United Cargo President Jan Krems looks to the past and future as 2017 takes wing, declaring:
      “[I’m] pleased to report that 2016 was a very successful year for United Cargo, and what is also noteworthy is a global industry trend that strengthened as 2016 progressed.
      “For the first time in several years, there were signs of widespread growth in the global freight market.
      “The demand boosts experienced in the past few months reminded those of us who’ve been around awhile of the traditional ‘holiday peak seasons’ of an earlier era.”
       
Reading The Tea Leaves

      “It was difficult to spot this positive direction early on in 2016, especially because we were being measured against 2015 Q1 numbers elevated by the U.S. West Coast port strike.
      “But business got better and better as the year wore on, with United Cargo volumes up 18.1 percent year-over-year in October and 15.5 percent in November.
      “Through November we’ve carried 6.5 percent more volume than the first 11 months of 2015. It’s gratifying that, in this period of expansion, United Cargo’s share of the business is increasing along with our overall volumes.
      “We’re thankful that our customers appreciate the effort we put into being a reliable and valuable business partner.”       
       
UA Cargo 2017 Plan

      “United Cargo has been executing a consistent strategy for the past few years. Briefly, our plan was to gain customer’s confidence and preference by being highly reliable and easy to do business with, then develop and expand the added-value segment of our business.
      “Reliability is essential, of course, which is why I never speak to customers or our team without referring to the concept of ‘quality.’ “Quality of service is the most important thing we provide, and it’s the foundational basis of durable customer loyalty.
      “Moving quality to a higher level is the key to our current and future success.”
       
Never Forgets

      “Being the kind of people, and the type of company, that customers want to do business with is the other key element of our long-term strategy.
      “Customers want a partner that’s available when needed and quick, agile, and creative enough to respond to their changing needs.
      “We never forget how important and valuable our customers are, and our team is focused on forging relationships that promote long-term benefits for us and our partners,” Jan Krems said.
       
Customer Designed Temp Control

      “The development of our TempControl product for pharmaceuticals and other temperature-sensitive commodities typifies our strategy for added-value products.
      “We want to be as knowledgeable about the pharma industry as we can, and we set out to learn from forwarders, manufacturers, regulatory agencies, and patients.
      “United Cargo utilizes that knowledge in both product development and execution.
      “All TempControl’s innovations have started with something we’ve heard from our customers or their customers.
       
More Of The Same

      “We see a valuable opportunity to enhance our other added-value products using the same development model we used for TempControl.
      “This is one of our team’s focus areas for 2017.
      “Of course, whatever the product, the region, or the business you’re after, the formula doesn’t change: you have to be better than your competition in the ways that mean the most to your customers.”

An impromptu team photo of the very dedicated and talented women of United Cargo at the TIACA Air Forum in Paris last October. In on the fun are (L to R)—Helen Kristensen, Managing Director Strategic Accounts United Cargo Sales; Peggy Guse, Managing Director, Marketing, Customer Service and Alliances; Cailey Lantz, Senior Staff Representative Events, Media and Budgeting Marketing; Lidia Dawid, Strategic Partner Manager (based in Frankfurt); Sharon Hogg, Manager Interline; Gina LeSeth, Manager, Cargo Business Transformation and Bozena Multack, Sr. Regional Performance Manager Cargo Operations, Europe, Middle East, India, Africa.

Number One & The World View

      “I believe United Cargo has the smartest, hardest-working, most energetic, and proactive global team in the air cargo business.
      “Every team member is committed to doing our best to promote the highest level of satisfaction for every participant in the transport supply chain.
      “That commitment to our customers, and to quality, has solidified United Cargo’s standing as the number one air cargo carrier in the Americas in 2016.
      “We’re happy with that, but we’re not satisfied.
      “We know we can grow more, enhance our services, and be a more valuable cargo resource for our customers.
      “Our goal is to be the best belly cargo carrier in the world.”
       
Works In Progress

      “One of the improvements we have been working on, and one we will advance further in 2017, is ensuring all our plans and actions acknowledge that, while we are U.S.-based, United Cargo is first and foremost a global carrier.
      “This ranges from producing country-specific training and training materials in the learner’s first language to ensuring we meet the same standards of timeliness and dependability in our worldwide locations that we do in our U.S. hubs.
      “Another focus for our team in the new year is an even greater spotlight on the enduring priority of safety.
      “Lithium battery shipments have generated the most attention in this area and, since devices powered by this source continue to grow in popularity, we need to remain vigilant to ensure we transport lithium batteries safely.
      “But batteries are only the most obvious of air cargo safety issues.
       “United, like other U.S. carriers, is in compliance with the FAA requirement that air carriers develop and implement the standardized Safety Management System.
      “While every responsible industry stakeholder operates from a safety mindset, all SMS carriers will share the same positive safety culture and will proactively manage risk in a consistent way, making our supply chain even safer.”

      “Since collaboration is a key to our logistics model, I believe all of us participating in the supply chain can do a better job innovating our processes to serve a changing marketplace.
      “The rapid implementation of e-commerce is an example of the type of opportunity that challenges our ability to adapt.
      “Buyers’ preferred retail channels are changing, so the question is how quickly can we deliver shipping solutions to these customers and those who are selling to them.
      “Turning the evolution of the market into a positive for our industry will require higher levels of creativity, flexibility, and cooperation among shippers, forwarders, and carriers,” Jan Krems said, adding:
       “We know that forwarders and carriers have the route structure, capacity, operations, and expertise to link manufacturing centers and consumers in both established and developing regions.
      “But we need to use our assets in new ways to better connect, and connect with, e-commerce shippers and customers.”       
       
Cuba Si! What's New & Next?

      “Recent expansion of widebody service in the Americas is providing a real boost to our TempControl service.
      “On December 16, United increased widebody service between Newark and San Juan, Puerto Rico, from once-weekly 767 service to six times weekly 777 service.
      “There are 49 FDA-approved pharmaceutical plants in Puerto Rico, and temperature-managed containers designed for widebodies are the preferred shipment method for many pharma shippers, so this upgauge gives TempControl customers in SJU a level of widebody connectivity they haven’t enjoyed before.”
       
Heart To Heart With Xi'an

      “We were also pleased by the business generated in the first year of our pioneering service between SFO and Xi’an, China.
      “This seasonal nonstop service, which ran from early May through late October, was the first trans-Pacific flight to Xi'an operated by any airline, and United was the first U.S. airline to serve XIY. We’re looking forward to supporting the region’s import/export trade to an even greater degree when we resume the route early in May 2017.”
       
Even More

      “In April 2017, United will add a second daily widebody nonstop between our Los Angeles hub and London Heathrow.
      “Most of the other new routes announced to begin in 2017 are domestic routes, although our APAC customers will continue to benefit from fleet adjustments that are bringing more cargo-friendly passenger aircraft into the region.
      “More APAC routes are now flown with Boeing 787s, which provide up to a 30 percent increase in volume and tonnage over the equipment previously used.”
Geoffrey