Recently at CNS Partnership
Conference in Orlando, Florida, we met Dr. Alexis von Hoensbroech, the
new board member products & sales of Lufthansa Cargo, and the effervescent
cargo professional Achim Martinka, vice president cargo, the Americas
(seen here).
Here are two brief reports: one with the
bright and engaging Alexis at Munich Air Cargo Europe, and the other an
Americas overview with Achim Martinka in Atlanta.
Dr. Alexis
Keynotes Munich Session
On Wednesday an interesting and varied discussion
on e-freight featured a keynote address delivered by Dr. Alexis von Hoensbroech.
But rather than stand behind a podium mouthing
canned remarks, Dr. Alexis chose to answer some direct questions posed
by moderator of the IT sessions Bernd Maresch at the keynote event in
Hall A6.
The matter-of-fact affect was at once dramatic
and believable as Alexis—barely 100 days into his first job in air
cargo—exhibited an uncanny knack for not only grasping critical
air cargo issues, but also involving the audience to examine matters with
him.
In just a few moments of plain speaking
in simple terms, Alexis laid out a scenario that even the folks in the
back of the room could hear, follow, and embrace.
“I came to air cargo from the passenger
side of the business that is a highly digitalized business today.
“Access to the passenger process is
vast, from smart phones to computers, and provides real time transparency
in a seamless fashion, and in an instant.
“I recall working on a project 15
years ago that prioritized digitalization for air cargo.
“It is apparent that today, nearly
a decade and a half later, we have not moved far enough with that process.
“So while there are several initiatives
today—including these IT sessions at Air Cargo Europe—my take
is that it is really time for air cargo to move on into the new century
and embrace a digital solution.
“Put another way—if we don’t
do it then others will do it for us.
“Today we in the combination air cargo
business have plenty of competitors, including the integrators that have
developed highly sophisticated information chains.
“There are also internet companies
able to harness these information technologies, who want to move into
the logistics business,” Dr. Alexis said.
“As an industry we are highly vulnerable
to these digital attacks if we don’t digitalize ourselves.”
We kept wondering where this guy was several
years ago, when the idea of e-freight came to the fore and was sent out
to an industry that has yet to embrace the technology in majority numbers.
Every good idea needs somebody or an organization
to put the program across.
But maybe that is what finally happened
during a few brief minutes in Munich Wednesday morning.
If not, it will have to do until the real
thing comes along.
There is no doubt that there will be more
from Alexis von Hoensbroech after his smashing entrance on the global
air cargo scene.
While good times, hospitality, interesting
people, and a variety of things to eat and drink could be found
where Lufthansa Group held court at the gates of Air Cargo Europe
2015 at Messe Munich, we found an informative “Tapas"
of sorts, offering capabilities and shipping solutions via a line
up of iPads at the Lufthansa Digital Buffet.
Complete with a “Menu Card”
(printed to replicate a Biz Class offering), the Digital Buffet
offered “Starters,” “Main Dish,” and “Dessert,”
outlining the various goings-on at Lufthansa Cargo as well as
the service offerings of SWISS and Brussels air cargo.
Packaged in a neat lineup and billboarded
with some eye catching graphics, “Digital Buffet”
was an imaginative interactive offering, wrapping up an inviting
presentation that included a comfortable, well-illuminated meeting
room behind the billboard in case anyone struck with a bright
idea might have space to take things further.
Nice!
|
America Progress
& Challenges
Whatever else can be said regarding the
state of business for the German national carrier, balance of flows on
the North-Atlantic during the first months of 2015 are even stronger than
before, with record-numbers delivered on the import-side due to the effects
of the now settled West Coast USA Port Strike and lower Euro.
Lufthansa Cargo USA team—pictured
(L to R) Gabriella Galantis, Director US Midwest and Canada at Lufthansa
Cargo; Uwe Glunz, Regional Director USA West, Mexico & Central
America; Alexander Karst, Dorector Sales & Handling USA Northeast
and Mid-Atlantic; Karen Earp, Global Account Manager Lufthansa Cargo;Gunnar
Loehr, Regional Director South America Caribbean and Florida; Achim
Martinka, Vice President The Americas; Carl A. Unger, Director USA
South; Alison Ricker, Head of Global Accounts and Ron Sanford, Global
Key Account Manager The Americas. |
It is challenging for the USA
export side; however, the USD remains strong, and an influx of one-way
freighters from Asia via the U.S. to Europe is reducing market-demand
to Europe.
“Due to the high demand, we can fly a lot
of freighter extra-sections into the U.S., responding to the high demand
of our customers in Europe,” Achim Martinka told FlyingTypers.
Achim noted that down on the ground service enhancements
continue according to plan, including some upfront IT services that will
drive improved services.
“We have switched 80 percent of our station
to our new IT-system iCAP, which is replacing the old Mosaik-system.
“Due to intense pre-prep, so far so good,
as we are experiencing a reasonably smooth transition whilst addressing
the expected minor issues.
“We can say that our team and customers
are very satisfied with the roll-out,” Achim said.
“The system will allow us to be even more
efficient and well equipped for all eCargo initiatives.
“Looking ahead at the Americas, Lufthansa
plans to open further stations on the passenger side in the last quarter
of 2015: PTY, CUN, and TPA.
“We don’t expect huge traffic in
CUN and TPA, but Panama is a new country for us and we are looking forward
to opening this new destination.
“Elsewhere in Latin America, since the
beginning of the year we have been flying to BOG with our freighters instead
of LIM, adding main deck-capacity to a market that we have served with
PAX-flights.
“We are also operating a successful IAH-SVG
freighter that continues on to FRA.
“Lufthansa Cargo is also connecting DFW,
ATL, and CHI with main deck all cargo services to MAN every week.
“In 2015 Lufthansa Cargo continues to build
strength and identity in the marketplace as a European carrier flying
directly to UK and Norway in addition to Germany and Austria,” Mr.
Martinka said.
We also learned that Gunnar Loehr is new regional
manager for South-America, Caribbean, and Florida, succeeding Daniel Bleckmann,
who opened his own enterprise in SAO.
“Gunnar has been with Lufthansa Cargo for
twelve years and has done stellar work in a wide range of fields in Madrid,
Sharjah, and the headquarters in Frankfurt,” Achim said.
“We are also very proud to report that
Lufthansa Cargo USA are the first stations outside of Germany to gain
approval ISO 14001 (verified by KPMG) for our environmental management
system (EMS).
“Stations include IAH, LAX, and JFK.”
Bravo, we say!
It’s very cool to work toward and be recognized
for operating a clean machine.
Geoffrey |
