Mumbai, India—Kale Logistics Solutions, a trusted IT partner in the global logistics industry, announced it has opened a new software development centre in Kolhapur, India, as part of its drive to attract and nurture talent outside of metropolitan cities in the country.
Kale says it aims to access more talent and give its employees greater flexibility regarding where and how they work. Demand for digital-savvy technology talent, especially in non-metro areas, is expected to accelerate in 2022.
Since the advent of the pandemic, there has been a steady increase in demand for remote work and companies setting up smaller offices away from their headquarters.
With smaller cities now cropping up on the IT sector radar, growth, employment opportunities, and development are spreading more evenly across the country instead of being limited to a handful of major cities.
Kale has been focusing on bringing jobs to smaller towns since it opened its first tier 2 city office in 2020 in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
“It is all about nurturing industry-ready talent. We believe these regions are rich in latent talent, just waiting for opportunities to come their way,” said Rajesh Panicker, Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Co-founder of Kale Logistics Solutions.
“We are hiring across all levels, to increase the tech quotient of the firm and keep our talent pool brimming with new-age technologies. Our focus is on taking opportunities where the talent is. This means that employees don’t have to uproot themselves or move away from their families.”
Kale’s wide portfolio of IT solutions is now catering to a vast range of airports and ports. From Asia Pacific to North America, many countries are embracing Kale’s community platform, with Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Lucknow some of the major airports in India that are leveraging Kale’s suite of IT solutions.
“The new office location will not only strengthen our already rich and diverse talent base but also provide local talent with the opportunity to build meaningful careers,” said Rohit Jain, Head of HR, Kale Logistics Solutions. “We’re creating the opportunity to work for a global organization, in a highly regarded role, from the comfort of their hometown.”
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates—Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Aviation Group, reinforces its commitment to the China market with the introduction of an additional 30 tons of belly capacity via two new weekly direct passenger flights to Guangzhou from 10 October, subject to regulatory approvals.
With this latest addition to the carrier’s network, Etihad will become the first international airline to operate long-haul passenger and cargo services to the top three Chinese gateways since the start of the pandemic.
In July, the carrier announced the introduction of direct passenger flights to Beijing, bringing the total number of direct passenger and freighter flights for China to 15. With the introduction of an additional two direct passenger services per week to Guangzhou using a two-class Boeing 777, Etihad Cargo will offer 1,520 tons of total cargo capacity into and out of China per week.
In addition to offering cargo capacity on passenger flights, Etihad Cargo also operates six Boeing 777-200 freighter flights for Shanghai and five dedicated freighter services for Hong Kong per week.
“China remains a key strategic market for Etihad Cargo. The Chinese market contributes over 20 per cent of the carrier’s cargo operations, and Etihad Cargo is further reinforcing its commitment to the market by expanding operations into Guangzhou. This is the latest step in Etihad Cargo’s commitment to its customers, providing more capacity along key routes to enable greater cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and China,” said Martin Drew, Etihad Aviation Group’s Senior Vice President Global Sales & Cargo.
Etihad Cargo exports a wide range of products from China to the UAE, Europe and the US, with electronics being the most widely transported product.
Earlier this year, Etihad Cargo launched a dedicated Mandarin version of the carrier’s website and booking portal, making the booking process easier for customers located in China. The carrier continuously explores opportunities to make the booking process faster and more convenient and will adapt its network to add more capacity to meet its customers’ needs.
Time and effort are required to verify, capture and process AWB data, or send information to the Customs authorities; time and resources that could be used to focus on sales and customer interaction.
ECS Group established expert teams in 2019 and has since then carried out dedicated data administration for a number of its airline customers. QualityStars is one of the ten New Abilities in the ECS Group’s Augmented GSA concept. This unique data processing service is a clear differentiator, since no other GSA offers a comparable service.
ECS Group’s airline customers benefiting from the QualityStars service are currently spread across 8 countries. QualityStars follows the clock with shifts planned in accordance with the relevant time zones. It acts as an extended arm of each airline, working directly in the relevant airline’s system, and following its individual service agreement.
“This includes monitoring the airline’s relevant KPIs, such as the number of customer claims or CASS corrections. We go beyond what is expected, and meticulously follow-up on clarification requests where we are obliged to contact the airline’s commercial team to chase up on missing information,” Dimitri Arnaudin, Manager Director of QualityStars, illustrated.
