The event that ran from 06-08MAR24 in Sao Paolo, Brazil, was the association’s fourth regional event, the first of the year, and the first to be held in Latin America. 130 delegates attended the VIP event that piggy-backed onto the Intermodal 2024, and hailed it a success since it did what it was planned to do: bring together the local air cargo community and international delegates to discuss both issues affecting the air cargo market and opportunities to expand business within Latin America. On the agenda were topics such as: e-commerce, pharma, perishables, freighter capacity, workforce challenges, digital innovation, and air cargo outlook. “TIACA’s regional events are designed to identify specific issues on a regional level that TIACA can incorporate into our overall work on behalf of the industry. Each regional event will develop an action plan that will be incorporated into TIACA’s strategic objectives and activities,” the release explained. Given that the final day of the event coincided with International Women’s Day, a special focus was directed at promoting a more inclusive and diverse workforce within the industry, and in particular how to attract more young women to consider a career in air cargo and aviation.

“The exciting leadership played by Brazilian customs and the regions thousands of small and medium forwarding enterprises was welcomed by the delegates as a means to effectively support the regions further economic growth,” the release stated, having illustrated the keenness, also, to support digital transformation for greater efficiency and customer experience, as well as the success in LatAm when it comes to the transport of perishables and ecommerce products across the region.

The dates and location of the next regional event were also communicated. The TIACA Event – Central Asia (hosted by Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation Committee and the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan) will take place in Astana, Kazakhstan, from 19-21JUN24.

Steven Polmans, Chair, TIACA, detailed: “This was the first event in Latin America, and we needed to ensure that we made a strong impression in the Latin American air cargo community. By collaborating with our partners within Latin America, such as the Craft Group, ALTA and ALACAT, we were able to provide attendees a unique VIP experience.”

Glyn Hughes, Director General, TIACA, commented: “This event, in particular, showed how strong an influence Latin America has within air cargo and the need to continue to work with our colleagues in Latin America as the industry in this region continues its rapid growth.”

You can never have enough of a good thing, particularly if it is modern and eco-friendly. Silk Way West Airlines has thus recently amended its purchase order with Boeing and added yet another Boeing 777 Freighter to its fleet renewal shopping list. The original contract, signed in APR21, included five Boeing 777 freighters, of which two have already been delivered to the airline. The new addition will be delivered in 2025, and the remaining three will come into the fleet by 2027. “With its advanced technology the Boeing 777 Freighter is renowned for its environmental performance, offering reduced emissions and lower fuel consumption compared to other freighter aircraft. This plane is equipped with innovative features and technologies that enhance operational efficiency whilst reducing environmental impact. From its lightweight composite materials to its advanced aerodynamics, the Boeing 777 Freighter sets new standards for sustainability in air cargo transportation,” the release proclaims.

Zaur Akhundov, President of Silk Way Group, declared: “At Silk Way West Airlines, we are committed to sustainability and reducing our environmental impact. The purchase of this additional Boeing 777 Freighter aircraft is a testament to our ongoing efforts to operate responsibly and minimize our carbon footprint. We are proud to partner with Boeing to further renew our fleet and contribute to a greener future for the aviation industry.” Paul Righi, Boeing Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing for Eurasia, said: “The unmatched capacity, range and efficiency of the Boeing 777 Freighter will help Silk Way West Airlines expand its world-class cargo operations. As the airline continues to build its modern freighter fleet, we are proud to be a part of the journey and provide Silk Way West Airlines with the best solutions to support its future growth.”

The rotation at the air cargo software and strategy consulting company took place the start of this month. With effect 01MAR24, co-founder Ryan Keyrouse became CEO of Rotate and its other co-Founder, Gert-Jan Jansen stepped down from the post. Jansen remains on the board in the function of Executive Director and Senior Advisor for client engagements. Ryan Keyrouse has more than 20 years of experience in air cargo, with over 50 air cargo strategy consulting projects across 30 countries under his belt. He worked for Boeing and KPMG before joining Seabury Cargo as its Managing Director in 2010. In JUN22, Ryan Keyrouse and Gert-Jan Jansen co-founded Rotate, stating their “mission to ‘turn data into action’ by developing and providing software products, strategy consulting and market data designed to empowering airlines, airports, and other air cargo companies in their commercial decision making.” Today, the company is active on two continents and employs 35 professionals.

