Customs Broker (CB), a wholly owned subsidiary of Lufthansa Cargo has exceeded the 50 million mark of customs cleared shipments in just three years. Founded in 2006, the full-service provider takes care of imports and exports by air, sea, rail or road at the company’s headquarters in the immediate vicinity of Frankfurt Airport (FRA). CB’s main field of activities is air freight this way driving forward the eCommerce business in Germany and enabling many players to benefit from this sector’s growth. “Just three years ago, we developed our new customs clearance software, which can clear large volumes of shipments in a highly automated process. Exceeding 50 million cleared shipments shows once again that our holistic end-to-end approach with complete solutions for our customers is the right one and that the growing eCommerce business in particular holds further potential for us. The fact that we have already reached this milestone in such a short time is mainly attributable to our customers, who work with us in a trusting relationship, as well as to our employees, whose commitment has made this success possible. We would also like to thank our partners in software development, without whose tireless efforts we would not have been able to achieve this,” explains Uwe Glunz, Managing Director at CB Customs Broker.

Thanks to a newly developed and innovative software solution large quantities of individual and complex shipments can be cleared promptly and cost-effectively, states CB. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Lufthansa Cargo, CB Customs Broker has access to a strong global network and extensive expertise.

Sustainability is not an objective, but a tangible reality for CargoTech’s member companies: Wiremind, CargoAi, Rotate, and CharterSync reads their joint release. Because all CargoTech members offer tailored products that enhance visibility, process efficiency and awareness of improvement areas, illustrates Cèdric Millet, President of CargoTech. Its members share a common interest in developing smart, tailored solutions for the air cargo industry in close collaboration with its stakeholders and each other, states the joint release.  

CargoAi’s pioneering Cargo2ZERO CO2 footprint reporting product, launched in September 2022, is one such example, and earned CargoAi a sustainability award at the TIACA conference in Miami later that year. “We are always open to develop and push joint products with other industry peer,” notes Magali Beauregard, Chief Customer Officer at Cargo Ai.

The CargoTech group members unanimously emphasize that sustainability requires investment and change. A CharterSync research paper which examined several carbon offset initiatives, found that the ultimate shipper of the goods may often insist on the cheapest price rather than the most sustainable option. Forwarders, on the other hand, are increasingly including sustainability evaluation metrics in their procurement processes, which will promote a re-evaluation of airline fleets, replacing aging freighters with more fuel-economic modern aircraft and cleaner fuel alternatives. 

The biggest challenge aviation is facing mid-term is to find ways to keep flying. Optimists think that technology (electric aircraft, more sustainable fuel, etc.) will be a big part of the solution, while pessimists hold that it needs to cut parts of what is currently flying. “The answer is possibly a blend of both solutions,” argues Nathanaël de Tarade, CEO Wiremind. His company’s contribution is to ensure that load efficiencies are maximized so that every flight is used to full capacity for a better emission to impact ratio. 

CargoAi also views short-term price thinking without considering its long-term impact as one of the major challenges faced by the air cargo industry and seeks to educate the industry to bring about more sustainable procurement decisions.

Wiremind is aiming to release its SkyPallet 2.0 before the summer. The new software is designed to achieve higher load factors per ULD, resulting in less wasted capacity and more volumes on each flight.  

Sustainability criteria increasingly play a role in business decisions, as Ryan Keyrouse, CEO of Rotate, confirms: “For many years, commercial decisions were driven by contribution or profitability metrics, but these days, sustainability metrics are becoming more and more important. He announces that Rotate will add emissions data to its Live Capacity platform, this year, to ensure that customers have the relevant parameters required to optimize their networks. 

The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) will hold its first event in Central Asia. It is scheduled to take place June 19-21 in Astana, the country’s capital city. The decision follows consultations with the Kazakh Republic’s Ministry of Transport, the Civil Aviation Committee and the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan (AAK), that will host and co-organize the conference. It is part of TIACA’s focus on regional topics that matter to the air freight industry and connect attendees with new ideas to develop and build upon. The event will be themed Silk Road in the Sky – Kazakhstan Air Cargo Hub.

