NEWS\\\ News Roundup


Issue 1 2015 - Freight Business Journal


Three out of the seven airlines accused in a US court of price-fixing by DB Schenker have filed motions to dismiss the action. All Nippon Airways and Cargolux argued at the Eastern District of New York court on January 16, that the German forwarder had been ‘forum shopping’ – choosing the jurisdiction where any damages payable were likely to be higher. They argued that the case should have been brought in Germany. Qantas meanwhile, argued that DB Schenker should have filed its claim by June 2014 under the anti-trust Clayton Act’s four-year time limit. DB Schenker alleges that the airlines, which also include Air France, KLM, Martinair, and SAS – had conspired to fix surcharges for air cargo to, from and within the US.


IAG Cargo has added San Francisco to its Cargo Connector service, making it the tenth city in which it offers the local pick-up service for consignments up to 300 kilos. It offers freight forwarders within five miles’ radius of the airport – from which IAG flies twice-daily service to London Heathrow - a free collection for qualifying consignments. IAG Cargo says that 95% of its customers are based within a five- mile radius of the airport. This means that the Connector vans are never far away when a pick up request is received.


New IATA regulations for the transport of lithium batteries by air came into effect on 1 January including new regulations for packing, marking and documentation. It has also published the first edition of the Lithium Battery Risk Mitigation Guidance for Operators.


The European Commission withdrew on 17 December a proposed directive to further liberalise ground handling services at European airports, including cargo. The December 2011 proposal would have required airports to allow a larger number of providers to offer services such as cargo and baggage handling. While the plan had the support of airlines, the European Parliament was very lukewarm.


FedEx has acquired Bongo International, which provides cross border enablement technologies and solutions for retailers and e-tailers. These include include duty and tax calculations; export compliance management; HS classification; currency conversions; international payment options inclusive of language translation; shopping cart management and fraud protection. It has a base of over 2,000 retailers in the UK, Europe, the UK and US.


SDV and Bolloré Africa Logistics have launched a West Africa Air Express service to reinforce coverage of countries affected by the Ebola outbreak. It connects international hubs with Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea Conakry, via Dakar and Abidjan and is a response to the significant decrease in passenger service to those three countries since the beginning of the Ebola outbreak.


Middle East-owned logistics and transport firm Aramex has acquired the master franchise for the PostNet brand in South Africa for US$16.5 million from OneLogix Group. PostNet is the country’s largest privately-owned counter network in the document and parcel industry.


Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic Airways will introduce a daily flight from London Heathrow to Philadelphia from 8 April as part of their new joint venture. It will be operated by a Boeing 757-200.


Emirates is introducing a third daily service from its Dubai hub to Birmingham Airport from 1 August, operated by a Boeing 777- 300ER and increasing cargo capacity on the route by 42%.


Following an inspection by the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, IAG Cargo, the joint British Airways, Iberia and Vuelling-owned carrier has been granted Wholesale Distribution Authorisation (WDA) for medicines intended for both human and veterinary use under the pharmaceutical industry’s GDP (Good Distribution Practice) scheme.


Air


Letter to the Editor A tough business


Sir


I was sad to read the letter from Marcia McLeod and also her farewell IT column, as having known her for several years I knew her integrity. Perhaps it is a sad reflection of modern life that everyone from


Government down wants to only put across their own message and not tolerate alternative opinions. Journalism I am sure can be a tough business trying to balance information and comment within what is normally a tight deadline on space and time. My own experience working with Marcia was that she respected the information given


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to her but would always add her own views without fear or favour. The content of her final IT column shows that little has changed


in ten years. When I started my role within AFSS the two key issues were CHIEF replacement and the European Customs Code. When I handed over to Gordon Tutt a year ago the same two issues remained at the top of the agenda and since then progress has been pretty slow. With austerity cuts just around the corner is anything likely to change? Ken Gower, Past chairman of the Association of Freight Soſtware Suppliers


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