Alexander Proschka to head newly formed commercial division at Hahn Air

Hahn Air is regrouping its departments supporting partner airlines, travel agencies and the global distribution systems (GDS) into the new commercial and operation divisions. The new divisions also include communications and marketing, as well as IT support. The setup, Hahn Air says, allows the company to further increase business results for its more than 350 partner airlines and over 100,000 travel agency partners while taking advantage of synergies for internal and external support.

The newly formed commercial division will be headed by Alexander Proschka, who has been promoted to EVP commercial. His division comprises of the following departments: Airline business, communications and marketing, sales analytics and travel agency distribution. Proschka has been with Hahn Air since 2008 and was previously in charge of the sister companies Hahn Air Systems and Hahn Air Technologies with their products H1-Air and X1-Air. He holds a diploma in international business and industrial engineering from the University of Applied Sciences in Wiesbaden.

Another long-standing Hahn Air executive, Frederick Nowotny, has been promoted to head of operation to lead the new operation division. Nowotny joined Hahn Air in 2008 and previously led the sales engineering department. His division now includes the teams in charge of all airline and product implementation processes, GDS interfaces and inventory displays. In addition, he oversees the IT and second level support departments, as well as the Hahn Air Service Desk which assists partner airlines and answers ticketing enquiries of travel agents worldwide 24/7.

SAA to lay off its entire staff after failing to receive no additional financial aid from the government

After failing to receive additional financial aid from its government, South African Airways (SAA) plans to lay off its entire workforce, a move that signifies the airline’s collapse could be imminent, according to Bloomberg. The state-owned airline offered a severance deal to all 4,700 staff after executives determined a turnaround was unlikely.

South African Airways SAA filed for business rescue, a process that is very similar to Chapter 11 bankruptcy laws in the United States, in early December 2019. Since then it has secured additional funding by commercial banks and other lenders to use during the restructuring process. In February, SAA announced a number of changes to its network as part of its restructuring plan. In March, due to a government travel ban aimed at stopping the transmission of COVID-19 (coronavirus), the airline halted all international flights through May 31.

Bloomberg adds the airline last made a profit in 2011 and has long relied on bailouts and state-guaranteed debt agreements. SAA was, in addition to its route reduction (prior to COVID-19), it was also considering cutting jobs.

Sebastian Mikosz joins IATA as the SVP for Member and External Relations

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that Sebastian Mikosz will join IATA as the Association’s Senior Vice President for Member and External Relations, effective 1 June 2020.

Most recently, Mikosz was Group Managing Director and CEO of Kenya Airways (2017-2019), during which time he served on the IATA Board of Governors. Prior to that he was the CEO of LOT Polish Airlines (2009-2011 and 2013-2015) and the CEO of Poland’s largest online travel agency, the eSKY Group (2015-2017).

At IATA, Mikosz will lead the organization’s global advocacy activities and aero-political policy development, along with managing the association’s strategic relationships. This includes IATA’s 290 member airlines as well as governments, international organizations and stakeholders in both the private and public sectors. Mikosz will report to the Director General and CEO and join the Association’s Strategic Leadership Team. He replaces Paul Steele, who retired from IATA in October 2019. Brian Pearce, IATA’s Chief Economist has been handling the duties of this post on an ad interim basis since then.

“Sebastian brings with him a wealth of experience in the public and private sectors that will be critical in advancing the global aviation industry’s advocacy agenda. At this time of unprecedented crisis, the airline industry needs a strong voice. We must restore the confidence of governments and travelers so that aviation can re-start, lead an economic recovery, and connect the world. Sebastian’s experience in launching and turning-around companies will be invaluable in helping IATA meet the expectations of our members, governments and stakeholders,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

“I can’t wait to get started at IATA. Aviation is in crisis and all industry and government stakeholders have high expectations for IATA to play a critical role in driving the recovery. From my experience as an airline CEO and as a member of the IATA Board of Governors, I know how important IATA is to the global connectivity that we usually take for granted. Today’s challenges could not be greater. And, in joining IATA, I am determined to contribute to the efficient restoration of the links between people, nations and economies that only aviation can provide,” said Mikosz.

