Egyptair Cargo has signed a long-term partnership with Unilode Aviation Solutions, the global leader in outsourced Unit Load Device (ULD) management, marking a significant enhancement to its cargo operations.
Unilode will supply Egyptair Cargo with digitalized PMC and PAG pallets from its extensive global pool and provide access to its e-ULD app and customer dashboard to improve operational efficiency and data insights.
Mohammed Akhlaq, Unilode’s Chief Commercial Officer, welcomed the collaboration, saying, “We are delighted about Egyptair Cargo’s decision to enter into this partnership, which will strengthen our footprint in Africa. This commitment reflects confidence in Unilode’s comprehensive ULD solutions and the dedication of our team who support customer needs 24/7 worldwide.”
The partnership expands Egyptair Cargo’s capacity, which spans over 100 global destinations as Africa’s second-largest fleet.
The collaboration also integrates Egyptair Cargo into Unilode’s growing pool of over 170,000 ULDs, joining recent partners such as Air India and Air New Zealand.
Akhlaq added, “Our focus on digital innovation with tools like our eULD app, as well as a robust MRO network, positions Unilode to meet the evolving needs of the industry sustainably.”
Qantas Freight, the cargo division of Australia’s national carrier and cargo.one today shared details of a collaboration that brings the airline’s capacity to thousands more freight forwarders globally using the cargo.one platform.
Qantas Freight and cargo.one have combined efforts in recent months to offer forwarders a seamless, reliable and simplified end to end digital quoting and booking experience. Reflecting how far digital freight has progressed, cargo.one now offers instant bookings for Qantas’ famous “Kangaroo Route” from the UK to Australia after successfully launching trans-Pacific services on the platform late last year.
Qantas is the only carrier to offer nonstop services from the UK to Australia with its daily flights from London to Perth, as well as its daily flights to Australia via Singapore.
Founded over 100 years ago flying freight in regional Queensland, Qantas has grown to become Australia’s largest airline and national carrier, with Qantas Freight the country’s leading air cargo carrier and largest independent air freight services business. With a vast domestic network and over 500 destinations worldwide, including Jetstar services, Qantas Freight plays a critical role in connecting Australia with major economies and cargo lanes worldwide.
Qantas Freight operates over 20 cargo handling terminals around Australia and Los Angeles, and recently announced a substantial expansion into Western Sydney International (WSI) airport’s new air cargo precinct, itself set to increase Sydney’s total capacity by 33 per cent. Leveraging its dedicated narrow and wide body freighters, and extensive bellyspace capacity across both Qantas and Jetstar fleet, Qantas Freight offers freight forwarders great flexibility and a wide spectrum of air cargo products.
cargo.one now enables forwarders to discover, quote and book general cargo with Qantas Freight on its extensive transpacific network connecting important North American hubs to Australia and New Zealand. cargo.one also offers instant bookings for the iconic “Kangaroo Route” from the UK to Australia. Qantas flights operate daily from London to Perth and Singapore with connections to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne – the key hubs on Australia’s east coast. Capacity on all direct UK-AU services is now available to book on the cargo.one platform.
More Qantas Freight markets, routes and products will be continually added to cargo.one in the coming months, bringing forwarders exciting new capacity options for important hubs worldwide. Importantly, booking on cargo.one also equips forwarders with cutting edge tools for winning and processing shipments.
Igor Kwiatkowski, Executive Manager Qantas Freight said, “With its presence in many global freight markets, cargo.one is an ideal partner to help grow digital sales and connect our brand and products with more freight forwarders around the globe. We’re looking forward to strengthening our partnership with cargo.one and delivering for our mutual customers.”
Moritz Claussen, Founder & Co-CEO of cargo.one, added, “We are delighted to play a key role in shaping the digital sales engine for Qantas Freight. Having supported its teams over the past year to commence its external digital sales, we look forward to bringing more Qantas Freight capacity live and working to further extend its digital market share”.
As the go-to choice for digital freight procurement for 20,000 freight forwarders globally, cargo.one delivers Qantas Freight a valuable increase in visibility and marketing of its network and offers. cargo.one experts are applying their extensive experience of digitalizing the sales functions of over 60 airline partners globally, to bolster Qantas Freight’s digital sales efficiencies and market responsiveness.
