Cargo iQ’s board has announced its renewed vision for Cargo iQ in 2022, which includes focusing on implementation, direct collaboration with members and sharing best practices.
The IATA special interest group has also named Lothar Moehle as its new executive director, bringing over four decades of experience in the air cargo and logistics sectors, including senior positions at UPS and DB Schenker.
Moehle was also one of the founding fathers of Cargo 2000, the original name for Cargo iQ when the cross-stakeholder air cargo organization was launched in 1997. Moehle will begin his term as executive director on January 1, 2022, as Cargo iQ celebrates its 25th year.
“Cargo iQ is one of the few organizations in the industry with all stakeholders working together on transparency, visibility and quality improvement, and I join the leadership team as we look to drive the organization in new directions, to achieve our ultimate goal of a quality-driven global supply chain,” said Moehle.
“The last 18 months have taught us, more than ever, to embrace digitalization for a seamless and transparent supply chain. Collaboration is key to us achieving that as an industry, and Cargo iQ provides a vital platform to achieve that collaboration.”
Joined by Cargo iQ Chair Henrik Ambak and Vice-Chair Kerstin Strauss at the World Cargo Symposium event in Dublin, the Cargo iQ board also announced their renewed vision for Cargo iQ in 2022.
“In 2021 the Cargo iQ management team and working groups have been busy laying the groundwork for the organization, and 2022 will focus on the implementation work, collaborating directly with members and sharing best practices,” said Ambak, senior vice president cargo operations worldwide, Emirates.
Under their renewed vision, Cargo iQ will help members to achieve five key objectives, starting with 100% reporting, to ensure ‘one version of the truth’ from end to end of the Master Operating Plan (MOP).
Cargo iQ has developed the MOP to define the standard end-to-end process of transporting air cargo, which has been endorsed by IATA.
Cargo iQ’s full list of five objectives for 2022 include:
Achieving 100% reporting and full transparency
Ensuring Cargo iQ processes are fully implemented as members’ Quality Management System (QMS)
Enhancing adoption of the Cargo iQ methodology through membership growth and retention
Accelerating the development cycle for new and revised processes, ensuring that Cargo iQ stays relevant snd makes use of emerging technologies
Ensuring that members want to be involved and truly feel that the Cargo iQ processes are their processes
Cargo iQ will also drive its strategy to recruit more Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) freight forwarders to the Cargo iQ community.
“Cargo iQ will be implementing its previously trialed SME solution to offer improved planning and control capabilities to small and medium sized forwarders who work with member airlines on a small-scale or regional basis,” said Strauss, vice president air logistics operations, global air logistics, Kuehne + Nagel.
The organization also welcomed its latest member and recent entrant to the cargo sector, Nigerian aviation services provider Aglow Aviation, which pledged its commitment to global best practices by joining Cargo iQ recently.
Oman Air will resume flights between Muscat and Bangkok in November 2021. The flights will operate twice weekly on Thursday and Saturday.
The Thursday flight will depart Muscat at 22:00 local time and arrive in Bangkok at 06:45 local time on Friday.
The flight from Bangkok will depart at 09:15 local time on Friday and arrive in Muscat at 12:35 local time on Friday.
The Saturday flight will depart Muscat at 09:00 local time and arrive in Bangkok at 17:45 local time. The Saturday flight from Bangkok will depart at 20:05 local time and arrive in Muscat at 23:25 local time.
All flights are scheduled to operate with Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Turkish Airlines’ rising air cargo brand, Turkish Cargo, keeps growing steadily by strengthening its flight network. After Hong Kong, Turkish Cargo has now added Macau, one of the economic centers of China, among its destinations served with direct cargo flights. The dynamic brand increased its number of direct cargo flights to 97 with Macau, started on November 1, 2021.
Located in the Guangdong province of China; Macau is an important center in terms of tourism and finance and hosts market leaders of sectors such as high technology, e-commerce, electronics and textiles. Turkish Cargo aims to strengthen the air cargo bridge it has established between Europe and the Far East with the reliable, fast and direct air transportation it offers to logistics service providers with Airbus A330F type wide body cargo aircraft on ISL-ALA-MFM-ALA-ISL route.
