Air Canada Cargo’s Leave Less Travel Program has first taker
A program with the title “Leave Less Travel Program” (LLTP) is automatically associated purely with passenger travel, to be honest. However, Air Canada’s LLTP, launched in OCT21, focuses both on
corporate as well as cargo customers, and – to date – can already boast 5 signatories. Of these, Bolloré Logistics is the first Air Canada Cargo customer. The LLTP is provides customers a range
of “effective options to offset or reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to business travel or freight transportation, and reduce their carbon footprint,” the release
explains. Bolloré Logistics will be compensating a large part of the Scope 3 GHG emissions resulting from its Air Canada Cargo shipments by using SAF – for 2022, this represents a purchase of
620,000 liters.
Jason Berry, Vice President, Cargo at Air Canada, announced: “We are very pleased to welcome Bolloré Logistics as our first cargo customer to participate in Air Canada's Leave Less Travel
Program. Addressing climate change in aviation requires a multifaceted approach, together with the united efforts of many stakeholders. The commitment of companies like Bolloré Logistics is a
testament that environmentally innovative business programs are mutually possible, further helping the aviation sector to build a long-term, sustainable industry.”
Patrick Lafrance, Managing Director Canada at Bolloré Logistics, added: “At a time when climate awareness is at the heart of the strategy of many companies, Bolloré Logistics is proud to join
a program that is financing the future of low-carbon air industry. Through this initiative with our partner Air Canada, we contribute our scope 3 CO2 reduction targets and offer more sustainable
transport solutions to our clients.” Bolloré has a long had a serious focus on environmental initiatives. It signed up for AFKLMP’s SAF program this summer, and launched its own AirSAF
program last year, for example.
Air Canada also recently announced an equity investment/loan of $6.75 million into Canadian climate solutions company, Carbon Engineering, to promote Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology capable
of large-scale CO2 removal. Michael Rousseau, Air Canada President & Chief Executive Officer, stated: “We remain focused on seeking innovative, long-term, sustainable GHG emissions
reduction solutions for aviation, and carbon capture is one we have outlined in our strategy to achieving net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. Last year, we became the first Canadian airline to sign
an MOU with CE to explore carbon capture scalability and other initiatives for our industry.”
Flexport flexing its muscles in Frankfurt
The digital freight forwarder has opened a new air cargo operations center in Frankfurt and has been expanding its German business. Having already set up sales teams in Cologne, Hamburg,
Frankfurt, Stuttgart, and Munich since the start of this year, Flexport has now designated Frankfurt as a second central air freight competence center (the first is in Hamburg) and opened a
location close to Frankfurt Airport, in order to be closer to its existing customers, local partners, and airlines. From here, it aims to drive the development of new customer segments across
Germany, with particular focus on the industrial goods and SME sectors.
Stefan Böhler, General Manager of Flexport in Germany, said: “The opening of the new office in Frankfurt plays a crucial role in our international air freight offering and German expansion
strategy, therefore we are consistently expanding our operational business at one of the world's most important transshipment hubs. As a result, we can efficiently optimize capacity procurement
in the air freight segment for both our German and European customers. Flexport's air freight product not only offers better networking between all air freight stakeholders by digitally
supporting individual process stages. Bottlenecks can also be identified at an early stage thanks to improved data availability, allowing more room for corrective measures. Thanks to the Flexport
platform, data is structured and mapped accordingly, which is the prerequisite for holistic digitization and integration along the entire supply chain. In addition, Flexport customers can use the
data available on the platform to improve their business analysis and planning processes.”
Flexport Frankfurt Cargo City facility will be home to expert teams for sales, purchasing, air freight handling, and management, responsible for the DACH region.
Malaysian aviation industry to get digital ACS boost
Already both members of the Pan Asia e-Commerce Alliance (PAA - a 16-member regional e-commerce alliance in Asia that aims to promote and provide secure, trusted, reliable and value-adding IT
infrastructure and facilities for efficient global trade and logistics), Kale Logistics Solutions (Kale) and Dagang Net Technologies Sdn Bhd (Dagang Net) (a wholly owned subsidiary of Dagang
NeXchange Berhad (DNeX)), last week signed a partnership agreement that will examine the feasibility of implementing an Airport Cargo Community System (ACS) platform at Kuala Lumpur International
Airport (KLIA) in Malaysia. The first step is a study based on connecting the airport’s various stakeholders to establish a first-of-its-kind ACS platform within the country. “The ACS is a
neutral and open platform, enabling intelligent and secure information exchange between public and private stakeholders to improve the competitive position of Malaysian airport communities,”
the release details. Other community systems such as the National Single Window (NSW) and Port Community Systems (PCS) for Trade Facilitation which facilitates the exchange of trade data within
the trade community, will also interface to the ACS.