With immediate effect, forwarders using cargo.one can now book Qantas Freight capacity for general cargo up to 10,000kg on flights from major US cities such as Los Angeles and Chicago, and from London, UK, to destinations in Australia, New Zealand and other ports in the region.
CHAMP Cargosystems simplifies air cargo booking with the launch of Traxon Multi-Carrier API.
This innovative service empowers forwarders and shippers to quickly compare availability and their rates across multiple airlines, and to then book shipments.
The new service reaches over 25 of the world’s leading airlines who run a variety of core cargo systems. It allows software providers and technically advanced forwarders to seamlessly integrate shopping and booking capabilities into their in-house systems, while removing the complexities of managing multiple airline connections.
Traxon Multi-Carrier API includes a user-friendly administration portal, where users can tailor the service to their needs by selecting partner carriers, managing commodities, and handling air waybill stock.
With CHAMP’s API, users can secure the best available rates with unparalleled speed, which translates to significant time and cost savings, optimizing operations and enhancing profitability for air cargo businesses.
Ed Dorr, VP eCargo Portfolio from CHAMP said “By harnessing cutting-edge API technology, we’ve created a solution that simplifies the complexities of air cargo booking and unlocks new possibilities for our customers. Traxon Multi-Carrier API provides a single point of access to over 25 airlines, streamlining booking processes and powering growth.”
Christopher Shawdon, Head of Business Development from CHAMP said “Traxon Multi-Carrier API gives technically advanced organizations the ability to make better informed decisions faster, ultimately, achieving greater success.”
Hermes Logistics Technologies (HLT) picked up the Digital Innovation trophy at yesterday’s Air Cargo News Awards, in recognition of the company’s innovative Learning Management System (LMS).
Launched just 12 months ago, the Hermes LMS is a cutting-edge platform designed to revolutionise training and development within the air cargo industry. The cloud-based tool offers a comprehensive suite of learning resources to enhance employee skills, improve operational efficiency, and drive overall business success.
“We are honoured to receive this award, which recognises our commitment to innovation and excellence in the air cargo industry. The Hermes Learning Management System is a testament to our team’s dedication to developing solutions that address the evolving needs of our customers,” said Yuval Baruch, CEO of Hermes Logistics Technologies.
The Hermes LMS has already benefited several of HLT’s customers, including Groundforce, dnata Australia, CACC Cargolinx, Georgi, and PACTL, and several other companies are slated to adopt the LMS before the end of 2024.
The online learning platform has been rolled out in English, German and Chinese, with more languages becoming available soon, including Arabic, Vietnamese, Turkish, and Spanish.
The Digital Innovation award recognises the impact the Hermes Learning Management System has had in the air cargo industry since launching in late 2023, including driving efficiency and digital literacy.
IBS Software, a leading provider of SaaS solutions to the global travel industry, has launched a Data & AI Center of Excellence (CoE), aimed at driving innovation and responsible AI adoption in the travel and hospitality sectors.
The establishment of the Data & AI CoE reflects IBS Software’s commitment to applying advanced AI and data-driven technologies across its product portfolio to deliver cutting-edge solutions to its global customer base. The initiative will focus on identifying, prioritizing, and enabling top AI use cases in collaboration with product teams and customers. The CoE will define responsible AI practices, focusing on user privacy, data security, and ethical considerations.
George Varghese has been appointed as the new Head of the Data & AI Center of Excellence. Varghese brings over 25 years of expertise in data analytics, machine learning, and financial engineering to the role. He joins IBS Software after a career that spans roles in quantitative finance, algorithm development, and AI/ML deployment. Most recently, George led the AI/ML practice at Upskills Pte Ltd and co-founded Piquant Capital, a systematic hedge fund.
“The travel industry has vast untapped potential for AI-driven innovation,” said George Varghese, Head of the Data & AI CoE at IBS Software. “Creating this new initiative will enable our teams and customers to work together to create meaningful, data-driven solutions that redefine travel and hospitality. Ensuring responsible AI usage while maximizing its benefits will be at the core of what we do.”
Based in Singapore, George will report to Chris Branagan, Chief Technology Officer of IBS Software, and lead the team AI practitioners, with plans for expansion as the CoE evolves.
Chris Branagan comments: “AI holds tremendous potential to reshape the travel experience, but its success relies on trust and responsibility. At IBS Software, we are committed to ensuring that AI not only delivers efficiency and innovation but also adheres to the highest standards of privacy and security. George’s extensive experience and vision for responsible AI align perfectly with our strategy to drive industry-leading solutions.”
