Korean Air plans to make sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) available for air cargo operations in cooperation with air cargo customers and forwarders.
Customers will be able to make customized contributions through the Korean Air Cargo SAF program and reduce their carbon footprint. Korean Air will use the contributions to purchase additional SAF and share with customers the amount of carbon emissions reduced by using SAF.
The airline’s initiative is a part of its ongoing effort to reduce carbon emissions and raise awareness in the air cargo sector to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The airline said it will continue to work with stakeholders in the government, private institutions, and refiners to review various domestic and international demonstration projects to increase SAF production and application.
“We’re pleased to work together with our clients to reduce carbon emissions from cargo operations through the SAF program,” said Jaedong Eum, senior vice president and head of Korean Air’s Cargo Business Division. “Korean Air is committed to sustainable development with our next generation in mind.”
Incheon Airport’s Terminal 1 will undergo a 1.2 trillion won ($903 million) refurbishment starting from next year, the airport’s operator said recently.
“After conducting an open survey of Terminal 1’s facilities’ operational status, Incheon Airport will conduct a comprehensive repair of its facilities from April 2024 to June 2033,” said an official from Incheon Airport during a press conference.
The facilities that will get an upgrade include the terminal’s ventilation systems, sanitary facilities and the cooling and heating systems.
It will also install new smoke control systems, fire shutters and earthquake-resistant devices throughout the airport to enhance safety.
The official said the facilities are considerably outdated and in due time for an upgrade.
“More than 20 years have gone by since Incheon Airport’s Terminal 1 was established. We found that 80 percent of the facilities (at Terminal 1) have either reached their end-of-life cycles or accumulated fatigue,” he said.
The airport operator expects the renovations to create 19,000 jobs and incur an economic trickle-down effect worth some 3.65 trillion won.
Global Crossing Airlines Group (GlobalX) will lease an A321 passenger to freighter (P2F) aircraft from Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM), a subsidiary of Air Transport Services Group (ATSG).
The aircraft is set to be delivered in October this year.
“We are pleased to be able to lease our first A321 freighter from CAM, a worldwide leader in cargo aircraft conversions and leasing, and we greatly appreciate ATSG’s support of our team and our business plan,” said Ed Wegel, chair and chief executive of GlobalX.
“Our A321F fleet has performed extremely well – with better fuel burn, and load and unload times for both main deck and lower belly of less than 45 minutes. The A321F takes 50% more volume than its narrowbody competitor and is quickly shaping up to be the 757 freighter replacement aircraft.
“ATSG is excited to partner with GlobalX as they continue their transformational growth,” stated Paul Chase, chief commercial officer for ATSG. “We continue to seek partnerships that expand our global leasing footprint with companies that focus on the customer by providing world class service and reliability.”
GlobalX took delivery of its second Airbus A321 passenger to freighter (P2F) conversion in June.
It received its first A321P2F in December last year after conversion by ST Engineering.
Dublin Airport operator daa has secured a temporary stay on plans to ban night flights.
The ban – announced in late July with a six-week notice period – would have reduced the number of flights using Dublin’s north runway between the hours of 11pm and 7am.
The airport operator said the ban would have caused it to cancel thousands of flights.
The news of the stay was welcomed by Freight Transport Association Ireland.
Chief executive Aidan Flynn said the night flights were important to the Irish economy.
“Night flights are critical to the continued and efficient supply chain across Ireland,” said Flynn.
“They ensure that time-sensitive goods such as specialist foods and high-value items can be delivered at the start of the working day, maximizing productivity for thousands of organizations across the country, and ensuring minimal delays for consumers.
“Airfreight makes a significant contribution to the Irish economy – cargo night flying supports €1.1bn per annum in GDP and 15,000 jobs, and accounts for 38% of all freight transported via Dublin Airport.
“Reduction of nighttime flight slots would have a disproportionate impact on logistics businesses and their customers across Ireland, and reduce the effectiveness of Irish trade, as well as having a significant impact on services to European and global supply chain partners.”
