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Turkish Cargo grows its freighter fleet

Heiner Siegmund
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Turkish Cargo grows its freighter fleet

The Turkish carrier has placed an order for four additional Boeing 777 freighters to further strengthen the airline’s position in the global air cargo market. Once they are delivered, the cargo arm of Turkish Airlines will operate a total of twelve B777 freighter aircraft. The capacity increase will help the airline to meet the growing market demand for freight services.

Four more. TK Cargo offers the market additional capacity once Boeing has delivered the new Triple Seven freighter aircraft  –  credit: Boeing Company

Aerospace giant, Boeing, and Turkish Airlines announced the order simultaneously last Tuesday (02JUL24), thus illustrating their long-standing industrial collaboration. Once operational, the aircraft will up the capacity that Turkish Cargo can offer its customers, by more than 400 tons. The freighters will also strengthen the role of Türkiye and the entire region in the transit of air freight shipments on sectors between the Far East and Europe, and additionally enhance traffic flows to and from the region, including the Caspian states and the Gulf area, via Turkish Cargo’s hub in Istanbul. “This new investment in expanding our cargo fleet underscores our commitment to meeting the growing global demand for air freight services,” stated Turkish Airlines Chief Cargo Officer, Ali Türk.

Optimizing the performance
“The addition of these Boeing 777 freighters will not only enhance our operational capabilities, but also serve as another step in our strategic vision to reach the top of the air cargo sector worldwide while maintaining our leading position with our unparalleled service and efficiency for our customers across the globe,” enthused the executive. He added that the new freighter aircraft will enable Turkish Airlines to optimize its cargo operations, reduce costs and deliver goods to destinations worldwide on time.

“We are proud to continue our long-standing partnership with Turkish Airlines and support its expansion of cargo operations with the addition of Boeing 777 freighters,” said Paul Righi, Vice President of Boeing Commercial Sales for Eurasia. “The 777 freighter’s payload capacity, range and flexibility will enable Turkish Airlines to deliver exceptional customer service while maximizing operational efficiency.”

However, neither Boeing nor Turkish mention a date for the delivery of the aircraft in their releases.

Most capable twin engine freighter aircraft
For decades, Boeing has built up a virtual monopoly in the construction of commercial freighter aircraft such as the MD-11F acquired from McDonnell Douglas, the various variants of the B747F model series and, most recently, the B777F. So, no wonder that the U.S. manufacturer’s global market share for freighters has reached nearly 90%, including passenger-to-freighter conversions, which have become an important pillar of Boeing’s business, as have the after-sales supplies with components and spare parts. It is therefore not surprising that airlines such as Turkish choose from Boeing’s shelf when ordering new cargo aircraft, because the Boeing 777F is currently the world’s most capable twin-engine freighter aircraft. It offers a maximum payload capacity of 102 metric tons and a range of 9,200 kilometers when fully loaded. Including the four B777 freighters ordered by Turkish, 323 of Boeing’s best-selling freighter aircraft have so far been purchased by at least fifteen customers, and of those, 266 aircraft have been delivered to those airlines, to date.

With over 265 deliveries, the 777 freighter is Boeing’s best-selling freighter airplane of all time.

From freighter monopoly to duopoly?
Meanwhile Airbus has heard the wake-up call and intends to challenge its U.S. rival by offering the market a freighter variant of its A350 passenger version. According to the fact sheet, it can carry 109 tons non-stop over a distance of 8,700 km. At least in terms of payload, it is superior to the B777F. This also applies to fuel burn, which the manufacturer claims is 20% lower than that of its Boeing competitor. In addition to performance, comparatively low greenhouse gas emissions play an increasingly important role in airlines’ fleet renewal decisions. After various delays caused by supply shortages, the A350F is due to be delivered to the launch customer in 2026. Presumably Singapore Airlines will be the first operator.

Climate Change and Nature vs Aviation

Brigitte Gledhill
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Climate Change and Nature vs Aviation

Increasing incidents of severe air turbulence, news of damage caused to airports by extreme rainfall and flooding, and now, airspace again being closed because of erupting volcanoes – this time, in Italy: the aviation industry is not only having to contend with geopolitical struggles, but also faces an ongoing battle with Nature and Climate Change, in particular.