Kale Logistics Solutions (Kale) has been commended for outstanding contribution to digitalisation of global and Indian air cargo logistics by Indian Civil Aviation Minister K R Mohan Naidu on the occasion of global aviation air cargo summit held at New Delhi, India in Sept 2024.
This award follows recognition from the United Nations (UN) for its Air Cargo Community System (ACS) which has been adopted by airports in Europe, Asia, North America the Middle East and Africa.
The UN commended Kale in 2017 and 2019 for its trade facilitation, with its ACS also estimated to reduce up to 10 million paper copies of documents used at airports each year.
“Our key objective has always been to ensure global trade is efficient and transparent, and to this end a recognition by the Indian Government for our achievements in this sector is encouraging. This recognition reinforces our commitment towards innovation in the digital transformation of trade and logistics space to maintain our global leadership position,” said Suneet Gupta, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Cargo Community and Enterprise Systems, Kale Logistics Solutions.
“We are proud at Kale to have been recognised by the UN twice for our efforts to facilitate trade and reduce the air cargo industry’s impact on the environment, this latest commendation from the Indian Government has reflected the hard work of our team over the past few years.”
Kale’s continuing expansion globally, and expansion of their leadership team coincides with developments in their maritime and land cargo solutions and systems.
Manufacturers now expect logistics suppliers to further integrate with their operating systems DANX Carousel Chief Information Officer, Mohan Palaniandy, has told delegates at a recent supply chain transparency conference.
Palaniandy went on to list the benefits of AI and data, as improved efficiencies throughout the supply chain, brought through complete inventory oversight and final mile route optimisation, are now overcoming traditional barriers to data sharing.
“DANX Carousel will continue to enhance its time critical capabilities while reducing waste in the supply chain at every possible step in its operations – full digital transparency between stakeholders delivers both,” said Palaniandy.
“DANX Carousel is committed to improving transparency in the supply chain and recommend businesses conduct internal training, review service level agreements and key performance indicators, and invest in technological advancements in the final mile, aiming for full integration with logistics suppliers.”
Palaniandy’s comments follow the publication of a research paper by DANX Carousel which formed the basis of a conference in Birmingham recently, bringing together industry experts to address transparency challenges in the supply chain.
During the conference, speakers, including Andrew Lowery, UK Managing Director, Carousel Logistics, noted how supply chain managers are increasingly arguing the case for seamless integration as the uninterrupted flow of data prompts manufacturers’ replenishment workflow.
“The logistics industry is undergoing a digital revolution,” said Klaus Rud Sejling, Chief Executive Officer, DANX Carousel.
“AI, machine learning, and data are transforming supply chains, improving their transparency, efficiency, and profitability in turn.
“For time-critical logistics, increased data transparency across the supply chain must be the goal and we should now work across industries to break down data silos and embrace new technologies.”
The conference, held in Birmingham, was part of a series of events taking place across Sweden, Germany, and the UK exploring the benefits of a more transparent supply chain and best practice for companies.
Cross-stakeholder organisation Cargo iQ has certified MAB Kargo after a successful audit for providing quality air freight services to and from its global published network.
MAB Kargo reported 95 percent of its shipments in June this year to Cargo iQ in its the first audit and certification for Malaysia, ever since they joined the air cargo community in 2018.
Cargo iQ helps members create a robust quality management framework – part of which is a methodology to plan, control, and measure the movement of shipments in various steps along the way.
After successfully implementing the first-steps in their quality roadmap, members may undergo a rigorous audit and progress to receive the title of Certified Cargo iQ member.
This process aims to see members maintaining high quality through working with Cargo iQ to maintain a monitored road map along the air cargo journey.
“We are extremely excited to join the distinguished list of Cargo iQ certified carriers. The certification stands as a testament of our unwavering commitment to provide seamless critical milestone tracking capabilities of our customers’ shipments throughout our cargo and airline network,” said Mr. Zulkefly Ujang, Head of Operations, MAB Kargo.
“The improved visibility on our service deliveries via CIQ dashboards enables proactive tactical measures to be taken to continuously maintain service consistency for our customers while driving higher performance standards from our handling partners.”