In August 2022 the Airport Noise Competent Authority (ANCA) published a decision which amended two conditions attached to the granting of planning for the North Runway.
These included amended use of the runway to prevent any arrivals or departures between 0000 and 0559 hours, and the implementation of a quota system for nighttime noise at the airport.
“Any changes to the complex schedule of flights could have a significant impact not only on business but on Ireland’s reputation as a trading nation,” said Flynn.
“It is imperative that the implementation of any changes to current flight schedules be delayed for a minimum of six months, to give An Bord Pleanála time to complete the necessary research successfully and make a considered decision on the Air Noise Competent Authority (ANCA)’s decision.”
Silk Way West Airlines has expanded its US network by adding weekly freighter flights to and from Los Angeles International Airport.
The Baku-headquartered airline said it will transport a wide range of general cargo, perishables, oversized and e-commerce goods on the route.
Los Angeles is one of the world’s largest cargo gateways, handling millions of tons of freight annually.
The addition of Los Angeles complements Silk Way West Airlines’ flights to Houston, launched in April of this year, as well as the previously established regular flights to Chicago and Dallas.
“We are delighted to announce the expansion of our network with the addition of Los Angeles International Airport as a new destination,” said Fadi Nahas, Silk Way West vice president Americas.
“The new route will greatly benefit our West Coast customers by providing freighter nose cargo load capacity and shorter transit times for US destinations west of the Continental Divide.”
The airline did not specify which aircraft would be used on the route, but it currently has a fleet of Boeing 747-400 freighters and 747-8Fs.
The airline finalized an order for two Boeing B777-8Fs in November last year, with options for two additional aircraft of the same type.
Avianca Cargo has added a new freighter service between the US and Brazil as it looks to cater to demand for high tech and valuable goods.
The new weekly service was launched this week and connects Miami with Campinas and Vitoria (VIX) utilizing one of its Airbus A330 freighters.
Avianca said the service would primarily increase its capacity for importing technological products and high-value goods as well as the export of perishable goods.
Avianca Cargo vice president of corporate development Diogo Elias said: “Brazil is one of our most significant markets for import and export. At Avianca Cargo, we are in constant search of new opportunities to offer our clients.
“This is why, with the inauguration of our fifth destination in this country, we will continue to provide them with more alternatives, consistently and with the highest quality standards.”
The airline pointed out that its Miami base was IATA certified under the CEIV Lithium Batteries program.
The carrier’s customers, Rhenus Logistics and CEVA, welcomed the addition of the new flights.
Rhenus air gateway supervisor for the Americas Robert Villanueva said: “Transporting cargo swiftly and efficiently from Miami to VIX enables us to deliver our services to one of our biggest high-tech clients in the region.
“Our commitment to this specific route reflects our dedication to Brazil, one of our largest markets in support of our Miami Gateway, guaranteeing allocated space with Avianca Cargo to further strengthen and increase the air cargo landscape in the area.”
Luiz Beraldo, director of perishable air product Brazil at CEVA Logistics, said: “In the launch of this route, alongside CEVA Logistics, Avianca Cargo will export perishable products such as fruits and fish from Vitória to the US and Europe.
“This new operation signifies a substantial reduction in transit time as there will no longer be a need for a land connection to Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo.”
Dronamics has become the first cargo drone airline to be officially assigned both IATA and ICAO designator codes.
The drone firm has been assigned the IATA designator code “OY,” along with the accounting prefix “651.”
The ICAO call sign “Black Swan” and the 3-letter airline designator “DXE” have also been assigned to Dronamics.
Dronamics said the codes would enable it to be officially recognized as an airline entity, supporting commercial interline agreements with other IATA carriers, facilitating connections with freight forwarders, and enabling the publication of flight schedules.
The IATA two-letter Airline Designator code “OY” will be used to establish flight numbers.
The Airline Accounting Prefix “651” grants Dronamics the ability to issue air waybills (AWBs).