A Polish national, Mikosz is a graduate of the Institute of Political Studies in France with a Master’s degree in Economics and Finance. In addition to his airline experience, Mikosz’s career includes the positions of Vice President at the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency, Senior Advisor at Société Générale Corporate Investment Bank, Managing Director of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Poland and founder of the online brokerage house Fast Trade. Mikosz speaks Polish, English, French and Russian.

AviaDev appoints Ogaga Udjo

Ogaga Udjo is a professional in the commercial aviation sector, currently the Managing Director of ZA Logics, an African aviation advisory. In his corporate airline career, he has worked for Comair Limited, South African Airways and Qatar Airways. His roles have formed part of the research, commercial and/ strategy functions of all airlines. In his last capacity in the corporate sector, he developed and headed the Network Planning, Scheduling & Alliances Department of Comair Limited – South Africa’s only Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed airline business. Prior to that, he was involved in strategic planning and implementation for the core airline business in the Domestic, Rest of Africa and Intercontinental markets for South African Airways.

Jon Howell, Founder and CEO, AviaDev said, “AviaDev has been embedded in the African aviation industry since inception in 2015 and our mission is to improve air connectivity to, from and most importantly within the African continent. This mission is even more pertinent in light of the current Covid-19 challenge and Ogaga brings a wealth of experience and expertise from his time working with African and international airlines. We are delighted to welcome him onboard”.

Becca Rowland, Partner at MIDAS Aviation, welcomed Ogaga, saying “while our experience is extensive in terms of global reach and the range of projects we get involved in, there is huge value in having someone based where your clients are. Ogaga brings experience that is grounded in the African aviation industry and we are looking forward to working with him. He shares our commitment to providing solutions which are firmly backed by evidence and clear strategic thinking”.

Ogaga Udjo, said “we believe in the value that strategic partnerships provide for all stakeholders in the aviation industry, especially now as we charter a new flight path across African skies. Accordingly, it is a great pleasure for us to partner with AviaDev, who have authentically and consistently delivered on their mission to contribute to the improvement of African aviation. In the same vein, we are delighted to partner with MIDAS Aviation, who have a demonstrable track record in providing clarity through strategic insights, across their global footprint”.

Nypels joins APOC Aviation’s Engine Trading division

APOC Aviation has brought Jim Nypels into its new Engine Trading Division as the organization prepares for a return to increased leasing and trading activity. Nypels has been with APOC since the start of the business in 2015.

After a period as Warehouse & Logistics Manager he moved to project management focusing on airframe teardowns – a core activity for the innovative leasing, trading, aircraft component and part-out specialist.

Supported by significant investment, APOC Aviation is actively seeking to develop opportunities in the engines’ arena and Anca Mihalache, VP Engine Trading, who will mentor Nypels in his new role, believes that his solid experience of the APOC ethos combined with a genuine enthusiasm for the engines side of the aviation aftermarket, will be immediate assets as she grows her team. “The new APOC Aviation engines division is focused on CFM56-3/5A/5B/7B and V2500-A5 engines. A dynamic program is already underway as we pursue our strategy to build trading relationships with like-minded counterparties. Jim will work with the team to foster our relationships with airlines, investors and repair shops. He will help to manage engine part sales and evaluate engine stock for trading, leasing or teardown.”

In his previous role as project manager Nypels was accustomed to troubleshooting unforeseen problems and he sees this a core strength. “At this challenging time for the aviation industry I am currently concentrating on engine valuations and preparing for the integration of the Company’s engine platform on its proprietary software ‘Alicanto’.

Our guiding principle at APOC is to leave nothing to chance so we are devoting a great deal of investment and time into the development of the engine module within our best-in-class IT platform. Contributing to these new developments and undertaking training from our technical department will help fast-track my engine knowledge” he says. “We have big plans for APOC’s Engine Trading division and I am excited to be one of the pioneers in the team.”

