South African Airways (SAA) will open its first new route since implementing its turnaround strategy, by providing a link between Johannesburg and Guangzhou, China.
The flights to the heart of China’s export led manufacturing industries will start on 18 September, operating three times a week using an Airbus A340-300 and taking around 13 hours 40 minutes.
As well as providing passenger links, the Guangzhou flight will be of interest to traders, with SAA saying that cargo will complement the viability of the route.
Guangzhou is the largest city in Guangdong province and is an important transportation hub and trading port, located on the Pearl River about 120 kilometres northwest of Hong Kong.
Vuyani Jarana, CEO of SAA says, “Adding a direct service to mainland China, combined with our current popular flights to Hong Kong provides SAA with immense growth opportunities to and from mainland China. It also gives our traders access to the centre of Chinese manufacturing.”
Guangdong is described as ‘the world’s manufacturing hub’, and SAA says that formal and informal traders source the majority of goods purchased in Sub-Saharan Africa from the province due to Africa’s poor manufacturing capacity.
time:matters GmbH, the expert in high performance and special speed logistics, is now a certified Authorized Economic Operator. Hauptzollamt Darmstadt (main customs office, Darmstadt, Germany) awarded the status of Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) to time:matters GmbH in April, confirming its particular confidence in the company’s reliability and consistent service quality. With this official certification, international customers can be sure at all times that time:matters satisfies the strictest requirements in global goods management and complies with all standards for effective protection of the customer supply chain.
The AEO status obtained by CB Customs Broker GmbH and now also time:matters GmbH is the highest possible official AEO certification. This combined authorization covers both the customs simplifications of the AEO-C status and the security and safety requirements of the AEO-S status.
“We are delighted to have been awarded AEO certification. This confirms the success of our long-standing service excellence and quality strategy and illustrates that security and consistently high standards are a priority for us in our cooperation with customers,” explained Lars Krosch, COO of time:matters. “By certifying our status, the customs office has officially approved that we are a reliable and trustworthy partner in international goods transport. This represents the logical next step and consolidation of our commitment to quality.”
The state certification is another milestone for the time:matters service excellence strategy, the success of which has already been reflected for years in the consistently high Net Promoter Score of over 75. In previous years, time:matters already received ISO 14001:2015 (environmental) and ISO 9001:2015 certification. Both of these confirm the company’s resolute efforts to meet the highest standards at all times in the area of environmental management and also in relation to quality.
As a result of increased globalization and the changing international security situation, the World Customs Organization (WCO) has created the conditions for modern, effective risk management in customs administrations worldwide with the “Framework of Standard to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade” (SAFE). In this context, the European Union introduced the AEO certificate as an important part of the EU security concept. The aim is to secure the continuous international supply chain, from the manufacturer through to the consumer. An Authorized Economic Operator is considered particularly reliable and trustworthy and benefits from special privileges during customs clearance. Companies based in the EU have been able to apply for this certification since 2008. They must satisfy numerous conditions to be awarded AEO status, from adherence to legal and security requirements through to reliability and financial solvency.
LOT Polish Airlines is embarking on IATA’s CEIV Pharma certification, and is expected to complete the process by the end of October.
By committing to IATA CEIV Pharma, LOT says it will gain access to the pharmaceutical logistics market worth $13.4 billion.
The certification process requires carrying out several training audits, with partners delivering medicines to and from the airports of destination also being checked.
Michal Grochowski, director of LOT Cargo says, “We are eager to develop in directions set by Polish pharmaceutical market. Embarking on certification proves that we respond to market needs and our clients’ demand. We are catching up on previous years when LOT Cargo development was not driven in such specialized areas.”
He adds: “There are producers who depend on the carrier’s certification in the first place when placing their orders. Secondly, producers of highly valued pharma goods expect their products to be transported in the highest conditions without any unexpected issues occurring on the way.”
