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   Vol. 14  No. 40
Monday May 11, 2015

East Side/West Side Reporting Lufthansa

Recently at CNS Partnership Conference in Orlando, Florida, we met Dr. Alexis von Hoensbroech, the new board member products & sales of Lufthansa Cargo, and the effervescent cargo professional Achim Martinka, vice president cargo, the Americas (seen here).

     Here are two brief reports: one with the bright and engaging Alexis at Munich Air Cargo Europe, and the other an Americas overview with Achim Martinka in Atlanta.


Dr. Alexis Keynotes Munich Session
     
     On Wednesday an interesting and varied discussion on e-freight featured a keynote address delivered by Dr. Alexis von Hoensbroech.
     But rather than stand behind a podium mouthing canned remarks, Dr. Alexis chose to answer some direct questions posed by moderator of the IT sessions Bernd Maresch at the keynote event in Hall A6.
     The matter-of-fact affect was at once dramatic and believable as Alexis—barely 100 days into his first job in air cargo—exhibited an uncanny knack for not only grasping critical air cargo issues, but also involving the audience to examine matters with him.
     In just a few moments of plain speaking in simple terms, Alexis laid out a scenario that even the folks in the back of the room could hear, follow, and embrace.
     “I came to air cargo from the passenger side of the business that is a highly digitalized business today.
     “Access to the passenger process is vast, from smart phones to computers, and provides real time transparency in a seamless fashion, and in an instant.
     “I recall working on a project 15 years ago that prioritized digitalization for air cargo.
     “It is apparent that today, nearly a decade and a half later, we have not moved far enough with that process.
     “So while there are several initiatives today—including these IT sessions at Air Cargo Europe—my take is that it is really time for air cargo to move on into the new century and embrace a digital solution.
     “Put another way—if we don’t do it then others will do it for us.
     “Today we in the combination air cargo business have plenty of competitors, including the integrators that have developed highly sophisticated information chains.
     “There are also internet companies able to harness these information technologies, who want to move into the logistics business,” Dr. Alexis said.
     “As an industry we are highly vulnerable to these digital attacks if we don’t digitalize ourselves.”
     We kept wondering where this guy was several years ago, when the idea of e-freight came to the fore and was sent out to an industry that has yet to embrace the technology in majority numbers.
     Every good idea needs somebody or an organization to put the program across.
     But maybe that is what finally happened during a few brief minutes in Munich Wednesday morning.
     If not, it will have to do until the real thing comes along.
     There is no doubt that there will be more from Alexis von Hoensbroech after his smashing entrance on the global air cargo scene.

Taste Of Air Cargo
     While good times, hospitality, interesting people, and a variety of things to eat and drink could be found where Lufthansa Group held court at the gates of Air Cargo Europe 2015 at Messe Munich, we found an informative “Tapas" of sorts, offering capabilities and shipping solutions via a line up of iPads at the Lufthansa Digital Buffet.
     Complete with a “Menu Card” (printed to replicate a Biz Class offering), the Digital Buffet offered “Starters,” “Main Dish,” and “Dessert,” outlining the various goings-on at Lufthansa Cargo as well as the service offerings of SWISS and Brussels air cargo.
     Packaged in a neat lineup and billboarded with some eye catching graphics, “Digital Buffet” was an imaginative interactive offering, wrapping up an inviting presentation that included a comfortable, well-illuminated meeting room behind the billboard in case anyone struck with a bright idea might have space to take things further.
     Nice!


America Progress & Challenges

     Whatever else can be said regarding the state of business for the German national carrier, balance of flows on the North-Atlantic during the first months of 2015 are even stronger than before, with record-numbers delivered on the import-side due to the effects of the now settled West Coast USA Port Strike and lower Euro.

Lufthansa Group USA
Lufthansa Cargo USA team—pictured (L to R) Gabriella Galantis, Director US Midwest and Canada at Lufthansa Cargo; Uwe Glunz, Regional Director USA West, Mexico & Central America; Alexander Karst, Dorector Sales & Handling USA Northeast and Mid-Atlantic; Karen Earp, Global Account Manager Lufthansa Cargo;Gunnar Loehr, Regional Director South America Caribbean and Florida; Achim Martinka, Vice President The Americas; Carl A. Unger, Director USA South; Alison Ricker, Head of Global Accounts and Ron Sanford, Global Key Account Manager The Americas.

     It is challenging for the USA export side; however, the USD remains strong, and an influx of one-way freighters from Asia via the U.S. to Europe is reducing market-demand to Europe.
     “Due to the high demand, we can fly a lot of freighter extra-sections into the U.S., responding to the high demand of our customers in Europe,” Achim Martinka told FlyingTypers.
     Achim noted that down on the ground service enhancements continue according to plan, including some upfront IT services that will drive improved services.
     “We have switched 80 percent of our station to our new IT-system iCAP, which is replacing the old Mosaik-system.
     “Due to intense pre-prep, so far so good, as we are experiencing a reasonably smooth transition whilst addressing the expected minor issues.
     “We can say that our team and customers are very satisfied with the roll-out,” Achim said.
     “The system will allow us to be even more efficient and well equipped for all eCargo initiatives.
     “Looking ahead at the Americas, Lufthansa plans to open further stations on the passenger side in the last quarter of 2015: PTY, CUN, and TPA.
     “We don’t expect huge traffic in CUN and TPA, but Panama is a new country for us and we are looking forward to opening this new destination.
     “Elsewhere in Latin America, since the beginning of the year we have been flying to BOG with our freighters instead of LIM, adding main deck-capacity to a market that we have served with PAX-flights.
     “We are also operating a successful IAH-SVG freighter that continues on to FRA.
     “Lufthansa Cargo is also connecting DFW, ATL, and CHI with main deck all cargo services to MAN every week.
     “In 2015 Lufthansa Cargo continues to build strength and identity in the marketplace as a European carrier flying directly to UK and Norway in addition to Germany and Austria,” Mr. Martinka said.
     We also learned that Gunnar Loehr is new regional manager for South-America, Caribbean, and Florida, succeeding Daniel Bleckmann, who opened his own enterprise in SAO.
     “Gunnar has been with Lufthansa Cargo for twelve years and has done stellar work in a wide range of fields in Madrid, Sharjah, and the headquarters in Frankfurt,” Achim said.
     “We are also very proud to report that Lufthansa Cargo USA are the first stations outside of Germany to gain approval ISO 14001 (verified by KPMG) for our environmental management system (EMS).
     “Stations include IAH, LAX, and JFK.”
     Bravo, we say!
     It’s very cool to work toward and be recognized for operating a clean machine.
Geoffrey



If You Missed Any Of The Previous 3 Issues Of FlyingTypers
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FT050415
Vol 14 No. 37
An Interview With Peter Gerber
For David Communication Is King
Chuckles For May 4, 2015
Everybody Loves Somebody
More Cool At SWISS ZRH
Four Decades of Vital Views
Spargel Zeit Asparagus Time Again
FT050515
Vol. 14 No. 38
New Landmark For Air Shippers
Chuckles For May 5, 2015
ATC Out Front And Pulling Away
Cowboys And Indians

Playing An Ace In Munich
Feliz Cinco De Mayo