Envirotainer Providers (QEP) certification of 30 of its stations, it has now focused on ULDs and ground transport. Etihad recently announced the introduction of high-tech, temperature-controlled cool dollies to Etihad Airport Services Cargo (EASC)’s fleet at Abu Dhabi Airport, in partnership with EASC, to ensure that cool shipments are protected during ramp transport. Cool dollies can maintain temperatures of +2 to +25 degrees Celsius, and include an in-built alarm system notifying staff of any temperature fluctuations.

Thomas Schürmann, Head of Cargo Operations & Delivery at Etihad Cargo, said: “These specialized containers not only control the temperature but also enable Etihad Cargo to access the data records, providing increased visibility of this Critical Control Point to reduce, eliminate and prevent hazards. […] With these brand-new cool dollies, Etihad Cargo is bridging the last gap in its global cool chain offering by providing continuity and stability with advanced temperature-controlled solutions during the most critical step of air cargo transportation.”

Naresh Ranganathan, Acting Vice President Cargo at Etihad Airport Services Cargo, said: “We are very pleased to introduce these cool dollies, which will, in the initial phase, be used exclusively to transport pharmaceutical and perishable products to and from the aircraft from our cargo facilities.”

The airline also celebrated a decade of strategic partnership (since 2013) with Envirotainer, which not only provides cool containers, but also instructs airline staff in the specialized handling of its products. 16 of the airline’s Pharma Champions went through the Envirotainer Academy recently, increasing their expert knowledge in the handling of high-value pharma shipments. And the pharma segment is rapidly growing: 37% increase in shipments in 2023 compared to 2022.

Thomas Schürmann, Head of Cargo Operations & Delivery at Etihad Cargo, said: “Etihad Cargo’s decade-long partnership with Envirotainer reflects the shared ongoing commitment to creating a more robust, resilient, and transparent global healthcare ecosystem. Through this collaboration, Etihad Cargo has been able to ensure the seamless delivery of essential life-saving medicines to improve the lives of people around the world while overcoming logistical challenges and providing transparency.”

Akos Balkanyi, Global Key Account Manager, said: “This significant milestone highlights the true collaboration between our two companies and resonates with our mission of enabling global access to biopharmaceuticals. We look forward to continuing to work together to further strengthen and innovate the cold chain.”

Four years is not just a U.S. presidential term, but also the length of the extended handling contract signed between Lufthansa Cargo and Vienna Airport last week. The airport will continue to provide cargo handling services for the airline until the end of 2028 and looks back to fruitful collaboration since 2010, covering all types of products from general cargo and mail, to temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical shipments and dangerous goods. Good for Vienna Airport, since Lufthansa Cargo is amongst its largest customers – not just of the airport’s cargo handling services, but also of the Vienna Airport Pharma Handling Center. Apparently, Vienna Airport holds the accolade of being the most punctual hub in the Lufthansa network, though it has to be said that much of the cargo travelling into and out of Vienna is via road feeder service, complementing belly capacities on Austrian Airlines flights.

Julian Jäger, Joint CEO and COO of Vienna Airport, declared: “Vienna Airport offers a high level of quality not only in passenger and baggage services, but also in cargo handling. We are therefore pleased that we can gain the trust of Lufthansa Cargo and continue our good cooperation for the next five years. With efficient handling processes, fast turnaround times and a broad range of services, we are well positioned in the cargo sector and see high growth potential, especially with our Pharma Handling Center.”

Theresa Schlederer, Director Austria at Lufthansa Cargo AG, commented: “Vienna Airport is an efficient east-west hub with fast turnaround times. This makes it one of our most important hubs in Europe. The handling service includes 24/7 customer service, monitoring, and weekly quality checks. Thanks to this reliable and close cooperation, we can offer our customers fast and easy access to the freight markets, primarily in Southeast Asia. The airport’s Pharma Handling Center also provides ideal conditions for our growing tonnages in the pharmaceutical sector.”

Michael Zach, Head of Handling Services at Flughafen Wien AG, stated: “With a tonnage share of almost 40% in 2023, Lufthansa Cargo is Vienna Airport’s largest customer. The contract extension is therefore of great importance and, together with the top results for handling speed and efficiency, is a confirmation of our quality and a clear signal to the market. We are very grateful for the trust placed in us and will continue to do our utmost to further develop our services with a focus on our customers.”

