The Puerto Rico Life Sciences Community announced the launch of a data dashboard on its new website, offering its 40+ member companies from across the pharma air cargo supply chain access to data that can assist in ensuring more efficient operations. San Juan, Puerto Rico, is home to the largest aggregation of bioscience manufacturers in the U.S. It is the U.S.’ number one bioscience manufacturing hub by export volume, and The Puerto Rico Life Sciences Air Cargo Community, launched in April 2023, is an endeavor to bring key industry players together to improve quality within the industry. Its members including pharmaceutical and medical manufacturers, forwarders, airports, airlines, customs, hauliers, and representatives of the Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DEDC). The latter backs the initiative which is free to join for Puerto Rico-based companies involved in the Life Sciences and/or airfreight industries. All members will be meeting for the fourth time on 28FEB24, to discuss and implement quality initiatives to ensure that Puerto Rico has the highest quality airfreight hub in the Americas. The Community also act as a voice of the industry with legislators. Alongside initiatives such as a training program to support companies in achieving IATA CEIV Pharma certification, and an online directory based on a survey of warehousing facilities and trucking services, quality measures will be further developed thanks to a new dashboard. This specially customized dashboard was developed by air cargo data and software expert, Rotate. It combines and aggregates a range of data sources, to give a complete overview of the Puerto Rico (PR) air cargo market with regard to international air cargo imports and exports, air trade demand between PR and the U.S., and air cargo and mail traffic by airline.

Community Board member David Olan, Transportation Lead, Puerto Rico Operations, Johnson & Johnson, passed judgement: “The dashboard is an eye opener – data is an invaluable tool. The Community must work together to solve challenges, consolidate flights, and find direct flights – this dashboard will enable us to do just that. We will use this tool to manage risk, present information to our corporate offices, and drive quality in our Puerto Rico Life Sciences Hub.”

… both in fleet and cargo capacity. The airline announced last week, that two more Boeing 777 freighters would be coming in to its fleet to fortify its operations in view of the increasing demand for air cargo services to and from key cargo markets across the Caspian and Central Asian region and beyond. This investment “underscores the airline’s commitment to providing efficient and reliable transportation solutions around the world,” the release emphasizes. It points out the twin-engine aircraft’s sustainable features: “the latest innovations in technology and fuel efficiency, enhance[e] Silk Way West Airlines’ capacity to deliver cargo with speed and reliability. The expanded fleet represents a substantial increase in cargo capacity, allowing the carrier to meet the growing needs of its customers across various industries, including e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing. […] The new aircraft are equipped with advanced eco-friendly technologies, reducing carbon emissions and aligning with ongoing efforts to contribute to a greener aviation industry.”

Wolfgang Meier, President of Silk Way West Airlines, commented: “We continue to reimagine the air cargo experience by adding these environmentally friendly aircraft to our fleet. This expansion is a pivotal step in ongoing efforts to provide world-class cargo services, reflecting our dedication to meeting the evolving needs of customers while maintaining a focus on sustainability and efficiency.”

For the group of digital experts which grew from four to five members in 2023, and now includes Cargo Digital Factory, Wiremind Cargo, CargoAi, Rotate, and CharterSync, 2023 was a year of coordination and joint communication/presence at events. Cédric Millet, President of CargoTech applauded the many successes its members had in 2023: “Success happens with change. CargoTech is a one-stop-shop offering the best possible digital solutions for every air cargo business process. The aim of our products and services is to increase efficiency, improve revenues, or decrease costs, and generally to accelerate the digital transformation within the cargo industry. For that, we bring together cargo business and technology experts so that our digital solutions are created by air cargo knowledgeable people for the airfreight industry. Our drive for innovation is endless, and looking back at 2023, CargoTech had many successes and proved the relevance of its model.” Among those are CargoAi’s CargoWALLET for easy online booking payments, Wiremind Cargo’s Revenue Optimization suite (CargoStack Optimiser) with launch customer Qatar Airways Cargo, and Rotate’s Live Capacity product and co-development projects with Etihad Cargo and Cathay Cargo, for example.

