12


explains that space in the upper


>> 10 deck


(or passenger


cabin) is limited for cargo since the size of the door remains as it was in


the passenger


configuration. “We can’t move in big loads there. And also, the ability to load using equipment is limited,” he says. Basically, loads must be hand carried into the passenger cabin. “That’s why the aircraſt is


actually ideal for PPE and other pharma movements,” Kumar explains. “Typically, [these shipments] are smaller and lighter in weight. Interestingly, we have developed conveyor belts that are used to help those operations. Here a conveyor belt allows you to put the load leading up the passenger steps. And then somebody brings the PPE into the door. And then there’s another conveyor belt in the plane that feeds it down to the end of the aircraſt. And then


people are physically


stacking it on the floor and putting nets and so forth to secure the loads.” Obviously, such manual


loading causes longer turnaround times. “That’s why at the height of the PPE movement out of Shanghai there was a lot of terminal congestion,” Kumar says. Another factor causing congestion was extensive airport checks. Since March and April, however, demand for such


Issue 5 2020 - FBJNA


future use.” K umar


completed, pharma shippers are expected to have improved quality lane solutions along with a better assessment of the MIA-BRU pharma lane’s risk.” Canada’s Edmonton


International Airport (YEG) is also a Strategic Member of Pharma.Aero and Canada’s only IATA CEIV Pharma certified airport. “The quality control


Multiple international carriers offer service from Edmonton International Airport. (YEG photo.)


economically feasible to fly it unless rates remain very high. But rates have also come down quite substantially versus back in April and May.”


Airports Respond


Despite the challenges, airports that


specialize in


pharmaceuticals play a critical role during COVID-19. Jimmy Nares, Section


Chief of Aviation Marketing for the Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD), reports that while Miami International Airport’s (MIA) 2020 YTD Pharma numbers (through May) are not impressive on their own, given the major disruptions experienced by supply chains and the air cargo industry worldwide due to COVID19, airport executives are quite pleased. “During March and April, our


overall cargo volumes were down about 15% compared to last year,” he says. “However,


handling


“We have been fortunate to meet the increased demand for cargo capacity with our freighters with the significant decline of belly cargo capacity,” Nares adds. “We are pleased to have seen an increase in 11% in our pharma volumes in May, and that our overall cargo volumes have continued to remain robust at MIA, despite COVID-19.” Turkish Cargo Miami, for one,


experienced an increase of 63.73% in their cargo volumes at MIA this May over May 2019 (2,481.03 short tons vs. 1,515.30 short tons, respectively). Turkish attributed most of this growth due to increased capacity by adding more flights at MIA such as MIA-GRU. “They indicated pharma, medical supplies, and PPE are the top products accounting for this growth,” Nares says. LATAM Airlines, which has


an extensive air route network in Latin America and is CEIV Pharma Certified at MIA, saw an increase of 114.45% in their cargo volumes at MIA in May YOY (21,714.40 shorts tons vs 10,125.50 short tons, respectively). MIA was the first IATA


recognized Pharma Hub Airport


in the US, and the


Antonov Airlines is one of several cargo charter industry heavyweights calling at Edmonton International Airport. (YEG photo.)


flights has diminished since the demand for PPE has dropped. Consequently, more carriers are scaling back and grounding aircraſt again. “If you don’t have passengers, you’re at the most able to load 20 to 25% of what a freight plane can carry,” Kumar says. “But if you fly that plane, the cost is close to a freight plane. So, it is not


we then saw significant increases in cargo flights and cargo volumes in May and June as the industry shiſted from shipping cargo by freighters as opposed to passenger flights, many of which were grounded.”


