With thousands of very diverse animals passing through London’s Heathrow Airport every year, knowing how to handle them is crucial for their welfare, safety and the safety of those around them. According to its own figures, Heathrow annually sees roughly 100 farm animals, 300 horses, 1,000 birds, 20,000 dogs and cats, 120,000 reptiles and amphibians, 22 million ornamental fish, and billions of invertebrates. A very varied list in terms of requirements, size and required procedures. And since those animals are handled first and foremost by the airside operations team when they arrive from a flight or are about to depart, the Heathrow Airport Airside Operations team was recently given tailored training to equip them with the knowledge and skills when facing a live animal incident. The Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC) held the training, focusing on safety, compliance, and resilience across the airfield, teaching staff how to respond to domestic, exotic, hazardous, and large animals in the event of an incident in a live airside environment. It looked at animal behavior, zoonotic risk, the safe handling of dogs and cats, identifying and containing hazardous or exotic species, and response protocols for large animal incidents. “Operated by the City of London Corporation, HARC is the UK’s only Live Animal Border Control Post approved to receive all species. It is IATA CEIV Live Animals certified and operates 24/7 all year round, caring for millions of animals annually, including zoo species and high value consignments,” the release emphasized.

Peter Dunphy, Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Port Health and Environmental Services Committee, said: “As a global gateway, Heathrow Airport handles one of the most diverse live animal flows in the world. That demands more than basic awareness training in scenarios where speed, judgement, and control are critical. This course builds on decades of frontline experience managing high risk, time sensitive, and welfare critical situations, so that airside teams can respond with authority and precision if and when needed.”

Susie Pritchard, Assistant Director Animal Health & Welfare, City of London Corporation, commented: “Airside Operations teams are not necessarily animal specialists, yet they are the first on scene when an incident occurs. Our role as a leading provider in live animal care and compliance is to share our expertise, set clear standards, and ensure that safety, welfare, and operational continuity are treated as one integrated responsibility.“

Ashley Hearnden, Learning Design Manager (Airside Operations), Heathrow Airport Ltd, explained: “Your exceptional track record handling everything from everyday animals to rare species, alongside your dedication to the Heathrow and our community, made Heathrow Animal Reception Centre, the obvious and best choice to partner with.”

Super Sentinel is Unilode’s latest digital tracking solution which it developed in partnership with OnAsset Intelligence, and which, it says, “supercharges” the digital tracking of ULDs. The ULD manager announced the launch of the new feature this week, and will enable it on its Bluetooth and LoRa tags. Super Sentinel allows the ULD management company to track containers and pallets outside of its fixed reader network, thus significantly broadening Unilode’s chances of success in locating lost or unreported ULDs wherever in the world they may be. Hailed as “a groundbreaking development that delivers advanced ULD and piece-level tracking” and addressing a long-standing pain point suffered by airlines and cargo operators, the technology should be available on every one of Unilode’s fleet of 220,000+ ULDs by the end of this year. The expectation, once implemented, is that ULD loss or gaps in reporting will be eliminated through the use of digital intelligence. “Super Sentinel complements Unilode’s existing digital capabilities, including real-time ULD tracking, digital SCM and LUC, serviceability reporting, in-house customer portal, and system integrations,” the release showcases, going on to cite Unilode’s current successes with its digitized ULDs: they are 75% less likely to go unreported, and are almost completely unlikely to get lots (loss level is just 0.01%).

Unilode’s expectations now with the implementation of Super Sentinel, are: 95+% fewer unreported ULDs, and the elimination of loss through more detailed ULD tracking.

Ross Marino, CEO of Unilode, said: “Super Sentinel is a major step forward in our digital evolution. Our focus remains on delivering value and service excellence for our customers. Super Sentinel complements Unilode’s digital capabilities, offering tracking of lost and unreported ULDs beyond our reader network. We will continue to develop advanced capabilities such as piece-level tracking and cargo data intelligence. We are proud of our long-standing partnership with OnAsset Intelligence and their ability to respond rapidly to our growing digital requirements.”

Adam Crossno, CEO at OnAsset Intelligence, commented: “Super Sentinel demonstrates how scalable digital technology can deliver real operational value at a global scale. Our partnership with Unilode continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in ULD and cargo visibility, recovery, and intelligence, laying the groundwork for even more advanced digital capabilities in the future.”

Frankfurt Cargo Services (FCS) is welcoming a new Managing Director Germany this April. Thomas Schürmann, who joined the air cargo industry 20 years ago to the month, initially as a trainee at Flughafen Düsseldorf Cargo GmbH, is now coming over from Etihad Airways where he spent the past decade in various senior cargo positions in the UAE, most recently serving as Head of Cargo Operations & Delivery in Abu Dhabi. “Through his work at Etihad [overseeing 80+ international passenger and cargo stations], and previously at Flughafen Düsseldorf Cargo GmbH, he will combine his airline and ground handling expertise to position FCS for a secure future, supported by a strong customer focus”, the release states. Schürmann will be taking over from Claus Wagner, who has held the position since 2019.