Kazakhstan is a thriving and growing economic influencer between China, India, the Middle East and Europe, possessing large oil reserves as well as minerals and metals. It also has considerable agricultural potential, for both livestock and grain production as well as apples, walnuts, and other crops. 

It aims to attract significant foreign funds as it seeks to develop the non-oil sector of its economy, focusing on the automotive industry, pharmaceuticals, processed metal products, mechanical engineering, as well as light industry, construction, and information and communications. 

 “We are excited to support economic growth and promote a flourishing and expanded logistics industry by working with the AAK to organize a first-class conference, which will bring together over 300 decision makers from the local community and across the globe to network, showcase their expertise and solutions, as well as to learn and debate pressing issues affecting the Central Asian region,”  Steven Polmans, TIACA Chair exclaimed. 

Catalin Radu, Director General of Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan responded with these words: “We are thrilled to have been chosen by TIACA to host their first event in Central Asia. As a strong supporter of international collaboration and exchange, we are honored to welcome the global air cargo community to join us in Astana.” 

Both companies announced a 5-year strategic partnership for enhanced Boeing 777F fleet support. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the airline’s aim to ensuring high operational efficiency and fleet reliability.

Under this new component pool agreement, Silk Way West Airlines will leverage Turkish Technic’s extensive maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) expertise. This partnership guarantees access to a wide range of spare parts and MRO solutions, essential for maintaining the high performance and safety standards of the Azeri carrier’s Boeing 777 freighter fleet.  

Wolfgang Meier, President of Silk Way West Airlines, emphasized the significance of the agreement, stating, “We are delighted to join forces with Turkish Technic to enhance our operational capabilities and uphold our commitment to excellence in air cargo transportation. This collaboration reflects our dedication to providing reliable and efficient services to our customers worldwide.” 

Commenting on the new component pool agreement, Mikail Akbulut, CEO of Turkish Technic, said: ‘‘We are delighted to have taken the first step towards a long-term cooperation with Silk Way West Airlines. With decades of experience in component maintenance and large inventory of components, we are proud to be a leading solution center for Boeing 777 component pooling.  We are excited to work closely with the operator to ensure the highest level of safety and reliability for their Boeing 777F fleet.” 

Founded in 2012 in Baku, Silk Way West Airlines operates hundreds of flights every month across the globe via its fleet of 14 dedicated Boeing 777F, 747-8F, and 747-400F aircraft based at Heydar Aliyev International Airport. On April 28, 2021, Silk Way West Airlines signed a strategic fleet expansion agreement with Boeing for the purchase of five new 777 Freighters, followed by a further agreement signed on November 10, 2022 for the purchase of two state-of-the-art 777-8 Freighters. Silk Way West Airlines also agreed the purchase of two A350 Freighters with Airbus on June 28, 2022. 

Turkish Technic, an association of Turkish Airlines group companies (Istanbul Stock Exchange: THYAO), is one of the world’s leading aviation services providers, offering maintenance, repair, overhaul, modification and reconfiguration services. The company employs 10.500 staff based at Istanbul’s three international airports.

The Bogota-based freight carrier has won the prestigious ESG Award at a ceremony held in the UAE on 29FEB24. Honored was its continuous and long-standing commitment to sustainability and emission reduction. This includes the opearation of its Airbus A330 freighter fleet, the aircraft with the lowest environmental impact in the Latin American hemisphere.

”At Avianca Cargo, sustainability is NOW. That is why we have consolidated a solid sustainability strategy that includes social, environmental, and corporate governance aspects, and today we are proud to receive the ESG Award,” exclaimed Diogo Elias, Avianca Cargo Senior Vice President.

For about ten years, the freight carrier in close coordination with the passenger and ground service units has been implementing fuel saving policies focused on reducing CO₂ wherever and whenever possible. In 2023, In combined efforts they managed to offset 75% of greenhouse gases emitted on flights within its domestic Colombian market by the airline’s fleet. In partnership with Ecoventura, Avianca Cargo transported free of charge about 12,000 kg of waste, mainly cardboard, paper, glass, and plastic. The trash was captured on and around the Galapagos Islands and flown to Guayaquil. There, they were recycled, transformed into new products or objects. This kicked off a circular economy leading to some remarkable results. Further, Avianca Cargo has adapted its warehouses and infrastructure with new refrigeration technologies to reduce emissions.