Abu Dhabi Ports open Covid-19 testing facilities at Zayed Port and Khalifa Port

Stepping up efforts to preserve the health and safety of maritime personnel in Abu Dhabi and to drive business continuity, Abu Dhabi Ports has constructed Covid-19 testing facilities at both Zayed Port and Khalifa Port.

Accessible to all Abu Dhabi Ports employees, contractors and subcontractors active in the ports, the new facilities, which were constructed in record-time within one day, can process up to 700 tests daily. Housing the latest in medical diagnostic equipment for detecting COVID-19, the 150 sqm facilities are fully staffed by qualified medical personnel who can conduct the tests in a matter of minutes with results returning within 24 hours. Abu Dhabi Ports aims to conduct 6,000 tests in the upcoming days.

Captain Hazzaa Al Junaibi, Corporate Security Manager, Abu Dhabi Ports, said, “Hundreds of thousands of port personnel, ship crews, and offshore workers across the world are running critical maritime operations, day and night, to ensure that the global supply chain continues to move critical cargo to where it is most needed.

“As part of our fight against COVID-19, it is imperative we redouble our efforts to protect the health of these invaluable individuals, so they can continue to support our vital economic and trade lifelines and help mitigate the overall impact of the coronavirus pandemic.”

Since the start of the coronavirus crisis, Abu Dhabi Ports has introduced several measures to ensure that health and safety is maintained across all aspects of its operations. This includes the introduction of temperature screening at all sea checkpoints, as well as thermal scans of all vessel crews and offshore personnel operating in Abu Dhabi waters.
The port authority also regularly sends medical teams to all its maritime assets including Al Dhafra region ports to ensure the safety of all operating staff and business continuity.

Abu Dhabi Ports has commenced an ongoing disinfection and sterilization exercise across all its maritime facilities in line with the Department of Health’s directives for combatting the spread of the coronavirus.

Additionally, the port authority has stepped up efforts to tackle the economic impact of COVID-19, by unveiling several relief packages to support customers within its industrial zone cluster, who are challenged by the current market conditions. Aiding them to continue being competitive within their respective markets, the relief efforts fall in line with UAE’s directives to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the economy.

The continued hard work of the world’s maritime industry is playing an integral role in ensuring global supply chains remain active and those essential sectors, such as the food and healthcare industries, receive the cargo they need to remain operational.

To show its support for critical infrastructure personnel and healthcare providers battling COVID-19, Abu Dhabi Ports has enacted a solidarity campaign that will continue to run until the conclusion of the global pandemic. Aptly named ‘Horn of Hope’, the initiative sees the daily sounding of horns in 15-second bursts from all ships in harbors around the world.

Global air cargo facing ‘severe and immediate’ capacity crunch as result of Covid-19, warns IATA

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has warned that global air cargo is facing a ‘severe and immediate’ capacity crunch as a result of Covid-19 and urged governments to offer more support to airlines and cut red tape.

“At present, we don’t have enough capacity to meet the remaining demand for air cargo,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s CEO.

“Volumes fell by over 15% in March compared to the previous year. But capacity plummeted by almost 23%.”
Global capacity shrank by 22.7% in March compared to the previous year.

Airlines around the world are increasingly using their grounded passenger aircraft for cargo-only flights but de Juniac said these special operations are facing “bureaucratic hurdles”.

He called on governments to take measures, including cutting the paperwork for charter operations, exempt cargo crew from quarantine rules that apply to the general population and ensure there is adequate staff and facilities to process cargo efficiently.

New data from IATA showed that Middle Eastern carriers reported a decline in air cargo demand of 14.1% year-on-year following growth of 4.3% in February.

But African airlines were less affected by disruptions in March. They saw year-on-year growth in international CTKs fall by 1.2% following the positive annual outcomes in January and February.
The Africa-Asia market was the only trade lane which continued to post growth in March, with volumes up almost 10% year-on-year.

“The capacity crunch will, unfortunately, be a temporary problem. The recession will likely hit air cargo at least as severely as it does the rest of the economy. To keep the supply chain moving to meet what demand might exist, airlines must be financially viable. The need for financial relief for airlines by whatever means possible remains urgent,” said de Juniac.