Wagner has been promoted to managing parent company, Worldwide Flight Services (WFS)’s Frankfurt operations. The aviation and air cargo solutions provider has appointed Wagner to drive forward the development of its freight forwarding and e-commerce handling services. His success in developing FCS into the largest airline-independent freight handler at Frankfurt Airport coupled with his 30+ years of logistics experience, will stand him in good stead. Earlier this year, WFS began operating two warehouses and two office buildings on a 24,000 m² site at Frankfurt Airport’s Cargo City South. Around 100,000 tons of import and export freight can be handled there, as WFS sharpens its local focus on e-commerce and freight forwarding clients.

John Batten, CEO of WFS Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia (EMEAA), said: “With the appointment of Thomas Schürmann, we have significantly strengthened our already outstanding team in Frankfurt and are strongly positioned to achieve our ambitious goals at this important cargo hub. I am delighted that Claus Wagner will remain with our company in his new position as Managing Director of WFS Frankfurt. I have known and valued him for many years and am convinced that he is the right person to decisively advance our new freight forwarding and e-commerce business in Frankfurt. I wish them both a good start in their new positions and look forward to the coming years with the utmost confidence.”

ULD management company, ACL Airshop, has named James W. Harris as its new Chief Executive Officer. He takes over from Bernhard Kindelbacher, who steps down after two years as CEO, during which he expanded ACL Airshop’s international reach, broadened its end-to-end ULD management offering, secured major contracts in multiple regions, and pushed digital tools such as the Localization+ program. Kindelbacher will remain with the business as Senior Advisor during the handover.

Harris joined ACL Airshop in NOV21 as Chief Financial Officer and has since overhauled its finance function while gaining broad insight into operations, business development, and strategy. A former PwC Certified Public Accountant, Harris previously served as CFO at Forum Energy Technologies, where revenue grew from 25 million to 1.7 billion dollars through organic expansion and more than 20 acquisitions, and he also helped steer its NYSE listing. Harris later led a capital restructuring and merger with Noble Drilling as CFO of Pacific Drilling S.A. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting and taxation from Brigham Young University and an MBA from Rice University.

Jim Metcalfe, ACL Airshop board member and CEO of Astatine [Astatine Investment Partners manages ACL Airshop’s fundings], said: “We are excited to partner with Jim Harris on this important chapter of ACL Airshop’s growth story. In addition to his finance, capital markets and strategic planning capabilities, Jim brings a strong business development and operations focused mindset, which he has honed through his tenure at ACL Airshop and prior experience with sponsor backed businesses. We congratulate him on this promotion, and we look forward to collaborating closely with him to grow and enhance the business.”

James Harris stated: “I have greatly enjoyed my time at ACL Airshop, working in an important part of the air cargo industry supplying critical equipment for freight transport. I am proud of our strong, global team dedicated to providing the most technologically advanced products and services for our customers. I am especially excited to continue partnering with Astatine in this new role as they have consistently proven to be supportive strategic partners during their stewardship.”

Olga Palec-Furga is joining 4RCargo as its Chief Operating Officer. The fast-growing young GSSA (founded in 2021), is expanding both its leadership team and its Eastern European reach this year, in its aim to become the region’s top GSSA. With Olga Palec-Furga, 4RCargo gains a leader with more than 20 years of experience in the aviation and logistics sectors, as well as the initiator of the Polish Air Cargo Alliance – “a platform integrating the Polish and regional cargo community and strengthening the CEE region’s position in global logistics networks,” she explains in her profile, which also illustrates her role as industry ambassador, educating and attracting new talent. Palec-Furga’s responsibilities as COO include supporting the senior management team in branching out into new markets while maintaining the GSSA’s strong Eastern European ties.

Pawel Kazmierczak, Chief Executive Officer, 4RCargo, explained: “As we enter our fifth year, we are building on the momentum achieved to date and looking to consolidate our position in the Eastern European market. Since we founded 4RCargo, we have prioritized local expertise, and this remains central to our business. Olga’s appointment reflects our commitment to combining deep regional knowledge with operational excellence as we support our airline partners with scalable, future-focused solutions.”

Olga Palec-Furga, Chief Operating Officer, 4RCargo, stated: “4RCargo is continuing to expand as a GSSA, and I am looking forward to playing a role in shaping how the company grows in the years to come. The Eastern European air cargo market is evolving rapidly, and 4RCargo is well positioned, combining operational experience with a fresh approach to how a modern GSSA should operate and a strong focus on supporting the next generation of air cargo professionals.”

In a second press release this week, the GSSA announced its launch of operations in the Baltics and the appointment for of Vladislavs Pecevics as its Regional and Product Manager. His responsibilities include developing the Baltics as an international gateway to Northern Europe, and promoting 4RCargo’s cargo portfolio. 4RCargo is now present there in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Matthew Taylor, Chief Commercial Officer, 4RCargo, said: “Vlad’s extensive expertise in the Baltic market makes him the perfect addition to help build our presence and continue to offer European exporters access to the global market.”

Vladislavs Pecevics, Product Development and Regional Manager – Baltics, commented: “4RCargo’s entry into the Baltics represents an exciting step for both the company and the region. The Baltics combine strong export activity, efficient airport infrastructure, and access to both Northern and Eastern European markets. By establishing a local presence, we are able to provide airlines and freight forwarders with tailored commercial support, improved connectivity, and faster decision making in a strategically important corridor.”

