In this week’s PLA Global Wrap, we feature the industry’s response to the ongoing health crisis in India, as well as the recent passing of an Airbus pioneer. We also feature Lufthansa’s latest solution, inspired by our finned friends from the deep, to reduce carbon emissions, as well as the B2B and company updates from Liege Airport, FedEx, DSV and CEVA Logistics.
SpiceJet airlifts more oxygen supply to India
In its most recent airlift, SpiceJet’s cargo arm SpiceXpress carrierd another 9,600 oxygen concentrators from main Chinese cities Beijing, Wuhan, Nanjing and Hong Kong to Kolkata and Delhi on Sunday, 9 May. The airline has deployed both wide-body and narrow-body cargo aircraft throughout last week, delivering more than 27,000 oxygen concentrators from the US, Hong Kong, Singapore and China.
FedEx delivers critical aid to India
On May 8, FedEx ‘donated’ a B777F charter flight to move more than 3,400 oxygen concentrators, converters and over a quarter million (265,000) KN95 masks for nonprofit Direct Relief from Newark to Mumbai. More than 25,000 oxygen concentrators and converters are on the company pipeline through an existing initiative with the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum and other multinational companies, with an initial 1,000 critical oxygen concentrators delivered to New Delhi on April 30.
Cathay Pacific flies relief shipments to India
Cathay Pacific Cargo is flying vital relief shipments to India and it stands ready to do more. The airline has been operating freighters and cargo-only passenger flights to deliver more than 100 tonnes of humanitarian and medical supplies to some of India’s major centres. Shipments include specialised oxygen generators, oxygen concentrators and ventilators to Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad. Other items that have seen a sharp increase in volumes over the past few weeks, were oxygen, surgical masks, sanitiser, personal protective equipment, pharmaceuticals and vaccines, the carrier noted.
Aramex names new chief
Dubai-based logistics player Aramex last week announced the appointment of Othman Aljeda as CEO, replacing Bashar Obeid who submitted his resignation on 29 April. Bashar will work closely with Othman to support a smooth transition of responsibilities. Aljeda joined the company in 1994 and steadily climbed up the ladder. Prior to the group chief post, he was regional CEO in Europe, North America and Asia and has served as interim operations chief since last year. The Aramex veteran also played a role in the Fastway Couriers acquisition in Australia and New Zealand back in 2016.
One of Airbus’ engineering pioneers, Bernard Ziegler, passed away last week at the age of 88. He was instrumental in the introduction of the world’s first digital fly-by-wire (FBW) and side stick controls in a commercial passenger aircraft with the A320 in 1988. With a career spanning some four decades, his legacy lives on with digital FBW on all current generation Airbus aircraft, and its adoption as the standard on all modern passenger aircraft globally. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the family of Mr Ziegler.
Schiphol scoops cargo airport award
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol won its second Cargo Airport of the Year award at the 15th Air Cargo Week World Air Cargo Awards (WACA) last week. Winners were announced during a digital ceremony held in conjunction with Messe München’s 3-day Transport Logistic online, which also featured Air Cargo Europe. Awardees were selected from an initial nomination stage, followed by the announcement of a shortlist and final decision by a public vote.
FedEx to sponsor UEFA for 3 more years
FedEx will sponsor European football association UEFA after it signed a three-year agreement commencing at the start of the 2021/22 tournament. The agreement includes sponsorship rights for the Super Cup, Youth League finals, Champions League Futsal finals and eChampions League. FedEx first became a main sponsor of the UEFA Europa League in 2015, followed by National Team Football sponsor in 2019. FedEx is the official logistics partner of UEFA EURO 2020 taking place in the summer of 2021.
Liege Airport goes green
Last week, Liege Airport together with sustainable builder Sowaer and Skeyes signed an agreement with FedEx, ASL Airlines Belgium, CAL Cargo Airlines, and Challenge Airlines to develop joint action plans to minimise their environmental impact, including noise, air quality, and greenhouse-gas emissions. The group aims to promote a better understanding of the airport community and support the sustainable growth of the airport, including its ISO 14001:2015 certification and participation in the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme. The airport has committed zero target by 2050.
IndiGo transports oxygen concentrators across India
IndiGo last week transported over 4,142 o oxygen concentrators last week weighing more than 72,000 kilos.
Out of the total, as many as 2,717 were airlifted from Thailand, China, Qatar, Hong Kong, and Singapore to India, whilst 1,425 oxygen devices were delivered domestically between 36 airports. The Indian airline has also transported more than 160,000 Covid-19 jabs between January 12 and May 3.
CEVA boosts multimodal connection from China to Europe
CEVA Logistics is expanding ground and rail services from China to Europe, with a weekly train-ferry service from Xi’an to Immingham, UK, and a premium offering that takes 15 days from Xi’an to the Mukran port in Sassnitz, Germany. The new route started on March 18, which passes through Kaliningrad in Russia, where cargo was reloaded the same day onto a ferry that arrived in Immingham on April 6. CEVA has dispatched more than 50 block trains from Xian’s port since May last year, and the first shipment from Xi’an to Immingham saw 25 containers loaded with e-commerce goods with customs supervision code 9810.
Longtail Aviation signs up to CHAMP
Longtail Aviation has chosen CHAMP solution, Traxon Global Customs (TGC), to automate its customs admin system. The 16-year-old cargo operator got its first all-cargo aircraft in early 2020 and plans to grow its fleet. The CHAMP solution automates filing to 62 customs authorities and adapts quickly to the latest requirements, regardless of format, communications protocols and processing rules.
Lufthansa to roll out sharkskin tech for B777 fleet
Trying to finding ways to reduce aerodynamic drag for many years, Lufthansa Cargo has found a breakthrough that would save enough kerosene and reduce carbon emissions equivalent to 48 cargo flights from Frankfurt to Shanghai with its B777 fleet. The airline will coat its B777Fs with a surface film created in partnership with BASF, that mimics the fine structure of a shark’s skin. The airline will start implementing the technology next year to make its cargo fleet more fuel efficient and economical.
DSV Panalpina completes Globeflight turnover
DSV Panalpina has completed the acquisition of Globeflight Worldwide Express after the sale was announced in December 2020. The acquisition includes the latter’s operations in South Africa and Swaziland and is expected to fortify DSV’s presence in the express parcel courier sector. DSV recently said it plans to buy Agility’s integrated logistics unit for more than US$4 billion, a deal that easily puts the company in the top 3 biggest players.
LATAM targets zero waste to landfill by 2027
LATAM is making bold targets of zero waste to landfill by 2027 and carbon neutral by 2050. Together with TNC (The Nature Conservancy), the airline will identify conservation projects to protect ecosystems in the Americas. The group aims to eliminate single-use plastics before 2023 and offset half of its emissions from domestic operations by 2030.
Flag carrier moves critical health supply to Uzbekistan
Boeing and Uzbekistan Airways, in their third time doing humanitarian relief, delivered a medical shipment to the Aral Sea region of Uzbekistan on board the airline’s newest 787-8 Dreamliner. The airline carried hospital beds, mattresses and wheelchairs for the country’s struggling health system. Boeing will donate $100,000 to support the nonprofit in charge, Project C.U.R.E. in its mission to provide medical supplies to Uzbek hospitals and facilities in the Aral Sea Region.
