Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a member of the SATS Group, is starting a three-month trial using HVO biofuel in its airside transport fleet at London’s Heathrow Airport in support of SATS’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) group priorities and Heathrow’s goal for all airport vehicles to be zero-emission or using biofuels by 2030.
Commencing on 1 July 2024, the trial Initially involves two of WFS’s airside transport vehicles. Based on the successful outcome of the trial, WFS will begin increasing the use of biofuel across its fleet of 77 airside vehicles, which conduct approximately 130,000 truck movements a year at Heathrow in support of 10 airline customers.
The biofuel provider for the trial is Airport Energy, part of WP Group.
WFS has already transitioned its airside vans from diesel to a fully electric fleet to support Heathrow Airport’s sustainability strategy ‘Heathrow 2.0’ and WFS’s sustainability initiatives. Its airside fleet also meets the Euro 6 environmental standard, which limits harmful exhaust emissions and improve local air quality.
“This trial will help us determine if biofuel is suitable for our operation and, if it is, we will move more vehicles over to HVO (hydrotreated or hydrogenated vegetable oil) over the next 12 months,” said Paul Carmody, WFS’ Managing Director UK Cargo. “As part of our close working relationship with Heathrow, we are committed to supporting the airport’s sustainability goals, and the use of cleaner biofuels is just one of the ways we aim to do this.”
James Golding, Head of Cargo at Heathrow Airport, said: “Heathrow is committed to decarbonisation, and as part of our Heathrow 2.0 sustainability strategy and cargo strategy the end goal is for all airside vehicles to be zero emissions. Biofuels play an incredibly important role in this journey, so we support WFS’ biofuel trials across their diesel trucks, which will help reduce lifecycle carbon emissions at Heathrow, benefiting both people and planet.”
In addition to this latest biofuel trial, WFS has commenced a transport fleet renewal and upgrade programme to meet new environmental standards. It is also preparing to trial an electric truck in its Heathrow transport operation and championing environmentally friendly driving standards by upskilling its driving team through increased training support and assessment.
As part of Dubai Customs’ commitment to having stronger ties with foreign diplomatic corps to support the growth of Dubai’s non-oil external trade, H.E. Dr. Abdullah Mohammed Busenad, Dubai Customs Director General, received H.E. K. Katarika Candra Negara the Indonesian Consul-General in Dubai, and his accompanying delegation. Indonesia is one of the most important countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in terms of economic status and manpower.
HE the Director General of Dubai Customs commended the trade and economic relations between Dubai and Indonesia, and the role of the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center in Dubai. It aims to increase the promotion and export of Indonesian products to the UAE and the Middle East region. During the meeting, he emphasized that the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the UAE and Indonesia promotes trade and investment relations between the two countries. It encourages trade flow, stimulates bilateral trade, and raises its overall value by reducing or eliminating customs duties on a diverse range of goods and services, this opens up new opportunities for exporters and companies from both sides.
He expressed his appreciation for the efforts of Dubai Customs and its role in supporting mutual trade growth between the UAE and the Republic of Indonesia. He confirmed the Indonesian Embassy’s eagerness to exchange visits and meetings with Dubai Customs to achieve the highest levels of coordination between the two parties in utilizing Dubai’s role as an international hub for global trade in supporting the growth of Indonesian trade.
Carousel Logistics, part of the DANX Carousel Group, has acquired Logik Logistics International (Logik), a specialist in time-critical, scheduled, and 24/7 on-demand logistics solutions.
The addition of the UK based company to the DANX Carousel group is intended to broaden both its scope of services and ability to respond to customer demand 24/7 across Europe.
“This acquisition not only expands our time-critical logistics capabilities but also strengthens our on-demand / ad-hoc service platform, enabling us to better serve our customers’ needs,” said Lars Ryssel, Managing Director, Western Europe, DANX Carousel.
“Logik’s expertise and round-the-clock availability will enable us to deliver even greater value and efficiency to our clients across Europe, regardless of the time or urgency. We welcome Logik Logistics International to the Carousel family.”
Logik specialise in industry sectors including automotive, aerospace, carbon composite, retail, pharmaceutical, publishing, and marine.
Its customers range from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to companies needing urgent medical shipments and ship spares.