AI is pretty turbulent in creating images, too – spot the aircraft errors! – Source: ChatGPT

The image of a pair of feet hanging from an overhead locker, as plastered across the media following flight turbulence affecting an Air Europa flight between Madrid, Spain and Montevideo, Uruguay, last week, is not quickly forgotten. Following so soon on the heels (no pun intended) of the other very publicized Singapore Airlines’ incident towards the end of MAY24, it joins an increasing list of cases of severe turbulence in recent years – 5 serious ones alone in the past 5 weeks. IATA, which launched its IATA Turbulence Aware program back in 2018, to help airlines mitigate the impact of turbulence, also warns that turbulence incidents are on the rise: “Turbulence is a major safety concern. Each year, a significant number of people are injured by turbulence, while not wearing seatbelts. Cabin attendants are particularly at risk. Occasionally, turbulence events require an aircraft to divert, with all the inconvenience and associated costs that entails. Lacking accurate information to guide them, pilots may opt to minimize risk, but this can adversely impact fuel costs. With industry-wide sharing of actual occurrences, in real time, pilots could take appropriate action with confidence,” its website states.

Climate Change is the cause
The reason for increased turbulence is Climate Change – in more ways than one. In short: warmer temperatures are causing jet streams (fast-flowing, narrow air currents in the atmosphere) to become stronger and more erratic, increasing the frequency and severity of turbulence. Also, the more intense and varied temperatures of the Earth’s surface due to climate change, is pushing up temperature gradients and thus resulting in thermal currents, more unstable air masses, and thermal turbulence. Higher temperatures are raising the energy in the atmosphere, leading to greater instability and more convective activity, such as thunderstorms – another major source of turbulence. What is known as Clear Air Turbulence (CAT) – turbulence, which occurs in clear skies and is not visible to pilots or detectable by onboard radar – is also becoming more common. It is caused when bodies of air moving at widely different speeds, meet. This is the most problematic kind of turbulence as it can mean sudden, unexpected, and significant stress on the airframe of a plane.

Cargo at risk, too
Whereas most of the articles around turbulence in aviation focus on the comfort and safety of passengers and crew, cargo too, in its many forms, prefers to be neither shaken nor stirred. Turbulence is a safety risk on the cargo decks also, since it can cause cargo to shift, potentially leading to damage or loss of goods – particularly if the cargo is improperly secured to begin with. It can then become a serious flight safety issue. Temperature-sensitive commodities such as pharmaceuticals and perishables which need stable temperature conditions, can become compromised if turbulence ends up negatively affecting the cargo hold environment. These vulnerable goods as well as live animals and other fragile or sensitive cargo that is particularly vulnerable to damage during turbulence, require adequate protective transport solutions. More robust packaging can potentially result in increased packaging costs and overall cargo weight.

In the air…
Not just wind and weather pose a threat to flight, but most recently again, the fall-out from active volcanos. Just this week, the eruptions of the Mount Etna and Stromboli volcanoes have led to extensive airspace closures over Italy, because of their dangerous ash clouds. These pose a hazard to aircraft engines and must therefore be circumvented, resulting in flight delays and cancellations. The knock-on effect is, of course, a significant delay in the delivery of goods booked on the respective affected flights.

Coming back to Climate Change, rising temperatures impact an aircraft’s performance, reducing its lift and engine efficiency. This can mean having to impose weight restrictions and alter fuel consumption patterns, limiting cargo capacity and increasing costs.

And on the ground…
Airport infrastructure, including runways and storage facilities, also faces greater stress and more frequent maintenance needs due to rising temperatures. And what if the airport you are looking to take-off from or land on, is flooded or partially destroyed due to excessive rainfall? There have been several incidents of flooded airports in recent months. Unfortunately, over in India, this year also saw heavy rainfall that led to the collapse of airport roofs – in Assam’s Guwahati Airport back in MAR24, and recently at Terminal 1 of India’s busiest airport, in Delhi – tragically claiming a human life at the same time.

