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    Vol. 13 No. 22                      THE AIR CARGO NEWS THOUGHT LEADER                                Wednesday March 5, 2014

 


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Air Cargo News For February 24, 2014
Air Cargo News for March 5, 2014

Has Air Freight Crossed The Rubicon?

Rubicon DropCaps full year data for 2013 is released, it is becoming ever clearer that global air freight markets swung upwards in the final quarter. Analysts forecast more of the same in the months ahead, although as previously explained in FlyingTypers, expect a skewing of the figures in January and February due to the moveable feast (more like famine from an air cargo perspective!) that is Chinese New Year.
     After a strong last quarter, global international freight increased 0.9 percent and total domestic freight movements rose 1.2 percent in 2013 compared to 2012, according to Airports Council International.
     Final year figures from the International Air Transport Association also showed an uptick in the market. Global freight tonne kilometers increased by 1.4 percent last year, with IATA noting an acceleration in demand in the second half of the year, with “air freight volumes on a steadily increasing trajectory.”
     Analysts at HSBC said most air cargo operators in Asia now expect “modest improvements” in 2014, albeit from a low base, with a shift of cargo back from sea to air likely if the global economy accelerates.
     The better air freight outlook is one of a number of factors now improving the perception of airlines in financial markets. IATA’s latest financial monitor said airline shares gained 6 percent in January compared to December, despite the broader market falling by 4 percent. Lower fuel prices, strong passenger load factors and the solid performance of US airlines were the major drivers, but IATA noted that air freight markets were continuing to improve and load factors remained at 2013 highs in January, buoyed by improving business confidence and the pick-up in world trade.
     But 2013 was a mixed year by region, as detailed data from ACI and IATA makes clear.
     IATA figures showed that Middle Eastern and Latin American carriers saw the healthiest demand last year, up 12.8 percent and 2.4 percent respectively. However, Asia Pacific carriers—with some 40 percent of the global market but under heavy pressure from Middle East carriers on key East-West routes—posted a 1 percent year-on-year loss.
     The ACI figures painted a slightly different picture. The airport sector representative said African air freight declined 2.7 percent in 2013 compared to 2012, led by a 5.4 percent year-on-year drop at the continent’s leading hub of Johannesburg. But ACI reported that air freight volumes in the Asia-Pacific region rose 0.9 percent and European air freight markets expanded by 3.4 percent, driven by healthy gains at Frankfurt and Amsterdam.
     Meanwhile Latin America-Caribbean airports had a flat 2013, but the Middle East’s leading hubs saw five percent growth overall, although the picture was varied. “While other major airports faced declines in freight traffic, Dubai posted a gain of 7.4 percent on the year,” said ACI. “Abu Dhabi, the third ranked airport in terms of freight volume, reported double digit gains of 24.4 percent in freight traffic.”
     ACI also said higher growth in North America during the last quarter pointed towards a recovery this year led by Memphis, the home of FedEx, and Louisville, UPS’s hub, which saw volumes expand by 3 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively, in 2013. “Air freight volumes [in North America] grew by 2.9 percent in December,” said ACI. “This is above the 2013 annualized growth, which was almost flat at 0.5 percent over 2012.
     “The higher growth in North America for the last quarter points towards a recovery.”
SkyKing

 




Lufthansa Cargo B777F JFK Arrival

     Milan Malpensa Airport was added to the Lufthansa Cargo freighter network March 5 with twice weekly services via MD-11 freighters and newly delivered Boeing 777Fs.
     Milano now also serves as stopover for Lufthansa Cargo flights returning to Frankfurt from Cairo.
     Lufthansa debuts its summer schedule March 30th, boasting 299 destinations in 100 countries with freighters to 50 cities, including 23 in Asia.
     This summer freighters will serve nine cities in North America, eight in Latin America, six in Europe, and four destinations in Africa.