Logik’s acquisition enhances Carousel’s round-the-clock service portfolio with on-demand / ad-hoc cross-border logistics. This includes express road and air freight, aircraft charter, On Board Courier (OBC) services, and specialised handling for time-critical shipments.
David York, Managing Director (MD), Logik Logistics International, will remain with the company to ensure a smooth transition and drive continued growth within the expanded group.
“Joining forces with Carousel Logistics opens up exciting opportunities for our team and our clients.
“We look forward to leveraging our combined strengths to deliver unparalleled service to customers across Europe, whenever they need us,” said York.
This acquisition by the DANX Carousel Group follows its recent acquisition of TLS, a Danish logistics specialist in technical equipment, further reinforcing the group’s commitment to becoming the leading provider of time-critical logistics solutions across Europe.
The start of July saw Thomas Niederer (51) step into his new role as Switzerland’s Country Manager for Land Transport at the international transport and logistics company, Gebrüder Weiss.
He succeeds Oskar Kramer (64) who is retiring after 45 years with the company. “Oskar Kramer’s many decades of hard work and dedication have been pivotal in making our company the success it is today, especially in Switzerland.
Over recent years he has made a significant impact for us, initially as Branch Manager and more recently as Country Manager Land Transport,” says Wolfram Senger-Weiss, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss, praising Kramer’s service to the company. Kramer has also demonstrated outstanding dedication to the needs of the industry in Eastern Switzerland through his role as Section President of Spedlogswiss, the association of Swiss forwarding and logistics companies, since 2011.
His successor Thomas Niederer has been with the company for some 28 years. His most recent role was as Finance and Accounting Manager West, a position with close links to the national subsidiary. Over the past 15 years, he has been a key player in Gebrüder Weiss’ expansion into Germany, Asia, North America, and his new charge of Switzerland.
“Oskar Kramer leaves us a country organization that is excellently positioned to grow still further,” says Niederer. “I’m looking forward to this new challenge and to working together with the team to continue Gebrüder Weiss’ success story in Switzerland.” The subsidiary is already aiming for new heights: The Pratteln location near Basel is due to be expanded with an automatic high-bay warehouse.
The Alpine republic has been a key market for Gebrüder Weiss for over 130 years. Today, its 220 staff offer all-round solutions covering transport, warehouse, contract, and shipping logistics from its Land Transport locations in Pratteln and Altenrhein on the banks of Lake Constance, and from Zurich for all Air & Sea services.
Singapore-headquartered SATS Ltd (“SATS”), the world’s largest provider of air cargo handling services and Asia’s pre-eminent provider of food solutions, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SF Group, the leading express delivery and logistics service provider in China and globally, to expand their strategic collaboration and supply chain optimisation into a global footprint.
The partnership agreement between the market leaders was formally signed at SF Group’s headquarters in Shenzhen by Zhang Ji, Vice President of SF Group (张戟 顺丰集团 副总裁), and Bob Chi, CEO of Gateway Services Asia-Pacific at SATS (徐清木, 新翔集团亚太地区口岸服务首席执行官). Bob Chi will also jointly lead the Steering Committee overseeing regional or country-level Working Groups conducting the Strategic Projects under this agreement.
SATS and SF Group will combine their respective areas of expertise and service offerings as well as those of their affiliate companies, including Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a member of the SATS Group, and SF Airlines, the Chinese cargo airline owned by SF Group.
The partners will initially look at expanding the successful collaboration of the existing hub operations in Singapore and eCommerce handling in Liege, Belgium to other global hubs. These include the hub operations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and exploring Proof of Concepts (“PoCs”) for eCommerce handling in Beijing and at New York’s JFK International Airport. The partners will also identify and build other network solutions or specialised services from more than 200 locations where SATS is present with SF Group’s extensive demand channels, which is currently the world’s 4th largest integrated logistic provider and is based in China.
“We are honoured that SF Group has chosen to partner with SATS to identify new network expansion opportunities and service improvements globally,” said Bob Chi. “Our organisations can learn a lot from each other as we embrace our collaboration and go beyond the traditional customer-vendor relationship. This is a mutually beneficial partnership where both parties are leveraging on each other’s strengths to improve the supply chain and create value for our respective stakeholders. We are confident of building on the successes that we have today to expand into a multi-station global network collaboration. 生意兴隆，步步高升!”
