SHORT SHOTS

Lufthansa Cargo’s LCCevolution finally gets kicked off
It’s often been talked about and has been a long time coming, but finally now appears to be actually happening. Construction has begun on Lufthansa Cargo’s largest ever, 500 million euros LCCevolution construction project - the development and modernization of Cargo City North. This is being done together with construction partner Ed. Züblin AG, mechanical engineering company BLEICHERT Automation GmbH & Co. KG, and io-consultants GmbH & Co. KG. All partners signed the contract at Frankfurt Airport on 21NOV23. The first phase of preliminary work which began in AUG23, is complete, hence the main part of the project which will run until 2030, can now commence. It includes the construction of a new, 40-meter-tall high-bay warehouse, an automated transport system, and building modules in the north of Frankfurt Airport. Lufthansa Cargo Center’s existing buildings and warehouses will also be upgraded and modernized or replaced by new buildings. The result will be a working area of 70,000 m² in the end, that should lead to improved turnaround times and increased overall efficiency at Lufthansa Cargo's main hub. “The first parts of the automated transport system and the construction of the first two building modules are expected to be completed between 2023 and 2027.”
Ashwin Bhat, CEO of Lufthansa Cargo, explained: “With a throughput share of around 80% of Lufthansa Cargo's global cargo volume, the Frankfurt hub plays a decisive role in the operational success of Lufthansa Cargo. For our customers, this means faster handling speeds, easier transport processes and an improvement in service quality.”
Stefan Dürr, Senior Director Program LCCevolution at Lufthansa Cargo, stated: “With Züblin, we have gained an experienced expert in building construction and civil engineering who will support us with individual and customized solutions. We are delighted to be tackling the Lufthansa Group's largest construction project together with Ed. Züblin AG.”
Dietmar Focke, Chief Operations Officer at Lufthansa Cargo, stated: “A particular challenge of this project is the implementation of a complex construction project while the regular operation of the hub must be guaranteed 24/7, and the gradual improvement of the hub as the new elements are put into function.”
Johannes Graf, Technical Director of Ed. Züblin AG, adds: “The revitalization and renewal of the cargo hub at Frankfurt Airport gives us the opportunity to demonstrate our technical expertise at one of Europe's largest transportation hubs. We are proud to be working with Lufthansa Cargo on this project from the planning phase through to construction. We would like to thank them for their partnership and constructive cooperation.”

Qatar Airways Cargo’s new Drive product
When a good segment of the cargo that you carry is made up of all kinds of vehicles and related automobile items, then it makes sense as a cargo airline, to come up with a product especially tailored towards to the commodity’s requirements. In 2022, alone, Qatar Airways Cargo carried moved more than 1,400 vehicles – that translates into more than 3 cars per day. It has now drawn on its years of experience and launched Drive, aimed at the market segment’s particular customers. “Drive caters to the unique requirements of each vehicle - be it regular cars, vintage cars, premium or luxury models, new cars and sports cars. It underscores the carrier's commitment to delivering meticulous solutions for both personal and commercial vehicles,” the release details. Safety and efficiency are the focus when it comes to transporting often highly valuable cars along with car engines and wheels, across the airline’s network of over 160 belly-hold and more than 70 freighter destinations, including any number of charter destinations. Aside from Qatar Airways Cargo’s normal flight schedule, Drive can also be applied to full or part-charters according to the customers' requests, enabling even more exclusive transport.
“The airline's specialist teams from Special Loads, Dangerous Goods, Operations, Charters and its Loadmasters collaborate to offer the optimal loadability and cost-effective solutions for all vehicles being transported. Safety is paramount and the teams take extreme caution ensuring all safety measures are followed, and vehicles are tied down and secured properly before being flown on the flight. The vehicles are monitored throughout the entire journey by the airline's operational experts,” the release promises.
Miguel Rodriguez Moreno, Head of Cargo Products said: “Drive exemplifies our unwavering commitment to precision and customer centricity. With this product, we combine technical proficiency, experienced teams and charter solutions to offer a tailored experience for the transportation of automobiles. We take pride in our expert and dedicated teams who have been involved in transporting vehicles for several years including vehicles for many global racing events. Our rigorous and meticulously designed training ensures that our dedicated staff follow handling protocols diligently at every stage of the journey.”

