Starlux Cargo is the first Taiwanese iCargo Customer
“Starlux - a new luxury carrier with the right focus with Cargo always being core to strategy of the airline. This COVID crisis has proved them right. Happy to partner with Starlux in this
journey. Welcoming you to the ever-growing IBS-Cargo family !!” Ashok Rajan, Head of Cargo and Logistics Solutions at IBS Software recently wrote on LinkedIn. In the press release, he added:
“We were proud to have been selected as a launch partner for Starlux Airlines, our first iCargo customer in Taiwan. As a startup airline [launched May 2018, BG], Starlux had strict timelines
for implementation and regulatory requirements, and extremely high expectations for the technology and its support of their business model. In IBS Software, they found a partner with deep
expertise, total commitment to driving business value, and a strong delivery track record.”
Implementation of the iCargo platform already took place prior to Starlux Airlines’ maiden flights back in JAN20, to Macau, Penang, and Da Nang, operated by three initial A321neo aircraft. The
airline is now looking to expand with more A321neo plus A350 XWB planes on the way, and states the iCargo platform is a supporting driver in these development plans, since it manages the entire
cargo business from sales, airline operations, US customs, mail, ULDs, cashiering, claims, revenue accounting, portal services, to data warehousing and business intelligence modules.
Glenn Chai, Chief Executive of Starlux Airlines, explained: “We chose the iCargo management platform to achieve our goal of providing the best and seamless cargo service to our customers. So
far, iCargo has proved itself to be well worth the investment. It is an advanced digital solution featuring advanced and user-friendly functions.”
CEVA Logistics ramps up on the Equator
Though already long established as a company in both Ecuador and Uruguay, CEVA Logistics just last week officially opened its own offices there offering multimodal transport solutions across air,
ocean, road, as well as contract logistics, and thus strengthening its LATAM presence. Sebastian Enriquez, Station Manager Ecuador heads the Ecuador team, reporting to the Managing Director of
Colombia & Ecuador, Mauricio Galindo, and Station Manager, Michelle Nobile leads the Uruguay office, reporting to the Managing Director of Argentina & Uruguay, Juan Blanco.
Ecuador’s two locations – the air, ocean and ground operations being headquartered in Guayaguil, whilst multimodal services will be managed out of Quito – look to provide end-to-end solutions for
the high-potential perishables, consumer, and oil & gas sectors, alongside continuing to serve existing customers, and will act as an export gateway to Colombia, Peru, the USA, Asia and
Europe.
Over in Uruguay, the head office has been set up in Montevideo, and will focus particularly on serving agriculture & livestock farming customers, exporting products such as rice, citrus
fruits, wood, leather, meat and dairy products, as well as on key markets such as the technological, industrial and healthcare sectors. Uruguay’s logistics hub means that CEVA Logistics can offer
attractive intermodal service solutions through to Argentina and Paraguay as well as Customs Brokerage services for imports and exports. The main export focus will be on ocean & ground.
Nadia Ribeiro, Managing Director LATAM, CEVA Logistics, stated: “Our LATAM services are growing at a fast pace and this expansion of our own offices network is the next step to serve our
customers and offer the most innovative and best-in-class services.”
Oman Aviation Group and DHL close air cargo deal
DHL is looking to establish Muscat International Airport as a regional eCommerce Hub, and to this end, it recently sealed a strategic air cargo partnership deal with Oman Aviation Group (OAG).
50,000 m² of dedicated air logistics storage capacity will be developed near to the airport and DHL is planning to operate 3-4 freighters per week from Muscat. According to Moustafa Osman,
Country Manager of DHL Oman: “The world is shifting more into ecommerce now and it has become essential that we prepare for future demands. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the volumes of
inbound B2C shipments increased by almost 300%. Oman has great potential to become a huge hub for the ecommerce business serving the local market and the region.’’
This ties in perfectly with Oman Aviation Group’s National Aviation Strategy 2030 which envisages a growth in tonnage to 750,000 tons by 2030, as well as the focus strategy Oman Vision 2040,
looking at economic diversification and development of air cargo infrastructure. The latest agreement will help to attract international investors and key logistics players, promote air cargo
growth, and establish the Sultanate as a strategic regional business center for both East and West, according to Mustafa bin Mohammed Al-Hinai, CEO of OAG.
He outlined the ongoing focus in this direction: “The National Aviation Strategy, launched in 2020, provided for increasing our current market share in GCC arena and the creation of headways
in continents of Asia, Africa and Europe.”
cargo.one recognized as Rising Star by Forbes
For the past 5 years, Forbes, in partnership with Bessemer Venture Partners and Salesforce Ventures, has published the Forbes 2020 Cloud 100 list naming the top 100 cloud companies in the world.