Vineet Malhotra, Co-Founder & Director, Kale Logistics Solutions, stated: “We are very excited about this development, which presents a powerful case that Cargo Community platforms need
to integrate to bring greater value to the entire nation. Our role is to support businesses, especially SMEs, by providing an efficient and comprehensive global logistics network that can serve a
larger international customer base and reduce trade barriers. Together with Dagang Net, we wish to create a global network of smart logistics hubs, starting here in Malaysia.”
Tan Sri Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir, Group Managing Director of DNeX, which has been instrumental in pushing for paperless, electronic Customs-related services to further simplify and
streamline international trading processes, said: “The ACS enables seamless electronic transaction, equipped with intelligent and secure information exchange among stakeholders to enhance the
airport community competitiveness. This, in turn, can contribute to efforts in improving Malaysia's competitiveness in its transport and logistics sectors as well as overall operational
efficiency, connectivity, and productivity across the country's supply chain.”
Air Menzies International grows in Pakistan
Air Menzies International (AMI) recently opened its 25th and 26th global locations – both of them in Pakistan, namely in Lahore and Karachi – both key industrial centers. While the former is
close to Allama Iqbal International Airport and will be handling the region’s technology customers given that Lahore is considered to be the technology and engineering hub of Pakistan, the
Karachi facility is in the vicinity of Jinnah International Airport – previously Pakistan’s busiest airport before the pandemic. Karachi, today, contributes one fifth of Pakistan’s GDP and is the
country’s automotive manufacturing hub. Heading both branches and responsible for growing the business, is Pakistan Country Manager, Nadeem Ahmed, bringing prior local cargo and express freight
experience from his positions within DHL Global Forwarding, flydubai Cargo, Network Cargo Service and Agility Logistics. “AMI’s new branches will be offering a variety of wholesale air
freight services, including door-to-door services on global import and export shipments; exports with consolidation and Back2Back; Click2Ship, its market leading platform for express shipments;
X-ray screening and warehousing services; as well as customs clearance and documentation support,” the release says.
Jonathon Clark, CEO, Air Menzies International, said: “We are excited to be entering the Pakistan market, as part of our strategy to establish a greater presence in the South Asian region. We
have chosen two cities with huge potential and healthy projected economic growth of at least 5% over the next few years in both Karachi and Lahore. Looking ahead, this gives us huge confidence in
a buoyant regional marketplace, where we can offer our renowned leading global freight forwarding and related logistics services.”
Not all planes carry solid cargo: rise of the SEAGLE
Some of them play a very special role, such as the SEAGLE: a new generation amphibious forest firefighting aircraft that collects water from lakes and seas to use to extinguish severe fires – the
frequency of which are increasing as climate change creates drier climes. “The 7 Gigaton annual and global CO2 emissions caused by mega forest fires are the cause of loss of human life, loss
of fauna and flora, of entire habitats. The economic impact is estimated at more than 100 billion Euros a year. Just think of the loss of homes, businesses, infrastructure, and agriculture with
accompanying rising air pollution,” the release points out. Belgian Start-Up, Roadfour NV, which is developing the SEAGLE, last week announced its decision to open a branch at the North Sea
Aviation Center (a private jet and General Aviation Terminal) at Ostend-Bruges International Airport. “Roadfour Ostend,” may become a SEAGLE “Final Assembly Line” (FAL), which would bring 450
direct and 450 indirect full-time jobs to the region. The company is looking at a number of European potential sites. Gaëtan Du Four, CEO and co-founder of Roadfour, emphasized: “As a Belgian
startup, we wish to explore our own country's assets as widely as possible. This allows us to make a strictly objective decision for the final implantation of our FAL. This decision will have a
long-term impact on an entire ecosystem. To prepare this decision, close cooperation with local stakeholders is a must. The choice to open our "Roadfour Ostend" branch for this purpose is fully
in line with our strategy.” He points to the SEAGLE being CO2 friendly and the “most advanced and mission-efficient aircraft on the market,” not only with its own state-of-the-art
technologies, but also through the use of “the most innovative raw materials, digital products and processes” applied in “a climate-neutral production environment.”
