Berlin, Germany—cargo.one recently launched the air cargo industry’s biggest step forward to date in equipping freight forwarders with seamless digital agent-to-agent bookings.
cargo.one now enables importers to compare and book rates instantly with other verified forwarding partners 24/7. Export agents can win new business from import agents worldwide, all secured with global non-payment protection via cargo.one pro.
Prior to cargo.one pro’s introduction, procuring rates from abroad took import agents hours or even days – a manual process made more inefficient by agents being located in different timezones, complicating communication. The new system now offers a step-change experience with the opportunity to browse and book live airfreight and local charges from a wide range of verified export agents around the world.
Shipments can be booked day and night, with instant confirmation, routing and airway bill details. Import agents using cargo.one pro will often be the first to quote their customers, beating their competition by a wide margin. In an industry where speed is of the essence, this competitive advantage can lead them to win more business.
cargo.one pro is equally exciting for export agents, who can offer live digital booking to their international partners through the platform. Instead of having to answer hundreds of requests from overseas import agents, export agents now simply receive confirmed shipments as import agents browse and book digitally.
Moreover, cargo.one pro provides an unprecedented opportunity for export agents to make new connections and receive digital bookings from a community of thousands of verified import agents around the globe. Prior to its official launch, export agents have served over 6000 import shipment quote requests from 121 countries without the burden of manually replying to every request.
Moritz Claussen, Founder & Co-CEO of cargo.one, comments, “cargo.one has always focused its innovation on increasing connectivity and making freight forwarders’ lives easier. As an industry, transactions between import and export agents have been neglected and left on the digital sidelines. cargo.one pro is a significant leap forward in empowering forwarders to collaborate globally, with world class digital tools. With cargo.one pro, forwarders are already finding trusted partners and winning new business within hours of signing-up”.
Laying the foundation for a suite of products enabling hassle-free transactions, cargo.one is also launching cargo.one protect, a global non-payment protection program providing payment protection for cargo.one pro enabled import bookings.
cargo.one says it continues to offer digital air cargo bookings for any CASS registered freight agent in over 75 countries worldwide with over 40 airlines for free.
Upgrading to cargo.one pro starts at a monthly price of EUR 99 per branch. Members of forwarding networks that are part of cargo.one’s Forwarder Network Partner Program can gain access to cargo.one pro at a preferential price, the company said.
Baku, Azerbaijan—Silk Way West Airlines, a global cargo airline based in Baku, Azerbaijan, announced the launch of its new weekly flights to Houston which kicked off in April.
The airline says it will operate the flights to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), one of the busiest airports in the United States. Silk Way West Airlines will also continue to operate regular flights to Chicago and Dallas, expanding its growing route network in the Americas.
“We are thrilled to launch our new weekly flights to Houston, one of the most important cargo gateways in the United States, which will provide additional capacity and faster transit times for our customers,” said Fadi Nahas, Vice President Commercial of Silk Way West Airlines.
“Our growing presence in the Americas demonstrates our commitment to providing reliable and efficient cargo solutions for our customers in this region. This new route will also enhance our ability to connect customers to key markets in Central Asia and the Middle East.”
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of EtihadAirways, has added a fourth gateway destination to its Chinese network with the introductionof weekly flights to Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in the Hubei province of China. Theinaugural flight arrived in the Hubei Province on 29 April.
The airline currently offers five passenger flights to Shanghai, Beijing Daxing andGuangzhou each week. With the commencement of two weekly freighter services betweenAbu Dhabi and Wuhan, Etihad Cargo will operate a total of 10 freighter services to China,offering an additional 100 tons of cargo capacity into the Hubei Province each week.
Thisbrings the carrier’s total cargo capacity for China to 1,000 tons per week, including 850tons of cargo capacity for Shanghai offered via eight weekly freighter services and twopassenger flights.
The new flights between Abu Dhabi and Wuhan will give Etihad Cargo’s partners andcustomers greater accessibility to 25 domestic Chinese destinations, including Shenzhen,Dongguan, Hangzhou, Chengdu and Nanjing, via SF Airlines' road feeder service truckingnetwork, further enhancing Etihad Cargo’s connectivity and capabilities in the region.
Martin Drew, Senior Vice President – Global Sales & Cargo, said: “The addition of Wuhan toEtihad Cargo’s Chinese network is the latest step in enhancing the carrier’s capabilities inthe region. These flights will provide greater connectivity, market access and cargo capacityfor Etihad Cargo’s customers, further strengthening the relationship between the UAE andChina and positioning Abu Dhabi as a global logistics and express hub.”
Wuhan is the fourth Mainland Chinese destination to be added to Etihad Cargo’s network.The carrier will be increasing frequencies to China in the coming months to add further depthto its network and meet increasing capacity demands from customers in the UAE and China.
IATA World Cargo Symposium, the greatest air cargo event in the world, is being held in Istanbul between April 25 and 27. The event, hosted by Turkish Cargo, stands out as a significant item in respect of global air cargo transportation.