Frederic Leger, director airport, passenger, cargo and security products for IATA says: “We look forward to adding LOT to the growing list of carriers and other industry stakeholders who have achieved excellence in the handling of time and temperature sensitive cargo.”
LOT Cargo intends to transport pharmaceutical goods including insulin, vaccines and antibiotics, as well as products for veterinary use.
In addition, LOT is the first Central European airline to adopt digital processes of approval and verification of dangerous goods, IATA’s Dangerous Goods AutoCheck (DG Autocheck).
Grochowski says, “We want to ensure our current and future clients that LOT Cargo guarantees the highest safety and efficiency in transportation of products. The transportation of dangerous goods requires taking extra care and paying attention to every detail. DG AutoCheck is digital solution which ensures the highest accuracy at appropriate pace.”
Leger adds: “In becoming one of the first adopters of DG AutoCheck LOT have positioned themselves at the forefront of the digital evolution of the dangerous goods supply chain.”
Paul Dollman has been appointed non-executive director of Air Partner and will take up the role of chair of the audit and risk committee.
He became a non-executive director on 1 May, and will take the chair of the committee from 26 June, the date of Air Partner’s 2019 annual general meeting, taking over from Shaun Smith. Dollman’s other non-executive directorships include Wilmington’s audit committee, Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society and Etihad Topco.
In an executive capacity, Dollman has previously held the position of group finance director at William Grant & Sons Enterprise and Inveresk as well as roles at Clydesdale Group and PriceWaterhouse Coopers.
Ed Warner, chair of Air Partner says: “I am very pleased that Paul has joined the Air Partner board. He has a deep understanding of the aviation industry, which, coupled with his financial expertise, will be highly beneficial to Air Partner, further aligning the board’s experience to the group’s strategy.”
Dollman adds: “Air Partner has a solid strategy in place to become a world class aviation services group and I am very much looking forward to using my experience from Menzies Aviation to support this.”
Turhan Özen, Chief Cargo Officer of Turkish Airlines and the head of the Turkish Cargo Brand, has been elected to the Board of The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA).
Mr Özen has an extensive knowledge of the territories surrounding Turkey, having overseen business development in the Balkans, Middle East, and African regions.
“With a sizeable and impressive new airport, Turkey is set to become a major aviation transport hub between Europe and Asia,” said Sebastiaan Scholte, Chairman of TIACA and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Jan de Rijk Logistics.
“Because Turhan will be present on the ground as this major project works towards completion, his insight will prove invaluable to the TIACA Board and its members.”
Earlier this month Turkish Airlines moved all operations from Ataturk Airport to the new Istanbul Airport, an undertaking called the “Great Move” by the airline.
The new airport, due for completion in 2027, will be the busiest hub in the world, with six runways boosting capacity for cargo.
“The air cargo industry requires effective leadership to manage the changes demanded by continuously diversified customer needs,” said Özen.
“That leadership needs to be the clear manifestation of the common will to enable us to establish well-functioning processes and a sustainable future vision.
“I believe that my Board membership at TIACA will contribute to this leadership in terms of a positive way for the change and for the development of the international air cargo sector.”
Özen is one of several new members recruited to join the TIACA board as part of an ongoing strategy launched in 2018 to focus more on members and content.
Bii, have appointed two new Regional Directors to capitalize on a business growth trajectory that saw significant expansion in 2018. Cesar Pahl and Marco Pozzato have joined the Bii sales team to provide dedicated customer support for the regional commercial aircraft sector.
Cesar Pahl will utilize his extensive experience of the Latin America region to develop new accounts and build relationships. Recently Regional Sales Business Developer at AJW Aviation, following a three-year career interacting with key airlines across Central and South America, Pahl began his aviation career with Iberia as a Customer Service Executive.
Marco Pozzato will primarily focus on building customer partnerships for Bii across Europe. A skilled negotiator, Pozzato commenced his seven year aviation career at Avtrade where he quickly progressed to Regional Sales Manager, overseeing four countries and thirty five airlines.
