Omni Airline Services has appointed Scott Courtnell as director of sales, marketing and digital.
Courtnell joins the Omni Airline Services leadership team in January and will be based in the London Heathrow office. He will focus on ensuring the UK-based GSSA offers a high level of service to its airline clients and customers as it reinforces its position in the UK.
Peter Brooks, managing director of Omni, said, “Scott will be leading our efforts as we adapt to an air cargo marketplace that is changing rapidly. Omni has a strong track record of innovation on behalf of client airlines. Digital change is something that we expect will enhance the offering of Omni to airlines operating in the diverse and eclectic UK air cargo market.”
Courtnell commented, “I’m thrilled to support the team led by Peter Brooks and look forward to the new challenge this position represents. It’s a very exciting and important time for GSSAs as we look to assist and engage the digital transformation of our industry and airline partners. We know it will be crucial to understand the needs of the market, customers and airlines as we look to advance the digital experience.”
With over 20 years’ experience in the aviation sector, Courtnell draws on years of management experience across both operational and commercial areas. He most recently held positions within Swiss WorldCargo and South African Airways. Courtnell brings a strong focus on efficiencies, innovation and digitalisation of the end-to-end customer experience including continuous improvements to processes, products and services.
Omni is a privately owned, independent GSSA which specializes in the UK cargo market. Omni provides full GSSA service covering cargo sales, marketing, reservations, accounting and operational supervision.
Dietmar Focke, currently Vice President Engine Services at Lufthansa Technik, will join the Executive Board of Lufthansa Cargo in March 2022, with responsibility for Operations and Human Resources*. He succeeds Harald Gloy, who is leaving the company at his own request.
“I am very pleased that we have been able to win Dietmar Focke, an experienced Lufthansa colleague, as Chief Operations and Human Resources Officer,” said Dr. Michael Niggemann, Member of the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Lufthansa Cargo. “He will bring his extensive experience in logistics and the management of large operational areas and will also continue to lead Operations and Human Resources toward the future and strengthen Lufthansa Cargo’s role in a fiercely competitive environment.”
In his new role, Dietmar Focke will be Labor Director and will also assume responsibility for handling at the Frankfurt and Munich hubs, as well as Global Handling Management, Flight Operations, and Security and Procurement.
Dietmar Focke has been responsible for Commercials Engine Services at Lufthansa Technik since the beginning of 2019. The engineering graduate started his career as a product engineer at Lufthansa Technik in 2001. After holding positions in the areas of Strategy & Business Development and Airframe Related Components in Hamburg, he moved to Ameco in China for five years from 2010 to 2014. There he was responsible for aircraft overhaul, in addition to other duties. Dietmar Focke was then CEO of Lufthansa Technik’s Base Maintenance facility in Budapest / Hungary, until 2019.
Jettainer is strengthening its foothold in the Asia-Pacific region. The global leader in unit load device (ULD) management has appointed Edward Neo as its new General Manager for Sales APAC. He has been catering to the needs of customers in the region from his base in Singapore since December 2021. Jettainer is continuing its strategy to be close to its customers and to further grow its business in the region by creating this new setup.
Edward Neo has over 20 years of sales experience in a number of industries and in the Asia-Pacific region. The trained mechanical engineer last worked in the aviation industry at Safran Electronics & Defense Services Asia Pte Ltd/SEDSA and at SITA Incorporated Networking Corporation (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd. He was in charge of sales for maintenance, repair and overhaul solutions (MRO) for the South-East Asia and Oceania region at Safran Electronics & Defense Services and supported a variety of airlines in improving and making their flight operations more efficient. Edward Neo worked as an Account Executive at SITA up until 2016 and successfully implemented a check-in system at Changi Airport Group from Singapore.
“It is important to understand the processes and challenges facing airlines to develop exactly the creative and customized solutions that they need. Successful sales thrives on always being a sounding board for your customer. I am really looking forward to my upcoming role at Jettainer and to the many opportunities for us to make Asian-Pacific aviation even more efficient with our diverse and top-class range of ULD management services,” said Edward Neo, Jettainer’s General Manager Sales APAC.
Thomas Sonntag, Jettainer’s Managing Director, also sees that the region offers huge potential. “By bringing Edward Neo on board, we have gained an international sales expert who not only has an excellent network in the aviation business, but also someone who always keeps an eye on what our customers need. I am confident that we will continue growing our business in the Asia-Pacific region with his expertise.”
