In week 28 of the PLA Global Wrap we feature recent appointments from last week, including IATA’s Brendan Sullivan as global head of cargo and Marcus Campbell joining Hermes Logistics Technologies as its new chief technology officer. There’s also recent update on Airbus’ stand on the use of SAF after it signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Canada-based SAF+ Consortium. We round up the industry updates with recent developments from the world’s leading airlines, airports, cargo handlers and major air cargo stakeholders. Here’s what happened in week 27.
IATA officially names Sullivan as global head of cargo
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced the appointment of Brendan Sullivan as IATA’s global head of cargo with immediate effect. Sullivan has worked in air cargo for 20 years, spending his 14 years with IATA. Since January, he has been the acting global head of cargo alongside his role as head of cargo operations and e-commerce. Sullivan began his career in air cargo at Air Canada in 2000, where he gained frontline operational experience and developed expertise in dangerous goods handling that facilitated his transition to IATA in 2007.
Hermes Logistics Technologies appoints new tech chief
Hermes Logistics Technologies (HLT) has appointed Marcus Campbell as its new chief technology officer (CTO). Marcus brings over two decades of technology experience to the management role with significant industry experience within telecoms, retail, fintech, insurance, and shipping industries. Marcus joins as HLT successfully completes back-to-back Hermes 5 (H5) virtual systems upgrades for leading cargo handlers such as Menzies, dnata in Amsterdam, and WFS in Frankfurt (FCS).
Airbus joins Canada’s SAF+ Consortium
Airbus and the Montreal, Canada-based SAF+ Consortium have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate with major Canadian aviation industry players on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) development and production in North America. Airbus said it will be investing through ‘in-kind’ contributions, which consist of technical and certification expertise, economic analysis, communications and advocacy The announcement marks the launch of a new Canadian ecosystem dedicated to stimulating the production of SAF and connecting Airbus with prominent Canadian actors spanning the entire aviation value chain to develop a concrete solution that will make low-carbon flying a reality.
Volga-Dnepr transports its largest outsized cargo to date
Volga-Dnepr Airlines has recently transported a large custom-built compressor from Zurich in Switzerland) to Abu Dhabi on its Antonov 124-150 aircraft. The delivery was organized in partnership with GEODIS, the Group’s long-standing customer. The single-piece cargo, measuring 15.65 m x 4.40 m x 3.85 m and weighing 100 tonnes, was one of the largest out-of-gauge shipments ever carried aboard the airline’s An-124-150.
Ethiopian Airlines, Liege Airport extend partnership until 2026
Ethiopian Airlines Cargo and Logistics Services and Liege Airport have renewed their long-standing partnership agreement until 2026. Liege Airport will continue to be the European cargo hub of the airline for the next five years. The partnership, which started almost 15 years ago, has seen 15,000 freighter flights operated by the African carrier into the Belgian airport, with close to 1 million tonnes of cargo carried.
WFS wins cargo handling contract extensions in Spain
Spain’s third largest airline, Air Europa, has signed cargo handling contract extensions with Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) in Madrid and Barcelona. The airline operates Boeing 787 and 737-800 passenger aircraft with bellyhold capacity from the two Spanish airports to destinations in Europe and North and South America. Air Europa has been a WFS customer in Madrid since 2018 and in Barcelona since January of this year. The new contracts will now extend the partnership in Spain until Q4 2022.
Antonov deploys AN-225 to fly medical cargo to Namibia
Antonov Airlines has safely transported medical supplies at short notice from Germany to Namibia on the world’s largest aircraft. The AN-225 AN-225 “Mriya” which was recently returned to commercial operations, took off from its home base at Kyiv in Ukraine and flew to Liepzig-Halle airport in Germany to load the cargo destined for Windhoek, Namibia with one refuelling and rest stop in Accra, Ghana. The cargo, provided by German Military Medical Command, included masks, anti-viral gowns, medicines, and other personal protective equipment (PPE), transported on behalf of Germany’s Federal Ministry of Defence at the request of the Namibian Government.
e-commerce marketplace DHgate signs MoU with Agility’s Shipa Freight
Agility, together with its digital innovation arm Shipa, announced an agreement with leading Chinese e-commerce marketplace DHgate and its logistics arm DHLink, which will allow customers to easily manage their cross-border shipments online. As part of the agreement Shipa’s online freight-booking platform will be integrated into DHLink as a private-label shipping option and the preferred booking option for the 2.3 million Chinese suppliers and 36 million global buyers at DHgate. The two companies are also looking to explore other markets, including Latin America, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Australasia, and Turkey.
BBAM orders 12 additional 737-800BCFs
Aircraft lessor BBAM is expanding its 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter fleet with 12 additional firm orders. The agreement brings its total orders and commitments for theconverted freighter to 31. BBAM will be the first customer to have a 737-800BCF converted at Coopesa’s MRO conversion line in Costa Rica, which is set to open next year.
Brussels Airport boosts perishable capabilities; cargo up in June
Brussels Airport has announced that the perishables facilities for Kuehne+Nagel and DSV Panalpina Adelantex are now operational. Both facilities have its own border inspection posts to easily carry out phytosanitary checks with the regulatory authorities. The company has also launched an updated version of its Perishable Management App, which streamlines the inspection process when importing perishables. Cargo volume at the airport was up 40 percent year on year in June.
Etihad Cargo and CargoAi ink worldwide partnership
Etihad Cargo and CargoAi have teamed up to elevate the airlines’s API accessibility for freight forwarders as part of its digitalisation strategy. CargoAi will start e-marketing the carrier’s available capacity on its platform. The company said that all information on capacity, including rates, schedules, quotations and bookings, will be available via the platform starting August.
