Taking the long-term, positive view The global logistics industry has come under intense strain in recent months, and brokers have not been immune, but they are in business for the long-haul L
ondon-based broker Air Charter Ser- vice (ACS) continues to grow. “We’ve got a five-year strategy, we know where we want to be in five years’ time,” says managing director Tony Bauckham. Part of that strategy relates to the expansion
of the ACS office footprint around the world. Already boasting four branches in Europe, three offices in the US, one in South America (São Paulo), one in Africa (Johannesburg), one in the Middle East (Dubai), one in India (Mumbai) and Moscow and St Petersburg in Russia, that
number increased on 1 April when it opened a new China office in Beijing – taking to 16 its total number of offices worldwide. Regarded as a “significant
commitment” to the market in mainland China, Bauckham explained that the Beijing office was the natural expansion of the company’s development in Hong Kong that was always intended to be a springboard for a move into the mainland. Further growth is planned
for the near future. “Our ambi- tion is to be on every continent,” Bauckham noted. Elsewhere in Asia, Almaty is under consider-
Bauckham: “our ambition is to be on every continent”
ation as a useful outpost for the broker’s oil and gas business, all of which hints at the optimism being felt by the senior management at ACS. Indeed, Bauckham outlined: “We were very,
very happy with our financial results for our financial year that ended on 31 January. Under- lying business growth has been very strong and we were very profitable last year.” Moreover, so far this financial year: “It’s still looking very healthy in all three departments”
Reto Hunziker, managing director of Lufthansa Cargo Charter Agency (LCCA), con- siders that while 2012 will be a “challenging” year, the Frank- furt-based broker has had a good start to the year and it has taken the right measures to enjoy another successful 12 months. Specific measures have
included appointing general sales agent partners in spe- cific regions to broaden the broker’s already extensive coverage – a tactic that has proved successful and will be continued when the right partners can be found in appropriate markets, Hunziker pointed out.
(Cargo, Commercial Jets and Executive Jets). November and December
2011 were tough and January was not as good as expected, he admitted, but demand picked up again in February and March, Bauckham observed, and he is confident of the upward trend continuing. The next couple of months are already looking positive and the air cargo industry might be on a surer footing by then, further improving the outlook. Demand in the oil and gas
sector has been strong, as it has been in mining, although some
other sectors have so far remained flat, he said. Meanwhile, internally, the process of max-
imising the speed and efficiency of business processes continues and staff are being trained in the use of the ACS Integrated Broker Oper- ating System (IBOS) booking system. Bauckham believes whatever the condition
of the air cargo industry, the company’s global presence and its involvement in both cargo and passenger charters leave it well positioned to meet ongoing demand for charters.
LCCA looks forward to another successful year Another strategy adopted
last year was a move away from any undue reliance on former business segments and geographical sectors. For example, while the
downturn in the Chinese market hit LCCA hard initially, development of new business in other locations and growth in other business segments, such as pharmaceuticals and automotive, has provided adequate compensation. Looking ahead, winning
Hunziker –Africa remains a key priority
business in Africa remains a key priority, he confirmed. Elsewhere, there is further
potential in the Middle East, Asia and very pos- sibly North America.
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23 April 2012
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