From a social perspective, Avianca Cargo signed an alliance with the Fundación Best Buddies Colombia to support the labor inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities, and the first cargo agent joins the team as part of the Amigos del Alma program. On the other hand, the company reaffirmed its alliance with Airlink, which has allowed it to mobilize hundreds of kilograms of humanitarian cargo to different countries such as Ecuador and the Dominican Republic, benefiting about 6,000 people.

In 2023, the cargo carrier launched an internal sustainability contest called CargoLab Sostenible for its employees to compete by presenting innovative ideas to a panel of judges that contribute to reduce harmful environmental impacts. Four of these ideas were already prioritized for implementation by 2024.

The Abu Dhabi-headquartered carrier and Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a member of the SATS Group, have signed a strategic partnership agreement for cargo handling services covering 12 airports in Europe, Scandinavia, North America, India, and Asia Pacific. The agreement has a term of 3 years and will see WFS handling over 150,000 tons of cargo annually for the Gulf carrier. Strategically located at the crossroads of major global trade lanes, Etihad Cargo offers the market capacity on passenger and freighter aircraft as well as an extensive trucking network. In addition to standard air freight, Etihad Cargo flies a wide range of specialty products including live animals, DG, valuables and vulnerable cargoes, personal effects, as well as cold chain products for pharmaceuticals and perishables cargoes. 

Thomas Schürmann, Head of Cargo Operations & Delivery at Etihad Cargo, said, “Etihad Cargo’s long-standing partnership with WFS and the addition of new stations are a direct reflection of a shared commitment to consistently delivering high-quality air cargo solutions globally. The combination of Etihad Cargo’s expertise in transporting general and specialized cargo and the capabilities of WFS give partners and customers the confidence that their air cargo needs are in the best hands, regardless of where they are in the world.” 

Mohammed Esa, Global Head, Gateway Services Key Accounts & Strategy, SATS Group responded to this by stating: “This new agreement adds more key airport stations to the important work we do for the airline, including Amsterdam, Bengaluru, Barcelona, Boston, Copenhagen, and Chicago. We value Etihad Cargo’s partnership approach and their confidence in our ability to consistently deliver the high levels of service the airline’s award-winning reputation is founded on. Being awarded responsibility for providing cargo handling services at so many major cargo airports highlights WFS’s ability to provide global network solutions to our strategic customers.”

On 01MAR24, the DHL Group inaugurated a large logistics center in Robakowo, near Poznan, located halfway between Berlin and Warsaw. The parcel sorting facility, a joint project of DHL eCommerce, Post & Parcel Germany, and DHL Freight, is designed to deliver enhanced service quality and faster lead times to customers. With an investment of around 180 million euros, the new facility spans an area of 32,000 sqm, equivalent to the size of five soccer fields. It features 3,000 meters of conveyor belts and a sorting capacity of 45,000 parcels per hour and provides employment for around 500 staff. In addition, DHL Freight operates a terminal dedicated to processing palletized shipments and less-than-container-load cargo for its Polish and European customers.

The new Poznan hub will have direct linehaul connections to all DHL parcel hubs in Germany, Poland, and many other European countries, ensuring seamless connectivity. The collaboration between DHL eCommerce and Post & Parcel Germany unlocks the potential to handle a combined volume of 1 million parcels daily during peak times.

The new logistics center was constructed in alignment with DHL’s sustainability strategy, emphasizing a commitment to reduce its ecological footprint. It has a photovoltaic system that provides one-third of the facility’s energy needs. The remainder is supplied by purchased green power, minimizing the use of fossil energy. The facility uses a variety of environmentally friendly transportation solutions. Electric trucks move trailers and containers, eliminating exhaust and engine noise. The center also has 40 charging stations for electric cars, vans and trucks. An automated traffic management system monitoring processes at entrances and exits reduces vehicle waiting times and minimizes noise and emissions.

In recent times, Poland has emerged as a pivotal gateway for e-commerce in Europe, with major brands and e-tailers setting up shops within the country. The domestic parcel market, driven by the relentless surge in online sales, has also experienced extraordinary growth – nearly 120% over the past five years.