Merry Christmas 2021: Everybody Loves You!

     Who Said No Gift? It’s December and Christmas is busting out all around us: much stronger than in the past two years, our emotions take control of families and friends. Our four offspring (the oldest is 43 now), what great fun it will be having them all with us this 2021 Yuletide season! There is a cartoon of a Christmas table inside a boxing ring. Sometimes my best reality at 80 is pure fantasy, so I say once in a while, just suppose, let down a bit and go for it! Merry Christmas to you all!
     Some love to hate it, but Christmas for many is also a sanctuary time moving many of us, at least in our hearts. A bit like Thanksgiving Part-Deux, our family’s youngsters and grandchildren will make us break the self-imposed ‘gift truce’ rule. After all, when the big fat man in the long white coat comes to town, all the rules come tumbling down.
     After two years waiting for a normal Christmas, we must do more than just send out Christmas Cards, as in 2020. So we pass along Christmas 2021 greetings and best wishes for a Happy New Year 2022 to you, dear reader, as we share universal blessings of peace on earth and good will to all.
     For me the favorite part of the Christian Church service is the Offertory Hymn, the Doxology that begins “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.” I cannot help feeling if I get too high on my horse here I might get struck by lightning, so I am singing a bit under my breath. Yet the feeling of elation remains. What happens next is the congregation greeting each other and simple handshaking, a very touching moment: sometimes the service stops and folks move from their branch around the sanctuary, greeting one another!
     So this holiday season, back from isolation of the past two years, I started thinking about fellowship. We asked some others to share their good wishes, asked them if they might like to add their greeting to the readers of Flying Typers. This is meant to be a cherished practice and a timely idea after all we have been through. Here we go!
Geoffrey

ULD Can Cans      “The team at ULD CARE wish the air cargo community a happy Christmas; our Christmas wish is that everyone can enjoy an abundance of ULD with no shortages, and for the New Year we of course look forward to escaping from the Groundhog Day life of the last almost two years and instead seeing more and more planes in the sky, carrying passengers as well as cargo. Bob Rogers, Urs Wiesendanger, and Danielle ULD CARE

Georgia What To Love About The South      Despite all the challenges of getting people vaccinated against a globally contagious virus, we were still able to move goods to our valued customers. Our resilient partners overcame supply-chain disruptions with innovations such as airport cargo community systems. They countered staff shortages with better pay and benefits. The reopening of many countries' borders allows us to be with our friends, families, and business partners across the world.      In the year 2022, we will continue to promote efficiency gains via technology solutions like the cargo community system and work towards providing the space for a new greenfield modern air cargo facility. Our aim is to continue to fulfill the expectations of our clients, stakeholders, and business partners to be among the most efficient cargo airport to satisfy their needs.      ATL is grateful for the strength in our cooperation.      On behalf of all my colleagues at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, I wish everyone in the industry a safe and calming Happy Holidays. Elliott Paige Director for Air Service Development Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Jenni Moves Forward At Emo Trans      Right now it will be good to get back to something that at least resembles ‘normal’ be it new normal, old or something yet to be determined.      Considering all the challenges, including losing my father, the COVID and the 24/7 nature of the industry, I don’t think making it would have been possible, without my family, friends and the outstanding people of EMO Trans and, of course our business partners.      I am very grateful and deeply thankful as we move into the holidays.      Getting ready for next year will not be easy, as apparently COVID and the always present downward pressure to meet and exceed customer expectations will be even greater.      But with stamina, tolerance and a bit of humor we will have the opportunity to eventually come out on the other side with a better handle on our challenges. Jennifer Frigger-Latham Vice President, Sales & Marketing EMO Trans

Nollag Dhona From Dublin      A lovely little Christmas wish we had from our school days has far more relevance to us now as we grow older and are a little wiser (I hope).      “May peace and plenty be the first to lift the latch of your door. May happiness be guided to your home by the candles of Christmas.”      I try to take regular time out to reflect on the mad world we live in and be thankful for all we have. The global pandemic and working from home has allowed me to do an early morning walk by the sea most days. This is a marvellous and therapeutic way to start the day. Subject to weather, I am lucky enough to get to see the sun rise for over half the year.      My priorities and wishes for 2022 are very limited:-      Another year of getting up to see as many sun rises as possible, would be a result.      I am not sure if this is an Irish blessing, but one I like-      May your hand be stretched out in friendship and never in need.      Happy Christmas to you and all the clan. Ian & Sean McCool Director and Chairman International Airline Marketing