Egypt’s e-commerce logistics start-up, Sprint announced recently that it has processed one million shipments since it first launched operations in 2019.
The technology provider offers innovative solutions allowing e-commerce retailers to ensure seamless end-to-end logistics operations.
Over the past two years, the company reported 90 per cent of successful transactions, serving over 3.000 customers across the e-commerce sector.
“Our customizable, light asset, end-to-end solution mainly relies on two main pillars, our innovative technology along with a solid delivery network,” Sprint CEO and Founder, Mohamed Deif said, noting that the company “used data science to carefully design our delivery stations’ locations and efficiently have a solid delivery network on the ground. Based on historical data and machine learning we are expanding our network to maximize our efficiency.”
Moreover, he highlighted that by utilizing a hybrid innovative light asset model, backed by an experienced team and technology powered by AI and data analysis, Sprint can “deliver world-class logistics services to clients, while maximizing the efficiency of our network and resources. We aim to build on this success by introducing a new Q-commerce solution and building the largest network of micro-fulfilment centers all over Egypt and are looking forward to expanding our operations into the African market soon.”
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is rapidly emerging as the region’s forthcoming logistics hotspot, with concrete steps taken to attract both local and foreign capital.
The UAE-headquartered retailer, LuLu Group launched a new fulfilment center in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, as part of the group’s strategy to expand its e-commerce offering to new markets across the region.
“We are proud to launch the fifth fulfillment center of the group across the GCC and second in Saudi Arabia. This new logistics hub will definitely strengthen our regional operations with safe, convenient, and faster service in organizing orders and getting it delivered to customers’ doorstep,” LuLu Hypermarkets Saudi Arabia Director, Shehim Mohammed said, adding that the group aims “to reach online shoppers at the quickest possible time with the freshest quality of products. All our vehicles are custom-made to preserve the freshness as well as to maintain world-class hygiene and food safety standards.”
The 30.000 square feet facility features the market-latest warehouse management system (WMS) as well as innovative tools to organize and oversee inventories of various product categories.
Moreover, the center comprises temperature-controlled compartments, in-house food preparation amenities to ensure hygienic food handling and a dedicated fleet for timely last-mile deliveries.
Europa Air & Sea is expanding its footprint into mainland China with the launch of a new office in Shanghai.
Europa Shanghai is expected to facilitate the business’ growth plans and allows for local in-house coverage from both Shanghai and Ningbo airports/ports and the surrounding regions.
Angus Hind, Europa Air & Sea director, commented: “We’re delighted to be extending our investment and therefore our direct service offering in China. This new office marks the start of further Europa Air & Sea expansion in 2022.”
Part of Europa Worldwide Group, which provides both domestic and international freight forwarding and logistics services, Europa Air & Sea has been established in Hong Kong since 2011.
Since launching as a separate division in 2015, Europa Air & Sea has seen robust growth. Currently the division has teams located across the UK as well as the dedicated Hong Kong and new Shanghai site.
Europa Air & Sea has grown and invested in centralizing its air services in Heathrow and its sea services in Birmingham. Over the past two years the division has added at least one Air & Sea business development manager at each of the Europa Worldwide Group’s 13 branches throughout the UK.
Europa Worldwide Group, with sites in the UK, Hong Kong, and Belgium, has five divisions – Road, Air & Sea, Warehouse, Contact Centre and Continental Cargo Carriers.
Airfreight rates on major trade lanes ended the year on a high as supply chains remained under pressure.
The latest figures from the Baltic Exchange Airfreight Index (BAI) show that average prices from Hong Kong to North America in December reached $12.72 per kg – their highest level of the year and up by $1.18 per kg on November.
From Hong Kong to Europe, rates also reached a high for the year of $8 per kg, up slightly on November’s $7.91 per kg. Frankfurt to North America rates for December stood at a high of $5.21 per kg.
Rates typically reach their highest level towards the end of the year as the industry enters the peak season.
This year, figures from CLIVE Data Service show that demand in fact weakened in December, but prices were supported by supply chain bottlenecks, which resulted in companies scrambling to move their goods.
On weekly basis, rates on all three trade lanes declined as the month progressed, but lockdowns and cargo crew quarantines in Asia – particularly Hong Kong – suggest a challenging start to the year.
The Beijing Winter Olympics – due to start on February 20 – and the start of the two-week Chinese New Year holiday on February 1 are expected to pile further pressure on supply chains.
Meanwhile, average prices for the year as a whole were also on the rise for the second year running.