What began as a successful partnership in 2018, is now being continued, though the press release does not state for how long – only that Wamos Air and Jettainer have agreed to continue their long-term partnership. The Spanish airline, founded in 2003 and based at Madrid Barajas International Airport, became a member of the Abra Group in OCT24. Abra Group is the second-largest aviation group in Latin America. Wamos Air has developed its business since partnering with Jettainer and has grown from a purely scheduled network carrier to one that offers short- and long-term charter operations plus ACMI services for passenger and cargo flights on behalf of other airlines. Its fleet consists of 5 A330-200 and 8 A330-300 – in other words, a total of 13 Airbus 330 aircraft. As per the newly extended contract, Jettainer will continue to provide modern cargo containers wherever Wamos Air requires them. The ULD management company ensures a dedicated ULD fleet that is flexibly adapted to changing operational situations and managed through Jettainer’s intelligent IT platform, JettwareNG.

Salvador Martínez, VP Operations – Wamos Air, stated: “Jettainer has been a strong partner from day one, a company we can consistently rely on. Their operational excellence aligns perfectly with our high-quality standards. Thanks to Jettainer, we benefit from a comprehensive ULD supply and the flexibility to support our wet lease operations with additional ULD capacity whenever required.”

Dr. Jan-Wilhelm Breithaupt, CEO of Jettainer, commented: “Wamos Air is Spain’s leading charter airline, consistently tailoring its services to the needs of its customers and placing the highest value on service quality. We look forward to supporting the airline with our full range of ULD services in the years to come.”

Teesside International Airport has signed a landmark deal with European Cargo that will see regular freight flights to China begin this month, marking a major step up in the region’s global trade links. The UK-based carrier will establish a new multi-million-pound operational base at Teesside Airport Business Park, launching five weekly services to a key Asian trade hub from MAR26 onwards. The route will offer up to 375 tons of weekly capacity, giving British manufacturers and exporters a faster, more direct pathway into international markets. European Cargo will operate the flights with its Airbus A340-600 freighters, each able to carry around 76 tons of cargo – or “twelve adult African elephants”, as the release emphasizes [though this is an unlikely UK export commodity, not least because any elephants living in UK zoos are usually Asian elephants which range widely in weight, so you’re looking at anything between eight and thirty Asian elephants as the equivalent of twelve African ones… but that’s by the by, and just a little trivia for you.]

Airport bosses say the move will support new jobs and further cement Teesside’s growing role as a North of England logistics hub. It follows a series of major private-sector investments at the airport, including Willis Aviation’s GBP 13.5 million MRO center, new paint facilities by Airbourne Colours, and a GBP 7 million hangar developed by Draken.

Teesside Airport Managing Director, Phil Forster, said: “The impact of this deal will be substantial – not only in boosting cargo operations and revenue, but in firmly positioning the airport as a strategic location for aviation, freight and future investment. It underlines our ambition to develop a highly commercially successful airport that plays an essential role in driving the region’s economic future.”

European Cargo’s Chief Operating Officer, Iain Edwards, added: “Our investment in Teesside reflects our confidence in the region’s infrastructure and its potential as a premier logistics gateway. We are proud that this expansion will drive local job creation and provide a meaningful boost to the regional economy, while further cementing Teesside’s status as a world-class center for air freight and international trade.”

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “This is a hugely significant announcement for Teesside Airport and for our wider local economy. […] Growing commercial operations is central to our long-term plan to make the airport financially sustainable, while also creating more well-paid, high-quality jobs for local people.”

India’s leading GSSA, founded back in 1985, has opted for Awery Aviation Software’s (Awery) digital expertise as it seeks to further improve its operations. The GSSA currently operates in India (it is headquartered in Delhi and counts more than 30 offices in its national network), and 15 other countries across the Middle East, South Asia, and Asia Pacific. Awery’s total cargo management solution is now going to streamline and support the GSSA’s international operations. The two companies announced the partnership at the recent Air Cargo India event in Mumbai, last week. “Under the agreement, Awery’s fully integrated Enterprise Resource Planning system will provide a single digital platform to centralize Group Concorde’s data, improving visibility and responsiveness across the business,” the release states, explaining that with a solid digital solution, Group Concorde will be better equipped “to manage complex, multi-airline workflows more efficiently while supporting scalability and long-term growth”.

Vitaly Smilianets, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Awery, commented: “Our total cargo management solution is designed to handle the overwhelming volume of data generated by businesses such as Group Concorde, enabling them to scale with stability and speed. As India’s air cargo market continues to grow, we look forward to working with Group Concorde as it scales alongside, building on its reputation as the leading GSSA provider in the region.”

Ralph van Eijk, Chief Airline and Marketing Officer, Group Concorde, confirmed: “Throughout the last two decades, we have consistently embraced technology as a key driver of efficiency. Our search for a dedicated software partner reflects Group Concorde’s commitment to investing in the very best solutions for our airline partners, and Awery quickly emerging as the right partner to take this forward.”