WestJet CEO retires effective immediately

WestJet Airlines Ltd. says chief executive Gregg Saretsky is retiring effective immediately

Saretsky joined WestJet in June 2009 as vice-president, WestJet Vacations and became chief executive in March 2010.

Under Saretsky’s leadership, WestJet nearly doubled its fleet, launched WestJet Encore and started service to Europe.

WestJet ordered to change hiring practices for new no-frills carrier

The airline says Ed Sims, WestJet’s current executive vice-president commercial, who has also been appointed to the airline’s board of directors, is replacing him.

Robert Kokonis, the president and managing director of aviation consultant firm AirTrav, says Saretsky did a good job steering WestJet through big changes, but speculates the growing complexity of WestJet could have been a factor in the management changes.

“There’s been a lot of growth under Gregg. Share price has gone up 60 per cent, but perhaps there’s more complex challenges coming down the road and the board felt it was time to make a change,” he said.

Kokonis says some stock analysts who watch the company have shown concern over the “deviation from the pathway of low-cost carrier to being a multiple division, go everywhere, be everything carrier.”

He says he’s not surprised to see Sims take the top spot, but was surprised at the timing of the announcement.

Sims joined WestJet in May 2017 after serving as CEO of Airways, New Zealand’s air navigation service provider.

He also had held senior positions with Tui, Thomas Cook, Virgin Groups and Air New Zealand.

Chris Welsh MBE to retire from the Freight Transport Association

After 36 years’ dedicated service, Chris Welsh MBE will be retiring from the Freight Transport Association as its Director of Global and European Policy at the end of May 2018.

Welsh has spent his career at FTA defending and advancing the interests of importers and exporters (shippers) in their dealings with the world’s shipping lines and airlines. Through his work with the British Shippers’ Council, Welsh has provided an effective voice for the customer in these markets, and has succeeded in making it easier for FTA members to import and export goods by sea and by air. Welsh was awarded the MBE in 2015 in recognition of his achievements.

Earlier in his career, he helped establish FTA’s Brussels office in 1995 and served as the Secretary General of the European Shippers’ Council from 1996 to 2002. In addition to his current FTA duties as Director of Global and European Policy, he is also the Secretary General of the Global Shippers’ Forum (GSF) that provides a platform for shippers’ views to be heard by the global regulatory bodies. The GSF’s annual meeting in Melbourne on May 8-11 will mark Chris’s final commitment to the organization that he has run since its formation in 2011.

With the agreement of the Board of the Global Shippers’ Forum, FTA deputy chief executive, James Hookham will take over responsibilities for running the GSF from 1 June 2018. Hookham will also take direct responsibility for the global and European policy team at FTA.

FTA chief executive David Wells says, “Chris has been a tireless advocate for the needs and interests of businesses, managing sea freight and air cargo contracts for over 30 years, and I thank him for advancing FTA members’ interests in these modes of transport. His award of an MBE in 2015 recognizes the contribution he has made to keeping British, European and global supply chains safe, competitive and sustainable. I am grateful for the service he has given to FTA over a long and successful career, and wish him an active and happy retirement.”

The independent GSA network, 1GSA continues to grow with the appointment of Goodman GLS as its exclusive member for Korea.

The Goodman GLS GSSA business was launched in 2014 and represents Westjet, Cubana and the Leisure Cargo portfolio of 14 airlines, providing access to destinations throughout Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, Middle East and Africa.

It provides a full portfolio of GSSA services to airlines covering sales and marketing, reservations, revenue accounting, load planning and handling supervision.

The company can also manage import operations where required, provide ground transportation including door-to-door and courier services, and assist airlines with their landing rights applications.

Goodman GLS chief executive, H.E. Shin says, “We are delighted to have been selected as 1GSA’s representative for Korea. Joining this growing group will enable us to increase our profile internationally, as well as providing our fellow members with a strong presence in the important Korean market.”

1GSA president, David Lee adds: “Korea is an important and growing market, and the addition of Goodman GLS to our network – with both export and import capabilities – provides 1GSA with a significant further enhancement to its airline proposition. We look forward to growing together as we explore and realize mutual opportunities.”

Bart Pouwels leads new cargo team within Schiphol aviation department

Bart Pouwels, currently Director Business Development Cargo at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, took on his new role effective 1st April.

He will report directly to Head of Aviation Marketing, Cargo, and Customer Experience Maaike van der Windt and lead the dedicated cargo team.

“I am dedicated to air freight and am looking forward to using my experience to ensure the value of air cargo at Schiphol is recognized now and in the future,” said Pouwels.

Pouwels has been with Amsterdam Airport Schiphol since 2008 and has almost 20 years of experience in the air freight sector, starting his career with Jet Services as Key Account Manager, and moving to DHL where he spent ten years as Industry Manager Express & Freight.

