DHL Express, the world’s leading international express delivery service provider, has launched the UK’s only direct cargo route from Asia to the UK, with the first flight landing at East Midlands Airport this week.
The route has been introduced in response to the increasing demand from businesses for shipments from Asia, across the spectrum of medical, industrial and consumer goods.
It will run once a week, departing Hong Kong on Friday night carrying material exclusively for the UK, arriving at East Midlands Airport on Sunday. Goods will then enter the delivery cycle to be distributed across the UK on Monday morning.
The aircraft operating on the route is a Boeing 747-8 Queen of the Skies, one of the most fuel-efficient freighters currently available, with a cargo capacity of 100 tonnes. Some 95% of the goods on board will be time-definite products, covering everything from medical to industrial to e-Commerce shipments.
Ian Wilson, CEO DHL Express UK & Ireland, said: “As lockdowns in many countries around the world begin to ease, we’re seeing a sustained growth in demand for goods from Asia, covering all of the usual high value or time-critical products like technology, medical and industrial goods. We have introduced this new direct route operating into EMA as a direct response to this, and as part of our ongoing adaptations to the network to enable us to best serve our customers.”
Karen Smart, managing director, East Midlands Airport, said: “We very much welcome DHL’s continued investment in its EMA operation. It is fitting that currently, the only direct cargo flight to the UK from China comes into EMA which is home to the UK’s largest dedicated air cargo operation. This new route is further evidence of the airport’s vital role as a global hub for time-critical goods and a facilitator of world trade. As one of the UK’s most strategically important infrastructure assets, EMA is well-placed to support the gradual steps being taken by countries to re-start manufacturing and exports as they ease their way to normality following COVID-19 as well as being key to unlocking the UK’s economic potential in the coming years.”
In addition to the Hong Kong – EMA route, DHL Express has also introduced two additional new routes from EMA to JFK Airport and Miami International. Later this month, a new flight from EMA to Los Angeles will also be introduced. All routes are in response to the demand for time-definite deliveries to the USA, and to ensure the DHL Express network continues to provide the best possible connectivity and service for customers at this critical time.
Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP) has launched a collaborative online platform that can be used to book cargo capacity on its chartered freighter flights.
The KickCharter solution ensures charter freighter flights are full, or as close to full as possible, before operating. It also enables cargo to be flown to destinations that are not in AFKLMP’s scheduled network.
The carrier said it developed its solution “in response to actual customer needs in these unprecedented times”.
“This solution is unique in our industry and a new step in our digital transformation,”AFKLMP said in a statement.
GertJan Roelands, senior vice president of AFKLMP, added: “KickCharter reflects our ambition to keep extending our service range based on customer needs, offering next-level technology in combination with the expertise and insight of our teams, who help us make the difference worldwide.”
With closed-border policies and countries’ restrictions, transporting patients, health professionals, medical supplies or carrying out urgent missions like delivering stem cells and organs for transplants have been the major challenges for LATAM Airlines Group’s Solidary Plane program in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis.
Due to its commitment and effort during the pandemic, the Solidary Plane transported over 400 health professionals in order to address COVID-19 needs and also allowed more than 300 people suffering from various diseases to receive medical treatment or urgent surgery in the region. Additionally, for the first time ever, it landed in China in order to transport medical supplies, including mechanical ventilators.
Nine years after its implementation, the Solidary Plane has become a vital air bridge for humanitarian and health needs in Latin America. “The Solidary Plane is active all year round, and now more than ever it is flying to support the region in fighting one of the world’s worst health crisis. To this date, we have transported more than 400 tons of medical supplies including masks, rapid COVID-19 tests, mechanical ventilators, and medicines, among others. This has benefitted Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Argentina,” states LATAM Airlines Group’s head of sustainability, Francisca Arias.
Part of these supplies come from China in over 60-hour flights considering the round trip. A team of more than 30 people participates in these flights’ planning and execution, remaining a challenge for the airline. The company even decided to reconfigure two of their most modern Boeing aircraft (787 and 777), removing part of the cabin seats to increase cargo space.
LATAM Cargo’s stem cell transportation was an unprecedented event that allowed the Solidary Plane to continue contributing to health matters. Since cargo flights are not restricted, the company implemented this resource in order to grant cancer patients from Chile and Argentina a new chance at life.
Three minors and one adult received the stem cells transported from Germany and Brazil. For the first time, the cells were guarded by the airplanes’ pilots during their transportation.
The Solidary Plane program has a partnership with the DKMS Foundation, an institution that looks for compatible donors for blood cancer patients, regardless of their location.
The program, present in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, transported more than 4,000 patients and multidisciplinary teams by the end of 2019. It also allowed over 800 organs and/or tissues to be transported, in addition to 87 tons of cargo in light of health needs and humanitarian aid.
Swiss WorldCargo has announced it will further expand its network with new destinations and additional frequencies.
Within Europe, the carrier will add more destinations and frequencies beginning June 15 and thus serve a total of 45 destinations with more than 500 flights per week. This expansion, on top of the existing extensive trucking network in Europe, will increase its ability to utilize its long-haul network.
There will be further enhancements of the intercontinental network by having weekly flights to Dubai and Sao Paolo.
RHENUS Logistics has transported millions of pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Americas due to limited airlift. Rhenus has led the trend in the trade and logistics industry by receiving more and more PPE and other medical equipment from Europe and Asia and exporting it to Canada, the US and Latin America. Due to the limitations on flights from Europe to the Americas, Rhenus has solidified Miami as its hub with its newly opened 16,000 sq m warehouse.
The Germany-based logistics company established its footprint in the Americas with the opening of its new warehouse that is designated as a foreign trade zone. The facility, which provided vertical solutions for consumer electronics, industrial telecommunications, high-technology, high-fashion and retail, is now focused on PPE including gloves, face shields, masks and ventilators, as well as testing kits for COVID-19 and an assortment of other medical products.
“We have seen a tremendous increase in the demand for PPE and other healthcare products,” said Jörn Schmersahl, CEO of Rhenus Air & Ocean Americas. “While this was not a niche for us in the past, we have become experts in moving PPE to the US and the Americas. “Clearly our Miami warehouse was strategically located for us to reach the Americas quickly.
Christian Ryser, COO Rhenus LATAM Hispanic region, added: “We are committed to continuing assisting our local communities and health entities with their transportation challenges so that they can overcome them during the COVID-19 crisis.”
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