QualityStars reviews the root causes for these clarifications and derives specific action plans to optimise processes at every stage. Customers not only benefit from cost and time savings, but also by improved overall quality and data capture processes.
“Our QualityStars service allows our airline customers to outsource specific back-office process steps in all confidence. At the same time, they benefit from a more flexible cost structure, and free up their own resources to focus on other core commercial and operational activities,” Adrien Thominet, Executive Chairman of ECS Group, explained.
ECS Group is the only GSA to provide AWB processing and Customs reporting as an external service. Outsourcing these administrative tasks takes just a few weeks. On average, the transfer usually happens within 1 month after contract signature. During that month, the airline’s processes and market knowledge are transferred to the QualityStars teams.
IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG) has begun to trial the first electric terminal tractor, known as a Terberg YT203EV, at London Heathrow airport. This is the first electric Terberg operating airside worldwide.
By replacing an existing terminal tractor with an electric Terberg, approximately 30 tons of CO2 will be saved per vehicle per year – this is the equivalent of planting over 1,250 trees and over 7 cars.
Terberg has been creating electric vehicles since 2014 with the team constantly revising the designs. The latest vehicles can deliver the same capability as the current diesel units in a more environmentally sustainable way, allowing drivers to carry out their work pattern whilst avoiding diesel engine emissions. In addition to its electric solution, Terberg are also exploring the development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, having placed a unit in to test on an off-airfield application. This additional environmentally friendly solution will afford Terberg customers such as IAG Cargo further options to achieve their environmental goals.
IAG Cargo is trailing the electric Terberg YT203EV for 12 months, with the ambition to transition its current diesel fleet to more sustainable alternatives, including electric. In the coming years the trial will help IAG Cargo and its partners understand the challenges the business may face when adopting an electric airside fleet, how future electric vehicles could be charged and what additional infrastructure will be needed to support a fleet of electric terminal tractors.
“We’re delighted to be partnering with Terberg to trial the first electric Terberg at London Heathrow – this is an exciting advancement for IAG Cargo as we strive to lead on sustainability and be fit for future,” David Rose, chief transformation officer at IAG Cargo commented.
“We are continuously looking at ways that reduce our impact on the environment whilst improving our customer offering. This trial is part of a wider effort supporting our commitment to making IAG Cargo, and the wider industry, more sustainable. “
“This is another step towards reducing air cargo’s impact on the environment and so we’re thrilled to work with IAG Cargo to see the first electric Terberg already in action at London Heathrow airport,” Alisdair Couper, manager director at Terberg, added.
SEKO Logistics (SEKO), a leading global logistics provider, launched the latest version of SEKO Live to ensure seamless installations and reducing the risk of returns through instant ‘one touch’ communications with off-site product experts. This launch delivers their client’s specialist, technical and customer service support straight to the doors of consumers who are buying big and bulky items.
Home deliveries of goods such as recreational and exercise equipment, furniture, and white goods are at an all-time high, but a sale is only complete once the customer is completely happy to take delivery of the product they have purchased. In the US alone, returns cost retailers over $760 billion annually in lost sales and add significantly to their carbon footprint, often because their customers can’t get timely information or product assistance to finalize a delivery and installation.
With SEKO Live, it removes this revenue and reputational risk for retailers. It gives SEKO’s last mile delivery specialists and consumers quick and direct access to product technicians and exception management specialists located within SEKO’s own Control Tower operations and network operations centers or to a retailers’ own product and customer service teams. Web or app-based and configurable to each retailer’s requirements, including a retailer branded interface, SEKO Live enables customers to instantly share, stream and connect with central resources during product installation or self-installation to quickly resolve questions or concerns raised by the end-user.
“In most cases, home deliveries of big and bulky items are completed exactly as planned, but if a customer has questions or uncertainties about their purchase, the time window to save the sale and prevent a return can be literally minutes,” said James Gagne, SEKO’s President & CEO. “SEKO Live is a scalable, low-cost solution that maximizes the customer experience and minimizes lost sales by connecting customers with the real-time expert advice and customer service support they need. This not only protects the sale, but it also avoids the risk of damaging reviews that could negatively impact sales.”
