February 2010 Air Cargo News FlyingTypers Issues

 Vol. 9 No. 28                                                                                   Friday February 26, 2010
Inside Russia Today
  Ever more reliant on cheap foreign credit and high commodity prices, Russia has been confronted with the inherent flaws of its economic model through the economic and financial crisis.
     The global credit crunch has provoked a massive and abrupt capital flight, reversing the high capital inflows of previous years, which fuelled a consumption and investment boom.
Incongruity Of Awards
   Incongruity of the month (March) is a publication giving “Best Airport Awards” at USD$75 buck a head fancy dinner during March IATA World Cargo Symposium in Vancouver while also acting as main sponsor of Airports Council (ACI) International Cargo Conference with all the bells and whistles going on during the same week in Seattle, Washington USA.
     What is it?

February 26:  AA Cargo named John Tiliacos VP cargo operations succeeding Mark Najarian, who is now AA MD JFK International Airport in New York.

JFK Hosts Runners In April
  On April 18, 2010, the members of the JFK Rotary Club will be hosting their major fundraiser, The Thomas Carmody Memorial-JFK Rotary Club,"5K Runway Run".
  The Rotary Club of JFK International Airport was founded in 1970 as one of JFK Airport’s leading local service organizations.

 Vol. 9 No. 27                                                                                   Thursday February 25, 2010
Here Comes DE Judge
How Lufthansa Got Back In The Air
  As big things happen in the world, so do they happen in the airline business – like last week’s strike at Lufthansa.
  When somebody has the ability to look into the face of an impossible event and reap a decent result, it is proof positive that it isn’t just a matter of being in the right place at the right time. You also have to be the right person.
Russian Investment Tanked In 2009
  Recently released figures from the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) show the value of foreign direct investment into Russia during January-September 2009 was USD$30 billion, or 44 % less than in the same period a year earlier. (The figures do not include investments in the financial sector.)  FDI inflows to Russia reached USD$73 billion in 2008.

Charter Hope For Haiti
 Despite the now settled walkout of many Lufthansa pilots (Monday) an LH Cargo MD-11F departed on time at midday from Duesseldorf airport to Santo Domingo. From there the load will be trucked to Haiti.
  “The aircraft was flown by our own Lufthansa Cargo crew members that refrained from participating in strike action,” the company’s spokesman Nils Haupt emphasized.

Amelia Earhart Goes Missing Again
  Amelia Earhart went missing again.
 The American aviator who disappeared somewhere over the Pacific in 1937 while trying to become the first woman to fly around the globe was the subject of a biographical movie last year starring Hilary Swank.

 Vol. 9 No. 26                                                                                  Tuesday February 23, 2010
What Makes A Winner?
Who Profits From Air Cargo Awards?
 Get ready for this.
 Between March 9th and June 8th, no less than three publications and probably half a dozen more organizations will be giving out air cargo industry awards at fancy bow tie affairs around the world.
Lufthansa Pilots Ceasefire For Now
  The walkout of Lufthansa pilots is over – at least until March 8. Last night the conflicting parties, Lufthansa Airlines and the pilot’s union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) agreed in a joint statement on getting back to the table “immediately and without conditions,” to resume negotiations on tariffs, pilot’s rights, job security and working conditions.

SAS Seeks Marriage Made In Heaven
The six plus decades (64 years to be exact) independence of highly renowned carrier Scandinavian Airlines System, globally better known as SAS, seems finally to have reached the end of the road.
    According to CEO Mats Jansson, getting together with a strong partner would be the best option to secure the future of his airline.
 “Autonomy is not a target in itself,” stated Jansson in an interview with Danish paper Boersen.
Air cargo may be headed to YVR next month but come Sunday February 28 almost everybody else will be headed out of town as 2010 Winter Olympics end and 39,000 athletes, all at once, each carrying up to seven bags apiece head out of town en-route back home.

 Vol. 9 No. 25                                                                                   Monday February 22, 2010
How Lufthansa Pilots Tiff Impacts Cargo
 Lufthansa Cargo is only modestly affected by the four day scheduled walkout of roughly 4,000 Lufthansa pilots that commenced midnight February 21.
  "Roughly 85 percent of our freighter flights will be operated according to schedule” said LH Cargo's head of communications, Nils Haupt.
Lufthansa Cargo To Integrate AUA Cargo
  (Exclusive)—The number 275 is the traditional three-cipher code prefix of each air waybill issued by or on behalf of Austrian Airlines Cargo.
     In the future however, most boxes and packages transported by the Vienna-based carrier in the belly-hold compartment of their passenger fleet will be sent under Lufthansa Cargo’s air waybill prefix 020.

