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   Vol. 14 No. 15
Monday February 16, 2015

 

Stop The World I want To Get Off

Right now many of the world’s cargo executives are gearing up to attend the 9th IATA World Cargo Symposium (WCS) scheduled to take place in Shanghai, China, from March 10-March 12.
     Those, at least, are the official public dates for WCS, since some invitation-only events begin on Sunday March 8 and continue past the public sessions meetings until Saturday March 14.
     Each WCS has an event brand, and for this year it is “Improving the customer experience.”
     That certainly is fitting, since IATA has had issues in the past to identify who the airline’s cargo customers are and what they want—IATA’s struggles with FIATA coming to mind.
     Without pointing fingers, it can be said that when the airline interest group IATA sued the forwarder’s interest group FIATA in 2010, something was amiss with regard to customer experience.


Glyn HughesAll This & Heaven Too?

     IATA’s Global Head of Cargo Glyn Hughes has promised an exciting event and lots of novelties in an IATA TV spot that aired on YouTube.
     That may be needed to boost attendance, since China promises attendees cumbersome and bureaucratic visa requirements and high costs for attendance-related expenses for European attendees, and the U.S. might not position Shanghai among the most popular meeting cities in the universe for 2015.
     Interestingly, the publication Smart Meetings did rank Beijing amongst its top 15 venues for this sort of event in 2014.
     Certainly the question of whether or not it is worth the expense of attending depends on one’s business.
     If you’re an airline, ground handler, or air cargo service provider (be it ULD manufacturer, IT provider, or GSA) then the answer might be “yes” simply because your customers are there and networking opportunities at the WCS are known to be one good reason for attending.
     If you are a forwarder or shipper, the answer is “likely no” since air cargo, even more than other businesses, tends to move in closed circles.
     That, exactly, may be a part of the problem—this event is billed as the World Cargo Symposium and not the World Airline Cargo Symposium.
     That being said, as the biggest driver of airfreight growth, China could no longer be ignored, so it was certainly politically correct to hold this event in the People’s Republic of China.


Keeping Track

     Two of the WCS tracks will be held in Chinese: “E-Cargo in China” and “China Logistical Challenges.”
     Fittingly, the other side will be served in English during the “China International” track where, according to Glyn Hughes, one can learn “how to do business in China.” The list of session tracks at WCS is of some interest to airlines and related businesses especially in further understanding the needs and expectations of the stakeholders across the table.


Promises Promises

     First and foremost, IATA has promised to cut 48 hours from the six-day transit time of the average air cargo consignment.
     But IATA will have to drive e-freight to further acceptance, especially by various nations around the world.
     Looking at the numbers, a case can be made that IATA also still has to prove and convince its claim of the associated benefits of e-freight to air cargo industry stakeholders.
     It’s good to never forget that IATA 2010 forecasts called for 100 percent e-freight at the end of 2014—ultimately 22 percent was achieved, and the 2015 target is 45 percent.


No Slam Dunks

     While IATA is an interest group and subsequently is unable to enforce certain standards to its members, it can develop and roll out “best business practices” and recommendations that it believes airlines should adhere to.


Media Madness

     A bit of a surprise is the contingent of 20 or so cargo-related accredited media that will no doubt be standing by to pounce on cargo captains in the hallways and coffee breaks between meetings in Shanghai.
     Leading the onslaught is the non-stop drumming of IATA’s official media partner.
     As of last Thursday, over 30 e-mails (by one count) with invitations to a WCS awards banquet were sent out—enough for most spam filters to act up or at least deliver a cyber bloody nose.
     Our take from the first eight WCS events is that none, in fact not even one of those events has generated anything like a breakthrough or, for that matter, enough real news, as our old friend Pete Spaulding used to say, “to fill up one eyeball.”
     Sure, in 2014 it was IATA in “The City of Angels” and the Mayor of Los Angeles, a high-powered politician, gave a good speech last year at WCS, and Fred Smith, FedEx founder, polished and delivered a stump address, which had essentially already been heard elsewhere, as he stood before a packed house in Century City.
     It’s good to remember that these IATA meetings are organizational annual events mandated in the trade group’s charter that the airlines must attend.
     IATA figured out that by expanding the airline annual meeting and branding it World Cargo Symposium it could showcase its various activities by putting an intense spotlight on its lusty (and expensive) menu of training and instructing and printing of various manuals business activities.
     There’s nothing wrong with that, we say.
     But the fair question, especially with a rich and varied collection of at least a dozen industry and specialized air cargo events on the boards for 2015, would be: is the IATA World Cargo Symposium worth the aforementioned time, travel, and expense?


Let’s Face It

     IATA itself is campaigning for FACES, the “Future Air Cargo Executive Summit.”
     A prize for the best innovation idea, this aims at rejuvenating the industry, but most likely the prizes will go to someone affiliated with one of IATA’s partners or one of the “usual suspects.”
     We recall an IATA “best idea gambit” after the 2010 WCS held in Vancouver.
     We sat next to a harried top executive aboard a trans-con flight back to LaGuardia and listened to him bitch about the then IATA air cargo boss Alex Popovich asking if anybody had any ideas at a closed meeting of air cargo airline chiefs.
     “I am stuck in China running a failing airline and attended WCS to learn something and they (IATA) are asking me for good ideas,” he said over and over for nearly 3,200 miles.
     Funny thing about history: it most often repeats itself.
     Funnier perhaps is thinking about these things as hope springs eternal, and thus always seems ready to have a reserved seat for another go at another show.
     Stay tuned.
Geoffrey/Sabiha

 

A Landmark Series By Richard Malkin

Richar Malkin true Confessions Jan Krems True Confession Oliver Evans True Confession

 