As they say, “You’ve got to be in it, to win it!”, and when it comes to TIACA’s Air Cargo Sustainability Awards, we are all winners. Why, because these awards encourage progress for the better – and have been doing so since 2019. On the Corporate side, best-practice initiatives are made public, and in the Start-Up and Small Businesses category, Winners and Runners-Up are presented with cash prizes (USD 10,000 and USD 2,500 respectively) and given a platform to share their projects. This includes “access to exclusive TIACA events and speaking opportunities…[and] submissions received throughout the awards period have the option of being featured in the newly released newsletter ‘Mission Innovation’,” the press release emphasizes.

Applications are open for the next Air Cargo Sustainability Awards at the Air Cargo Forum in Miami, 11-NOV24. A jury of independent industry and sustainability experts will determine the Corporate Category winner and invite the 3 finalists in the Start-Up/Small Business Category, to present their initiatives at the event. Projects can pertain to any of the eight key objectives for more sustainable air cargo industry as illustrated in TIACA’s Sustainability Roadmap: Environment (Decarbonization, Elimination of waste, Protection of biodiversity), Society (Supporting local economies and communities, Improvement of lives and wellbeing), and Culture & Leadership (Improvement of efficiencies and profitability, Attraction, retention, and development of employees, Building and nurturing partnerships).

Deadline for this year’s (again CHAMP Cargosystems sponsored) applications is 15SEP24. CHAMP CEO, Chris McDermott, said: “We are very proud to once again be sponsoring TIACA’s Air Cargo Sustainability Awards, which is an incredibly important industry initiative [and] hope to empower air cargo professionals to innovate with sustainability in mind, and encourage all interested parties to submit an application.”

Steven Polmans, Chairman, TIACA, commented: “The industry has made it very difficult for our jury over the last few years with a wide range of sustainable solutions from drone delivery, use of sustainable aviation fuel, company-wide sustainability focus, and eco-friendly packaging, just to name a few. We are excited to see all entries that will be submitted this year as we are an industry known for ingenuity and innovation.” Glyn Hughes, TIACA Director General, stated: “We look forward to continuing the support of the sustainable transformation of the air cargo industry by continuing to evolve our robust Sustainability Program that includes, the Sustainability Roadmap, the annual Sustainability Survey and Insights Report, Invest in Climate Action and the Air Cargo Training Library.”

Long-time business partner and investor in Wingcopter, ITOCHU Corporation, is working together with Wingcopter to begin the type certification process for the Wingcopter 198 in Japan. Wingcopter is the first foreign drone company to be accepted for type certification under the unmanned aircraft class-1 type certification by the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, for its fixed-wing drone. Once certified, this will enable the start of commercial BVLOS operations in populated areas. The two companies already premiered a positive verification experiment back in MAY23, when piloting medical blood product transportation in Japan. Now, many more Proofs of Concept will be carried out with special permission until Wingcopter receives its type certification. Once issued, Wingcopter will be authorized to conduct flights equivalent to Level 4 (I.e.: Flights beyond visual line of sight [BVLOS] in populated areas), giving it much greater commercial versatility – a highly useful permit, given both Japan’s geography (many islands and secluded regions) and demography (an aging population). Also, Wingcopter together with ITOCHU would be among the first to establish commercial BVLOS operations in Japan. “ITOCHU and Wingcopter aim to use the Wingcopter 198 to establish drone delivery networks and services that can provide an air bridge to overcome various social challenges by transporting vital and urgently needed goods quickly and environmentally friendly over many kilometers and above challenging terrain,” the release states.

Florian-Michael Adolf, Head of Certification at Wingcopter, announced: “This milestone represents significant progress towards realizing commercial drone delivery in Japan and beyond. At Wingcopter, we are striving for type certification, as it underscores our commitment to safety of our product, as well as the diligence and professionalism of our entire team. We would like to thank our partners at ITOCHU for supporting us in this process with their extensive knowledge, network, and resources.”