Joyous Season From Where People Sang Their Way To Freedom      Estonia, which had endured foreign occupation for centuries, joined its fellow Baltic Republics of Latvia and Lithuania in a nonviolent movement that enabled them to become independent from the Soviet Union in 1991.      Especially memorable during that time was Estonia’s “Singing Revolution “in 1986 when the population gathered in an outdoor park and literally sang the occupiers out of the country.      Well, now a quarter century of freedom turns the corner later in 2022. The Baltic States can count 25 years including the scourge to lockdown along with the rest of the world in COVID, and that is the name of that tune.      In fact that heartache continues sailing race around the world like ongoing storms and heavy seas.      Without a first-class crew you could never make it.      Fortunately, the Ospentos crew has been on top of happenings and proved to be worthy of a championship.      We are very thankful as we extend thanks as we take a break for Christmas 2022.      The advanced digitalization, built up during the years, has made it possible to smoothly operate during exceptional times. A number of the staff working from home, except the guys doing the physical handling. A seamless cooperation without sitting together. Well – sitting together on the lap top screen.      The digitalization is something that is the key word throughout the Baltic countries. The governments of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland are working on an EU Commission backed concept eCMR. The CMR waybill for international trucking is fed into a “cloud” and concerned authorities— police, border guards, customs and taxation authorities can monitor what is transported in a truck without stopping it. For the time being, Ospentos is the only operator having the capability to participate as a trucker in this project because of our advanced internal digitalization capability.      As a reflection for the coming Christmas holidays, I can only say that our crew has deserved a break, but the exception of course, are the guys working in the terminal – they would deserve a break as well, but operations must run. Maybe Santa will notice their dedication.      If this year has been a nightmare in international supply chain, then what will happen next year?      Guess there is no clear answers, on the contrary a ton of questions. Whatever the development is, we at Ospentos say – BRING IT ON, WE ARE READY!      We wish all my friends and everyone everywhere, a peaceful holiday season and a Happy New Year 2022. Erik Byman, Owner Ospentos, Oy

One From The Heart      My greeting/wishes/thoughts going into the holidays and into next year: Thank you!      Thank you to our team, our customers, and all the various entities in this industry that continue to work together like never before to serve the needs of the world and the people in it.      It’s inspiring to work alongside so many incredible humans every day. What we do matters, how we do it matters even more.      Sending thoughts of health, joy and peace your way! Jessica Tyler President American Airlines Cargo

Freight Forwarders Make The Season Bright      Ciao!      Hope you’re all fine (I’ve had the third batch of vaccine 2 days ago).      My traditional wish is the following: all the best to you all, for all . . .      Top priority for 2022: claiming a level playing field for freight forwarders      Wishes for 2022: having our normal lives back Hugs, Antonella (Anto) Straulino Foreign Affairs Manager FEDESPEDI

By Gosh By Golly Mistletoe & Kale      Air Cargo was always important, but in 2020/21 it became the life saver. I think as an industry we have grown in stature both within the aviation space (survival chord for the airlines) and the world in general (survival chord for the world transporting PPE, Vaccines, other medicines, food etc.).      The Pandemic also provided us with an opportunity to clean up a few things in our own houses (read legacy technologies) and boy, as an industry we did very well in this area too. In spite of all the issues and challenges, I think our industry will have the best Christmas this year!!!      My humble gratitude to all our industry colleagues for the fabulous work that they have done for the world.      I think the top priority for 2022 should be continuing the strides that we have taken in the technology area. Technology and focus on sustainability in 2022 will transform our industry like never before.      Here are the 5 songs that I love the most:           Winds of change – Scorpion, click here.           Blowing with wind – Bob Dylan, click here.           Sacrifice – Elton John, click here.           Circle of life – Elton John, click here.           Deva Sri ganesha – (energetic prayer song from the hindi movie Agnipath 2) – Ajay Atul, click here.      So with thanks to all our friends and business partners here’s to a fabulous Christmas … and looking forward to meeting everyone in the bright New Year of 2022, bringing us health and good fortune! Amar More Director Kale Logistics