Gert-Jan Jansen explained: “We always envisioned a seamless transition in leadership when the time was right. With the remarkable growth we’ve experienced in just 18 months, thanks to Ryan and the larger leadership team, the time for this change is now. As co-founder, I remain committed to contributing to Rotate’s continued success and am excited about the future we’re shaping together.”

Ryan Keyrouse commented: “Over the last two years, Rotate has established a robust foundation. The focus was on building the strongest team in air cargo for building data and software products, and expanding our capabilities with strategy consulting. Our products have garnered significant interest among our expanding customer base. Our focus now is on execution and ongoing innovation in collaboration with our partners – both those in industry and the other members of CargoTech.” [CargoTech is a body of air cargo digital specialists committed to providing innovative solutions to drive digitalization within the air cargo industry. BG.]

The Azerbaijani cargo carrier, Silk Way West Airlines, announced on 12MAR24, that it has joined the UN Global Compact Initiative. The voluntary pact was launched in 2000 to encourage and support international businesses in adopting sustainable and socially responsible policies and providing transparency on their progress. The airline’s press release illustrates: “As part of its commitment to the UN Global Compact, Silk Way West Airlines pledges to integrate the principles of sustainable development into its core operations, aspiring to contribute meaningfully to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals as part of the broader 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The airline is set to leverage its industry acumen to foster advancements in sustainable aviation, recognizing its critical role in promoting sustainable development globally.”

Silk Way West Airlines has stated that it will now embark on a transformative journey, aligning its operations and strategic decisions with the moral and ethical framework of the United Nations, and making use of the knowledge and potential collaborations with the broad range of industry and sector representatives involved in the initiative.

“Such partnerships are aimed at driving collective action towards common sustainability objectives,” it says, detailing: “the airline will gain unparalleled access to a suite of corporate sustainability tools and resources, and is now poised to refine its approach to environmental conservation, social responsibility, and ethical governance.”

Wolfgang Meier, President of Silk Way West Airlines, said: “Adherence to the principles of the UN Global Compact offers a standardized framework for our corporate responsibility. It paves the way for the airline to systematically approach, implement, and communicate its sustainability strategy, ensuring alignment with universal benchmarks and best practices.”

ECS Group’s Pathfinder, a web-based track and trace solution developed in-house by its Cargo Digital Factory in AUG19, has now been made available as a separate software service option for interested airline customers whether or not they already have an ECS Group GSSA contract. Pathfinder has been continuously developed and now includes features such as in-flight geolocation (map view) and notifications to customers. Corsair is the first of the airlines to make use of Pathfinder’s comprehensive tracking solution and is thus in a position to provide its customers with total, real-time shipment status transparency. A decision, the airline says has not only enabled more efficient internal processes with regard to resources and costs, but also resulted in improved customer satisfaction and greater confidence.

Jean Ceccaldi, Managing Director of AeroCargo by ECS Group, explained: “This is the first time we are implementing Pathfinder as an add-on option to our GSSA contract, and not only as part of the TCM package. We are proud that one of our oldest, and certainly among the most consistent customers can now enjoy the full benefit of our best-in-class tracking solution. We have been the exclusive GSSA for Corsair since 1986, and that is an exceptional record within ECS Group. Long may it continue.”

Adrien Chauvière, Cargo Manager at Corsair, detailed: “The need for complete shipment journey visibility has skyrocketed in importance in recent years. Our customers want to know where their shipments are at any given time and expect us to deliver at least the same standard of information that they are used to when privately ordering goods online. The situation in the air cargo industry is still very fragmented and until we switched to Pathfinder, much of our tracking process was carried out by phone or email. The process was largely manual, time-consuming, and far from seamless, let alone capable of providing real-time information. Of all the possible alternatives on the market, Pathfinder stood out as the best option with the best design. It lives up to the excellent software quality we are used to from ECS Group’s Cargo Digital Factory solution suite. All Corsair destinations – including our trucking-only locations – are uploaded in the system. Pathfinder has proven to be an additional element of confidence for our customers and has greatly increased customer satisfaction.”