 

View From The Tower


Click To Read More

     “Control Tower” is something new from United Cargo that Peggy Guse, Cargo Director of Sales Strategy, Marketing and Customer Service, says will greatly enhance the planning and management of temperature-sensitive cargo shipped via their TempControl service.
     The new and innovative approach features a highly trained team of specialists who provide United Cargo TempControl customers a single point of contact and up to the minute information through all phases of the shipment cycle.
     "Temperature-controlled logistics requires precise planning, flawless execution, and constant communication between all stakeholders," Peggy confirmed.
     The Control Tower is located in United's Cargo Customer Contact Center in Houston. It operates 24/7 and is solely dedicated to servicing TempControl customers. Access is via the exclusive toll-free number 1-877-525-4628 or email address tccargo@united.com.

 

FIATA Outlines Modern Times

 

FIATA DropCApoday’s international trade demands the traded goods arrive just in time—safely, securely, in an increasingly sustainable manner and, more than ever, at reasonable costs.
Economic factors are not just keywords; they set the new “norm” throughout the logistics industry.
All of this brings along cost increases, especially outside of the flown portion of the supply chain, so the air freight industry must learn how to address these changes in a landscape of increasing competition with other modes of transport.

Shippers Take The Heat

     Shippers have been under pressure to cut distribution costs.
     However, airfreight remains indispensable and is the best choice of transport for higher values and smaller quantities.
     Sensitive cargo also prefers the air.
     As the air cargo industry increases its importance, so does the need for skilled freight forwarders, which are able to cope with the high pressures of delivering goods in a customer oriented or customized manner.
     Freight forwarders thrive at skillfully answering their clients’ needs and consistently delivering the best combination of price and quality.

Forward To Some Important Points

     Today, thanks to a more efficient routing network and logistics instruments, the exporter's goods may become more competitive in new markets.
     Throughout the years, freight forwarders have developed their skills and constantly improved them.
     They offer a large variety of value-added services (see the description of services on the FIATA website).
     All this happens in compliance with a tremendous and increasing need to deal with the complexity of more and more stringent safety and security requirements.
     Forwarders meet these challenges through the use of contemporary methodologies, techniques, and precious know-how.
     The forwarder serves the global trade by procuring added value, which goes far wider than arranging for international transportation and Customs.
     The forwarder has become in recent years the main facilitator of international trade and is thus placed at the heart of international goods traded.

After The Fall

     Since the 2008 financial crisis, the air cargo industry has been stagnant and has experienced very little, if any growth. According to Air Cargo Management Group (ACMG), air freight traffic declined about 1 percent from 2010 to 2011, and annual growth averaged just 2.6 percent from 2001 through 2011, this was less than half the historic rate. Additionally, major air cargo carriers saw a decrease in cargo revenues.
     Delta Cargo experienced cargo revenue decreases of 5 percent, which culminated into a 53 million dollar loss compared to the previous year.
     One of the stronger cargo handling airports in the world, Singapore Changi Airport, handled 152,800 tons of airfreight last September, which was a shocking decrease of 2.5 percent year over year.

Can The Stagnation Be Reversed?

   FIATA takes the view that newer avenues of collaboration must be explored and both freight forwarders and airlines must become more forward thinking in their collaboration. We need to make the right investments in technology, especially in the development of eCommerce tools, and adopt less cumbersome and less costly modus operandi. There still is too much bureaucracy and paper surrounding the air cargo supply chain.