Being held in various cities on annual basis, IATA World Cargo Symposium is globally accepted as the most prestigious organization in the air cargo industry. The event brings the industry leaders, airline companies, cargo operators, air cargo agents and such other industry stakeholders together to discuss the latest trends, best practices and innovations in air cargo industry.
It is expected that IATA WCS 2023 will not only make a significant contribution to the sustainability and digitalization journey of the global air cargo industry but also solidify the safety and security awareness in the industry. The event offers Istanbul the opportunity to attract the business world with its potential to become a logistics center, beyond being the junction point of the world trade.
Making the opening speech for the symposium, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat said; “We are more than glad to host the World Cargo Symposium 2023 event in a manner to mark the 100th year of establishment of our Republic. Air cargo transportation plays a critical role with respect to the world economy and continuity of the supply chain. Our convention at the hub of global aviation, today, highlights once again the potential of Istanbul for the future of the logistics industry.”
Willie Walsh, the Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) remarked; “For the next three days Istanbul will become the air cargo capital of the world. The last time we met in Istanbul, for the World Cargo Symposium was in 2011 and we are delighted to be back in the year that marks the 100th year of the establishment of the Republic of Türkiye. This year’s WCS promises to be another memorable occasion as the cargo industry comes together to discuss how to improve sustainability, safety, and reliability, as well as emerging opportunities with new markets, technologies, and digitalization.”
Accelya, a leading global provider of technology solutions to the travel industry, has appointed former AWS and Microsoft executive Tom Erskine as its new Chief Marketing Officer.
Based in London, Tom will oversee the planning, development, and execution of Accelya’s marketing initiatives globally. He will report into Chief Revenue Officer Andrew Wilcock and will ensure the company remains inherently customer-centric and pro-airline in its approach, while further growing the culture of innovation within Accelya.
With two decades of experience in the software and technology sectors, Tom joins directly from cloud web hosting company Cloudways, now part of DigitalOcean, where he was Chief Marketing Officer. Prior to that, Tom held senior roles at Microsoft and at Amazon Web Services (AWS), most recently as AWS’s Head of Enterprise Marketing for the EMEA region.
“This is a truly exciting time for airlines, I’m so proud to be joining an organization at the forefront of accelerating the digital transformation for the industry,” commented Tom Erskine, Chief Marketing Officer at Accelya. “I look forward to driving further growth for Accelya by listening closely to our customers, fostering a culture of innovation and experimentation, and continuing to make Accelya a great place to work for our international team of marketers.”
“Tom’s exceptional experience in the software industry, in particular his years at AWS, will be invaluable in driving Accelya’s customer centricity and unlocking innovation across the company,” added Sam Gilliland, Chief Executive Officer at Accelya. “He will be a tremendous asset to our leadership team, bringing a fresh perspective, strong international experience, and a track record for really striving to understand customers’ needs and motivations.”
DHL Express has ordered nine Mammoth-converted B777-200LR freighters from Jetran. The first cargo aircraft will be delivered in 2024, with the remaining aircraft to be supplied until early 2027.
This agreement is part of the overall sustainability priority to modernize DHL Express’ long-haul intercontinental fleet, including the replacement of older planes. Ordering converted freighters with a shorter useful life provides an efficient bridge between current and new airframe technologies, such as new generation wide-body freighters B777-8F and A350F.
“We are excited to welcome Mammoth-converted B777-200LRFs to the DHL Express family,” states Robert Hyslop, EVP Global Aviation at DHL Express. “With the modernization of our intercontinental fleet, we can simultaneously enhance our proven ability to meet growing demand, improve our environmental footprint and deliver best quality service to our customers. We are pleased to continue demonstrating to partners and customers alike how these advancements elevate our service and bring us closer to our Sustainability Roadmap goals.”
The Mammoth converted B777-200LR freighter promises similar characteristics and benefits as the production freighter and is an ideal fit for DHL. With a payload capacity of 102 tons and a range of 9,200 kilometer, the B777F has the largest capacity and range of all twin-engine freighter aircraft and is more reliable than older B747 planes. It is also more fuel-efficient and reduces CO2 emissions by 18 per cent compared to legacy airplanes.
Between 2018 and 2022, DHL bought 28 new B777-200F freighters from Boeing – 18 of those aircraft are currently in service. The remaining aircraft will be delivered from 2023 to 2025. The aircraft forms the backbone of DHL’s intercontinental air network, in which DHL Express operates more than 300 dedicated aircraft with 18 partner airlines on over 2,400 daily flights, across 220 countries and territories.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways, has reinforced its commitment to the Chinese market with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China’s SF Airlines. Following the MoU, both carriers will start operating flights via their respective fleets to the other carrier’s hub in April, which will enable the UAE’s national carrier to expand its reach into China via SF Airline’s extensive in-country network.
The new partnership between Etihad Cargo and SF Airlines will provide Etihad Cargo’s customers with greater connectivity to 25 domestic destinations in China via SF Airlines’ road feeder service trucking network, further enhancing Etihad Cargo’s capabilities in the region. In February 2023, the carrier launched an additional direct freighter service to Shanghai, increasing the total number of freighter flights per week to eight. This MoU is the latest step by Etihad Cargo in expanding its operations in China and will see the carrier utilising SF Airlines’ Chinese network to transport cargo to other destinations in China via the Chinese carrier’s Hubei Province mega hub. Etihad Cargo will operate the flights on a Boeing 777 freighter, with services commencing on 28 April 2023 in line with this partnership.