Despite the difficult market situation in the air cargo industry this year, companies have been looking for digital support: “Customers have been increasingly interested in our solutions, as the desire to make better commercial decisions is relevant in every market circumstance,” claimed Ryan Keyrouse, Managing Director of Rotate, and this was similarly confirmed by Nathanaël de Tarade, CEO of Wiremind Cargo: “we got an increasing number of inquiries about our products, and our customers are more and more knowledgeable on what they want, what can be achieved, and are helping to push the boundaries of what can be done.” 2024 will see solutions making use of large language models to bring greater process efficiencies and automation, and a focus on greater transparency and visibility. “CargoTech fosters collaboration between its member companies on 3 levels: commercial, technical, and strategic. We […] want to do more on the technical side […] to optimally leverage the benefits from our CargoTech ecosystem,” Cedric Millet stated, summarizing: “2023 was the year of the coordination. 2024 will be the year for the synergies: commercial, technical, products. And of course, it will be another year of innovation, but that goes without saying.”

MACH stands for Menzies Aviation Cargo Handling (MACH) cargo management system and the result of a year-long collaboration with Wipro to seriously upgrade the handler’s cargo management processes. A combination of Wipro’s technology and Menzies’ air cargo operations expertise, MACH is “a pioneering, end-to-end cargo management system [set] to transform Menzies operations across the network.” It offers an easy-to-use, modern user interface (UI) and because it is cloud-based, can be accessed “from anywhere, anytime and on any device, providing real-time insights and data.” Menzies’ team at Bucharest Otopeni Airport (OTP) in Romania, celebrated the first successful launch on 12DEC23. Ten more locations will have followed by the end of Q1/24: Macau/China, Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland in New Zealand, Sangster Intl. and Kingston Jamaica in Jamaica, Ontario, Vancouver, Calgary in Canada, Amman in Jordan. All other Menzies stations will receive MACH by the end of 2024. It operates from a ‘single source of truth’ which automatically transfers across the system, leading to improved data accuracy. MACH seamlessly integrates to other systems, resulting in simpler, more standardized processes. It generates bespoke solutions where required, creating and automating checklists for specific tasks. Warehouse staff receive customized training relevant to their role.

Beau Paine, Global Head of Cargo, Menzies Aviation, stated: “It is said, technology is best when it brings people together and we are very proud of the accomplishments of our team and Wipro over the last 12 months. We can’t wait to accelerate the implementation plan in continuing to roll out MACH across the wider network in the months to come.”

Rory Fidler, VP Cargo Technology, Menzies Aviation, added: “In just 13 months, we have achieved an incredible feat, which has been underpinned by hard work. From a six-page briefing document to five million lines of code, 3,000 test scripts and more, we are excited to develop a truly innovative platform for the Menzies Cargo Network.”

Subha Tatavarti, Chief Technology Officer, Wipro Limited, concluded: “In partnership with Menzies, we built a modern, scalable solution that will not only cater to one of the world’s leading cargo handlers, but will open the door to building an industry-changing aviation platform. We look forward to our continued success with Menzies.”

Safe’Air is the name of the new WestJet Cargo valuables shipment product which has been designed to ensure that all such cargo is protected from theft or pilfering. Planned to go live in JAN24, initially between Canada and the US, Safe’Air is the airline’s cargo solution for the transport of high value cargo such as banknotes, jewelry, precious metals and stones, and other highly valuable items, and will offer reliable, secure, and discrete logistics. Starting out between Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), Calgary International Airport (YYC), Vancouver International Airport (YVR), and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Safe’Air’s availability will soon be extended to all other stations in the WestJet network. These will be launched in priority of customer demand from next year.

Developed in close collaboration with freight forwarders specialized in transporting valuable goods, the product is aimed at customers in the banking, luxury goods, high-end technology, and pharmaceuticals industries, as well as those needing to send confidential documents. Dedicated security measures have been put in place to prevent tampering, pilferage, and unauthorized access. They include third-party oversight, direct supervision, secure storage protocols, and the use of specialized security containers which all comes with a unique serial number and are sealed using premium, individually numbered metal seals. Security agents escort the valuable cargo which is transported separately to and from the aircraft.

Kirsten de Bruijn, Executive Vice-President, Cargo at WestJet, explained: “Our commitment to excellence extends to every area of our business, from network to operations to anticipating and meeting the needs of our customers. The trust and market demand that our dedicated cargo operations have garnered in just half a year, have also led to increasing demand for a dedicated valuables product. We have therefore been hard at work establishing our very own WestJet to both operationally safeguard those high value shipments entrusted to us, and commercially ensure that we always deliver on our promises.”