Increased costs, all round
All these operational disruptions mean that pilots may need to alter flight paths and routes, hence resulting in longer flight times and delays. These can disrupt tight delivery schedules and affect the entire supply chain. Added to the inconvenience to customers, flight reroutes also have a negative impact, financially and environmentally, on the operator. Longer routes mean higher fuel consumption, more emissions, and increased operational costs for air cargo carriers. Another effect relating in particular to turbulence, is faster wear and tear of the aircraft. This can result in increased maintenance requirements and costs. Turbulence-related damage may also require additional cargo handling and inspection at the destination, causing further delays in delivery. And the follow-on from increased damage, is the financial fall-out: On the one hand, higher insurance premiums for air cargo shipments due to the increased risk of turbulence, which impacts the overall cost of air cargo services. And on the other hand, damaged goods result in compensation claims from customers. These further increase an operator’s costs and potentially harm the reputation of the air cargo carrier.

Challenges need solutions
Turbulence and other natural factors present a number of challenges for air cargo: from safety risks and operational disruptions to economic impacts and logistical difficulties. Addressing these challenges requires a combination of advanced technology, improved operational practices, and robust safety measures to ensure the safe and efficient transportation of goods. And above all, strategic planning with foresight.

Amsterdam: old conflicts or new solutions?

Heiner Siegmund
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Amsterdam: old conflicts or new solutions?

His name is Barry Madlener, he is 54 years old and a leading politician of the far-right Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV). Since 01JUL24 he has also been Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management and is therefore responsible for the country’s airports, especially Schiphol, which accounts for 90% of commercial air traffic in the Netherlands. So far, he’s a blank slate – with no program, announcements or speech. Just nothing. However, his tasks are enormous.

Dutch Minister Barry Madlener of the right-wing party PVV is responsible for transport and infrastructure issues in the Netherlands,  courtesy: Rijksoverheid / Netherlands

In its election program, the PVV stresses that the party aims to dismantle state regulations and reduce environmental standards. This is likely to have consequences for Schiphol, critics warn. And the first opponents are already mobilizing. Just days before becoming minister, Mr. Madlener received a note from the city of Amsterdam, dated 25JUN24. It reads: “Amsterdam is sharpening its stance on Schiphol, calling for serious shrinkage to a maximum of 400,000 flights per year and a full night closure, immediately reducing emissions and impact on the environment.” The reasoning behind it: “Achieving a new balance between livability and economic interests will require a combination of fewer flight movements, innovation and pricing.”

From 500,000 movements down to 400,000
This move is likely to exacerbate the already highly controversial discussion about the future of air traffic at Schiphol. With their resolution, Amsterdam’s policymakers have rolled a big political lump to Madlener’s door, just as he sat down at his new desk for the first time. After this high-profile move by Hester van Buren, the Amsterdam city council representative responsible for finance, shipping and aviation, including Schiphol, and a member of the Partij van de Arbeid (Labor Party), the question arises as to whether Schiphol will become one of the central sources of conflict between the right-wing populist government and Dutch opposition parties. Since there is a lot of emotion involved, the topic is certainly suitable for a political showdown. The airport, the airlines and those employed at SPL would suffer.

Diplomatic task
But there is a moderator who wants to defuse the situation before it escalates politically: Maarten van As. He is the Managing Director of Air Cargo Netherlands (ACN). He advocates a constructive, solution-oriented discussion that requires a willingness to compromise but promises practical and long-term solutions. His suggestion: no night flight ban, no slot limit, but maintaining the 500,000 approved flights per year.

This is probably entirely in line with Minister Madlener and his PVV. Maarten’s offer to Hester van Buren and her party is somewhat more complex: the proportion of noisy aircraft is to be significantly reduced by 2026, or 2027 at the latest, through steering measures and fee increases. From that year onwards, a red line will be introduced, which would be tantamount to a ban on louder aircraft.

In order to create transparency for all sides, a list will be drawn up with the names of aircraft that emit little noise and are still permitted, as well as those that will no longer be allowed to fly to SPL due to high emissions come 2027. This timeline would also give airlines the opportunity to review their operational practices in order to gradually use low-noise aircraft on Schiphol routes. “It’s our proposition but nothing is carved in stone, and we are open for positive, progressive discussions with all sides involved,” emphasizes Mr. van As.