Masaharu Sato, Deputy General Manager, Aerospace Department at ITOCHU Corporation, stated: “We see great potential in Wingcopter’s delivery drone to make everybody’s life better and are delighted with the promising progress in realizing this value. It is our honor to collaborate with the dedicated professionals at Wingcopter, led by the management team around Tom, Jonathan and Ansgar. We look forward to continuing this exciting journey together.”

First came the cargo strategy, then the physical infrastructure, and now – with an ever-increasing number of air cargo customers serving the gateway, Budapest Airport has partnered with Kale Info Solutions to implement its Airport Cargo Community System (ACS). A choice that other airports in North America, India, UAE, and Turkey have already opted to take with proven success. Kale has even been recognition by the United Nations for its “innovative approach to trade facilitation,” the press release underlines. Kale’s next-generation cargo community platform facilitates paperless operations and comes with many features centered around air cargo’s developing business requirements. It streamlines information exchange between the different cargo handlers and integrators operating at the airport. Whereas in the past, they used separate IT systems for data collection, reporting and transmission to the airport and the relevant authorities, leading to error-prone, time-consuming double/parallel-date entry, now Kale’s ACS system streamlines the information in a single source giving stakeholders enhanced visibility and transparency, real-time tracking and monitoring of cargo movements, and automated regulatory compliance checks.

József Kossuth, Cargo Director for BUD, commented: “Budapest Airport aims to become the main cargo hub in the Central and Eastern European region. We are on the right track, as the dedicated development of the BUD Cargo City in recent years has provided world-class infrastructure, which, combined with excellent connectivity and a tight-knit cargo community, is attracting more and more partners. We are now the fastest growing airport in the region in terms of cargo volume, as we handled a record 201,306 tons in 2023 with +48.5% increase compared to 2019. The introduction of the new Airport Cargo Community System adds an important innovative feature to BUD’s profile, further strengthening the hub function of the airport. The ACS will serve as a centralized platform, facilitating seamless communication and data exchange among all stakeholders involved in the cargo handling process.” Vineet Malhotra, Co-Founder, and Director of Kale Logistics Solutions, stated: “We are excited to partner with Budapest Airport in introducing our ACS, which will play a pivotal role in optimizing cargo operations and enhancing overall efficiency. As a leading technology provider to airports worldwide, we are proud to bring our expertise and best practices to this collaboration, ensuring the highest standards of service and innovation. Through this collaboration, we aim to set new benchmarks in cargo handling and contribute to the continued growth and success of Budapest Airport, as a key logistics hub in Europe.”

Just like you expect a McDonald’s burger to look and taste the same wherever you are in the world, you would also hope for the same high level of operational quality when it comes to pharmaceutical supply chain logistics. Particularly in the case of commodities that greatly impact the health of patients around the world. DB Schenker recently completed Good Distribution Practice (GDP) standards certification at 157 of its stations. DB Schenker is now one of the world’s largest GDP-compliant logistics networks, and can cover 80% of the world’s healthcare flows with these certificates – particularly across the most important markets for the global trade of medical goods: the Americas, Europe and Asia. And it plans to have over 180 of its stations certified within the next twelve months. With this seal of approval that denotes the company’s commitment to excellence and regulatory compliance, DB Schenker secures greater standing and is clearly equipped to the global pharmaceutical industry’s growing requirements. Its in-house Global Healthcare Quality Management System addresses the Good Distribution Practices for medicinal products for human and veterinary use and related active substances as set out by the European Union (EU) and the World Health Organization (WHO), and ensures compliance through its internal Directive Healthcare Quality Management.

“When DB Schenker started the implementation process for certification, the first goal was to define a global standard valid for all transport modes. This made the GDP certificate suitable. The comprehensive certification ensures that the process, infrastructure, and staffing comply with the stringent requirements of the pharmaceutical industry, using this ideal approach across all business units. After a station is awarded certification following successful completion of an internal certification process, a risk-based re-audit is performed based on continuously measured KPIs. This is repeated at least every 3 years to ensure the highest quality is maintained,” the release details.

Veronique Dameme, Head of Global Vertical Market Healthcare at DB Schenker, said: “At the end of every healthcare supply chain there is a patient. That’s why we ensure that medical products are stored and distributed in accordance with the highest standards. The successful GDP certification of our facilities marks a significant milestone on our roadmap and shows our ongoing pursuit of excellence in pharmaceutical logistics.”