Filip Roelandt, CEO of the Economisch Huis Oostende was delighted that Roadfour has chosen Ostend airport for its SEAGLE project, saying “An airport that matches the company's needs in terms
of size, a strong airport community, the support from all levels of government, the easy accessibility and the high level of education of the region are important assets [that can] offer Roadfour
a great future here.”
The F in the A321F stands for Fish, it seems
The start of this month also saw the start of a special fish service: In a joint project with the Norwegian salmon producer and exporter, Nordlaks, and freight forwarder Salmosped, Lufthansa
Cargo now operates an A321F from Evenes Airport (EVE) in northern Norway to Frankfurt, Germany, and from there via its global Lufthansa Group network to the world’s fish markets. “Evenes
Airport is located near the city of Harstad/Narvik and is part of the province of Troms og Finnmark in Norway. Located north of the Arctic Circle, this region is considered the gateway to the
Lofoten Islands, making it a very important market for fish and seafood. The area around Evenes Airport is home to a number of salmon producers. Both the catch of wild salmon and the income from
salmon farming are growing steadily. In 2021 alone, more than one million tons of salmon were exported from Norway” according to the press release. The airline has arranged the shortest
possible delivery times and refers to the requirement for the highest quality standards for customers as well as authorities.
Eirik Nikolaisen, Chief Commercial Officer Nordlaks, concurs: “Efficient logistics is key. Customers in Asia expect to receive fresh products of high quality. We are very satisfied that we
can develop new and innovative solutions together with partners like Lufthansa Cargo and Salmosped to serve our customers.”
Ashwin Bhat, Chief Commercial Officer at Lufthansa Cargo, comments: “I am pleased about this air cargo product innovation. Thanks to the flexibility of the A321 freighter, we are able to
build a customized supply chain solution for individual customers. We are not only helping to ensure that fish and seafood from Norway reach their destinations around the world even faster, but
also in the best and freshest quality. In some cases, we are cutting the delivery times from four to six days to less than 24 hours thanks to the direct connection via our Frankfurt hub.”
Wiremind Cargo’s new VP Business Development
In a couple of weeks from now, on 01DEC22, Wiremind Cargo will welcome Guillermo Medina Moralejo as its Vice President Business Development, responsible for sales, commercial strategy, and
marketing functions. The Spaniard, who enjoyed a UK education and now lives in Hong Kong (which will also remain his base in his new position), joins Wiremind Cargo from crowd-sourced logistics
start-up, Lalamove. He also previously worked at Cathay Pacific. His main responsibility will be to act as the key interface between customers and Wiremind Cargo's product and tech teams.
Nathanaël de Tarade, Chief Executive Officer of Wiremind Cargo, explained: “Since establishing Wiremind Cargo as a separate air cargo focused entity in November 2021 and subsequently
launching CargoStack, we are on a rapid growth path that necessitates professional and stable customer focus. Hence, the expansion of Wiremind Cargo's leadership team to include a Vice President
Business Development. With Guillermo Medina Moralejo, Wiremind Cargo is gaining a commercial leader with a track record in implementing customer strategies and driving business growth, spanning
air cargo and last mile logistics. Guillermo brings both airline and logistics tech startup experience and we are delighted to welcome him on our growth journey.”
Guillermo Medina Moralejo, commented: “Wiremind Cargo's focus on building innovative and high-quality products which have a positive impact on the logistics and transport industry, as well as
its courage to launch a new CMS product in a market dominated by established freight tech solution providers, are what attracted me to this company. As Vice President Business Development, I get
to combine two passions of mine: air cargo, which I am excited to return to once more, and engaging with customers. Only once customer pain-points are thoroughly understood, can solutions be
modelled in complete alignment with what is required in the market. I very much look forward to connecting with customers and partners in person, to better understand their businesses and learn
where Wiremind Cargo can support in their digital transformations.”
Brigitte Gledhill
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