Focused on the future


The national carrier says it has a lot to accomplish in meeting new regulatory requirements and the implementation of e-freight and security procedures. Elsewhere, in a depressed market, airports are building new cargo facilities and preparing to welcome new transatlantic freighter services


M


ichael Morey, director opera- tional strategy at Air Canada Cargo, points out: “Traffic is still a bit off – there wasn’t a peak as such – but yields are compensat-


ing (although, unfortunately, this is mainly due to increased fuel surcharges).” Nevertheless, the cargo carrier remains very


busy, Morey said. “Both e-freight and security are priorities, of course.” In relation to the latter: “We have the new EU regulations, as well as meeting Transport Canada requirements (namely, achieving 100 percent secure freight by the end of this year) and Perimeter Vision


(Beyond the Border), which is an initiative to boost security along the US - Canada border. We have a lot to accomplish.” So far: “We have installed new equipment in


our major facilities,” he advised. “We’ve hired specially trained security personnel to perform the screening and our own staff have received training as well. “Co-ordinating SOPs (standard operating


procedures) that are consistent is quite a chal- lenge when dealing with different regulations around the world. But we regularly talk with the authorities as well as through industry groups, to make sure that we get it right, and on


time. I can confidently say that we are ahead of the curve in many respects on security, and we intend to stay there,” Morey enthused. As regards the paperless ship-


ment of air cargo: “Admittedly e-freight has been a struggle, to get that critical mass going. Changing processes in order to accommodate e-freight is not a straightforward task for the freight forwarders. However, as the volume grows, it becomes easier. “What I think will be key to


projects are complete and prove the concept works, you can either join the parade or get left behind.” Some challenges for Air


Canada Cargo have also to be dealt with. The parent airline’s labour dispute has hit its freight business, although – as Morey observed – “the impact is felt more on the advance passenger bookings as freight usually gets booked very close in”. Meanwhile, Air Canada will


driving urgency is the current ACAS (Air Cargo Advance Screening) project in the US and now starting in Europe. “The requirement to transact electronically


will add so much efficiency to the security and Customs process,” he added. “Once the pilot


Morey: “we have a lot to accomplish”


continue to focus on “maximis- ing the carrier’s network through our hubs”, a tactic which has enabled it to take


advantage of high-demand lanes as well as offset low-demand lanes by funnelling traffic to other destinations beyond Canada. “We’ve been very successful at this and will continue to be so,” he concluded.


Halifax Stanfield projects strong performance


Halifax Stanfield International airport in eastern Canada handled 29,263 tonnes of cargo in 2011, a rise of 2.8 percent on the previous year. Increased capacity by FedEx and Canadian carrier Cargojet, as well as the return of Icelandair


Cargo in December, were cited as factors in the growth. The airport’s multi-tenant facility also had its first full year in operation last year, having opened in June 2010. The 40,000ft2 (3,716m2 (650m2


) of climate-controlled space with direct airside access. The gateway is predicting a 7 percent improvement in its freight traffic this year .“We’re


preparing for another year of cargo growth,” said Jerry Staples, the airport’s vice president, marketing and business development.


) centre, operated by Gateway ULC, boasts 7,000ft2


BRIEFS • BRIEFS • BRIEFS • BRIEFS


TORONTO PEARSON International airport is preparing to welcome the launch of AeroLogic B777 freighter services into the gateway. The inaugural weekly flight of the DHL - Lufthansa Cargo joint venture is expected later this month (April).


DESCARTES, the Ontario-based supplier of IT systems and services to the logistics industry, has developed two new solutions designed to help forwarders comply with US and European


security filing requirements. Based on the com- pany’s Air AMS for Forwarders offering, the new ACAS and ICS for Forwarders products form part of Descartes’ Cargo Security Compliance suite.


TONY TYLER, CEO and director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), has called on Canada’s policy-makers to improve the competitiveness of the country’s aviation sector and to reduce the “high tax burden” that it has imposed on the industry.


Page 10


9 April 2012


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