A handful of airlines are already IATA CEIV Lithium Battery certified. Now dnata has become the first ground services provider to join them in certification. dnata was handed the official certificate for 11 of its international stations at the World Cargo Symposium in Hong Kong on 12MAR24. The entire validation process was completed in less than a year, despite the rigorous audit system. 11 stations took part, with those in Australia and Pakistan becoming the first to complete the assessment phase. Singapore, Belgium, the UK, and the UAE followed shortly afterwards – all of them celebrating premieres, since no other ground services provider has yet certified its operations. The IATA CEIV validation is a visible stamp that tells customers of dnata’s dedication to the highest safety standards and regulations throughout its operations when it comes to handling potentially hazardous materials. It has also invested heavily in training and process improvements in the handling of dangerous goods.

This is not the first time that dnata has led the way among its peers when it comes to Dangerous Goods handling. It was the first global air services provider to adopt IATA’s Dangerous Goods Autocheck (DG Autocheck) platform for the acceptance of dangerous goods shipments, in 2021 and two years later, in DEC23, it was further accredited with IATA’s Corporate Certification for competency-based training and assessment (CBTA) for Dangerous Goods.

Guillaume Crozier, Senior Vice President, UAE Cargo and Global Cargo Strategy at dnata, commented: “We are pleased to achieve IATA’s CEIV Lithium Battery accreditation, a testament to our commitment to safety and compliance. This recognition underscores our ongoing efforts to maintain the highest standards in the handling of dangerous goods, ensuring the safety of our operations and the satisfaction of our customers.”

Brendan Sullivan, IATA’s Global Head of Cargo, said: “The volume of air shipments containing lithium batteries is rising. Ensuring these items are transported safely and efficiently is a top priority for the industry. Key to this is complying with regulatory changes and the integration of best practices in lithium battery handling across the supply chain. This is why CEIV Lithium Batteries was established. We commend dnata for being the first Ground Handling Agent to achieve CEIV lithium battery certification across its network of 11 hubs. This accomplishment not only benefits dnata’s customers by guaranteeing their shipments are handled with utmost efficiency and safety, but also sets a quality benchmark for the industry.”

When it comes to passenger aircraft, catering is cargo, too. At least on those routes where the destination may not be able to offer flight catering or not to the required standard. Those destinations call for an oversize lunch box. And that now comes in the shape of a very special ULD, developed by German ULD specialist, DoKaSch. The introduction and launch of that special container, which is an AKE LD3, was announced at the World Cargo Symposium in Hong Kong on 12MAR24.

Launch customer, German leisure carrier Condor, which was involved in its design, is the first to benefit from the “DoKaSch Cater Cage”, as the ULD is called. Up to 12 half size trolleys or a mix of half- and full-size trolleys, along with additional catering boxes and oven racks can be stored in the catering ULD. The release stipulates that the ULD “may be individually customized to the specific requirements of each airline. Trolleys are well secured so the catering items inside are kept in place securely.” The new ULD gives the flexibility to offer catering on flights to/from destinations where the airline may not have a contracted airline partner, or only flies seasonally, or where local caterers are not up to par. It ensures that fresh food is kept fresh and fit for purpose on the return journey.

Martin Kraemer, Vice President Sales & Marketing at DoKaSch, said: “Our catering ULD is a perfect solution to ensure all components for the return-catering are kept nicely in place. Beside food items, also dry goods, pillows, blankets or magazines can all be stowed in the ULD. This ensures a perfect passenger experience on the return flight.”

Nicola Burger, Head of Catering at Condor, described the collaboration: “Together with DoKaSch, we were able to customize the ULDs to fit Condor’s needs. This allows us to securely and flexibly store trolleys and meal containers, ensuring that our high-quality products and accompanying onboard equipment can be safely unloaded at the destination. This saves time and simplifies the logistics process.”

Thilo Schaefer, Head of Cargo, added: “Once again, the collaborative effort between the airline and DoKaSch has resulted in an excellent product.”

ACI-LAC, otherwise known as The Airports Council International – Latin America and Caribbean, in full, last week announced that it welcomed Kale Info Solutions as a new member. Established in 1991, the ACI’s intention is to ensure standards in airport operations, providing support for a secure, stable, efficient and environmentally compatible airport system. It collaborates with leading organizations and ACI-LAC now has over 80 members operating more than 328 airports in 41 countries from the Latin-American and the Caribbean. Since digital innovation and transformation goes a long way towards improving efficiency, quality and safety, the partnership with Kale forms an excellent basis for development.