Martin Drew, Senior Vice President – Global Sales & Cargo at Etihad Airways, said, “Etihad Cargo is committed to establishing partnerships that add value to customers across the supply chain. Strengthening the connection between Abu Dhabi and and one of SF Airlines’ major Chinese hubs will enable Etihad Cargo’s customers to benefit from SF Airlines’ exhaustive distribution capabilities in China, and SF Airlines will reap the benefits of Etihad Cargo’s global network for its express product. Etihad Cargo is committed to the country’s ambitious growth vision, and this partnership supports the further development of Abu Dhabi as a major logistics and express hub for the region.”
Li Sheng, Chairman of SF Airlines, said “Etihad Cargo is an industry-leading company, with a competitive cargo network from Abu Dhabi to the world. SF Airlines is excited the two companies can work together to connect hubs and strength the network of both airlines. SF Airlines is looking forward to this cooperation, which will offer good value to customers and enable them to develop their international business with more convenient and diversified global transportation options.”
SF Airlines, the cargo arm of SF Holding, operates the largest cargo air fleets in China. Via the capacity-sharing agreement with SF Airlines, Etihad Cargo will provide greater market access to key destinations in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.
IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG) announces it will restart services between London-Heathrow and Beijing and Shanghai after almost two years, as China reopens its borders to tourists.
Chapman Freeborn, the global air charter specialist and part of Avia Solutions Group has appointed Claire Geary as Group Marketing Director, a new position within the company.
Claire joins the business following two years as Marketing Director EMEA with Cirium, prior to which she held marketing management positions at South African Airways in Africa, and was Manager of Corporate Communications, Marketing and Brand at Emirates Airline, based in the Middle East.
Drawing upon her wealth of aviation marketing experience, Claire will lead the Marketing Team with a focus on brand, marketing communications, PR and events. She will work closely with the Chapman Freeborn Executive Committee, Regional Presidents and parent company, Avia Solutions Group, to design, formulate and implement a marketing strategy that drives revenue.
Claire says, “I am excited to have joined Chapman Freeborn in this new role and am very much looking forward to working with the team, being a part of the business, and taking the company towards new heights. It’s a fantastic opportunity to use my marketing expertise and strong aviation background in a well-respected company within the global aviation industry.”
Neil comments, “I’m delighted that we have appointed Claire to assist the marketing team in taking the Chapman Freeborn Group to the next level . With her decades of aviation knowledge and expertise in multiple countries, we are all very excited with this development. I am confident that she will make a big impact on our marketing and communications efforts throughout the Group and across our sector, especially during the year of our 50th anniversary. I wish her a very warm welcome and lots of success.”
Liverpool – A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) further expands its network of warehouses across the UK. In addition to warehouses in Doncaster, in Tamworth and in Kettering, Maersk has signed a lease for a 685,000 sq ft (approx. 63,000 sqm) facility at SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway.
The newly built facility will be completed in June 2023 and is part of a 700-acre development by the UK based real estate company SEGRO. The logistics park features UK’s only inland freeport as well as a 50-acre Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) providing it with direct rail links to the seaports of Felixstowe, London Gateway and Southampton. This will significantly speed-up cargo flows, and will also reduce on-road freight mileage and hence emissions from hinterland transport. The warehouse itself is constructed to meet low or very low GHG emissions standards for both embodied and operational emissions. It will incorporate a full roof mounted PV array and extensive use of recycled construction materials. Provisions will also be made for the operation of a fully electric fleet of HGV vehicles. Maersk is looking to utilise a fleet of EV trucks that will manage not only all internal traffic between the rail terminal, the warehouse and the depot, but also final deliveries of cargo in close proximity to the Logistics Park.
The East Midlands Gateway campus is very much the perfect blueprint for optimising connectivity and flexibility within supply chains. Not only is it ideally positioned in the UK, but the vast infrastructure and cutting-edge technology across the site means operations on UK shores can be done from one place in the most sustainable way possible. It’s the epitome of two of Maersk’s key visions for the future: integrating logistics and reaching net-zero emissions by 2040.
Paul Woolass
Head of Logistics and Services Products UK & Ireland
As an integrator of logistics, Maersk is developing and providing solutions ranging from ocean transportation to landside and air transportation, contract logistics including warehousing & distribution (W&D) and depots, custom clearances, visibility solutions and more. The integrated supply chain solutions allow Maersk to have greater control over the movement of the cargo of its customers at multiple stages of the journey and thus bring resilience as well as flexibility to the supply chains.
With the expansion of its contract logistics facilities, Maersk is strengthening its position further by providing a larger array of services out of one hand to its customers. Maersk today offers its customers integrated logistics solutions in more than 450 warehouses globally with a total space of around 76.4 million sq ft (7.1 million sqm). Several additional Maersk warehouses are planned to go into operation across Europe in 2023 and 2024.
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