The new department at Schiphol will consist of five teams: Cargo; Route and Business Development; Traffic Analysis and Forecasting; Marketing & Communications; and Customer Experience.

“Bart is a valuable part of the cargo team, and he, together with Saskia van Pelt and Ferry van der Ent, will continue to focus and support the air cargo industry and continue our Cargo Community initiatives,” said van der Windt.

“Our (cargo) mission remains to connecting the Netherlands and to shape Europe’s smartest cargo hub.

“Integrating cargo into a bigger division will put cargo closer to the heart of our organization as it increases its proximity to the airport’s Management Board.”

During his time with the Schiphol Cargo team, Bart has worked on projects involving slot allocation, aeronautical affairs, and airline account management.

He has been pivotal in the drive to digitalize the perishables and cool chain cargo flows at Schiphol, including the recent data sharing initiative by the Holland Flower Alliance.

IBA appoints Hatcher as COO

IBA, the independent aviation advisory and leading aircraft appraisal firm, has appointed Dr Stuart Hatcher to the role of Chief Operating Officer. “IBA is evolving to meet increasingly complex industry requirements in diverse global markets. Wisdom, judgment and tenacity are the skills that embody our advisory and analytical services” says Phil Seymour – CEO at IBA. “Stuart brings a depth of gravitas and strength which the team here can rely upon.”

To speak of trust might be a cliché, but as IBA celebrates its 30th year with a vigorous and far-reaching plan to broaden its global footprint with an authoritative consulting, advisory and asset management portfolio, it is vital that the COO shares the vision of the CEO and can get the job done, explains Dr Hatcher. “You are working on projects through a depth of variable layers in the COO role, and whilst the CEO is focused on strategy, I will focus on the here and now with an execution mind-set and a bias toward action.

“Directing and coaching others throughout the business will be a key factor in my mission as COO. The team at IBA must all embrace the Company’s business strategy with complementary competencies and different areas of expertise. Importantly as we expand global operations and pursue potential acquisitions, effective internal leadership will become the lynchpin of our success.”

Dr Hatcher joined IBA in 2005 and was previously Chief Intelligence Officer responsible for IBA’s valuations, modeling and intelligence activity – analyzing the market and trade information, to refine IBA’s valuations and opinions on market trends and their effect on the industry. He has been responsible for developing IBA. iQ, the new online analysis platform offering essential market intelligence for aircraft operators and the global aviation leasing and finance community. Dr Hatcher holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry, as well as being a Senior ISTAT Certified Appraiser. With his unique blend of market expertise and understanding of the industry drivers, he is a regular speaker at industry conferences and respected author.

Andreas Behne appointed as DoKaSch’s global sales director

DoKaSch Temperature Solutions has named Andreas Behne as new Global Sales Director. Since 1 March 2018, Behne is in charge of the newly created position to further expand the Opticooler use in Europe and beyond. Behne is directly reporting to the Managing Director, Andreas Seitz. DoKaSch Temperature Solutions is the Germany-based provider of the Opticooler, climate-controlled air cargo containers with unmatched reliability.

“The global pharma cool chain requires a very comprehensive approach in taking care about the different stakeholders like pharmaceutical shippers, forwarders and airlines. That is why we are very happy to have Andreas Behne on board”, said Andreas Seitz, Managing Director of DoKaSch Temperature Solutions. “We at DoKaSch are providing the world’s most reliable packaging solutions for high-value pharmaceuticals and that means that we are constantly working with our clients to guarantee the save passage of their sensitive products.”

Behne has been working in leading positions in international logistics for more than a decade, managing sales for temperature-sensitive shipments for logistics providers such as Dachser and Nagel Group. “The Opticooler has set the standards for quality and reliability in the worldwide transport business of high-risk pharmaceuticals”, said Andreas Behne. “I am very excited to be a part of the DoKaSch success story and to strengthen the further growth of the Opticooler business.”

Boeing launches JDM flight data technology

Boeing, through its subsidiary Jeppesen, recently introduced a new mobile version of its Jeppesen Distribution Manager (JDM) flight data update technology, and announced a new strategic alliance with Bad Elf, a leading provider of aviation hardware and software solutions. Together, Jeppesen and Bad Elf have now established a wireless data transfer system for aircraft owners and operators, using JDM Mobile and the Bad Elf Wombat portable device to update avionics data cards.

“Previously, many aircraft operators needed to update data cards offsite, which often meant working a long distance from their aircraft due to a dependency on traditional landline PC technology,” said Mike Abbott, director, Jeppesen Data Solutions, Product & Portfolio Management. “Through our relationship with Bad Elf, most of our general and business aviation customers will now be able to use JDM Mobile and the Wombat device to wirelessly update essential charts and data, right in the cockpit. This capability also extends to tens of thousands of customers operating legacy avionics that are not designed for wireless navigation data update capabilities.”