For consumers with quality or technical questions about products, SEKO Live’s one-touch B2C solution offers fast, technical advice and takes decision-making away from in-field staff, enabling a retailer’s central management to be in control to maintain the customer experience and avoid aborted transactions. “SEKO Live finds solutions faster by taking a collaborative approach. It takes a retailer’s technical product knowledge and business prowess out to a customer in the field but through SEKO’s own last mile delivery experts,” said Mike Powell, SEKO’s Chief Technology Officer.
“One-touch calls are pre-routed, so customers never get held up in a queue and bypass any automated customer service steps or chatbots. They quickly receive the answers they need, such as how to fit pedals to the exercise bike they’ve purchased. This is the right-first-time response consumers want. Statistics show that 96% of customers will leave if they experience poor customer service and 80.2% of online shoppers will return an item if they believe it is damaged or broken. SEKO Live enables retailers and consumers to resolve issues while the product is still at the delivery address.”
SEKO Live is activated by simply pressing on the embedded link or button, instantly connecting customers to the right support. Its innovative features include:
“Last mile is more than just delivery. It’s the communication ahead of the delivery, the actual physical appointment and the delivery of items inside the home, plus everything post-delivery. SEKO Logistics supports every phase of the user journey – from customer experience to delivery and installation, protecting the sale and driving customer lifetime value. SEKO Live is for retailers that want their customers to feel heard and appreciated,” said Powell.
Farnborough, United Kingdom—Ethiopian Airlines Group has signed a proposal to buy two Dash 8-400 Freighter – Large Cargo Door (F-LCD) conversion kits from De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited with option to purchase two more of the same aircraft.
“Cargo has played a pivotal role in Ethiopian Airlines’ operations over the past couple of years, and will remain a key growth pillar of our business over the coming years,” said Mesfin Tasew, Chief Executive Officer, Ethiopian Airlines Group. “The pandemic and subsequent recovery efforts have given rise to significant opportunities in the cargo space and we see great value in converting our older Dash 8-400 fleet to freighters to capitalize on these growing opportunities.”
Philippe Poutissou, Vice President, Customer Experience, De Havilland Canada, thanked Ethiopian for its aircraft’s capability, saying, “The Dash 8-400 aircraft’s industry-leading operating costs and environmental footprint, as well as its outstanding performance and large cabin volume have facilitated our introduction of a series of freighter options—including Quick Change, Package Freighter and LCD Freighters—to better serve the expanding cargo market.”
“We are also excited to announce our partnership with Ethiopian to offer Dash 8 freighter conversions through their experienced MRO – already a De Haviland Canada Authorized Service Facility,” added Poutissou. “This conversion capability will support Ethiopian’s fleet needs and can be offered to other Dash 8 aircraft operators in Africa and neighboring regions as an additional choice to the conversions De Havilland Canada can perform in Canada or through our Mobile Repair Team.”
The Dash 8-400 aircraft has logged over 11 million flight hours and transported more than 570 million passengers. Worldwide, the aircraft is in the fleets of more than 70 owners and operators.
DUBAI, UAE—Emirates SkyCargo proudly keeps its role as the vital link between the farming community and customers looking for delicious, fresh mangoes this season as global demand for this delectable fruit soars amid rising temperatures this summer.
Most mangoes flown by Emirates SkyCargo came from South Asia, supplemented by South American mangoes filling the cargo hold of Emirates’ passenger planes and freighters from Mexico, Columbia and Brazil, the majority of which destined for the UK, Spain and UAE markets. The airline also helped Australian producers export over 100 tons of mangoes this year.
Taking Pakistan as an example, in many cases it takes only 48 hours from when the mangoes are picked from the farm to flying them to different routes. Add another 14 to 18 hours in transit and they will have reached the supermarket shelves at their final destination, as fresh as they left the farm. Emirates SkyCargo flew over 6,500 tons of mangoes from Pakistan via Dubai to Europe and North America.
Nearly 80 percent of the tasty cargo leaves Jinnah International Airport in Karachi and the remaining 20 percent departs from Lahore. The cargo is loaded into the belly-hold of Boeing 777s, which fly 31 flights a week between Dubai and the two cities.
Transiting through the Emirates SkyCentral facilities at DXB, the fresh mangoes are always stored in state-of-the-art Cool Dollies during ground transportation, before being sent to their final destinations.