Zhang Ji said: “As China’s largest and the world’s fourth largest integrated logistics service provider, SF Group is actively promoting its overseas growth strategy. The collaboration with SATS Group, which is one of the world’s largest aviation ground service providers, with continuous growth of its worldwide network in the field of aviation logistics, will enhance the competitiveness of both parties and achieve a win-win situation”.
Growth opportunities for the SATS and SF Group collaboration will be enhanced by the continued expansion of the global eCommerce market forecast to grow by 8.8% in 2024 to USD 6.3 trillion, and to USD 7.9 trillion by 2027.
Dubai South, the largest single-urban master development focusing on aviation, logistics, and real estate, announced the successful completion of the first stage of the UAE’s autonomous vehicle trials in partnership with Evocargo. The trials were carried out on a set route in a closed area of the Dubai South Logistics District.
During the trials Evocargo checked and validated hardware, software, and reliability of its unmanned electric truck, the Evocargo N1, for future service in the Logistics District. Autonomous navigation on a predefined route was tested with special emphasis on safety in mixed traffic scenarios involving interaction with other participants like automobiles, trucks and pedestrians. The tests measured success of the Evocargo N1 in object detection, accident prevention, collision avoidance with moving obstacles and emergency stops.
The truck’s autopilot system was put through its paces in a full range of manoeuvres (parking, reverse parking, turning and reverse turning). Functionality of the Control centre (route management, remote monitoring and control) was also tested. No failures or potentially hazardous incidents were reported by any parties during the series of tests.
Additionally, Evocargo prepared a comprehensive report of trial results across two stages, in the second of which the Evocargo N1 platform carried out freight transportation tasks on a standard route in a closed area. The platform’s ability to respond to its surrounding environment in mixed traffic was extensively tested and met high validation standards.
In his comments, Mohsen Ahmad, CEO of the Logistics District – Dubai South, said: “We are proud of this groundbreaking milestone, which is a testament to Dubai South’s commitment to aligning with the wise leadership’s vision of establishing Dubai as a global logistics powerhouse. Our collaboration with Evocargo reinforced the UAE’s position in the industry and set a progressive stage for significant advancements within the regional logistics sector. As we look to the future, autonomous vehicles will play a pivotal role in revolutionising the industry, enhancing efficiency, and reducing the overall carbon footprint to create a sustainable and technologically advanced logistics infrastructure that will benefit Dubai and the UAE. At Dubai South, we are committed to providing state-of-the-art infrastructure and advanced services to enable our partners to push the boundaries of innovation and drive growth.”
Ahmed Al-Ansi, CEO of Evocargo Autonomous Logistic Services, said: “Evocargo’s autonomous vehicle trials in the UAE demonstrate the company’s objective to be a reliable provider of efficient logistics services in the region. The trials aim to attract new customers and investments in the GCC countries, which are on track for world leadership in innovative tech. We are proud to be a pioneer and one of the first commercial suppliers of cutting-edge services in cargo transportation based on our own electric unmanned vehicles. Evocargo is always open to collaboration with new partners and committed to shaping a sustainable future.”
Dubai South and Evocargo agreed to carry out the UAE’s first autonomous electric vehicle trials in a memorandum of understanding signed in December 2022, in line with the UAE’s commitment to build a sustainable future for the region.
The initiative is an important part of Dubai’s long-term concept transform 25% of total transportation in the emirate autonomous by 2030. The Dubai Autonomous Transportation Strategy is expected to bring annual economic revenues of AED 22 billion spread across several sectors. Dubai’s world-class innovative technology solutions have been designated by the United Nations as a role model for a smart, sustainable, and resilient city, making it the ideal location for this initiative. The project is expected to be among the first of its kind worldwide, marking a significant milestone in the future of mobility.
Launched in 2006 as a Dubai Government project, Dubai South represents a rapidly emerging, master-planned city covering 145 square kilometres. Positioned as a major contributor to the social and economic growth of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates, Dubai South is a global commercial and residential hub, offering business-friendly free-zone benefits and a diverse range of mixed-use and residential communities to suit different lifestyles.
Evocargo is a pioneering company and among the first in the world to successfully launch autonomous logistics services for industrial premises. The company has over 60 protected inventions and technologies, its own production base and major partners around the world. The logistics service provider Evocargo is focused on designing and providing innovative services based on electric autonomous transportation platforms that can transport up to six EUR-pallets (2 tons of cargo) over distances up to 200 km. Broadcasting the future and reflecting today’s market demands, a multi-vehicle solution using Evocargo AVs reduces costs by up to 37% compared with conventional vehicles.