Connecting continents, Turkish Cargo offers the world’s largest direct cargo flight network in the world; consisting of 97 destinations worldwide, excluding express carriers. The carrier performs global business processes with the fleet of Turkish Airlines, consisting of 371 aircraft including 24 dedicated freighters.
Achieving sustainable growth with its infrastructure, operational capabilities, fleet and expert teams in the field, Turkish Cargo aims to become one of the top 3 air cargo brands in the world. The carrier has been innovating to develop sustainable pioneering projects in the field of digitalization to enhance the quality of service offered to its customers in a changing world.
A Qatar Airways Airbus A380 took to the skies for the first time in more than 18 months recently, positioning the aircraft from Doha International Airport (DIA) to Hamad International Airport (HIA) after the airline reluctantly took the decision to welcome the fleet back into operation due to ongoing capacity shortage.
It is anticipated that at least five of the airline’s 10 A380 aircraft will be brought back into service on a temporary basis over the coming weeks to support fleet capacity on key winter routes, including London Heathrow (LHR) and Paris (CDG), from December 2021.
The national carrier for the State of Qatar is currently facing significant limitations to its fleet capacity as a result of the recent grounding of 19 of its Airbus A350 fleet due to an accelerated surface degradation condition impacting the surface of the aircraft below the paint, as mandated by the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA).
The airline also recently re-introduced a number of its A330 fleet following a continued increase in capacity requirements due to the easing of travel restrictions and the upcoming peak winter holiday period, which are anticipated to see a return to pre-COVID levels.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said, “The recent grounding of 19 Qatar Airways A350 fleet has left us with no alternative but to temporarily bring some of our A380 fleet back on key winter routes.
“These groundings are due to an ongoing issue relating to the accelerated degradation of the fuselage surface below the paint, which as yet remains an unresolved matter between Qatar Airways and the manufacturer for which the root cause is yet to be understood.
“This difficult decision reflects the gravity of the A350 issue and is intended to be a short-term measure to assist us in balancing our commercial needs. It does not signify a permanent reintroduction of our A380 fleet, which were grounded in favor of more fuel-efficient, twin-engine aircraft at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“One of Qatar Airways’ greatest assets is our highly flexible fleet of diverse aircraft. This means we are not dependent on a specific aircraft type, and enables us to balance our commercial needs with our responsibilities to maintain an environmentally sustainable fleet at all times.
“Looking forward, we remain committed to finding alternative solutions to support customer demand and maintain the highest levels of sustainability and customer experience for our passengers.
“We continue to strongly urge Airbus to prioritize their investigations into the conclusive root cause of the issue affecting the A350 aircraft type, and ensure it proposes a permanent solution at the earliest opportunity to repair the damage and correct the underlying root cause.”
The national carrier of the State of Qatar continues to rebuild its network, which currently stands at over 140 destinations. With more frequencies being added to key hubs, Qatar Airways offers unrivalled connectivity to passengers, making it easy for them to connect to a destination of their choice, seamlessly.
Lufthansa Cargo and WiseTech Global, intend to launch a direct eBooking connection between their systems, enhancing the eBooking process for users of the CargoWise platform for logistics services globally.
With production trials having commenced, the integration will provide CargoWise customers with a simplified booking process within their own IT-systems, providing air cargo rates, flight availability and the booking confirmation in real-time. Through API connectivity, the connection will increase forwarder productivity, eliminate manual, error-prone data entry and rekeying between systems, provide increased visibility and reduce resources and costs.
Ashwin Bhat, Chief Commercial Officer at Lufthansa Cargo, said, “We are pleased to be collaborating with WiseTech Global on this eBooking connection. As the air cargo industry continues to experience a rapidly changing environment, the ability to connect directly to CargoWise means we are providing our customers with booking possibilities via their own systems. Not only will this eBooking connection benefit our customers with increased efficiencies and productivity, but it is also enabling and supporting the digitalization of the logistics ecosystem. We look forward to building our partnership with WiseTech Global to enhance value for our customers and further driving the digital transformation of the whole industry.”