MIA has a very extensive


freighter presence (39 freighter airlines before the pandemic).


second in the world aſter Brussels (BRU). MIA, together with BRU and Amerijet International Airlines and pharma shippers who are also members of Pharma.Aero, will be collaborating on the Pharma Corridor 2.0 Project that will validate an airport-to- airport CEIV pharma trade lane between BRU and MIA, a direct air route served by Amerijet. “Central to the project will


be to map and validate the corridor by investigating and optimizing procedures to avoid potential temperature deviations for pharma shipments,” Nares explains. “When the project is


processes, collaboration and training that forms the CEIV Pharma certification process ensures


safe and efficient


handling of sensitive and critical cargo and positions the participating companies at Edmonton International Airport to handle the need to for transportation of vaccines, medications and test kits in the foreseeable future,” says Alex Lowe, Manager, Global Network Development, YEG. According


///AIR CARGO


companies are working around the clock coordinating and planning to ensure safe and efficient aircraſt turnarounds and the timely distribution of the cargo to the end customers,” Lowe says. “This is especially important in the case of PPE, essential for front-line workers, but also for e-commerce shipments and perishables.” Freighters and all-cargo


flights operated by passenger aircraſt have operated from multiple points in China, including PVG and CGO. Flights have also operated to and from the Middle East, the EU and


international charters,” he adds. Several airlines now offer service via YEG: Cargo, Turkish


Avianca Cargo and


Beijing Capital Airlines and additional flights operated by cargo charter industry heavy weights like Volga-Dnepr, CargoLogicAir, Atlas Air, National Airlines, Kalitta Air and Antonov Airlines. To ensure YEG operated at peak capacity, coordination with fuelling partners was required to ensure the double- digit increase in charter activity was accommodated, while regular scheduled


to data from


Seabury Consulting which compared capacity tonnage week of May 24-30 versus the week of the peak decline (March 29 – April 4), YEG has seen the greatest growth in freighter capacity among major Canadian airports at +58%. The airport has maintained


24/7 operations to ensure no disruptions to the movement of critical goods and the region’s supply chains. “Ground handlers, logistics providers and countless support


United Cargo moves important pharmaceuticals, including blood plasma, during COVID-19 with the help of partners at DSV and va-Q-tec. (United Cargo photo)


Latin America. “Some of our most


important partners like Canada’s largest cargo airline, Cargojet, and


operated a significant number of additional flights and


Puerto Rico Receives ‘Air Hub’ Designation from USDOT


As COVID-19 threatens global supply chains, Puerto Rico has emerged as a central location that has garnered attention among air carriers. A recent “air cargo and passenger transfer” designation by the USDOT, granted this spring, is set to bring an influx of cargo and visitors to the island - a measure that may make Puerto Rico the No. 1 “Air Cargo Hub” in the nation. New flexibilities provided by the waiver will expand the


island’s crucial pharmaceutical production capacity - a space poised for swiſt growth as the U.S. eyes domestic drug production. The “air hub” designation now authorizes international


air carriers to transfer cargo and passengers from any of their aircraſts to any of their other aircraſts at Puerto Rican airports, something that is restricted in other U.S. locations. The designation is poised to benefit manufacturers, as experts have estimated that a


1% increase in air-cargo


connectivity can yield a 6.3% increase in total trade. Global Results: Similar open-


air policies in the European Union, Chile and Alaska brought long-term economic results. In fact, Alaska, which has this designation (sans the passenger waiver) has now become the No. 2 “Air Cargo Hub” in the nation - reporting the world’s fiſth highest air


FedEx have


cargo operations continued uninterrupted. YEG is also participating with Maersk in the development of a case study regarding their expansion of air service capabilities in response to the pandemic.


cargo volume in 2018. The island is also poised


to expand both inbound and outbound passenger traffic, as more flexibilities are provided for three international airports. There is a direct correlation between air traffic and employment and GDP growth. In fact, samples from previous studies suggest that passenger air traffic can grow by as much as 17%. The


island is currently


served by myriad carriers; on the cargo side this includes Amazon Air, which recently announced an expansion of its ground operations at Luis Muñoz Marín Airport; Cargolux; DHL Aviation; FedEx Express; and UPS, among others. Passenger airlines include major U.S. carriers such as Delta, American, and United, plus


other global names,


including Air Antilles, Air Canada, Air Europa, Condor, Iberia and more.


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