Justin Blockley, Commercial Director of Bii, contributes the expansion of the team to the significant growth that Bii have experienced over the past 12 months. “We are delighted to welcome Cesar and Marco to the team, with their joint extensive background in aviation they will help define our strategy as we evolve the component and engine services that we offer. Their experience in the European and Latin American areas will be an important asset to Bii as we gain recognition for our flexibility, wide range of commercial aircraft parts and efficient AOG service.”
Embraer, following shareholder approval of the transaction with Boeing, announces that the current President and CEO of the company, Paulo Cesar de Souza e Silva, concludes a successful professional cycle with the company which is the end of his current two year elected term.
“Paulo Cesar idealized the partnership with Boeing and led the negotiation process of the transaction that will bring Embraer and Brazil to a much more competitive and prominent level in the global aviation industry,” said Alexandre Silva, Chairman of the Board.
For 22 years at Embraer, Paulo Cesar came from the financial market to structure the company’s sales financing area. For six years he was President and CEO of Commercial Aviation and in 2013 launched the E2 Program, the medium-sized commercial jets considered today to be the most efficient in the market.
In 2016, Paulo Cesar became President and CEO of the Embraer Group, with a mission to make the company more efficient, competitive and better prepared to face structural changes in the global aviation market.
His administration established three key initiatives focused on value creation and the sustainability of the company. The first was the transaction with Boeing. The second was the creation of the Passion for Excellence program, a structural transformation project focused on reducing costs and increasing operational efficiency, generating significant annual recurring savings. The third was the creation of EmbraerX, responsible for disruptive innovation and the development of opportunities for the future, such as eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle), a project that will revolutionize urban transport in partnership with Uber.
“Without the support of the Board and Embraer’s 18,000 employees and colleagues, none of our achievements would have been possible”, noted Paulo Cesar. “We are challenged to remain at the forefront of engineering and operations. In Executive Aviation and Defense, and with the KC 390 joint venture with Boeing, we will expand our international competitiveness and everything indicates that we will have another 50 years of success ahead.” And he added: “I am sure that the new leadership of the company will find fertile ground ahead to expand and consolidate Embraer.”
Paulo Cesar was invited to be a Senior Advisor to the Board, with the task of facilitating the integration of the future President and CEO and advising the Board on the monitoring of assets and resources segregation, an integral part of the process of concluding the partnership with Boeing. As it was reported, 96.8% of Embraer’s shareholders approved an agreement with the North American company last February, which should be concluded after obtaining all approvals of the Regulatory and Competitive Agencies in Brazil and abroad.
Innovative part-out specialist APOC Aviation has recruited Anca Mihalache to head up its new engine trading division. Her role will be to develop the leasing platform for APOC Aviation, foster relationships with airlines, investors and repair shops; manage engine sales; trade engines with leases attached or as naked assets; and evaluate engine stock for trading, leasing or teardown.
The focus of the engine division at APOC will be on CFM56-3/5A/5B/7B and V2500-A5 engines. A dynamic programme of investment is underway and the Company is pursuing a fast-growth strategy to build trading relationships with like-minded counterparties that is underpinned by significant investment.
Mihalache joins APOC from Vallair where she served as Head of Trading & Leasing responsible for managing sales operations and developing strategies and profit targets for all aircraft, engines, engine parts and airframe components. She has over 10 years’ experience in trading, leasing, sales & marketing within the aviation industry, including 6 years of managerial expertise. Prior to joining Vallair she was Sales & Purchasing Manager for Aero Care. She holds Bachelor’s Degrees in Commercial Transactions & Business Administration from the National Academy of Economics and in PR & Communication from the National School of Political and Administrative Studies in Bucharest.
“APOC is a young and ambitious company and I have been given the opportunity to set-up an engines trading department from scratch” says Mihalache. “It will be a challenge to build a new lease and teardown portfolio, but I am confident that we will quickly achieve our goals.”
