In the latest installment of the PLA Global Wrap, we look back at week 31 for some really quite interesting updates on the air cargo, logistics and wider aviation industry, including Korean Air’s 10,000th cargo-only pax flight last week. We also feature SASI World as it embarks on a project to conduct research on how to modernize cargo operations and infrastructure at US airports. We also have the latest B2B updates from LATAM Airlines, WFS, cargo.one, APOC, Champ Cargosystems and many more.

Korean Air: Cargo-only flights to play vital in H2
Last week, Korean Air achieved a significant milestone in its cargo operations as it logged 10,000 cargo-only passenger flights as of August 1. The airline currently operates more than 800 cargo-only flights a month, and has already transported over 400,000 tonnes worldwide. Aside from delivering pandemic-related cargo, the cargo-only flights have been supporting logistics for small and large companies amidst supply chain disruptions. The airline expects cargo-only passenger flights to play a more vital role in the second half of the year, when the volume of import and export cargo typically increases.

SASI World embarks on research to modernise cargo at US airports
SASI World last week announced that it will embark on a research project on how to modernize air cargo and infrastructure at US airports together with the Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP), a division of the Transportation Research Board. The objective of the project is to develop a guidebook for airports of all types and sizes to help modernize their airport cargo facilities, processes and operations in coordination with key logistics stakeholders. The guidebook will address the optimization of a multimodal approach to facilitate the flow of commerce and the movement of goods in coordination with on- and off-airport facilities and services.

LATAM Airlines to modernize fleet with A320neo orders
LATAM Airlines is looking to strengthen its regional operations and exit it Chapter 11 with a modern and efficient fleet. The airline presented for approval before the US Court an agreement with Airbus for an additional order of 28 new A320neo aircraft, on top of the 42 narrow body jets already agreed upon. The airline is looking to consolidate the longest range of destinations in and from Latin America and the Caribbean, along with the connectivity agreements with Delta, which is currently under review by various regulatory authorities in the countries where the group operates.

IAG Cargo reports record tonnage on BA A350 flight
IAG Cargo set a record for its A350 operations from India after it uplifted 48,500 kilos or 48.5 tonnes on a cargo-only flight from Bangalore to London-Heathrow operated by a British Airways A350-1000 aircraft in July. The record cargo-only flight comprised of a mix of perishables, automotive parts and pharmaceuticals. IAG Cargo has started operating six weekly rotations from Bangalore to London-Heathrow, alongside its daily rotations from Delhi and Mumbai to LHR and its service to Hyderabad three times a week.

cargo.one goes live in North America
Air cargo booking platform cargo.one announced last week that it has gone live in North America, providing US and Canadian freight forwarders with real-time capacity visibility for instant booking with 18 airlines, including Air Canada Cargo, ANA Cargo, Etihad Cargo, Finnair Cargo, Lufthansa Cargo, and TAP Cargo, with partner airlines such as Saudia Cargo and El Al Cargo to go live shortly after.

APOC augments spares storage capacity in Europe, eyes China next
Leasing, trading, and aircraft part-out specialist APOC, based in Berkel en Rodenrijs, is pushing ahead with major expansion plans. The company is completing an extra 2,500 sqm of warehouse and technical inspections base that adjoins its existing premises and will treble storage capacity. APOC specialises in narrowbody components and currently has four Boeing 737 airframes undergoing teardown balancing out its Airbus A320 family stock. The company said bulk of the 737s will stay in the US. Max Lutje Wooldrik, chief executive of APOC, said its European centre in The Netherlands will be the focus for process enhancements and streamlining stock management overall but noted that the ‘next step’ is an expansion into China.

Antonov sees more charter requests from mining projects
Antonov Airlines said it is seeing more charter requests from mining projects this year. The carrier recently transported 40 tonnes of mining equipment from Vatry, France, to Comodoro Rivadavia in Argentina, to meet a strict deadline together with Dynami Aviation. The AN-124-100 was chosed to accommodate more than 700 cbm of unusually shaped cargo. The oversized cargo sections, which included a large semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mill head, were split into four sections. The cargo’s journey took two days via Sal, Cabo Verde, for crew rest and refuelling stop, and a second technical stop at Viracopos in Brazil.

WFS acquires French ground handler R.A.HAND
Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), the world’s largest air cargo handler, has acquired Paris-based R.A.HAND, extending its specialist handling services to freight forwarders in France. Formed in 2010 and based at Paris CDG, R.A.HAND works with French and international freight forwarding companies, providing cargo handling services, storage, distribution and deliveries to airlines for some 60 cargo agency clients. It operates at its 6,800-sqm warehouse facility in Paris with over 50 staff and generates annual revenues of €6.2 million.

EirTrade becomes first in Ireland to get AFRA accreditation
EirTrade Aviation has been awarded an AFRA (Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association) accreditation at Knock, Ireland West Airport, becoming the first, and only, accredited disassembly facility in Ireland. EirTrade provides disassembly services for all Airbus, Boeing, Embraer, Bombardier and ATR types. The company has disassembled regional and commercial aircraft of all sizes from ATR72 to A380 aircraft.

Estafeta Carga Aérea renews for CHAMP Cargospot Airline
Estafeta Carga Aérea has renewed for CHAMP’s Cargospot Airline and will migrate to a SaaS model of the cargo management application. The carrier has been using the core cargo solution as a licensed customer for over 16 years and will continue to rely on the solution for years to come. The airline will now be able to leverage the latest API and powerful new features and services that are only available as part of the CHAMP IT ecosystem.