Maarten van As of Air Cargo Netherlands (ACN) advocates a constructive dialog with the new government to jointly solve the pending traffic issues harming Schiphol’s reputation – credit: Air Cargo Netherlands

Joint action agenda
He also says this against the background that freighter aircraft will have to go first in case of slot cuts. After all, they generate only little yields for the airport operators, in contrast to passenger airlines that spur the retail business.

Hence, his association’s appeal to all sides involved reads: It is time to come together to set old hurdles aside and to create a joint action agenda. By doing so, Dutch aviation becomes more sustainable, quieter and stronger, benefitting all parties involved.  Mr. van As adds to this: “That does not only mean that aviation should cause less nuisance, but also that aviation should remain accessible for everyone, including people who have less to spend. Also, important air cargo such as medicines, fresh products or high-tech equipment should continue to reach our country or be able to be shipped elsewhere through our airports.”

Now he is looking forward to Minister Medlener’s reaction to his association’s initiative.

EU approves Lufthansa – ITA merger

Heiner Siegmund
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EU approves Lufthansa – ITA merger

The picture speaks for itself. There is a small gap between the current Lufthansa Airlines family, which consists of five members, and ITA Airways. This is because Lufthansa is initially only acquiring a 41%minority stake in ITA, with the option of increasing its share in 2025. The step was okayed by the EU competition authorities today (03JUL24). This puts an end to the months-long tug-of-war over the approval of the acquisition during which the Lufthansa/ITA duo had to concede a variety of conditions, such as the waiver of route rights for competition reasons.

Note the small gap between the 5 group members of Lufthansa and ITA  –  courtesy: LH Group

Although the transaction is still subject to conditions, the Lufthansa Group, the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), and ITA Airways have expressly welcomed the EU Commission’s approval under competition law. Carsten Spohr, CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG said: “We look forward to welcoming ITA Airways and its outstanding employees as a new member of our airline family, very soon. The decision is also a clear signal for strong air traffic in Europe, which can successfully assert itself in global competition.”

Observers expect that the swift integration of ITA into the Lufthansa Group is likely to begin before the final closing.

No cargo decision yet
It remains to be seen whether this will apply to all business areas – primarily passenger but also technical services and air freight matters. CargoForwarder Global asked Lufthansa Cargo Corporate Communications for a clear statement and received this response: “Lufthansa Cargo is currently investigating possible future cooperation in the marketing of belly capacity. However, we are unable to provide any details at this time.” Period!

The question therefore remains as to whether the Swiss model will apply to ITA Cargo in future, i.e. whether it will be responsible for its own air freight business or, alternatively, that the sale of belly capacity will be managed centrally by Lufthansa Cargo, as practiced at Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Discovery, or Eurowings.

Whatever the decision will be, with the ITA hubs Rome and above all, Milan, the Lufthansa Group has two more strong traffic hubs on its list. Both are attractive destinations and transit centers from the point of view of shippers and freight forwarders.

In an immediate reaction to the decision of the Brussels policymakers, the Lufthansa Group, the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), and ITA Airways have expressly welcomed the EU Commission’s approval under competition law. With this clearance of the competition authority, the way is now clear for the acquisition of a minority stake of 41% in ITA Airways (Italia Trasporto Aereo S.p.A.) and the subsequent acquisition of the remaining shares by Deutsche Lufthansa AG for a capital contribution of 325 million euros, which was already agreed in MAY23.

Market consolidation
The Brussels Commission’s decision is a further step towards the consolidation of European passenger and air freight traffic. In addition to the low-cost sector, led by Ryanair, Wizz Air and easyJet, three large blocks dominated by traditional airlines are emerging: the IAG Group around British Airways/Iberia, Air France-KLM-SAS, and Lufthansa with its various subsidiaries. It is still unclear which of these groups TAP Portugal will join. All three have expressed an interest.

Lufthansa announced that its investment will be completed through a capital increase. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2024. This requires both the prior implementation of the remedies negotiated with the EU Commission and the approval of other competition authorities outside the EU. Options for the acquisition of the remaining shares in ITA Airways have been agreed between Lufthansa Group and Italy’s Finance Ministry, and can be exercised from 2025 at the earliest.