Max Wooldrik, Founder & Managing Director – APOC Aviation, adds, “We’re excited to welcome Anca to the team. We plan to become a recognised force for innovation in the trading, leasing and part-out markets and her experience and commercial acumen will be valuable assets as she spearheads the APOC engine division.”
Etihad Cargo says it has achieved a step change in the way it runs its operations and engages with its customers six months after migrating to a new technology platform.
Last year, the carrier embarked on a strategy that saw the introduction of several transformation programs across its fleet and network, commercial and operational processes, and its physical and digital infrastructures.
Six months on, Etihad has managed a major distribution channel shift and proudly accepted 14.4% of its total bookings online since the October 2018 ‘go-live’ milestone.
Additionally, March 2019 has recorded the most successful performance yet with 16.4% of monthly bookings coming through the online portal, surpassing all records for similar portal launches for any other cargo carrier within the same period.
Etihad Cargo now has more than 6,000 unique registered users making online bookings every month, and the numbers are continuing to trend upwards (18.2% of the bookings were made online during the last week of March).
Building on this initial digital investment, round the clock work within Etihad Cargo continues with the carrier successfully completing trials for another major distribution channel, using automated Freight Forwarder Messaging (FFR) to instantly allow bookings to be made and confirmed.
“Etihad has made great strides in implementing the first phase of its digital ambitions over the past 18 months,” said Rory Fidler, head of technology and innovation, Etihad Cargo. “We placed investments in digital transformation and innovation at the core of our new strategy, underpinning a renewed customer-driven culture within the organization.”
“The fruits of that investment and hard work are transforming the way we interact and do business with our customers, and are opening up a multitude of future opportunities,” he added.
In addition to the real-time insights afforded by the IBS iCargo platform, the ongoing implementation of market-leading Customer Relationship Management software Salesforce, and use of Enterprise Business Intelligence will provide unprecedented visibility and insight into customer and market trends and developments once fully implemented later this year, allowing the business to remain agile and relevant to customers around the world.
“Within such a short period of time we have gone from being a very conventional air cargo operator, to being the most digitized air cargo carrier of our size globally,” added Fidler. “As we move forward, we will continue to invest in technology and seek to put ourselves at the forefront of the industry’s drive for digitalization.”
Hamburg Airport has introduced DAKOSY’s FAIR@Link Air Cargo Community System to speed up the freight process for imports and exports.
FAIR@Link is a neutral, IT-supported air cargo community system that enables all companies involved in the freight handling process to optimize and accelerate transport and freight processes for both import and export.
Customs, security, dangerous goods and supply chain management processes are all supported and in many cases are automated.
Alexander Muller, head of cargo at Hamburg Airport says, “I’m certain that the standardized early data exchange between the process participants made possible by FAIR@Link will create great added value for everyone. The pilot project will provide us with conclusive results for the processes at our air freight center.”
Ulrich Wrage, CEO of DAKOSY says, “Through intelligent process support and networking, FAIR@Link provides the ideal basis for further optimizing the physical processes between companies involved in air freight processing and for achieving significantly faster and more transparent processing.”
FAIR@Link is designed to standardize and optimize Hamburg’s cargo center, shortening handling and waiting times, increasing transparency along the transport chain and minimizing errors and costs by avoiding duplicate data entry.
The door management system gives time slots for the delivery of goods, with the delivery company and handling partner being able to coordinate schedules for the delivery of goods.
The four-month pilot project started on 6 May, with project partners concentrating on export processes.
In addition to Hamburg Airport and DAKOSY, the project participants include forwarding agents Cross Freight, Delta Stallion, a.hartodt and Sable, and handling partners LUG and Swissport, the Hamburg Airport Customs Office and the Hamburg Freight Forwarders Association.
Technology has made the world smaller and faster.Real time communication with people from all over the world at different time zones through phones and gadgets