Scott McCorquodale, Chief Automation Officer, Air Cargo at WiseTech Global, said, “The partnership between CargoWise and Lufthansa Cargo is a win for our respective customers and the industry in general. As we continue to secure global rollouts with the world’s largest freight forwarders, our eBooking functionality provides logistics operators with immediately available critical information including buy rates and flight availability, complemented by direct flight schedule feeds and increased shipment tracking visibility.
“Improving the efficiency in information flows around the industry is vital. A direct data interface for eBookings will be the start of our collaboration with Lufthansa with further functionality already in the planning, to bring additional benefits to our customers into the future.
“There is no question that continually investing in implementing the right technology will put airlines and forwarders in a position of strength in the future. In addition to being one of the major global players in air cargo capacity, Lufthansa Cargo is showing that it is leading the industry in technology adoption, and we support this partnership to enhance our air connectivity solutions.”
The linking between Lufthansa Cargo’s booking system and the CargoWise platform will be based on an API, which makes it easy for CargoWise users to book the air freight carrier’s offers in real time. Maximizing efficiencies will benefit all involved. API connections are one of the major drivers to connect all involved parties within the supply chain to make airfreight faster and more efficient and furthermore improves data quality.
The roll-out of Kale Logistics Solutions’ Airport Cargo Community System (ACS) at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, has been adopted by 95 percent of airport stakeholders.
Airport operator Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) took the decision to implement the ACS to digitalize and streamline cargo operations as part of its goal to become a Smart Airport, with roll out commencing in March this year.
“The idea for the ACS was that we could orchestrate the cargo community, including building a Single Window platform, to provide full visibility across the supply chain,” said Satyaki Raghunath, Chief Strategy and Development Officer, BIAL.
Already, the ACS has connected all air cargo stakeholders at the airport, including Customs, Customs brokers, terminal operators, shippers, airlines, trucking companies, ground and cargo handlers and freight forwarders.
“Kale’s ACS is a next-gen community platform which will enable collaboration between stakeholders in the supply chain to launch new services and deliver superior customer experiences,” said Amar More, CEO of Kale Logistics Solutions.
“Our ACS is built on the principle of enabling a cohesive ecosystem of partnership and driving efficiency in air cargo operations with the highest level of data accuracy, security and compliance.”
BIAL also hopes to achieve full digitalization at the airport in preparation for anticipated growth in cargo throughput.
For the ten years preceding the Covid pandemic, BIAL enjoyed 11 percent annual growth in cargo volumes; following a drop in figures between 2020 and 2021owing to the Covid lockdown in April and May 2020, volumes were running higher than pre-Covid levels by September 2021.
In August 2021, Bengaluru Airport broke records when it handled the highest monthly cargo throughput since it began operations in 2008.
Recent significant infrastructure developments have increased the airport’s annual cargo capacity from 570,000 to 720,000 tons, but tonnages are expected to continue growing well beyond this.
A longer-term masterplan to relocate the cargo facilities to a new site aims to increase capacity at the airport to 1.5 million tons a year.
“Realizing our cargo business was going to grow, we took the decision to have an ACS,” said Raghunath.
“We realized we had to be as efficient and forward-thinking as possible, and Kale presented a very compelling vision and plan.”
Since implementation, Kale’s ACS has made real-time data available to the whole cargo community at the airport, has significantly reduced duplication and manual data entry, which previously led to errors and wasted time, and has also reduced dwell times and improved security.
Feedback from stakeholders has been overwhelmingly positive, with the whole community committing to the collaboration.
Further refinements to BIAL’s system are already planned, with modules and links to be added to the network, including freight corridors with partner airports and integration with a national airport community system, proposed by the Government of India.
“As we emerge from Covid-19, the fact that we have done this puts us in a good position to reinforce our commitment to the wider cargo community – everyone is excited about the future,” said Raghunath.