Fifth home market
This will strengthen and further develop the economic situation of ITA Airways, forecasts Lufthansa management. Italy will become the Lufthansa Group’s fifth ‘home market’. It will then be the Lufthansa Group’s second largest market in terms of revenue after Germany and the USA. Italy is already the second most important market for the company outside its home markets after the USA. In terms of gross domestic product, Italy is the third largest economy in Europe, concentrated particularly in the North of the country, with a strongly export-oriented economy and one of the most popular vacation destinations worldwide.

DGR bookings on Coyne Airways now via WebCargo

Brigitte Gledhill
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DGR bookings on Coyne Airways now via WebCargo

There always has to be that first contender to pave the way for all others. Whilst General Cargo is now a well-established e-booking contender on WebCargo, Dangerous Goods is only now set to gets its breakthrough. And that, thanks to Coyne Airways which becomes the first carrier to offer Dangerous Goods booking capacity via WebCargo by Freightos. This is not only a “commodity” gain for WebCargo, but also brings the channel to more users across Africa, the Gulf, and the Caspian regions, where forwarders and airline partners can enjoy seamless access to real-time rates, booking, interline and payment solutions. Coyne Airways, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, annually transports around 300,000 tons of air cargo. Its business focus is on providing cargo connections to destinations with limited global coverage, such as the Caucasus, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Sakhalin Island, as well as providing services in Africa, the Gulf, and the Caspian regions.

Taking a pioneering step on WebCargo. Image: WebCargo

Julien Triay, Sales Director for WebCargo by Freightos, stated: “Larry Coyne is not just known for establishing Coyne Airways, but also for his pioneering efforts to reliably transport cargo to hard-to-reach destinations. With Coyne becoming the first carrier to provide dangerous goods booking on WebCargo’s platform, they continue to lead in innovation, expanding access and streamlining logistics for forwarders globally.”

Liana Coyne, Director at Coyne Airways, commented: “We are thrilled to partner with WebCargo by Freightos to bring our air cargo capacity to a broader audience. This collaboration reflects our commitment to innovation and enhancing the customer experience. By offering real-time rates and booking capabilities, including for dangerous goods, we are providing our customers with the tools they need to optimize their logistics operations.”

SAF and celebration for Lufthansa Cargo in Shanghai

Brigitte Gledhill
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SAF and celebration for Lufthansa Cargo in Shanghai

Good things appear to have come out of the recent ‘transport logistic China’, held in Shanghai last week. On 26JUN24, Lufthansa Cargo and Best Services International Freight (BSI) announced their agreement to collaborate on the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The Chinese logistics company has committed to investing a total of 137,000 liters of SAF with Lufthansa Cargo, thus offsetting some of the CO2 emissions caused by shipping via air.

Another one goes for SAF. Image: Lufthansa Cargo

J. Florian Pfaff, Lufthansa Cargo’s Head of Region Asia Pacific, announced: “Best Services International Freight is our first customer in China to opt for the use of more than 100 tons of SAF. Examples like this help reduce our CO2 emissions and promote the use of SAF worldwide. Every customer who takes advantage of this opportunity is making a significant contribution to the decarbonization of logistics. The interest shows us that there is great potential for this, especially in Asia.”

Dr. Wilson Wong, Group CEO of BSI, said: “The cooperation with Lufthansa Cargo strengthens our partnership. As China’s leading air cargo logistics company and an industry leader in the digitalization process, we combine progress with responsibility. With limited SAF production globally, agreements like this are of paramount importance.”

In other news that week and against the same backdrop: Lufthansa Cargo and WorldACD Market Data celebrated precisely 20 years as partners and renewed their agreement to participate in air cargo market data.

Frank Bauer, CFO and CHRO of Lufthansa Cargo, said at the contract signing in Shanghai: “We are pleased to announce that we have renewed our subscription to WorldACD’s market data. As a data-driven company, the completeness, depth, and reliability of WorldACD’s market data are essential for our commercial decision-making, and improve our strategic planning.”

Ken de Witt Hamer, CEO of WorldACD Market Data, added: “We look back on a very pleasant and productive co-operation with Lufthansa Cargo, and we look forward to the next 20 years of working together. We particularly like the engagement of the staff at Lufthansa Cargo: they keep us on the tip of our toes, and continue to make suggestions for further innovation, which contributes to WorldACD’s product development.”