Tip Of The Hat from IATA

     In 2013, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) acknowledged freight forwarders’ functional change and recognized that they are an integral part of a sector that successfully transports goods worth $5.3 trillion every year.
     IATA understands the importance of working with FIATA to achieve greater efficiency for all partners in this crucial business.
     IATA’s Director General, Mr. Tony Tyler alluded to the critical role that freight forwarding plays within the air cargo industry when he spoke at the 2013 FIATA World Congress in Singapore.
     Many of FIATA’s practitioners do not utilize only air transport, as FIATA is well represented in all modes, but it is unquestionable that airfreight is paramount in the development of the international trade. Mr.      Tyler’s message intelligently explored all the areas that are susceptible to producing greater efficiencies in the industry, increased savings, and a more effective approach to security and facilitation.
     He identified the opportunity of enhanced collaboration with FIATA as an element that could be crucial to the success of both organizations.
     Inter alia, Mr. Tyler stated:
     “That’s our common case for working together to deliver fundamental changes that will protect air cargo’s value proposition to its customers. Instead of talking about how we divide the pie amongst ourselves, we need to focus on how we can best grow the size of the pie together. I am here today to reassure you of IATA’s commitment to work in partnership to deliver the solutions that will secure the future for air cargo.”

Who We Are Today & Tomorrow

     FIATA consists of small, medium, and big freight forwarding companies in an increasingly competitive market.
     Focusing on efficiency and win-win situations for all involved business partners goes in line with reasonable investments that both forwarders and airlines are called to make in the near future, inter alia in the area of paperless trade.
     The air cargo supply chain is today so interconnected that no single party has the resources to expand autonomously.
     This is just a fact of life and all must learn how to live with it.
     The importance of the air freight sector is constantly monitored by FIATA. FIATA’s Air Freight Institute (AFI) has developed on-going relationships with an exceptional number of stakeholders in the air transport industry, from non-governmental organizations, special interest groups, government bodies, regulators, carriers, shippers, consignors, customs groups, legal specialists, cargo risk underwriters, and technology providers.
     It is a complex galaxy of interests where FIATA sits perfectly at ease.
     From this position it can greatly contribute to the improvement of air cargo throughout the world and it will gladly do so, provided the requests and measures make business sense and are not expected to come from one side only.

FIATA & The Bigger Family

     FIATA also works closely with other air cargo industry related Associations in a collaborative coalition formed in 2010, the Global Air Cargo Advisory Group (GACAG).
     The group consists of IATA, the Global Shippers Forum, the International Air Transport Association (TIACA), and FIATA. The four Associations work together to ensure the air cargo industry has a strong, unified voice, allowing for much stronger advocacy outcomes when working with worldwide regulatory authorities.
     GACAG's current focus is air cargo security, e-commerce (this Task Force is actually led by FIATA), Customs and trade facilitation, and the sustainability of the global air cargo industry.
     On top of FIATA’s advocacy efforts, we also co-deliver a training program with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) about the proper handling of dangerous goods cargo.
     FIATA, alongside ICAO, strongly believe in the benefits of training as a means to ensure a sustainable and secure industry future. This is but one of the initiatives in training, which is traditionally one of the strongholds for FIATA.

Better Relations Grow Business

     Our constituents strongly believe that the relationship between airlines and freight forwarders is crucial for trade.
     The efficient delivery of airfreight services is unavailable without a well-functioning relationship between airlines and freight forwarders.
     This is however in need of profound changes, which are felt by all FIATA members and a number of airlines.
     This was the reason why FIATA and IATA have started working on the air cargo modernization program.
After Tony Tyler’s words in Singapore:
     We all recognize that we need a modernized relationship that helps build trust and treats the Forwarder-Airline relationship as a partnership of equals.
      That will lead to the enhanced cooperation that will help industry adapt to the momentous changes it faces.
     This is a modernization path with many facets, where technology will also play an important part.

Rodlofo Sagel
Promises Must Be Kept

     FIATA hopes that this will come to fruition soon; FIATA Members have been and are ready to play their part in full.
     Obviously, this does not depend exclusively on FIATA, as IATA must live up to the promise made by its CEO by swiftly embracing the way of simplification and modernization together with us.

Rodolfo Sagel
Mr. Sagel serves as Chairman of the FIATA Airfreight Institute.