Menzies grows its cargo customers at LHR
Menzies Aviation has a number of reasons for celebration over at London's Heathrow Airport. Various cargo contracts came up for renewal or tender recently, and the ground handling service partner was successful in securing extensions as well as a few new customer contracts. Carriers such as Thai Airways Cargo, Middle East Airlines, Royal Air Maroc Cargo, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines Cargo and Tarom all put pen to paper and signed up for a new contract run. Among the continuers were SAS Cargo, for example, for which Menzies has provided cargo handling services for 10 years already. Today, it handles over 35 turnarounds each week to, from and within Scandinavia. Another established customer is Romania’s national airline – and its oldest - Tarom, which has seven flights each week out of LHR. Royal Jordanian Airlines not only extended its current passenger and ramp handling contract, but now also added cargo handling and airside trucking to the agreement. It looks to carry over 6,000 tons of cargo, annually, on board of its 14 weekly flights. Middle East Airlines have also signed for another five years of Menzies Aviation’s air cargo handling services and airside trucking services. It operates more than 14 flights each week, bringing in more than 1,700 tons of fresh vegetables from Lebanon.
Menzies’ new customers include: Thai Airways, which covers cargo handling and airside trucking services for its 14 weekly flights, and cargo to the volume of more than 16,000 tons of vegetables and fresh fish from Thailand to the UK. Royal Air Maroc Cargo, too, with seven weekly flights, opted for Menzies to manage its cargo handling at London's busiest airport.
Karl Aldwinckle, Vice President Cargo – Europe, said: “It is fantastic to see such positive momentum, with a series of wins and renewals for the cargo team at London Heathrow, helping to expand our cargo footprint in Europe. We have an ambitious cargo expansion strategy and are proud to have built strong relationships with our customers who recognize our service driven approach. We're excited to continue building on these relationships and expand our reach in Europe and beyond.”

Two of a kind will be working together
Now this partnership, I can well understand. The press release title “Revolutionizing the skies: WestJet Cargo and Awesome Cargo set to transform air cargo landscape” does appear to say on the packet what can be expected in the packet. Both airlines have a very fresh, almost cheeky outlook on the air cargo business. I would have loved to have been in the boardroom when the name “Awesome Cargo” has decided on, but I digress… This is about WestJet Cargo and Awesome Cargo setting out on a pioneering partnership. In just one week from now, on 04DEC23, the first flight will set off assumedly from Calgary, Canada, (the release only speaks of North America, but later points to US-Mexico routes) to Awesome Cargo’s hub in Mexico City – NLU Airport (Felipe Angeles). Operated by WestJet Cargo on behalf of the newly created Mexican airline (which received its Mexican AOC just over a month ago on 13OCT23), this new connection is set to “facilitate connectivity between North America and Mexico”, and feeds into Awesome's Cargo’s network. The Mexican airline currently operates two A330-200s, each with a capacity of 50 tons. These will soon be joined by 737-800 BCFs, as the airline “aims to become a pivotal partner in the North American and Latin American region through its NLU hub.” With regard to the partnership, the two companies are pooling their combined expertise and facilities to offer customers safe and secure cargo transports. These include: using reefer trucks for temperature-sensitive cargo, temperature-controlled facilities to maintain cargo integrity, enhanced security measures throughout the transportation process, establishing connections for different types of cargo across their combined networks, and arranging horse transfers between Mexico, the USA, and Canada.
Kirsten De Bruijn, SVP Cargo of WestJet, commented: “This collaboration brings together two visionary cargo airlines, weaving our strengths into an innovative tapestry of enhanced services for Awesome's Cargo customers. We're thrilled to embark on this journey with Awesome Cargo, unlocking endless possibilities for both organizations and setting new standards in the industry.”
Luis Ramos, CEO of Awesome Cargo, added: “This partnership is a significant milestone for Awesome Cargo. By uniting forces with WestJet Cargo, we not only expand our reach into North America but also contribute to the evolution of air cargo transport in the region. Our shared values and commitment to excellence make this collaboration a dynamic force in the industry.”