The BAI average rates for 2021 from Hong Kong to North America stood at $8.66 per kg against $5.49 per kg in 2020.
From Hong Kong to Europe BAI average prices stood at $5.31 in 2021 compared with $4.02 per kg in 2020.
Qatar Airways Cargo has become the fourth airline in the world to achieve IATA’s CEIV Live Animals certification.
The certification applies at Qatar Airways’ Doha headquarters and the QAS Cargo Doha hub, and covers all animals (amphibians, birds, crustaceans, fish, invertebrates, mammals, or reptiles) that Qatar Airways Cargo is authorized to carry.
As well as being the fourth airline globally to achieve the standard, Qatar Cargo is the first in the Middle East. The carrier achieved the certification after six months of “intense process and product audits”.
Miguel Rodriguez Moreno, senior manager cargo climate control products, said, “The CEIV Live Animals certification depicts that our handling, infrastructure, quality management, and training framework are in line with industry standards.
“It highlights our compliance with the IATA Live Animal Regulations alongside the Transportation of Wildlife and Animal Welfare (TWAW) Group Policy, and it shows that we have a robust supplier management system in place, allowing our principles to be implemented globally.
“Further, it illustrates our commitment to continuously improving industry standards when it comes to the transportation of live animals, and we thank the IATA auditors for their constructive contribution in this regard.”
Brendan Sullivan, IATA’s global head of cargo, added, “Having Qatar Airways, one of the largest transporters of live animals, achieve CEIV Live Animals certification is a significant boost not only for the airline’s customers, who can be confident that their precious cargo will arrive safely, but also the region.”
The airline said that around 9% of all live animals transported globally by air, travel onboard a Qatar Airways flight.
The cargo airline runs a 4,200 sq m air-conditioned, state-of-the-art Live Animal Centre at Hamad International Airport, Doha, which includes dedicated holding areas for animals, horse stalls, pet kennels, access to 24/7 dedicated expert animal health care services, and a large 300 sq m paddock.
The carrier has also launched its WeQare Rewild the Planet initiative, which includes the charitable transport of endangered species of animals.
Etihad Airways, and Henan Province Airport Group, the parent company of the Zhengzhou Xinzheng Airport (CGO) — an important domestic aviation hub and the gateway to the central region of China — aim to establish a strategic partnership to strengthen aviation ties between the UAE and China.
Etihad Airways plans to operate freighter operations between Zhengzhou and Abu Dhabi in 2022 subject to regulatory approvals.
Etihad Airways and Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (CGO) aim at together creating the ‘Air Silk Road’ between Henan Province and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, as well as building CGO airport into an air freight hub in the region.
Both parties will actively connect the network provided by Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport to enhance the diversification of product sales and cargo distribution channels
The MOU contained plans for Etihad’s potential operation of regular cargo services between Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) and Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (CGO) to create the ‘Air Silk Road’ between Henan Province and Abu Dhabi. The MOU also covers scope of cooperation between the two parties to build the CGO airport into an air freight hub in the region, and to diversify product sales and cargo distribution channels at Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport.
Martin Drew, Senior Vice President Sales and Cargo, Etihad Airways said, “As the national airline of the UAE, Etihad Airways has played a key role in the transportation of vaccines and medical supplies within and outside the UAE, based on its professional medical logistics solutions. Since the start of the pandemic, Etihad Cargo has operated 1,042 flights out of Shanghai and Beijing, carrying over 65,000 tons on its Boeing 777 freighters and passenger freighters, among which 50% of the flights were medical supplies to support the global fight against COVID-19 and equip frontline medical professionals.”
Driven by the huge demand for medical supplies, Etihad Cargo has performed strongly in the past year. Etihad Cargo has restored 90% of its destinations compared with before the pandemic in the same period in 2019, while its capacity has increased by 20%.
Kang Xingzhen, Chairman of Henan Airport Group Co. Ltd. complimented the cooperation, “Driven by the dramatic growth of Zhengzhou Xinzheng Airport in recent years, the Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone (ZAEZ) has become the first and, to date, the only aerotropolis in China to simultaneously address business, multimodal surface transportation, airport and urban objectives as an integrated whole. Supported by Zhengzhou Airport’s 51 air cargo routes, the ZAEZ has not only become a manufactured product export dynamo, but also Central China’s largest foreign-origin meat port as well as a leading Chinese distribution point for a multitude of other imported food perishables. We sincerely hope to see Etihad Airways’ scheduled freight flights land into the CGO in the not-too-distant future.”
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