More international passengers and increased commercial revenues at Swedavia’s airports had a positive impact on net revenue in the second quarter, despite ongoing uncertainty in the macroeconomic situation.
Net revenue continued to increase and amounted to SEK 1,674 M (1,539) in the second quarter. Cash flow from operating activities strengthened further and amounted to SEK 297 M (SEK 164 M) in the second quarter. The operating income continues to improve and amounted to 167 M, an improvement with 162 M compared to previous year. Profit before tax was once again positive and amounted to SEK 96 M in the second quarter.
During the second quarter, 8.8 million people flew to or from Swedavia’s ten airports, which is an increase of almost one percent compared with the same period last year. During January–June 2024, 15.6 million passengers flew via Swedavia’s airports. This represents an increase of almost one percent compared with the first half of 2023. This increase is driven by continued strong international travel, mainly in Europe and primarily via Stockholm Arlanda Airport and Göteborg Landvetter Airport. While international travel was on an upward trend, domestic travel continued to decline during the second quarter.
“During the second quarter, an increase in the number of international passengers, fee adjustments and an improved commercial offering led to an increase in net revenue of SEK 134 M compared with the corresponding period last year. The operating income continues to improve and amounted to 167 M, an improvement with 162 M compared to previous year. Cash flow from operating activities also increased by SEK 133 M to SEK 297 M. It is also pleasing to once again be able to report a positive profit before tax for the second quarter of SEK 96 M,” says Jonas Abrahamsson, President and CEO of Swedavia.
Net revenue for the second quarter was SEK 1,674 M (SEK 1,539 M), which is an increase of 9 percent compared with the same period last year. Cash flow from operating activities for the second quarter was positive at SEK 297 M (164), an improvement of SEK 133 M compared with last year. The operating income continues to improve and amounted to 167 M, an improvement with 162 M compared to previous year. In the second quarter, Swedavia once again reported a positive profit before tax of SEK 96 M.
Airlines have continued to invest in new traffic through Swedavia’s airports. This year’s summer traffic program includes 25 new routes, of which 17 are new routes from Stockholm Arlanda Airport and 8 new routes from Göteborg Landvetter Airport. In addition, there are investments in charter flights during the summer at four of Swedavia’s airports: Malmö Airport, Luleå Airport, Umeå Airport and Åre Östersund Airport. Air Canada’s investment in traffic to both Montreal and Toronto via Arlanda will strengthen intercontinental traffic between Sweden and the whole of Canada and North America.
“For several years, we have invested heavily to further improve the passenger experience at our airports. The commercial offering is constantly developing, the airlines have continued to strengthen the range of routes and destinations available, and our operational flows are more efficient. These investments have been welcomed by our passengers and have helped to strengthen customer satisfaction,” says Jonas Abrahamsson.
The focus on enhancing the commercial offering at Swedavia’s airports continued during the year, with the majority of new concepts launched at Arlanda’s new marketplace.
Silk Way Airlines is proud to announce the successful transportation of two beluga whales from an aquarium in Ukraine to their new home in Spain. This extraordinary mission, completed under challenging circumstances, highlights Silk Way Airlines’ commitment to animal welfare and its capability to handle delicate and complex cargo.
The two beluga whales, which were evacuated from an aquarium in Ukraine, were transported to a new facility in Spain where they will receive the care and environment they need to thrive. This mission was undertaken with meticulous planning and coordination, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the whales throughout the journey.
Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, direct flights were not possible. The belugas were transported from Ukraine to Moldova by land, where Silk Way Airlines then flew them safely to Spain. Silk Way Airlines leveraged its extensive experience in handling special cargo to ensure that the belugas were transported under optimal conditions. The airline’s specialized team worked closely with animal care experts and veterinarians to monitor the whales’ health and comfort during the flight. The transportation involved a series of carefully planned steps, including the use of specialized equipment and containers designed to provide a stable and secure environment for the animals. Silk Way Airlines collaborated with Oceanografic and a group of international animal transporters specializing in marine mammals to make this mission a success.