 


Part I-Click To Read
Part II-Click To Read
Part III-Click To Read

 

Calogi Keeps On Trucking

he Dubai cargo business continues to grow at a phenomenal rate, putting pressure on local stakeholders to do things smarter.
Notwithstanding current capacity constraints, Patrick Murray, head of fast-rising IT company Calogi, said his company is facing down the challenge despite a surge in terminal dock bookings.
     “Our ‘Calogi Dock Booking’ feature is rising in popularity as it is well equipped to support the cargo terminals’ ability to streamline their acceptance and delivery process and allows an agent to pre-book an import or export dock and receive priority service,” Patrick said.
     “Additionally the cargo terminal has identified off-peak, normal, or peak rates for each acceptance and delivery dock to allow them to spread the workload.
     “All Dubai freight forwarders currently subscribing to Calogi have automatically been given the opportunity to book docks at the dnata Freight Gate facilities.
     “Based on historical data and the type of dock, Calogi is able to calculate the loading and unloading time required for one or more shipments and automatically allocates the time required to complete the acceptance or delivery process.
     “The Calogi dock booking feature is one of our many responses to the growth challenge.”


Record Numbers

     “In the last month Calogi has processed over 3,500 export dock bookings for over 6,000 tons of cargo, an incredible feat.”

Smart Phone Access

     “While on the same subject of terminal dock booking, dnata are now implementing a traffic management system, which will allow forwarders who have made a dock booking to enter the facility through an automated gate.
     “The gate will be activated via a 2D bar code generated from Calogi to their smart phone.
     “The bar code contains air waybill details and commensurate dock bookings.
     "For users who do not possess a smart phone, a paper version can also be printed and scanned to gain access.
     “At Air Cargo Europe last year, we committed that we would identify innovative ways to use smart phone technology to do business and this is our first development in this area.”

Looking Back–And Ahead

     “Calogi had yet another good year in 2013 with subscribers and transaction increasing by 20 percent.
     “Not bad considering the issues facing the industry.
     “This is testament to my belief that smart business people will continue to invest in cost-effective solutions during times of hardship to give themselves the edge during and after a downturn.
     “We are working very hard in many international communities to expand our presence and we are experiencing excellent results.
     “Calogi continue to meet with industry leaders to gain their insights into how we can successfully implement our offering in their respective communities and have addressed their feedback.
     “We have also continued to develop and offer low cost, functionally rich solutions and we still maintain the decision to price our solution so that it is well within the reach of the smallest stakeholder.
     “I still believe we have an excellent and unique product that simplifies the air cargo supply chain, increases efficiency, and can both generate income and reduce costs.
     “We have a model here in Dubai that stands testament to that claim and I still invite industry leaders, who are serious about reducing their costs or growing their business to visit us and speak to some of our customers.”

New For 2014

     “Last year we spent a lot of time developing and perfecting our Road Feeder Service (RFS) Product.
     “My view is that a truck is an aircraft with wheels, so the tricky part had been to make this solution and meet the needs of both the trucking companies and the airline, and I’m glad to say we succeeded. An RFS operator is now able to see what exactly is lying in the terminal warehouse for him to pick up. From this inventory, he can produce a load plan, a manifest, and can send electronic manifest and status updates to the airlines served.
     “On the subject of trucking and innovation it should come as no surprise to the airports in the Middle East when they see a Pan Airport Logistics truck branded in the Calogi colors delivering and collecting air freight.
     “Emblazoned with the familiar Calogi logo and a number of jet aircraft that symbolize the paperless portal; the truck, heralding the brand line, ‘Seamlessly linking the air cargo supply chain,’ forms part of a campaign showcasing the Calogi portal.”

Security Declaration

     “We also developed the electronic consignment security declaration and we are currently piloting this. We have a solution for both large and small companies.
     “The key to this development is to remove the need to re-enter data and offer a seamless solution that allows large and small forwarders to participate in the IATA ‘secure freight’ program.”
Geoffrey


Chuckles For March 5, 2014

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