The UK received the largest percentage of mango imports via Emirates’ hub in Dubai, with over 3,600 tons. Germany’s appetite for the sweet fruit was also healthy, receiving nearly 700 tons, followed closely by the UAE with almost 500 tons. The precious cargo was also sent directly to Spain from Mexico on board Emirates’ dedicated Boeing 777 Freighters.
“The success of our three-tiered Emirates Fresh product is clearly demonstrated by our continually growing volumes, as well as by our customers’ confidence in repeatedly choosing us to keep their fruits healthy, their meats fresh and their flowers blooming as they travel the world with us. With our class leading integrated cool chain processes, expert personnel and temperature-controlled storage, customers all over the world are guaranteed freshness that they can touch, taste and feel,” said Dennis Lister, VP Cargo Commercial Development, Emirates SkyCargo.
Emirates Fresh is Emirates SkyCargo’s responsive cool chain solution for everyday perishables unaffected by slight temperature variations. It’s the ideal combination of cost effectiveness and core protection that ensures freshness is not compromised during transportation. With optional additional protection from items like White Covers and Thermal Blankets, produce can remain cool throughout the shipment journey.
FRANKFURT, Germany—Lufthansa Cargo announced it’s on track to lead the aviation and cargo industry into a more sustainable future with its science-based targets to reduce greenhouse emissions within reach, eventually becoming CO₂ neutral by 2050.
At the Sustainability Conference held at Frankfurt Airport on 14 July, Lufthansa Cargo also presented its Sustainability Update 2022, which provides an overview of measures and projects already implemented on the way to CO₂ neutrality.
Lufthansa Cargo will derive its own emissions target from the Lufthansa Group’s validated science-based targets
The Lufthansa Group, thus, also Lufthansa Cargo – have set themselves ambitious climate protection targets: The goal is to halve net CO₂ emissions by 2030 compared to 2019 and to achieve a neutral CO₂ balance by 2050. In order to further specify these net targets and to expand the target system to include pure reduction targets, it has already joined the so-called “Science Based Target Initiative” (SBTi) in 2021 in order to bring its CO₂ reduction path into line with the United Nations’ Paris Climate Agreement.
Based on scientific calculations, CO₂ emissions are continuously reduced with the help of fleet renewal and optimization, improved operational efficiency, and the use of sustainable aviation fuels. The official validation of these targets is imminent. For freighters, there will be a special sub-target.
The Science Based Targets Initiative only accepts emission reductions that are the result of fuel consumption reductions, for example through modern new aircraft, operational and airspace infrastructure measures, and the substitution of fossil fuel with Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
Dorothea von Boxberg, Chairperson of the Executive Board and CEO of Lufthansa Cargo, noted, “Over the past 25 years, we have already been able to reduce our CO₂ footprint per ton kilometer by 52%. But that is still not enough. That is why we want to set ourselves ambitious targets for the future. With the ‘Science Based Targets Initiative’ we have found a credible, scientific basis for this. We want to be transparent about what we have achieved so far and just as open with our customers, partners and the public about how we can get even better.”
For Lufthansa Cargo, the efforts to achieve complete CO₂ neutrality focus primarily on five fields of action: continuous fleet modernization, more efficient use of fuels, the switch to more sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), CO₂ compensation projects in other sectors, and reduction of emissions on the ground.
Fleet modernization. Lufthansa Cargo is investing heavily in continuous fleet modernization. As a result, CO₂ emissions have already been reduced by 52% over the past 25 years. Since October 2021, Lufthansa Cargo has completely converted its fleet to Boeing 777F freighters – currently the most modern and efficient freighter with the best environmental balance. By 2030, Lufthansa Cargo will also receive up to 10 additional Boeing freighters, including seven 777-8F freighters, Boeing’s next-generation freighter. The Boeing 777-8F freighters will again significantly reduce CO₂ emissions.
Fuel efficiency. To ensure that conventional aviation fuel is used as efficiently as possible, thereby reducing the total amount required, Lufthansa Cargo is relying on various measures. For example, Lufthansa Cargo will successively equip all freighters with Sharkskin technology from 2022. The innovative AeroSHARK coating, which is modeled on a sharkskin, reduces the aircraft’s frictional resistance in the air by more than 1% and thus reduces fuel consumption. In the Lufthansa Cargo fleet, this can save around 3,700 tons of kerosene or almost 13,000 tons of CO₂ emissions annually. In addition, lightweight containers have been used exclusively in-flight operations since 2020. This will result in a weight reduction of 14 kg per container and fuel savings of 2,160 tons per year. Weight reduction is also being pursued for other loading aids. Fuel is also saved thanks to optimized flight procedures.
