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Issue 8 2014 - Freight Business Journal


More main-deck from Air France KLM


Increased main deck capacity from Europe to the Americas and Asia is the main feature of the Air France KLM Martinair Cargo winter schedule. A total of up to 132 main deck frequencies will be available weekly, with both the West (Los Angeles) and East (New York-JFK) US coast serviced daily


out of Amsterdam Schiphol (SPL) with a B747-Combi. Martinair Cargo will operate a weekly MD11 freighter flight to Chicago from Schiphol in addition to the existing five weekly B777 Freighter frequencies on Air France Cargo out of Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG),


As well as existing Air France


twice daily passenger services to Tokyo Haneda and daily to Tokyo Narita. KLM will add two extra B747 Combi frequencies to Tokyo Narita, giving a total of four daily frequencies between its two European hubs and the two Tokyo stations.


Volga-Dnepr rushes aid to Iraq


Volga-Dnepr Airlines has delivered 45 tons of humanitarian supplies from Zurich to Erbil International Airport for victims of the civil unrest in Iraq. The airline’s IL- 76TD-90VD freighter carried 905 tents, 6,000 blankets and mattresses, and 600 kitchen sets for refugee camps in the region. The flight was contracted by Air Charter Service.


///NEWS airports debate – FTA


The Freight Transport Association (FTA) reiterated its message that “air cargo is crucial to the UK economy” on 11 November, as the Airports Commission published its interim report on runway capacity in south-east England. The Commission did not make any recommendations – none are expected until it produces its final report in summer 2015, aſter the election – but it did state that the cost of the three options now on the table had been significantly under-estimated. With plans for a ‘Boris Island’


airport in the Thames Estuary already ruled out, the shortlisted plans are for a new 3,500-metre runway at Heathrow; extension of the existing northern runway at Heathrow in a plan put forward by Heathrow Hub; or a new runway at Gatwick. FTA has previously outlined


the importance of air cargo to the freight and logistics industry by writing to commission chairman Sir Howard Davies, following the interim report in March 2014.


FTA’s director of global and


European policy, Chris Welsh said: “We believe that London, as the UK hub for freight, is exceptionally important and that this should be recognised alongside passenger traffic. The wider range of services that can be attracted by a major hub with transfer flights makes London the major freight hub for industry. It is critical for UK industry that new services are developed to emerging markets as this is where Heathrow is already falling behind competitors due to lack of capacity.” FTA welcomed the thorough


nature of the investigation to ensure that the solutions proposed are implemented for the long-term benefit of the UK, and added that the recognition of the need for additional airport capacity in the south east was also welcome. It added that it was essential that any future capacity strengthens the existing hub base of the south east of England. The additional capacity would bring not only benefits to the south


east of England but to Britain as a whole through enhanced connectivity to the UK’s key overseas markets. Director general of the International


British participate in the Freight


Association (BIFA), Robert Keen also welcomed the opportunity to


further


consultation that was announced by the Airports Commission. He said: “An expanded Heathrow airport will enable airlines to


provide wider access to


developing markets and hence increase UK trade. Any further delay in providing the UK with a world class hub airport can only damage the UK economy. We can only hope that aſter the general election in May 2015, the welter of evidence as presented will be such that there will be cross- party consensus and politicians will give the green light and adopt the Airports Commission’s recommendations in full and finally get things started on a much overdue expansion of UK aviation hub capacity.”


IAG offers new simpler service


IAG Cargo has launched EuroConnector, describes as a


which it simple, cost


effective and time-definite option for freight into, around and out of Europe. Launched in time for the Christmas peak, the service will primarily be aimed at forwarders that currently rely on trucking in Europe. IAG is offering a simple tariff


for the 114 European destinations on its network, and delivers cargo in either 24 or 48 hours. The service, which utilises capacity on narrow-body aircraſt, is available for shipments of less than 300kg. There is also a performance guarantee on EuroConnector 24 and cut-off times range from two to six hours depending on whether the cargo is loose or intact. All routings are via London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Madrid or Barcelona. EuroConnector complements


IAG’s Cargo Connector which offers road pick up and delivery for forwarders or near major airports such as London Heathrow or Frankfurt. Both services are for shipments of under 300kg, and the delivery to door element would be applicable for a destination like


Hub is the nub of


London Heathrow or Frankfurt where


Cargo Connector has


been introduced. For European destinations where Cargo Connector is not present, forwarders will deliver and pick up cargo at the airport themselves. EuroConnector also applies


to loads of less than 300kg that transit through IAG Cargo’s London Heathrow, Gatwick, Madrid or Barcelona hubs before they terminate. IAG says it offers a much more rapid and secure service for transporting goods around Europe and pricing is also simplified for example, there is dedicated regional pricing to and from North America, Europe, UK and Ireland, Africa, Middle East


and South America. From all regions there are two


prices, one for EuroConnector 24 and one for EuroConnector 48 to any European destination. In North America, European pricing is banded into three destination groups. IAG Cargo CEO, Steve


Gunning (above), commented: “EuroConnector offers global businesses a choice of time- definite, cost-effective solutions for shipping goods into, around and out of Europe. Innovative services such as EuroConnector will prove hugely important to our continued long-term success; improving capacity utilisation and helping us grow market share.”


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