AFKLMP Cargo and China Cargo Airlines sign BSA

Brigitte Gledhill
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0
AFKLMP Cargo and China Cargo Airlines sign BSA

From 01JUL24, China Cargo Airlines will have access to Air France’s belly capacity for shipments from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) to São Paulo Guarulhos Airport (GRU). Air France KLM Martinair Cargo and China Cargo Airlines signed a new, hard Block Space Agreement to this end, last week. The two airline companies, united also under SkyTeam Cargo, have been partners for ten years already. Air France KLM and the China Eastern Group then set out initially with an interline agreement. This later also included joint handling operations at Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG), where Air France KLM is handled by China Cargo Airlines. “Both companies see this [latest] agreement as a significant development to better serve the global cargo market, leveraging their complementary networks to provide enhanced services and explore new opportunities in air cargo transportation,” the release underlines.

Enabling seamless cargo operations. Image: AFKLMP

Adriaan de Heijer, Executive Vice President of Air France KLM Cargo commented: “This new step signifies a deeper partnership and highlights our shared commitment to enhancing our range of services. By capitalizing on our extensive networks, we can provide even greater benefits to our customers. I look forward to the synergies we can generate together.”

Wang Jianmin, President of China Cargo Airlines, added: “In the face of increasing challenges in the air cargo market, we are committed to building stronger and deeper partnerships. This step with Air France KLM Martinair Cargo is a significant move towards expanding our aviation network and enhancing our air logistics market. Together, we will provide safe and efficient services to global customers.”

Glasgow Airport goes e-commerce for Royal Mail

Brigitte Gledhill
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Glasgow Airport goes e-commerce for Royal Mail

What better place to launch a ‘Fast and Efficient E-commerce Solution’ than at last week’s Air Cargo China 2024? No doubt that was Prestwick Airport’s marketing plan as it formally launched its new product there on 26JUN24, together with the announcement of its new partnership with Royal Mail in the same regard. Billed in the press release as the “UK’s flagship parcel service”, the Royal Mail has selected Glasgow Prestwick Airport (GPA) as its newest UK international e-commerce hub. The reasons for Royal Mail’s decision included the fact that GPA charges only around half the cost of landing compared to certain other UK hubs. Also GPA is investing GBP 2.2million investment in cargo equipment and recently took delivery of two extra-wide high loaders with 20 and 35 ton capacity respectively, a heavy-duty pushback tractor capable of handling any aircraft type, 12 new dollies, and a new Rapiscan X-ray machine with 7 mm steel penetration.

Florrie Kuang, Sen. Biz. Mgr. – China, Royal Mail Group, & Jules Matteoni, Ops. Dir., Glasgow Prestwick Airport. Image: Meantime Communications

Nico Le Roux, Development Director, Glasgow Prestwick Airport, declared: “We are confident that our new Fast and Efficient E-commerce Solution will offer customers real cost savings against other UK air cargo hubs, whilst also ensuring they meet their customer delivery-time promise. We are a full in-house operation, from ground handling and warehouse handling, to fire services, and air traffic control, which allows us to offer greater flexibility. Carriers only need to make one call to our operations line, and we take care of everything. This streamlined process is a significant advantage.”

GPA’s Operations Director Jules Matteoni added: “This joint solution with Royal Mail allows us to provide full visibility with traceability from touchdown to customer delivery and the potential to save on lead times through simplified processes. This is great news for our cargo customers, the airport, and the region.”

Royal Mail Director of Global Imports Vivian Davies said: “We are excited to be working with Glasgow Prestwick Airport to offer a cost-effective and efficient international e-commerce solution. Prestwick has no flight restrictions, congestion, or curfews on both inbound and outbound flights, offering round-the-clock availability, which is key for the fast turnaround needed in the e-commerce sector. Royal Mail is the UK’s leading last mile delivery provider offering a fully tracked service ensuring timely delivery within two to three days of parcels entering the UK. By partnering with Prestwick, we are confident we can offer our existing and new international e-commerce customers an unbeatable service on both delivery time and cost.”