It also publishes 20 Rising Stars list denoting young, high-growth and category-leading cloud companies which have already raised up to $25 million to date. They are seen as strong contenders for
the Cloud 100 list. cargo.one’s huge progress this year has led to it being named as one of the 20 Rising Stars.
“We feel honored and proud to be named one of the Rising Stars as part of the Forbes’ 2020 Cloud 100 list” Oliver T. Neumann, co-founder and Managing Director at cargo.one, stated.
“It is a great validation of the team’s hard work and dedication to be listed next to the most successful emerging cloud companies in the world.” Moritz Claussen, co-founder and Managing
Director at cargo.one, added: “Furthermore, it proves that we create true value for our customers and partners in the air cargo industry. This certainly encourages us to follow our mission to
connect the world’s air cargo markets to make them more productive and successful.”
“Tech companies have been leaders in innovating the way we live and work for decades, and the world needs that kind of innovative, solutions-oriented mindset now more than ever. The 20 Rising
Stars list includes innovative cloud leaders that are creating next-generation enterprise technology,” said Matt Garratt, Managing Partner, Salesforce Ventures.
Alex Konrad, Forbes editor of The Cloud 100 pointed out: “With so many businesses growing fast in the cloud, from data infrastructure to marketing, it’s harder than ever to make the Cloud 100
list – but with more elite company if you do.”
Flying the ANASIS-II from France to the USA
Before heading off into space, the latest Airbus Defence and Space satellite, ANASIS-II, needed to get from the Airbus facility in Toulouse, France to the Cape Canaveral Kennedy Space Center in
Florida, USA. Bolloré Logistics together with Antonov Airlines were tasked with the operation. Weighing 18 tons and measuring 11 meters in length, loading the satellite container into the
Antonov-124-100, looked like just another day at the office for the Ukrainian airline, however this time it was testing a new lightweight, low profile loading equipment especially designed and
manufactured by the Antonov Company for similar large satellite container shipments in the coming future. The final cargo payload of the satellite and accompanying launch equipment, amounted to
36 tons. The cargo successfully made its way to Florida, where it was taken over by the SpaceX teams.
Andriy Blagovisniy, Antonov Airlines Commercial Director, said: "We thank our valued partner Bolloré Logistics for trusting Antonov Airlines with such responsible air transportation, which
continues our long-term cooperation. The successful and smooth performance of this flight was the result of well-coordinated teamwork between all parties involved."
Yorann MARC, Aerospace Project Department Manager for Bolloré Logistics in Toulouse, responsible for organizing the shipment on behalf of Airbus Defence and Space, said: "Once again, Antonov
Airlines demonstrated its high technical level and we are always confident in its capacity to move safely our most sensitive cargo in due time. Bolloré Logistics is proud to have reliable
partners like Antonov Airlines for common successful highly specific transportations. I would also like to sincerely thank the teams of Bolloré Logistics Miami for making this challenging
shipment such a success."
Fraport hands Swissport the keys to a brand-new handling facility
Christmas came early for Swissport Cargo Services Deutschland GmbH on 16SEP20, when Fraport handed over the keys to the brand new, 17,000 m² handling facility. Swissport aims to have everything
operational by November.
It took less than a year for the air cargo warehouse which includes temperature-controlled areas along with 2,400 m² of office space, to be built. It boasts Frankfurt Airport’s first large-scale
photovoltaic system. Installed on the roof of the cargo property, the system will be connected to the grid and will annually generate roughly 1.5 million kilowatt hours of climate-neutral
electricity: the equivalent of running over 450 four-person households for an entire year. It will be used to power a number of airport properties and is planned to run the future Terminal 3’s
air-conditioning system, lighting, elevators, escalators, and other installations.
“The property meets the stringent requirements of a cutting-edge air cargo handling facility,” Felix Kreutel, Head of Real Estate and Energy, Fraport AG, said. “The warehouse
connects the airside and landside areas of the airport through separate freight yards. Moreover, its ground-breaking material-handling system represents an important step in the continued
automation of our freight processes. Equipped in accordance with the strict criteria of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the new cargo center is also expected to be CEIV
Pharma-certified after going into operation.”
Willy Ruf, SVP Central & Eastern Europe, Swissport International AG, delighted with the new, state-of-the-art facility, stated: “Our new cargo warehouse has 50% more handling capacity and
is therefore a commitment to growth at Frankfurt Airport. With the integrated Swissport Pharma Center, which has several cooling zones, we are well-equipped to satisfy the stringent requirements
for the temperature-controlled transportation of medicines and vaccines.”
