The head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called upon the entire air cargo value chain to rebuild the air cargo industry by focusing on e-commerce, quality and security to help drive the recovery from last year’s devastating effects of the global economic meltdown. “We are starting to see some signs of optimism on the horizon. But we cannot rebuild on the old foundations. This recession has changed global business. To remain competitive, air cargo … [Read more...] about Air cargo industry must rebuild anew: IATA chief

K.W. Nieh Group CEO, Evergreen Group, parent of EVA Airlines’ which operates EVA Air Cargo, says that: “As we expand in China, we’re continuing to grow our market in Southeast Asia to make full use of our long-haul capacity to America and Europe.” “A key EVA objective for 2010 is to fully utilise our airfreight capacity,” he says, adding that the airline expects to grow its air cargo throughput this year. During the fourth quarter of 2009, EVA … [Read more...] about EVA Air accelerates from parking to expansion

I think many would agree that when a company with the stature and history of Japan Airlines (JAL) announces it is exiting the maindeck cargo market, the day seems a bit darker, the world a bit harsher. The announcement ends a venerable run in the business that lasted over five decades from its very first DC-4 freighter service from Tokyo Haneda to San Francisco in 1959. While JAL Cargo will technically still exist, it’s presence will be significantly diminished without its … [Read more...] about The sad end of an era

How has the global recession of last year impacted supply chain models? Will the crisis of last year result in further merger and acquisition activity in the logistics sector through 2010? Will near-sourcing slow the progress of globalisation? Will companies seek to move to even smaller inventory levels, particularly as product life-cycles get shorter and shorter? How have changes in technology impacted the logistics industry? Will RFID, long touted as a key value-add component for the supply … [Read more...] about Logistics Supplement in May issue

For this next item, we have a loyal reader to thank for sending us a link to a very interesting newspaper article after reading our ‘guns and airplanes’ item in the last edition of Belly Ache. Since this item also involves guns, we go back to, guess where…the good old US of A. Go figure! So, on with the story. Apparently there is a – not insignificant – group in the US called the ‘Open Carry’ movement. Essentially this group of … [Read more...] about From my cold, dead hands (you won’t prise my latte).

For anybody that didn’t know this, here is a little factoid that will help you in any dealings with Canadians. Canada is nuts about ice hockey – actually there’s no need to add the ‘ice’ in front because if you ask any Canadian, there is only one kind of ‘hockey’! During the recent Vancouver Winter Olympics, the country came to a virtual standstill whenever their boys in red and white were on the ice. This was taken to … [Read more...] about ‘Ohh Canada!’