Sustainable Aviation Fuels. More than 1% of Lufthansa Cargo’s fuel requirements in 2021 have already been covered by Sustainable Aviation Fuels. The airfreight company also currently offers the only regular full-charter cargo connection worldwide that is 100% covered by SAF. This saves around 174 tons of conventional kerosene each week. Since October 2021, Lufthansa Cargo has also been one of the first customers of the world’s first power-to-liquid fuel plant in Emsland, Lower Saxony. Together with one of its customers, Lufthansa Cargo has committed to purchasing at least 20 tons (=25,000 liters) of the synthetic, CO₂-neutral crude oil annually over the next five years in order to further advance the innovative power-to-liquid technology as well as the use and further development of sustainable aviation fuels.
BRUSSELS—At the 15th Annual Conference of BSMA in Foster City (CA), Pharma.Aero and the Bio Supply Management Alliance (BSMA) announced their collaboration to augment their supply chain management capabilities for their global communities.
The signatories of the collaboration were Devendra Mishra (Executive Director of BSMA), Franck Toussaint (Managing Director of BSMA Europe), Frank Van Gelder (Secretary General of Pharma.Aero), and Trevor Caswell (Chairman of Pharma.Aero).
Devendra Mishra, Executive Director of BSMA, commented: “The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerability of the global supply chain where airfreight logistics was significantly constrained because of systemic and external factors of decimated cargo capacity. Combining the supply chain management dimension of BSMA with the global network of Pharma.Aero augurs well for the industry committed to saving human lives. Together, the two associations will synchronize the links of the end-to-end supply chain with optimal policies.”
Frank Van Gelder, Secretary General of Pharma.Aero, noted: “Pharma.Aero is a strong international cross-industrial collaboration platform, fostering collaboration between the pharmaceutical manufacturers and the stakeholders of the Life Science Supply Chain specialized in end-to-end airfreight logistics. The collaboration between BSMA and Pharma.Aero increases the shared insights and experiences to optimize, design and develop the future health care supply chain. The members of both organizations will benefit through joined initiatives and projects with the aim to improve the entire supply chain.”
The strategic intent of the two global organizations is to synergize the network of Pharma.Aero with the supply chain of Life Sciences of BSMA. The areas of cooperation will be to review and recommend relevant standards, processes and guidelines in handling of products. In addition, they will collaborate and foster industry relevant projects for innovation.
AMSTERDAM—The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) says the first edition of its regional event series aimed at engaging and bringing the air cargo community together to discuss issues at regional level turned out to be successful
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol hosted the first TIACA regional event in Amsterdam on 28 June 2022. The event brought over 150 delegates from across the industry to discuss issues that affect the European air cargo market.
Topics such as sustainability, capacity challenges, market outlook, needs and expectations of shippers, digitalization, people, the future of trucking as well as security/safety and regulatory issues were covered.
Event delegates took part in lively discussions and enjoyed unique Dutch hospitality and networking opportunities and enjoyed a cocktail cruise around the harbor as the event concluded. As an additional benefit for delegates who wanted to have more insight regarding cargo activities at Schiphol Airport, an all-access tour around the cargo facility was provided.
“The success of the Regional event in Amsterdam has shown us that we have found a missing link that was needed and allows us to more intimately connect with our members and industry colleagues. This connection we feel will be invaluable in uniting the air cargo community and moving forward with the association’s vision for the industry,” said Steven Polmans, TIACA Chairman.
TIACA said its Regional Events are designed to identify specific issues on a regional level that the organization can incorporate into its overall work on behalf of the industry.
It also allows regional participants that do not normally come to our events to engage and network with us and other industry colleagues. Each event will develop a Regional Action plan that will be incorporated into TIACA strategic objectives and activities and will provide valuable guidance to TIACAs regional representatives as the Association expands its team to increase industry support.
“The first Regional event has exceeded my expectations! Varied and very good speakers, great subjects, a network boat cruise for many new connections and of course air freight would not be air freight without a nice drink downtown Amsterdam City Centre. Very professional in total with a fantastic atmosphere. Thanks to all the people who were there to make this a great day together,” said Roos Bakker, Director Business Development Cargo at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
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