The ICAO codes are used by pilots and air traffic controllers for flight planning, communication with air traffic control, and the dissemination of vital information through NOTAMs (Notice to Air Missions).
Svilen Rangelov, co-founder and chief executive of Dronamics, said: “Becoming the first cargo drone airline with both IATA and ICAO designator codes is a testament to Dronamics’ pioneering spirit and our vision for faster, cheaper and green air cargo for everyone, everywhere. This recognition by the leading aviation community reinforces our position on the international aviation map.”
Cathay Pacific is grappling with flat demand and a steep increase in cargo capacity, but cargo volumes continued to pick up as capacity recovered from last year’s lows.
The airline carried 111,210 tons of cargo last month, an increase of 6.4% compared with June 2022. The month’s cargo revenue ton kms (RFTKs) increased 16.3% year on year.
However, the cargo load factor decreased by 6.7 percentage points to 61.7%, while capacity, measured in available cargo ton kilometers (AFTKs), increased by 29% year on year.
In the first six months of 2023, the tonnage increased by 23.8% against a 117.6% increase in capacity and an 83% increase in RFTKs, compared with the same period for 2022.
The carrier had to slash cargo capacity last year, which effected volumes, due to lockdown measures in Hong Kong.
The carrier also benefitted from e-commerce demand.
Chief customer and commercial officer Lavinia Lau said: “For cargo, the summer season is typically a slower period. As expected, overall demand in June remained flat, although e-commerce remains the bright spot and has helped maintain volumes.”
Commenting on the outlook for cargo, she added: “Although cargo demand is expected to remain flat throughout the summer period, we are already preparing for demand to pick up in the latter part of the third quarter. Additional capacity will be operated on our key transpacific routes to cater for this.”
The Cathay Group also said it plans to buy back the preference shares held by the Hong Kong SAR Government over the next 12 months as it further recovers from the operational disruption it experienced as a result of government pandemic measures.
The Group paid the deferred dividend of HK$1,524.1m on the preference shares held by the Hong Kong SAR Government on June 30, bringing its deferred dividend payments up to date.
It said it intends to pay all future preference shares dividends as they fall due.
The airline recently said it will add new freighter flights to Toronto and Miami over the summer as its belly operations continue to roll out.
American Airlines Cargo has become the first US carrier to join the United for Wildlife group that aims to end the illegal trafficking of wildlife.
The carrier is a member of the group’s Transport Taskforce and the North American Chapter where it will help stop the illegal trafficking of wildlife and associated products.
Stakeholders are trained to recognize patterns of illegal wildlife trade where it is most prevalent.
American Airlines Cargo president Greg Schwendinger said: “We are proud to be the first US cargo carrier to join United for Wildlife. We take our membership in the Transport Taskforce very seriously and are committed to doing our part to put an end to wildlife smuggling within the supply chain.
Ian Cruickshank, United for Wildlife Transport Taskforce manager, added: “Airlines can play a vital role in disrupting the supply chains of international criminal syndicates trafficking in vulnerable and endangered species.
“No country is immune from these crimes – between 2009 and 2021, there were an average of seven wildlife seizures a day at US airports. We’re thrilled to welcome American Airlines on board as our first U.S. airline partner and look forward to working together into the future to drive down this exploitation.”
The criminal wildlife trafficking trade is estimated to be worth up to $20bn annually as poachers and traffickers illegally trade wildlife and wildlife products, such as monkeys, rhino horn, ivory, pangolin scales or tiger parts, among many others.
Brussels Airport and Shenzhen Airport have officially signed a Sister Airport Relationship agreement to augment their strategic partnership and exchange best practices in the high-tech industry and B2B e-commerce.
The airports aim to further enhance their cargo competencies by collaborating on initiatives focused on digitalization and sustainability. Together, we will conduct studies and trials in these areas and share information and proven methods to achieve our common goals. The ultimate objective is to strengthen the connectivity between Shenzhen Airport & Brussels Airport.
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