Bengaluru Bonded Warehouse is a first for India
Measuring just over 3,000 m², the on-airport public bonded warehouse at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), Bengaluru, under the jurisdiction of the City Commissionerate of Bengaluru Customs,
and operated by Cargo Service Center (CSC) India Private Limited, is the first of its kind in India, according to its operator, The Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL). It will be used
for goods requiring re-export, for the long-term storage of bonded cargo, partial clearances, and will offer labeling, packing, and repacking services.
BIAL’s Chief Strategy & Development Officer, Satyaki Raghunath announced: “In order to simplify processes and meet customer demands with the help of key stakeholders, including the
Bengaluru Customs, BIAL has taken this step to set up India’s first on-campus Public Bonded Warehouse.”
The airport has systematically worked to develop its facilities, having also implemented an Air Cargo Community System with Kale Logistics Solutions earlier this year, and is rapidly becoming a
preferred cargo gateway for South Indian manufacturers. BIAL communicate that it is India’s third busiest cargo airport. In the last 5 months (APR-AUG20), it registered a 92% growth in cargo air
traffic movements, in what is the largest regional cargo terminal. Tushar Jani, Group Chairman of Cargo Service Center (CSC) India Private Limited, said, “We are thrilled to partner with BIAL
as an operator of the new Public Bonded Warehouse at BLR Airport. The Airport has tremendous potential to become the cargo hub for South India.”
sennder gets the Uber-Hand
On 16SEP20, the Berlin, Germany-based digital freight forwarder, sennder announced that it had acquired Uber’s European freight business in an all-stock transaction. Uber gains a minority stake
in sennder, whilst its European business runs under the sennder brand. The strategic intention of the two companies, is to “further revolutionize the digital freight industry across Europe,
the U.S. and Canada,” and includes a shipper referral program wherein sennder refers shippers requiring freight services in North America to Uber Freight, and vice versa.
sennder already positioned itself as Europe’s largest digital freight forwarder with the merger of French Everoad earlier this year (CFG reported). The recent press release also communicates
“a recently established Joint Venture with Poste Italiane, Italy’s largest logistics operator,” and the Uber Freight Europe acquisition now also expands its network to Amsterdam,
Netherlands, where the current Uber Freight team will become a new sennder office: “Uber Freight’s European General Manager, Tom Christenson, will join sennder as Chief Operating Officer and
Daniel Warner, currently Head of Shipper Operations, will join as Senior Vice President Commercial.”
David Nothacker, CEO and Co-Founder of sennder, said: “We are immensely proud to have created the leading digital road freight forwarder in Europe, moving more than 50,000 loads every month
across 31 countries. This acquisition strengthens our position as Europe’s number one digital logistics provider. We also look forward to working with Uber Freight to bring further value to both
companies’ customers.” Lior Ron, Head of Uber Freight, added: “We are proud of the incredible growth and success our Uber Freight team in Europe was able to achieve. This collaboration
with sennder allows us to further extend our reach in Europe while doubling down on our Uber Freight business in North America, and to jointly push the digital freight industry forward.”
Air Partner sets up in South Africa
Gatwick, UK-based global charter and freight solutions specialist, Air Partner, has recently opened a new freight sales office in Johannesburg, South Africa – its first on the African continent.
Its Cargo Sales Manager, Fred Du Plessis, explained the reason for the move: “Africa is fast becoming a growth market for air freight, and the industry has seen an increasing demand for
services in the region, with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reporting a 7.4% increase in freight volumes last year. By establishing Air Partner in Johannesburg, we will be
ideally placed to support new and existing clients plan and execute their Freight operations seamlessly, whether domestic or international.”
In fact, the past 3 years have seen record freight growth, and with South Africa being the African country hardest hit by the pandemic, with a move to only now opening its borders again after 6
months of one of the world’s strictest lockdowns, and with the fate of the national carrier still unclear, the need for freight capacity is greater than ever. Air Partner is looking to focus on
Air Partner Charter and On-Board Courier (OBC) business in the region, and developing new markets on the continent, including livestock, oil and gas.
Mike Hill, Air Partner Group Director of Freight stated: “Having served the African market only remotely up until now, this is an important milestone for Air Partner. We’re excited to expand
with a physical presence in the African region, and I am delighted that we have found exactly the right person to lead the way for us in the local market. Fred’s past career in Freight handling
and aircraft charter operations is second to none, and he brings very valuable experience to the wider Air Partner team.”
Brigitte Gledhill
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