Initially, the JDM Mobile will support Garmin and Avidyne avionics systems and Bad Elf Wombat integrated technology, representing a majority of Jeppesen’s general aviation pilot customer base. In the coming months, additional avionics systems will be supported across general and business aviation, in total reaching more than 80 percent of JDM customers.

Jeppesen data subscribers using supported avionics platforms are now able to use JDM Mobile to download data updates on an iPhone or iPad and then wirelessly connect to the Bad Elf Wombat device to transfer flight information to avionics data cards. This allows pilots to update their avionics with current data before taking to the skies.

“We are excited to team with Jeppesen to provide a world-class mobile experience, related to what had become a tedious task for general and business aviation pilots to update their data,” said John Cunningham, CEO, Bad Elf. “Additionally with Wombat, pilots can easily collect flight and engine logs for analysis by several partner apps and services. We look forward to providing wireless data transfer capabilities with Jeppesen for the leading avionics platforms of choice.”

Jeppesen navigation data (NavData) is developed from a comprehensive aviation database, which is composed of more than one million records. To ensure accuracy, Jeppesen flight information analysts edit and verify approximately 150,000 database transactions generated from worldwide aviation data source documents during every 28-day revision cycle.

Airbus subsidiary to provide JetSMART with ROPS

Airbus subsidiary NAVBLUE will provide Chile’s low-cost carrier JetSMART with the Airbus Runway Overrun Protection System (ROPS). Under the agreement, which was signed at the FIDAE air show in Santiago, Chile, NAVBLUE will equip 100 aircraft, including retrofit of three aircraft already in operation. As a result JetSMART’s entire A320 Family fleet will be equipped with ROPS by the end of 2026.

Estuardo Ortiz, CEO of JetSMART, said, “As a modern airline, our strategy is to look for the best aircraft with the most up-to-date systems, and Airbus A320 Family aircraft with ROPS are clearly the best answer to our crews’ needs in terms of safety of operation.”

ROPS is an on-board cockpit technology, which Airbus and NAVBLUE have pioneered over several years. It is an alerting system that reduces exposure to runway overrun risk, and if necessary, provides active protection. It compares remaining runway length to expected stopping distance in real time to prevent runway overrun. So far, ROPS has been installed on more than 900 single-aisle and widebody aircraft with many more awaiting delivery.

Runway excursion – meaning either an aircraft veering off the side of the runway or overrunning at the very end – remains the primary cause of civil airliner hull losses. ROPS is the only overrun prevention system certified by all leading authorities.

JetSmart is an ultra low-cost Chilean airline created by US investment fund Indigo Partners, which also controls US airline Frontier Airlines, Mexico’s Volaris and Hungarian airline Wizz Air. Its primary base of operations is Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in Santiago, Chile.

Abu Dhabi Ports, EGA open dedicated container freight station at Khalifa Port

Emirates Global Aluminium and Abu Dhabi Ports have opened a facility, which will reduce trucking of EGA’s aluminium within Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD) by over 290,000 kilometres per year, reducing costs and environmental emissions.

The new container freight station will be used to load metal into containers for transfer onto ships for export. It has been purpose built by Abu Dhabi Ports close to EGA’s Al Taweelah site to reduce the trucking distance for each consignment by approximately 17 kilometres.

EGA and Abu Dhabi Ports open dedicated container freight station at Khalifa Port
Last year EGA shipped some 600,000 tonnes of aluminium from Khalifa Port, requiring over 17,000 truck movements from EGA’s site to the quayside. Total emissions savings from shortening the journey to waiting ships are expected to be over 2,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year, which is similar to removing some 450 cars from the UAE’s roads.

Commenting on the new facility, Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Ports, said, “At Abu Dhabi Ports, we strive to support our customers’ logistical and operational requirements through careful and forward planning of infrastructure. We are making every effort to enhance logistics efficiency and reduce carbon emissions by reducing the distance of trucks transporting aluminium from Emirates International Aluminium to the quayside, which adds value both commercially and environmentally. Our efforts to reduce environmental footprint coincide with the UAE target to reduce carbon emissions.”

EGA exports its metal to customers in more than 60 countries around the world, using 20 different shipping lines to ship to over 70 global ports. EGA’s aluminium is the biggest made-in-the-UAE export after oil and gas.

Journey times from the UAE’s central geographic location average 25 days to southern Europe, 25 to 30 days to destinations in Asia, and 40 days to North America, enabling just in time deliveries.