TIACA’s Central Asia Event generated activity

Brigitte Gledhill
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0
TIACA’s Central Asia Event generated activity

By all accounts, TIACA’s fifth regional event, the TIACA Event Central Asia that took place in Astana, Kazakhstan, on 19-21JUN24, was a good success. Just shy of 400 attendees from across the industry, gathered to talk about the Central Asian air cargo market and how to develop Kazakhstan as a global air cargo hub given its favourable geography, able to provide effective rail/air links between China and Europe. The agenda included topics such as eCommerce, multimodal logistics, air cargo trends, innovation and digitalization, sustainability and industry regulations. One immediately tangible outcome was TIACA’s signing of 10 Memorandums of Understanding with the following Kazakhstan companies: Aktau International Airport JSC, Aliya Moldagulova International Airport JSC, JSC ‘Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport’, Sary-Arka Airport JSC, Oral International Airport LLP, SCAT Airlines JSC, Almaty International Airport, Turkistan International Airport, Shymkent International Airport, and Civil Aviation Association of Kazakhstan. The goal is to support the region in becoming a global cargo hub.

Much positive discussion and movement. Image: TIACA

Steven Polmans, TIACA Chair, declared: “We are proud to support the growth of Kazakhstan as an air cargo hub as it is in line with our mission and vision for the industry by promoting and encouraging business through connectivity. We not only encourage investment in known cargo hubs but also budding cargo hubs like Kazakhstan. We look forward to working with these organizations as they grow their cargo capacity and businesses.”

Of the TIACA event, he said that it “brought to light the important role that Kazakhstan has to play within the industry, and we are delighted to help promote their growth as an air cargo hub.”

Catalin Radu, General Director, Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan, said: “The opportunities that have been discussed during this event underline the importance of the role that Kazakhstan will play going forward within the global air cargo community […] There is a strategic goal, supported by our president and prime minister, to position Kazakhstan as an air cargo hub due to our favorable geographic location, historical context (Silk Way) and available resources. Our collaboration with The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA), the number one global air cargo industry association, will address challenges and set the agenda for Kazakhstan’s emergence as a regional hub.”

Glyn Hughes, Director General, TIACA, summed up: “This first TIACA event in Central Asia showed us, as well as the attendees, the focus and drive of the air cargo industry within this region. The conference program included a strong presence of diverse industry experts that displayed key knowledge and experience that will help drive the region forward as an air cargo hub. We are excited to work together to support their collective vision for growth and economic prosperity, whilst ensuring the key industry priorities of safety, security and compliance are fundamentally at the center of that growth.”

WestJet Cargo and cargo.one bring Canadian capacity to users

Brigitte Gledhill
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0
WestJet Cargo and cargo.one bring Canadian capacity to users

Canada’s second largest carrier is now available for booking on cargo.one, bringing what the joint press release refers to as a “fully digital Canadian spirit” to the many thousand freight forwarders using the platform, but perhaps not yet customers of the WestJet Cargo. They benefit from the airline’s modern Boeing 737-800 BCF freighter fleet across its dense Canadian network and 45 key destinations across the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. WestJet Cargo capacity now available on cargo.one, includes popular destinations such as Calgary, Halifax, Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Miami, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, London, Paris, Dublin, Barcelona, Milan, and Rome. For its own customers, the move brings more flexibility in the booking process choice, given that cargo.one is available around the clock.

Moritz Claussen, Founder & Co-CEO cargo.one & Kirsten de Bruijn, WestJet Exec.VP Cargo. Image: cargo.one

“The partnership with cargo.one is the latest step in WestJet Cargo’s extensive digitalization program, focused on delivering customers enhanced efficiency and service delivery. cargo.one is applying its digital sales expertise to help WestJet Cargo broaden its footprint and optimize market-fit for all its markets. With tactical experience gained from launching fully digital distribution for over 50 airlines worldwide, cargo.one supports airlines to accelerate online sales progress and uplift a range of efficiencies,” says the release.

Kirsten de Bruijn, WestJet Executive Vice-President, Cargo, commented: “This strategic partnership is a logical step in our digital transformation, accelerating our growth in digital bookings. Partnering with cargo.one aligns perfectly with our vision of delivering exceptional customer experiences.”

Moritz Claussen, Founder & Co-CEO of cargo.one, stated: “WestJet Cargo stands out as having a particularly strong alignment with cargo.one’s agility and mindset for prioritizing the customer experience. Our teams are together applying cargo.one technology and best practices to fully maximize WestJet Cargo’s digital sales journey.”

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