Agility to source Covid-19 medical supplies and services

Logistics giant Agility has established its own procurement company which sources COVID-19 medical supplies and services, writes Thelma Etim.

Based in Dubai, it procures ventilators, mobile testing kits and has developed a contact-tracing app for governments, hospitals and frontline healthcare workers.

The logistics company’s Global Response Aid (GRA) division specializes in the sourcing of vital critical care equipment, including, thermometers, face-masks, goggles, protective suits, cleaning and sanitation supplies, and thermal detection equipment.

Meanwhile, the company’s in-house-developed mobile phone app helps stop the spread of the virus “through community-driven contact tracing and alerts. The app offers users the ability to record, time stamp, and geo-reference test results,” explains a company statement.

GRA is also deploying mobile diagnostic testing vehicles, along with specially-trained teams, that can perform COVID-19 testing on site at schools and workplaces, adds the statement.

CEVA launches new service as an alternative to air

Logistics firm CEVA has launched a truck-rail-truck operation between China and Southeast Asia in response to airfreight capacity shortages in the region.

CEVA said China and the Southeast Asia region are facing flight suspensions and reductions, space limits and operational restrictions in addition to long waits at border crossings due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
It pointed out that the China-Vietnam road border crossing point between Pingxiang and Lang Son currently suffers from backlogs of two to four days.

To avoid this, shipments are picked up by CEVA across south and east China and loaded into 45 ft hi-cube containers.

They are taken by truck to the cross-border train — which operates three times a day — and into Vietnam, where they are then unloaded onto trucks and delivered to final destination.

Shipments bound for Thailand which were taking up to eight days are now arriving in three to four days. The new service is also being used by CEVA customers in Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore.

Guillaume Col, CEVA Logistics’ chief operating officer, said, “With our TRT solution, serious traffic jams at the border crossings can be avoided. During the Covid-19 pandemic, it really is the best solution for customers wishing to move urgent shipments between China and Southeast Asia.

“As a pioneer in TRT service, we will keep exploring our Road & Rail network between China and Southeast Asia to further develop these services.”

Several CEVA technology customers have already taken advantage of it to keep their cargo moving over the last month, the company said.

Export documentation requirements for the TRT service are the same as an all-trucked service and Customs clearance can be achieved within three hours.

Emirates Delivers sees increase in shipment deliveries in March

Emirates Delivers, the e-commerce delivery platform launched by Emirates Sky Cargo, has seen a 20 per cent month-on-month increase in shipments delivered in March, it announced recently.

Customers opted to shop for a range of items including medicines and supplements, toys and games, fashion and sporting goods.

As a result of customers preferring to shop online during the Covid-19 pandemic, Emirates Delivers has seen an increase in membership and orders since March 2020.

“Emirates Delivers is a very unique e-commerce offering and we stand by our customers in the UAE during these challenging times to help deliver their valuable shipments from online retailers in the US,” said Nabil Sultan, Emirates divisional senior vice president, Cargo.

“Our customers can make use of the 30 day free storage offer in the US and take advantage of the most attractive offers on various e-commerce sites to consolidate their shipments and save on individual shipping costs through the competitive shipping rates that they can access through Emirates Delivers.”

Despite the ongoing testing times that has also seen the suspension of all passenger flights from the UAE, Emirates SkyCargo has been connecting Emirates Delivers shipments through its freighter services from the US, offering customers in the UAE an average transit time of around seven days.

Emirates Delivers offers contactless deliveries for its packages in light of the current social distancing directives in the wake of the pandemic.

Emirates Delivers permits consolidation of purchases from multiple online retailers in the US into a single package and has it delivered to an address in the UAE, thereby supporting individuals and small businesses in the UAE.

Registered members are allocated a unique mailing address in the US where customers can have their online purchases delivered. Customers can then create a shipping request to consolidate the different purchases and have them shipped to an assigned UAE address anytime within 30 days.