EGA’s Al Taweelah smelter is one of the largest single site aluminium smelters in the world. EGA also operates a power station at Al Taweelah to generate the electricity it needs for its operations. EGA’s Al Taweelah site covers an area the size of 555 football fields or five times the size of Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi.

Europe’s first digital interlocking opens in Annaberg-Buchholz

Latest generation of interlocking systems in operation after test phase at Erzgebirgsbahn • Innovative technology ensures greater efficiency in rail operations
From now on trains will be digitally controlled at the railway – in Annaberg-Buchholz, on the Erzgebirgsbahn in southeastern Germany. This is where Europe’s first digital interlocking (DSTW) has come into operation, ushering in a revolution in the control and safety technology of the Deutsche Bahn.

“Annaberg-Buchholz symbolically represents one of the largest technology projects in the history of Deutsche Bahn,” emphasizes Klaus Müller, CTO
of DB Netz AG. “Intelligent communication networks and the associated standardization and modularization of technology are trend-setting for the coming years. They allow us to make rail transport more economical, resource-saving and more efficient for our customers. The new interlocking technology is therefore a milestone in the digitization of the infrastructure and the basis for more capacity and punctuality in rail transport. ”

“The solution used in Annaberg-Buchholz is an important step towards the signal box in the cloud,” emphasizes Michael Peter, CEO of the Siemens Mobility Division. “For the first time, the interlocking system issues its control commands IP-based to the connected field elements such as points and signals. This leads to a completely new flexibility of planning, enables intelligent field elements and will generate positive cost effects in the longer term. All this, of course, while meeting the highest safety requirements in operation. ”

The DSTW in Annaberg-Buchholz marks the starting point for the nationwide implementation of a new innovative interlocking generation. The technology can be used both for the operation of main lines with dense operating program and large node stations as well as for simpler applications in the rural area.

A characteristic feature of the new interlocking architecture is that the operator’s control commands are transmitted digitally to switches, signals or track contacts via network technology. The previously required individual connections to individual control elements over partly kilometer-long cable bundles omitted. The DSTW network connection via data line also allows signals and switches to be controlled at significantly greater distances.

Schipol’s data sharing platform links flower shipment data to Air Waybills

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is increasing trust and transparency in the supply chain by linking flower shipment data to Air Waybill numbers at source, part of its Smart Cargo Mainport Program (SCMP).

The SCMP aims to make Amsterdam Airport Schiphol the Smartest Airport in Europe through increased use of data sharing and includes initiatives such as the Holland Flower Alliance Data Sharing Working Group, which piloted the scheme.

Flower shipment data such as number of boxes, flower type, and number of flowers and stems in each box, is linked to Air Waybill numbers by the portal, which then generates a unique GLN code that gives all users access to all the data in one place.

In successful pilots on journeys from Nairobi, Kenya, to the flower auction in Aalsmeer in the Netherlands, shipments of flowers remained traceable, in real time and on shipment level, throughout the journey, including both product and shipment information.

The unique GLN code comprises of a shipment reference and an order code, creating a universally recognized format that cannot be duplicated and providing end-to-end visibility that each supply chain partner can access through their own internal systems.

This provides each party in the chain with more information, earlier in the chain, so that they can track and trace shipments in real time along the whole journey, more effectively planning their own operation and reacting in real time to changes in circumstance.

“Through close collaboration between the floriculture and air cargo sectors, we are now able to link two critical sets of data and increase trust between parties by making that data available to everyone at all times,” said Jonas van Stekelenburg, Head of Cargo, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

“The new portal uses a unique ‘global standard 1’ code (GLN) combined with an order number. This way the system excludes duplications of either order numbers or Air Waybill numbers.”

Holland Flower Alliance partners along with Kuehne + Nagel and Panalpina are now working towards user-friendly ways of presenting the data to the end customer.

“This unique collaboration by means of SCMP and the Holland Flower Alliance is of great value for the precious supply chain of floriculture cargo,” said Marcel de Nooijer, EVP Air France KLM and Managing Director Martinair.

“By joining hands, we are really working hard to increase efficiency and quality and to lower costs throughout the whole supply chain.

“The development and launch of this data sharing platform is a real example that we are doing ‘new stuff’ benefiting all stakeholders in the floriculture chain.”

The portal was developed after consultation with the Cargo Community identified priorities for the perishable cool chain, with the ability to track and trace on box level from farm to auction appearing as a unanimous priority for all parties.

The portal also ensures that only authorized parties have access to sensitive data, increasing trust and cooperation, and encouraging further collaboration towards common goals,” said Koos van der Meij, Project Manager, Information Sharing Working Group.

The SCMP aims to increase efficiencies at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol through increased use to data sharing, and projects that fall under the program include Pharma Gateway Amsterdam, and EU Green Fast Lanes.