“In the age of digitalization, technology adoption is no longer something that airports can ignore,” said More.
“With 95 percent of adoption from the cargo community in Bengaluru, digitization is already a norm in a major airport in India. Post completion it will set a precedent for other airports too to go 100 percent digital.”
Full roll-out of the ACS at Bengaluru Airport is expected to be completed by the start of 2022.
Hermes Logistics Technologies (HLT) has re-engineered the user interface for its import flight planner, providing customers with a streamlined view of more operational data in fewer steps.
HLT’s new Import Flight Handling Solution combines data and functionality from the previously separate Pre-Flight and Flight Monitors, enabling users to view all their data without having to open separate windows.
Users can simultaneously view air waybill (AWB) and unit load device (ULD) data, and access functions such as Service Management & Recovery, without the need to switch back and forth between screens.
“The key aspect of the change is simplicity,” said James Plested, Product Manager, HLT.
“Our aim was to provide the user with as much detail as possible whilst reducing the number of interactions required to view and manage the data.
“The result is a drastically improved ability to prepare and monitor complex flight data, allowing users to work, review, and complete tasks far quicker than before.”
HLT’s upgrade was facilitated by the enhanced capabilities of its Hermes 5 Cargo Management System, which provides more desktop tools and improved real estate on which to expose more data.
Users can filter by Flight, ULD, and AWB data, allowing them to view and work on relevant items only.
To ensure any operational issues are dealt with efficiently, Service Management and Recovery issues are signaled to the user during both the flight operation process in real time and before flights are closed.
HLT developed its optimized flight planner solution to address customers’ ever-growing workloads and leaner workforces, as well as the need for quality handling and even stricter Service Level Agreement (SLA) compliance.
“Providing key operational data to users is fundamental and our new Import Flight Handling Solution allows us the opportunity to not only provide more data than ever before to the user but to do so using fewer steps and a more integrated approach,” said Plested.
The enhanced user experience afforded by the Import Flight Handling Solution furthermore supports HLT’s strategy to facilitate industry best practice by offering the user more control over the data, while reducing the time spent on data input.
“In an ever-changing world of increased data and higher customer expectations, user experience is of utmost importance,” said Lancelot Duppa-Whyte, Product Director, HLT.
“This change is part of a wider ‘My Tasks Now’ concept which continues to drive the product strategy.
“Hermes will continue to seek opportunities for continuous improvement, leveraging our 20 years of industry experience.”
Aviance Ghana Ltd. has implemented CHAMP’s Cargospot Handling solution. The solution will provide support to the Accra-based handling company’s operations across the country. CHAMP implemented the solution remotely – reducing costs of travel, delays, and streamlining the process. Aviance staff was fully trained via CHAMP Academy.
CHAMP’s Cargospot Handling is a sophisticated and comprehensive cargo operations and terminal management system that is straightforward and efficient for ground handlers and terminal operators to use, allowing for easy training with minimal training time required. With a high breadth of functionality and automation.
CHAMP Academy offers product training, retraining, and certification in the form of blended learning, which is a combination of e-learning and flipped classroom sessions. Course content is mobile responsive and can be delivered on any device. This modernizes the training delivery by using a blended learning approach. In March 2020, CHAMP Academy introduced Cargospot Handling.
“In a time of crisis in the air cargo industry, Cargospot Handling has provided crucial efficiencies to our business,” says Mark Kamis, Managing Director at Aviance Ghana Ltd. “The delivery was a success, and CHAMP Academy has furnished us with engaging and informative training materials that will no doubt be useful for our current and future employees.”
“Aviance Ghana Ltd is a major player in Ghana – we are pleased it is now powered by CHAMP,” says Nicholas Xenocostas, VP Commercial & Customer Engagement at CHAMP Cargosystems. “Our technologies and operations have been able to create effective processes for swift remote implementation, saving time and money for our customers. CHAMP Academy, likewise, provides a library of learning to ensure the solution’s maximum effectiveness.”