AFKLMP heats Up Cool

     Air France, KLM, and Martinair held a second cool chain industry gathering targeting France (last year it targeted the Netherlands) on January 21, 2015, and invited a diverse group of shippers, forwarders, and consultants led by Renate de Walle, director Product Market Group, Pharmaceutical Logistics, Air France-KLM-Martinair Cargo.
     Earlier, Renate had signaled the need for this gathering, telling Pharma publisher Samedan:
     “Fuelled by rising global demand, I think that the importance of pharma logistics in meeting tighter regulations—such as those involved in temperature management—will become increasingly important.
     “Over the next decade, parties in the cold chain will also have to respond to the changing market landscape, such as implementing a direct-to-market approach for specialty products, and value-focused approaches for generics.
     “In addition, the further development of personalized medicines will have implications for the whole logistics industry.”
     The AF/KL/MP event was hands-on, including visits in warehouse facilities at CDG that included the always chilling experience of ducking in and out of seven temperature controlled & monitored cooled rooms, plus live demonstrations of specialized containers utilized to transport pharma-shipments via AF/KL/MP all over the world.
     During the afternoon, various specialists provided an interactive presentation on regulatory aspects and processes aimed at understanding exactly what it takes to ship and handle pharma.
     Andrea Gruber, IATA senior manager, Specialized Cargo, shared some thoughts about Good Distribution Practices (GDP) and on the necessity to be compliant with guidelines issued to handle pharma, which within a few years will be ‘requirements.’ She also emphasized the importance of cool chain integrity—one of the main challenges—and the collaborative approach based on increased transparency.
(Geoffrey)

 

Something For The Kids

  The Americold temperature-controlled warehousing and logistics outfit based in Atlanta teams up with Feed the Children, an anti-hunger organization with global reach.
  At an event this week in Stone Mountain, Georgia, Americold employees launched the company’s first initiative with Feed the Children, filling 500 backpacks with school supplies, toiletries, clothing, and other essential items for homeless and at-risk children in DeKalb County, Georgia.
  Nice.
www.americold.com

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Chuckles For February 17, 2015

 

Weathering Fat Tuesday
      Today February 17, is “Fat Tuesday” in large parts of the world, with festivities like the big, extravagant Mardi Gras Parades in New Orleans. As we move closer to the last day before the repentant Lenten Season that leads up to Eastertide, it seems the best way to launch the period of contrition is with the most bacchanalian of celebrations. “Fat Tuesday” is a time for, quite literally, getting fat before the ritual fasting of Lent.
      For New York City, there is always room for Mardis Gras, however this year’s outdoor celebrations have been muted a bit as the wicked weather continues calling the shots, with snow forecasted as the ice box outside continues.
      But tradition cannot be ignored and with a full slate of air cargo events looming all during the month of March 2015, we will declare a time-out to be next to the band on Tuesday, while singing along to the words of a great jazz standard and a tune that Louis himself performs here just for you.
      “Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?”
      Then on Ash Wednesday we will give thanks, and pray for better weather!


Forwarders In Big Easy March 1

     But New Orleans will enjoy a second time around on March 1, 2015, as the U.S.-based Airforwarders Association (AfA) comes to a downtown “Big Easy” hotel for a couple days of networking, thinking big thoughts, and learning exactly “what it means to miss New Orleans.”
     According to AfA President Brandon Fried:
     “AirCargo 2015, our annual event held March 1-3 in New Orleans, is really the one time of the year that the air forwarding industry gets together—and it’s the one opportunity that forwarders have to network with a large cross-section of their industry colleagues, learn what others are doing and get a good snapshot of where the industry is going.
Jim Crane      “We put a premium on learning and education, and anyone who attends is going to come out of it with a boost in their knowledge and their contacts.
     “Our agenda will focus on upcoming advanced data regulations, e-commerce, technology, upcoming new export and import regulations, legal concerns and, of course, a new update to the TSA security program for forwarders.”
     Jim Crane, the Houston Astros owner who built his fortune creating and building Eagle USA Airfreight, will deliver the keynote address.
     While you’re in New Orleans, make sure to “get fat” on the best the town has to offer (regardless of whether it’s Tuesday, Friday, or whenever). Pay a visit to the oldest candy shop in Louisiana, Laura’s Candies, located in the historic French Quarter. With an assorted of different, decadently delicious pralines and truffles, and some of the best candied fruit slices we’ve ever had (made with real fruit juice, so you can pretend you’re eating healthy!), Laura’s is a stop you simply must make.
     If you have any extra time, a trip to the World War II Museum is always a safe bet for an interesting afternoon (although one could easily spend an entire weekend perusing the enormous collection). The Peche Seafood Grill is just around the corner from the museum, so make sure to stock up on delicious oysters, fried hushpuppies, and a sumptuous whole grilled fish that will knock your socks off.
     Online registration for the conference is available here.
Geoffrey

Louis Armstrong
We know what it means . . . The Mardi Gras Parade of Muses marches through the streets of New Orleans, last Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015. Mardi Gras season is in full swing and will culminate today with the Rex and Zulu day-long celebrations and Fat Tuesday parades on Feb. 17, 2015.


If You Missed Any Of The Previous 3 Issues Of FlyingTypers
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FT020715
Vol 14. No 12
West Coast Port Meltdown
Blockbuster Ocean Alliances
Chuckles For February 7, 2015
Mom We Are Coming Home
Oil Dip Fuels India Cargo

Vol 14. No 13
True Confessions—Dan Muscatello
Chuckles For February 10, 2015
SkyCargo Stems From Valentines

Publisher-Geoffrey Arend • Managing Editor-Flossie Arend • Associate Publisher/European Bureau Chief-Ted Braun
Film Editor-Ralph Arend • Special Assignments-Sabiha Arend, Emily Arend • Advertising Sales-Judy Miller

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