“We are honored to have been chosen for this critical mission,” said Mustafa Azimov, First Deputy Director of Silk Way Airlines. “Our team’s dedication and expertise in managing sensitive and unique cargo ensured the successful and safe relocation of these impressive creatures. I would like to thank the entire rescue team engaged in this mission and especially the crew for their exceptional efforts during takeoff, flight, and landing. They ensured the journey was smooth and stress-free for the animals, and delivered them safely to their new home. This operation was very difficult and sensitive, but together we undertook a painstaking job that lasted about 3 months in total, ensuring it would be a success. We are proud to have been part of this unique mission to rescue these two magnificent whales.”
The successful completion of this mission underscores Silk Way Airlines’ capacity to handle complex logistics and special cargo, further cementing its position as a leading regional air cargo carrier.
A.P. Moller-Maersk (Maersk) has launched a new ocean shipping service between China and Bangladesh to address the growing trade demand, particularly in the retail sector. The new service, named SH3, began operations on 7 July 2024, adding more capacity to the ocean network connecting the two countries.
The SH3 route begins at Shanghai Port in China, with stops at Xiamen, Kaohsiung, Nansha, and Tanjung Pelepas before reaching Chittagong, Bangladesh. On the return trip to Shanghai Port, SH3 will stop at Tanjung Pelepas, connecting to long-haul routes to Europe.
The SH3 service complements the existing SH1, SH2, and IA7 services between China and Bangladesh. Adjustments to SH1 and SH2 have been made to further optimize the offerings. This combination of services expands coverage in China, providing multiple cargo loading options throughout the week from Shanghai, Nansha, and Ningbo, as well as more direct shipping choices to Bangladesh. Customers will benefit from varied transit times and increased frequency, offering additional capacity, flexibility, and efficiency in their supply chains.
In the time-sensitive retail industry, timely delivery across the entire supply chain is crucial to meet rapidly changing customer expectations. The new network accelerates the supply chain and benefits Chinese textile raw material exporters and garment manufacturers in Bangladesh.
Wen Bing Lim, Regional Head of Intra-Asia Market at Maersk, commented, “The demand for textiles and garments from Bangladesh in Western markets is constantly growing. Our customers have been demanding more capacity for raw materials coming into Bangladesh and readymade garments being exported. The redesigned network allows textile manufacturers in Bangladesh to gain flexibility and speed for imports of raw materials as well as exports of finished goods, supporting Bangladesh’s fast-developing Readymade Garment (RMG) industry.”
Nikhil D’Lima, Head of Maersk in Bangladesh, added, “Textile exports account for a significant portion of China’s exports to Bangladesh. The Bangladesh RMG industry comprises over four thousand factories serving more than 100 international clothing brands. Bangladesh exports a wide variety of knitwear and woven garments, such as shirts, trousers, T-shirts, denim, jackets, and sweaters, to over 150 countries.”
Breeze, a leading digital cargo insurance platform, has successfully integrated with WebCargo by Freightos (NASDAQ: CRGO), the largest air cargo platform. This partnership allows freight forwarders to instantly price and purchase insurance quotes for shipments via Breeze directly on the WebCargo platform.
This collaboration gives freight forwarders immediate access to insurance quotes when they book shipments, eliminating the need to source insurance separately and streamlining the entire process.
By leveraging Breeze’s advanced technology, freight forwarders can significantly reduce policy costs and booking times, enhancing their overall efficiency. Initially, Breeze’s integrated insurance offering on WebCargo will be available to forwarders in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Breeze’s data-driven platform uses technology to automate and optimize quote generation, policy binding, and claims processing. This technology minimizes the time and effort required to provide accurate cargo insurance and expands the protection offered to shippers’ freight.
“Forwarders rely on WebCargo to book hundreds of thousands of shipments every quarter,” said Manuel Galindo, Chief Revenue Officer at Freightos. “By partnering with outstanding companies like Breeze, we’re excited to add more services to our platform. This allows forwarders to focus on what matters most—customer relationships—rather than time-consuming pricing calls for services like insurance.”
Matthew Phillips, Chief Commercial Officer at Breeze, added, “Between 60 and 80 percent of global cargo is estimated to be un-or-under-insured. Our collaboration with Freightos empowers its customers to make informed decisions about insuring their cargo in a cost-effective and timely manner. We are on a mission to digitize the cargo insurance process and share Freightos’ vision to make international shipping faster, more cost-effective, and more reliable using a data-driven approach powered by technology.”
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