Cargo iQ certification is valid for three years and the criteria include clear objectives, corrective action, continuous improvement, as well as providing shipment planning, visibility and reporting, and aligning to the Master Operating Plan.
“The Cargo iQ certification provides documented proof that a member has put quality at the forefront of their planning and strategy, through building a robust quality management framework that follows our principles,” said Laura Rodriguez, Manager Implementation and Quality Assurance for Cargo iQ.
“We are always very pleased to see members go through the audit process successfully, and even more so when it is their first ever Cargo iQ certification – it is rewarding for all the people that have been part of that process and a recognition of their hard work.”
CHAMP Cargosystems is proud to announce the launch of 1Neo-Connect, a game-changing solution designed to support air cargo businesses of every scale with IATA ONE Record adoption.
ONE Record is an innovative data-sharing standard introduced by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to modernize the air cargo industry. It is set to replace legacy formats like Cargo IMP and XML, ushering in a new era of standardized and streamlined data exchange.
1Neo-Connect offers a bridge from complexity to simplicity through a plug-and-play API connection, allowing all participants (Freight Forwarders, Airlines, and GHAs) to engage with ONE Record data exchanges through CHAMP’s Super Node.
CHAMP Cargosystems, with its extensive experience in open and interconnected air cargo management systems and cargo community services, is ideally positioned to guide airlines and stakeholders on their ONE Record adoption journey.
Our unmatched capabilities and resources are meticulously designed to streamline the transition, navigate complexities, and provide seamless bridging solutions.
We understand that every organization has unique needs and challenges that 1Neo-Connect can address. CHAMP is eager for air cargo businesses to experience the benefits of ONE Record which promises digitalized and harmonized messaging throughout the industry without the time and complexity barriers that may otherwise hinder adoption.
1Neo-Connect will offer a full IATA ONE Record connection to external parties outside the CHAMP Super-Node Community. It will also seamlessly work with various ONE Record versions as updates are released and interface with Cargo-IMP, Cargo-XML, and CHAMP’s Cargo JSON ensuring future-proof optimization.
Chris McDermott, CEO at CHAMP, said “The future of air cargo demands a paradigm shift—from document-centric to data-centric. By embracing ONE Record and leveraging dynamic solutions like 1Neo-Connect, the air cargo community can enjoy the benefits of harmonized information exchange, unlocking unprecedented visibility and efficiency across the supply chain. We’re immensely proud of the real-world applications we’ve already deployed and are excited to continue developing new use cases that will benefit the entire industry.”
Henk Mulder, Head of Digital Cargo at IATA said “IATA applauds CHAMP Cargosystems’ launch of 1Neo-Connect, a significant step towards accelerating ONE Record adoption across the air cargo industry. This innovative solution exemplifies the collaborative spirit needed to transform air cargo into a truly data-driven digitalized ecosystem, unlocking greater efficiency and visibility for all stakeholders.”
Aerios, a member of CargoTech, has launched its first product, the Carrier App, a charter management system designed to increase efficiency and revenue for cargo charter carriers.
The app integrates with flight operations, CRM, and communication systems to create a streamlined digital workflow, automating manual tasks and eliminating the need for spreadsheets and group email inboxes. Simon Watson, founder of Aerios and co-founder of CharterSync, said the goal is to help brokers, charter professionals, and carriers work more efficiently, surface real-time data, and maximise revenue opportunities.
“Our mission at Aerios is to enable teams to spend less time on manual processes and more time on relationships and growth,” Watson explained. “The Carrier App was developed in collaboration with several cargo charter carriers, following extensive trials and research workshops. It eliminates error-prone and cumbersome processes, offering a single tool for consistent workflow across the entire team.”
The app is designed specifically for the complex and ad hoc cargo charter market, which is often unsupported by commonly used sales tools. Carriers are frequently forced to choose between manual processes or costly investments to customise existing CRM tools, but Aerios’ solution offers an alternative that does not require expensive IT integrations.
In addition to its streamlined workflow, the Carrier App provides access to aggregated market trends and data, helping carriers make informed decisions and maximise revenue. It centralises communication, internal data reports, market insights, and quotations, ensuring that charter teams remain informed and responsive. “The app is already live with a group of carriers, and we will be announcing airline partnerships in the coming months,” Watson added.
Aerios plans to expand its product line with additional tools to further support carriers in distributing their capacity to market.
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