Dr. Rafael Echevarne, Director General at ACI-LAC, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Kale Info Solutions to the ACI-LAC family. The addition of Kale, with its extensive experience and global success, aligns with our commitment to advancing the air cargo sector through cutting-edge technologies and collaboration. We look forward to a fruitful partnership that will contribute to the growth and development of air cargo operations in the region.” Amar More, President of Kale Info Solutions, commented: “Excitement fills us as we anticipate collaborating with the Latin America and Caribbean region with our partnership with ACI-LAC WBP to usher in a transformative era through digitization and cutting-edge technologies. Our goal is to establish a dynamic forum where organizations recognize the potential of digitization, share a collective vision, and elevate air cargo operations into a realm of increased agility, sustainability, security, and technological advancement.”

All good things come in threes. For Emirates SkyCargo, this is the addition of cargo.one to its digital marketplace options. The carrier began the rollout of its network capacities last week, offering cargo.one users the options to book four of its products: Emirates Fresh, Emirates Fresh Breathe (both perishables solution variations), Emirates Airfreight Priority for urgent shipments, and its general cargo service: Emirates Airfreight. Customers are shown real-time space availability, tariffs and contract rates, and can access the airline’s schedule. Starting out in certain European countries first, Emirates SkyCargo will then also be made available to users in the Americas, Africa, the Far East and Australasia. “cargo.one now contributes to Emirates SkyCargo’s digital status in the market, with its seamless booking experience and reach to 15,000 freight forwarders in every corner of the world,” the release states, going on to say: “The new channel cements Emirates SkyCargo’s presence on three of the biggest digital marketplaces, providing more choice and flexibility for global customers.”

Moritz Claussen, Founder & Co-CEO, cargo.one, commented: “The addition of Emirates SkyCargo’s global connectivity to cargo.one will equip thousands of forwarders with enhanced resilience from even more daily services on many key trade lanes, as well as a number of exciting new destinations throughout Africa and the Middle East. The combination of Emirates SkyCargo’s vast services and cargo.one’s great efficiencies is a valuable proposition, and one that reflects just how critical digital booking now is for forwarding success in every market.” Jeffrey van Haeften, Senior Vice President Cargo Commercial Worldwide, Emirates SkyCargo, explained: “Digitalization is a key way that we help the world work better, providing flexible and convenient options for freight forwarders to seamlessly access Emirates SkyCargo’s world-class product and services. In turn, by streamlining our quotations and bookings, we enable our teams to focus on providing outstanding customer service, which is the cornerstone of our brand. We will continue to invest in digital solutions and partnerships such as cargo.one to enhance the experience for our customers and expedite the movement of goods all over the world.”

After 26 years at the helm and 50 years in the business, Lothar Moehle who has been with Cargo iQ since the very beginning, will be stepping down from his function as Executive Director and heading into well-deserved retirement in JUN24. In his stead, Marie Seco-Köppen will take on the title of Executive Director in MAY24. She has a solid, 20+ year background in global air freight and currently chairs Cargo iQ’s Master Operating Plan (MOP) Working Group. Seco-Köppen comes over to Cargo iQ from Im3pact AG, a consultancy for global transportation, and will put her experience in delivering air freight process improvements and digitalization to good use.

Along with the management change announced at the World Cargo Symposium on 13MAR24, Cargo iQ also revealed that it was introducing a tiered membership program and a KPI performance scorecard in the coming months. Piloted by Cargo iQ Board members such as KLM Cargo and Kuehne+Nagel, the new initiatives should further drive quality in the air cargo industry. Based on their level of implementation and reporting conformance, members will be ranked as Bronze, Silver, or Gold. The new scorecard being designed to support forwarder-carrier and carrier-ground handling agent relationships, will measure certain Cargo iQ Milestones including its key KPI, Notified for Delivery (NFD). It should serve to provide greater transparency and dialogue.

Seco-Köppen commented: “This new chapter promises to be exciting, and I am looking forward to engaging with the Board and members to further extend Cargo iQ’s unique cross-stakeholder quality program. In our fragmented industry, quality standards and digitalization remain crucial to attain increased performance visibility, which is required to remove redundancies and jointly drive-up service consistency for the shipper.”

Lothar Moehle stated: “Cargo iQ is taking the next step in driving quality in our industry by engaging members in two initiatives that put implementation transparency at the heart of the process, as well as ensuring all stakeholders have clear KPIs against which they can measure success and define improvements. The scorecard system will be open for all air cargo stakeholders who engage with Cargo iQ members to use to measure the quality of their partner’s service, but also their own performance.”