If you ask Robbie Anderson, the personable new President of United Cargo, what the past six months have been like since he was pulled from the ranks of the best and brightest to smoothly meld together the two airline cargo departments of newly combined Continental and United Airlines, he says with a smile:
     “Not bad for an ex-con.”
     Those words (for April 1) are amusing and also revealing.
     As spring breaks in 2011, the top executive of an enormous global air cargo resource is barely six months into his tour of duty and he is saying everything is ok, that the airline cargo departments are working together whilst forging themselves in a soon to be revealed bigger and better enterprise.
     Robbie was in New York on Thursday, March 31st as featured speaker at The Air Cargo Association of JFK, as it held its annual Air Cargo Day at an event center just near the airport in Howard Beach, New York.
     For the better part of the past six months, Robbie, who studied finance in university and made himself quite a reputation in air cargo operations at Ohio-based Continental Cargo, has been out on the road putting his experience and training to good use in bringing United Cargo together.

     “Today,” as Robbie told a packed lunchtime audience:
     “The new United Worldwide Cargo is emerging, after long and careful consideration of all elements at Continental and United, as a strong, dedicated global air cargo resource, ready to take its rightful place of transportation leadership in the 21st century.
     “United Cargo is bridging global logistics, as a world class airline combines the best of both worlds.
     “Our combined network serves 370 destinations worldwide, offering award winning customer service and industry leading, on-time performance.
     “We go where you ship, via 150 wide bodies as the world’s biggest belly cargo carrier, serving 10 hubs—four of which are the world’s largest cargo airports—including NRT, LAX, ORD and EWR.
     “Our air cargo employees benefit from a stronger global competitor and improved long term career prospects.
     “Perhaps most importantly, our company in projecting up to $1.2 billion in net synergies with greater flexibility to adapt to market fluctuations has created a platform not only for improved profitability, but also sustainable long-term value for shareholders.
     “The new United has added breath and depth into leading world markets. For example, in Germany shippers can utilize 11 daily wide bodies, AMS three and UK a dozen daily wide bodies.
     “United Cargo leverages lift offered by the largest passenger carrier to China with nine daily non-stops from various USA gateways into HKG, PVG and PEK.
     “Looking ahead we have added or are launching services LAX/PVG via B777s next month (May) as well as ORD/FCO via B767s.
     “This summer our B777s go EWR/CAI and next year United B787s go IAH/LOS.
     “Of course, as world events unfold we are watching closely the spike in fuel costs and other related impact from both Japan and the Middle East, but overall United remains confident that 2011 will continue our financial resurgence.

     “In terms of on the ground advancement, just this past February, United began building an all-new facility at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.”
     The facility is designed to accommodate expected demand through 2031 and can handle a wide variety of aircraft while offering 51 landside truck dock doors, ambient cooler and freezer bulk capability, and other advanced features, all wrapped in clean sheet design that improves process flows while utilizing new green construction techniques.
     “One question I am asked quite often is ‘when will the UAL/CO merger be completed?’
     “Although we will be unveiling various aspects of our program throughout 2011, upcoming important dates will include Customer Day One during the second quarter and being awarded our single operating certificate later this year during the fourth quarter.
     “The air cargo combination has taken longer than we first envisioned, but we are satisfied that by taking our time we are getting our team right.
     “At United Cargo we are building upon dignity and respect fostered by open and direct communication and driven by teamwork to perform.
     “Our ‘Go Forward’ plan is focused on the future, delivering today.”
Geoffrey/Flossie

     Berlin’s District Court has issued an injunction prohibiting regional airport Cochstedt to brand itself “Airport Magdeburg-Berlin International.”
     The judges emphasize in their definitive verdict that integrating Berlin in its official name will result in misguiding passengers, since the facility is located roughly 200 km southwest of the German capital, halfway between Berlin and Hanover.
     Media reports sarcastically describe the place as being in the “middle of nowhere.”
     In their ruling, the judges said Cochstedt has no rail link and coaches need more than two hours to transport passengers to Berlin.
     The court also complains that by enhancing itself with Berlin’s name, Cochstedt misrepresents at the expense of the capital’s two existing major airports, Tegel and Schoenefeld, as well as the upcoming Berlin Brandenburg International (BBI).
     These airports filed a joint lawsuit last year to disallow Cochstedt’s management from rebranding their site using ‘Berlin’ in their name.
     Currently, there is no scheduled air traffic at “Airport Magdeburg Cochstedt International” as the place is calling itself now after losing the suit.
     Managing Director Gunnar Sperling announced that Irish low cost carrier Ryanair, which up to now was the only airline client, has commenced flights to Spain and the Canary Islands as of March 30th, offering eight departures per week.
     He also said that cargo flights are a prospect Cochstedt is pursuing since the place allows for 24/7 operations, a rare offering in the German airport landscape.
     A year ago, Danish investor Airport Development Company AS purchased the heavily public-funded, loss-generating airport.
     Since then, the new management has tried to secure airlines and logistics provider clients for the airport.
     With the exception of newcomer Ryanair, the efforts so far have yielded no visible results.
Heiner Siegmund/Flossie

    There is much to admire today as Turkish Airlines Cargo, Europe/Middle East powerhouse air carrier to the world, celebrates 75 years since the Istanbul-based airline carried its first international cargo in 1936.
     This year THY can be rightfully proud of having reached over 300,000 tons of cargo transportation yearly from very small volumes.
     “With the title of Europe's fastest growing company in 2009, Turkish delivers customers’ cargo to over 170 destinations all around the world today,” declares Atilla Lise, Senior Vice President Social & Administrative Dept.
     “THY is the strongest candidate for the fastest growing air cargo brand of Europe.
     “Furthermore, THY is preparing to add the 2nd new generation Airbus 330 – 200F cargo aircraft in June 2011 after the joining of the first Airbus 330-200F to the fleet in September.
     “With the addition of this freighter, Turkish Cargo plans to open new routes and will increase frequencies on existing routes.
     “Turkish Cargo is trying to increase its brand awareness by attending air cargo fairs in Kenya, Hong Kong, Germany, Brazil and the U.S. in 2011 and also hosted the IATA World Cargo Symposium, in Istanbul in March 2011, the most important industry event.
     “Brand awareness activities started with the launch of the newly designed web site of Turkish Cargo that went online in January 2011, which also will aid our effort.
     “Summing it all up, in the year of the 75th anniversary of international cargo transportation, Turkish Cargo is moving rapidly on the way to taking its place among the world's transportation giants.”

Art Of The Lift

     Lufthansa Cargo moved 287 works of art from Germany to Beijing as a partner of the Sino-German exhibition “The Art of the Enlightenment.”
     The pieces from the National Museums in Berlin, the Dresden State Art Collections and the Bavarian State Painting Collections in Munich were moved to their destination in the Chinese capital aboard Lufthansa passenger aircraft.
     The logistics of transporting the numerous, valuable artworks to China safely and punctually required complex planning on the part of Lufthansa Cargo, Hasenkamp—a German forwarding company that specializes in transporting artworks—and the museums involved. Exhibits included numerous masterpieces such as Portrait of Heinrike Dannecker (above right) by Gottlieb Schick and View of the Elbe Valley (above left) by Caspar David Friedrich.
     Beginning on April 1, the exhibit marks the re-opening of the National Museum of China. The three German museum groups involved will be displaying a total of more than 600 exhibits for one year.
     The patrons of the exhibition, which will largely be financed and supported by the German Foreign Ministry, are the Federal German President, Christian Wulff, and the Chinese President, Hu Jintao.

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