Wexco chosen to represent DHL Aviation ‘Down Under’
Starting 01DEC23, DHL Aviation in Australia and New Zealand will be represented by Wexco Group & Wexco NZ, both subsidiaries of ECS Group. They will provide full GSSA services, taking care of all DHL Aviation air cargo sales activities for the next four years, bringing the number of countries in which ECS Group represents DHL to 20. The contracts were signed in SEP23 and then work began to ensure the smooth transition of sales operations for a total of 45 weekly flights: 26 flights from Australia and 19 flights from New Zealand. All of them feed into a vast international network across Asia, the USA, and Europe. On board: a mix of general cargo, e-commerce, meat, chilled salmon and seafood, dairy and other perishable produce (including stone fruits), and regular horse movements.
Richard Valenzuela, General Manager at Wexco, stated: “The wide variety of perishable commodities alongside regular horse shipments, make DHL Aviation a particularly interesting airline partner and we are therefore all the more delighted to enter into this partnership. With 550 tons of capacity to be filled each week, often with shipments requiring meticulous planning and expertise, our Wexco teams are able to demonstrate what they do best while playing a key part in DHL Aviation's regional and international success.”
Nathan Vellasamy, Vice President at DHL Aviation, Air Capacity Sales, Asia Pacific, detailed: “DHL operates a fleet of more than 20 Asia Pacific dedicated aircraft and is committed to ensuring reliable and efficient service performance, in particular when it comes to supporting trans-Tasman trade. We have invested heavily in Oceania over the past five years and partnering with equally driven partners is essential to the success of our challenging growth strategy. Wexco has a proven track-record as a highly professional, digitally advanced and unique GSSA and, as part of ECS Group, is another solid link in our well-functioning international partnership. We look forward to an excellent 2024 and beyond.”
Cedric Millet, Managing Director of Wexco Group & Wexco NZ and Chief Strategy & Digital Officer of ECS Group, concluded: “As Australia's longest-serving General Sales & Services Agent (GSSA) since 1979, and two decades of existence in New Zealand, I can confidently claim that no one knows our regional air cargo markets better than Wexco does. Thanks to our team of highly skilled professionals, coupled with our customer centric business approach and state-of-the-art digital solutions, we are in an excellent position to provide DHL Aviation with the best possible representation it deserves.”

cargo-partner beomes a UN Global Compact member
In its 40th anniversary year and just in time for the COP28 that will be taking place in the UAE from 30NOV23 to 12DEC23, cargo-partner has joined the 13,000 other corporate participants and stakeholders located in more than 170 countries across the world, that have committed themselves to the UN Global Compact. Launched in 2000, the UN Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative aimed at bringing company strategies and operations in alignment with universal principles on four main areas: human rights, labor topics, environmental issues, and anti-corruption, and encourage measures to drive positive change. It is a voluntary initiative. “Participants are held accountable through regular reporting and encouraged to drive change through innovative solutions and partnerships,” the release maintains.
It is surprising to learn that cargo-partner has only now become a UN Global Compact member, given that the logistics services provider has long ensured sustainable practices at its various locations. Its iLogistics Center just outside Vienna airport, which went into operation in 2018, is striking in its wooden construction – and is not the only concession to a more eco-friendly way of working. Many of its centers generate part of the energy they use through an increasing number of green photovoltaic installations on their roofs. cargo-partner also “actively supports the development of fuel-efficient aircraft, electric trucks, and many other projects aimed at promoting the transition to sustainable transport and logistics technologies across the globe,” the release states.
Further to this, cargo-partner is ISO 14001-certified at many of its international locations, and continuously seeks to improve its operational efficiency through the help of digital solutions. It is similarly choosy when selecting transport partners, opting for those able to demonstrate high standards in eco-friendly transport technologies, and “actively assists its clients in monitoring and reducing their carbon footprint, supporting them in achieving their sustainability goals.”
Stefan Krauter, Founder and CEO of cargo-partner, underlined: “Our 40-year journey is not just a testament to our growth, but also to our enduring commitment to environmental and social responsibility. By joining the UN Global Compact, we affirm our dedication to promoting sustainability in the logistics sector, enforcing responsible business practices, and contributing to a more sustainable future globally. The global climate crisis is one of the most important challenges of our time […] We will continue to minimize our environmental impact and support all stakeholders in making their operations more sustainable. Together, we are building a better world for both current and future generations.”

Brigitte Gledhill

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