CHAMP Academy has also launched learning services for Traxon Global Customs, Traxon Global Security, and Cargospot Airline.
IATA has launched its Center of Excellence for Independent Validators Lithium Battery (CEIV Lithium Battery) industry certification program to improve the safe handling and transport of lithium batteries across the supply chain.
Said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General: “Lithium batteries are critical power sources for many consumer goods on which we all rely. And it is vital that we can ship them safely by air either with finished products or as components in global supply chains.
“That’s why we developed the CEIV Lithium Battery certification. It gives shippers and airlines assurance that certified logistic companies operate to the highest safety and security standards when shipping lithium batteries.”
CEIV Lithium Battery is the latest CEIV certification by IATA. It follows in the footsteps of similar certifications for handling pharmaceutical products, perishable goods and live animals.
Shipments of lithium batteries (alone or with finished products) must comply with well-established global safety standards for how they are manufactured, tested, packed, marked, labeled and documented.
These requirements are a key element of the IATA Lithium Battery Shipping Regulations (LBSR) and of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) which combine regulatory and operational input from industry and government experts.
CEVA Logistics is the first CEIV Lithium Battery certification, for its operations at Hong Kong International Airport and at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, following an extensive period of piloting.
Said Walsh: “We congratulate CEVA Logistics in becoming the first logistics company to achieve CEIV Lithium Battery certification. From cargo handlers, ground handling companies, freight forwarders and shipping companies, the more stakeholders along the value chain who participate in CEIV Lithium Battery, the stronger and more effective it will be for the industry.
“Ultimately, we all want to see a network of CEIV Lithium Battery trade lanes with participants certified at origin, destination and in transit points.”
Said Peter Penseel, COO of air freight for CEVA Logistics: “Our automotive, healthcare and technology customers appreciate our ability to seamlessly deliver responsive logistics solutions no matter the destination or cargo type, like lithium-ion batteries.
“Our experience in transporting a wide range of batteries made us an ideal partner with IATA in piloting their new CEIV certification.
“IATA continues to lead the way in providing standards, regulations and guidelines to improve overall quality and safety in the air transport industry. This new certification gives customers even more confidence in our ability to safely and reliably transport their lithium-ion batteries.”
Airline association IATA has added a ‘quote and book’ function to its rate portal, with IAG Cargo the first cargo group to offer the new functionality.
The addition of live rates and the option to book shipments onto IATA’s Net Rates platform will accelerate “the distribution of rates to market while simplifying and reducing the cost of rate handling procedures”.
The solution supports loose cargo and ULD pricing, general, express and perishable shipments, as well as allocations and block space agreements.
Frederic Leger, interim senior vice president for commercial products and services, IATA, and president, CNS, said: “The pandemic has accelerated the appetite for digitalization across the air cargo industry.
“IATA Net Rates new ‘quote and book’ function simplifies and accelerates the rate distribution and booking process between airlines and freight forwarders, saving valuable time by eliminating manual, labor-intensive processes.
“We are pleased to expand our Net Rates partnership with IAG Cargo to support their efficient cargo rates distribution and booking capabilities, across the different airlines of the group.”
John Cheetham, chief commercial officer at IAG Cargo, added: “We’re delighted that IATA Net Rates has added a quote and book function. It’s great news for freight forwarders.
“We’re seeing customers globally increasingly wanting more choice and flexibility to book their freight across our network. This expansion comes at an apt time for IAG Cargo as capacity on the network increases.”
The ‘quote and book’ function is initially available to freight forwarders booking IAG Cargo capacity from Canada, Ireland, Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, US and Vietnam, and will expand to additional markets over the coming weeks.
IATA is the latest in a series of companies to add online live rate and booking services to the air cargo market over recent years.
Zvi Schreiber, chief executive portal WebCargo’s parent, Freightos, said that the main differentiator between the different platforms is the level of coverage they are able to offer.
Schreiber said that WebCargo is currently the market leader with more than 30% of total market capacity available on the platform.
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