Nawal Mir, Product Manager at WestJet Cargo, revealed: “Our product has been meticulously designed with the utmost emphasis on security and efficiency. Every step of the valuable handling process has been painstakingly analyzed, potential risks identified, and measures implemented to mitigate them. [The result is:] all hands on deck, all eyes on the ball, and absolutely no loopholes allowed. We’ve created a true ‘Freight Knox’ service at four of our stations and will roll it out to other destinations as soon as we are certain they are ready and capable of delivery.”

ECS Group’s strategic aim of achieving full coverage across the Americas just took a large step forward its acquisition of Americas GSA. It now numbers 16 countries in its Americas set-up and with Americas GSA, has gained significant presence across Central America. The new countries in ECS Group’s network are Bolivia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Panamá, complementing its existing network of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and USA. The acquisition agreement, signed on 29OCT23, brings Americas GSA’s staff of 42 in its 13 branch locations together with ECS Group’s existing workforce of more than 80 local experts across Latin America. The established GSA has long-standing contracts with renowned airlines such as LATAM Airlines, MAS, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss, Korean Air, and Ethiopian Airlines, and thus increases the group’s airline portfolio to more than 40 airlines.

Pablo Canales, Managing Partner – CEO of Americas GSA, explained: “Our vision is to become one of the largest air cargo GSAs in Latin America, not just in terms of network, but specifically as the GSA of choice for comprehensive international solutions delivered with local finesse. This partnership with ECS Group brings together a highly professional air cargo organization with a strong global vision, and an established team with in-depth knowledge of the Latin-American market and close relationships with the largest customers in the region. Within this new alliance, Americas GSA will be able to offer even higher quality service, more opportunities tailored to the specific needs of our partners, airlines, and customers, and enjoy a firm technological and financial foundation on which to continue growing.”

Adrien Thominet, Executive Chairman of ECS Group, commented: “Americas GSA not only greatly augments our coverage in Central America, significantly adding to our strong network of committed, local air cargo experts operating across the continent, but since it shares a very similar corporate culture and likewise places great value on professional expertise, it offers a highly promising basis for solid organic growth. [Our] aim is to offer the ultimate in GSSA services across every country in The Americas: from Canada to Chile […] We see significant synergies in terms of business, digital initiatives, and service offerings, and look forward to positive developments in our newest region, as we head into the new year. ECS Group warmly welcomes Americas GSA!”

1000 guests came together in the Hong Kong Asia World-Expo on 14DEC23 to witness the signing of a collaboration agreement between Dr. Angus Cheung, CEO of Aerovision Technology Limited (ATL), and Wilson Kwong, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl). Michael Wong Wai-lun, Deputy Financial Secretary of HKSAR Government and Cui Xiaofeng, Deputy Administrator of Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) were also present. The agreement will see Hactl’s SuperTerminal 1 be equipped with ATL’s patented intelligent cargo thermal detection system, making it the first in the world to deploy the innovative technology designed to ensure the safe handling of air cargo and aviation safety. A huge step in the heart of Lithium Battery transportation. The system combines advanced thermal imaging technology, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, data analytics, and artificial intelligence, to enable real-time temperature monitoring of different cargo materials in various environments and swiftly identify and alert to any abnormal conditions, thus helping to prevent potential fire risks.

Richard Wu, Deputy Director-General of Civil Aviation Department (CAD), stated: “Hong Kong International Airport is one of the busiest cargo and passenger airports in the world, with air cargo volume consistently ranking among the top globally for years. CAD shoulders the dual roles of aviation safety promoter and regulator. It has always encouraged the air transport logistics industry to be risk-based and is pleased to see locally invented innovative technology being adopted to further enhance the safety and reliability of air cargo handling in relation to the growth of e-commerce in Hong Kong.”

Angus Cheung, CEO of ATL, commented: “Many thanks to the Civil Aviation Department for providing important direction on this innovative research and development project. The collaboration between ATL and Hactl is exemplary [and] important in maintaining Hong Kong’s position as the world’s busiest air cargo airport and will also set the new standard for safe handling of air cargo in future.”

Wilson Kwong, Hactl’s Chief Executive, said: “Hactl’s SuperTerminal 1 is the single largest air cargo terminal globally and an essential part of Hong Kong’s air cargo industry. We are committed to continuous development through the adoption of innovative technologies. This collaboration with ATL will introduce new cargo thermal detection technology to our terminal, further improving the reliability of cargo inspection, contributing to aviation safety, and strengthening the operational resilience of our terminal. It also sets a new benchmark for the air cargo industry.”