The International Air Transport Association (IATA) concluded the 9th World Cargo Symposium (WCS) in Shanghai with the announcement of the winners of its inaugural Air Cargo Innovation Awards. In a public vote on three finalists – all from the Netherlands coinicidently according to IATA – by WCS delegates, Floris Kleijn from CHEP Aerospace Solutions, was declared the winner for his CanTrack idea to bring smart technology to the ULD environment, harnessing solar energy and implementing smart tracking and tracing tools. Kleijn was presented with US$20,000 of funding to further develop his idea. Two runners-up, Niall van de Wouw from CLIVE and Kiona van de Burg from Cargo Hub, were each awarded funding of $8,000.
“We are delighted with the response to our first Air Cargo Innovation Awards. The jury was impressed with the range and originality of proposals submitted. Congratulations to Floris Kleijn for his winning idea. Innovation is the key to business improvement and air cargo is at its best when at its boldest. We hope the funding IATA is putting forward will enable them to achieve further success,” said Glyn Hughes, IATA’s global head of Cargo.
The Symposium also contained some other key announcements including trucking company Jan de Rijk and ground handler Swissport receiving their CEIV Pharma certifications, ensuring that their staff training, internal procedures and facilities for handling pharmaceutical goods meet regulatory requirements and industry standards.
Brussels Airport announced a second wave of nine businesses will join the BRU Airport CEIV Community. With the addition of these new companies, 90 per cent of pharmaceutical shipments out of Brussels airport will be CEIV certified.
Additionally, the Shippers Survey conducted by IATA received responses from 336 participants with some 74 per cent of respondents indicating they were ‘satisfied’ with their air cargo experience. Asked to select the main advantage of air cargo over other modes, the most common response was ‘speed’ (33 per cent). However a panel dedicated to the shipper’s voice stressed the urgent need for supply chain optimisation to increase the value proposition.
“The 9th World Cargo Symposium was all about improving the customer experience,” said Hughes. “Air cargo’s customers, the shippers, have clearly articulated that we must do things differently or face the business moving elsewhere. The industry must embrace digital information that can be exchanged in a transparent manner, renew its focus on quality within the supply chain, and its speed has to be increased. The challenge laid down to cut 48 hours out of the average shipping time is more relevant than ever. The whole air cargo supply chain must be dedicated to moving things faster. Now we need to get this done,” he said.