February 19:  Main runway in Gibraltar has Winston Churchill Avenue run through it with railroad crossing gates to stop traffic for take offs and landings.
Historian, Maryland poet laureate and children’s author Lucille Clifton says people should celebrate, rather than live to be celebrated.

 Vol. 9 No. 24                                                                                  Wednesday February 17, 2010
AeroLogic Trucks Take Wing
 A jetliner flight from Germany to Hong Kong takes about ten hours. Not in the case of Leipzig/Halle-based cargo carrier AeroLogic GmbH however, that deploys B777-200 freighters on that route. The aircraft need an additional sixty minutes or even more to link both airports nonstop since they are forced to bypass Russian territory. .
Delhi Gets Room To Grow
  While the growth potential that air cargo holds has prompted stakeholders to start new services or revamp existing ones in India, infrastructure providers too have woken up. The GMR Group, which operates Delhi and the Hyderabad international airports, has decided to set up a warehousing facility near the airport at Delhi, this year.

February 16:  Olympic Airways CEO Antonis Simigdalas tells Flight Global despite financial meltdown in the country—air transport impact on Greece makes it among last things to be affected.
Fat Tuesday Yesterday
  By the time you read this, Mardi Gras in New Orleans will be over, as Fat Tuesday morphs into today, the first day of Lent leading directly into Easter 2010.

 Vol. 9 No. 23                                                                                  Monday February 15, 2010 Extra
Libya Detains Cargo Executives
  On Monday (February 15), Libyan officials unexpectedly confiscated passports of all passengers from European Schengen member states traveling on board all airlines to the Arabian country.
  Under the 1985 signed Schengen agreement, transiting from one EU state to another within the Schengen area is possible without border controls.
Will Russian Expand China Trade
  Russia has repeatedly pledged to expand its trade with China, as the Kremlin appeared to view these commercial ties as an important indicator of what was officially described as the bilateral strategic partnership.
Although bilateral trade was adversely affected by the global economic downturn, Moscow also achieved a sizable surplus in its trade with China in 2009.

 Vol. 9 No. 22                                                                                   Monday February 15, 2010
Moment Of Truth For EU Air Cargo Forwarders
 The European Commission has charged Panalpina, Kuehne + Nagel, DSV, DB Schenker and DHL Global Forwarding with continued illegal price-fixing.
 The anti-trust allegations are based on a raid in fall 2007 when offices of the above mentioned logistics giants and facilities of CEVA (formerly EGL), Expeditors, and UTI Worldwide were searched by prosecutors.
Will Russian Airlines Build Air Cargo?
  Operating figures for Russian airlines show 5% y-o-y decline of revenue passenger kilometers in 11M 2009. Russian operators, like their foreign peers, have experienced some recovery in passenger carrying since the 1H 2009, but the recovery has been hampered by rising prices for fuel in 2009. IATA expects the global industry to show net losses of USD$10b this year, declining to USD$5b in 2010.

Our Martin Changed Air Cargo
 If you want to learn about August Martin, the great air cargo pilot who flew for Seaboard World Airlines during the 1950’s, and was also the first black man to captain a U.S. flag air cargo airplane, you better plan on either using your old Funk & Wagnall’s Encyclopedia, or visiting the wonderful high school located near JFK International Airport in Queens New York City named in honor of the air pioneer.
   
      

 Vol. 9 No. 21                                                                                   Friday February 12, 2010
Human Plus Lifts Haiti Via leisure
 (Left to right)—Dietmar Brockes (Member of the Landtag North Rhine-Westphalia), Ansgar Mueller (Cargo Agent Export leisure Cargo), Anestis Ioannidis (President and CEO Human Plus), Walter Grieger (Chairman Human Plus), Uwe Lascheit (Manager Operation Flughafen Dusseldorf Cargo GmbH), Karin Rohnstock (Office Management leisure Cargo), Karl-Hermann Hansen (PR Air Berlin), Francesco Rizzo (Director Social Marketing Human Plus), Michael Hanné (Manager Operations Flughafen Dusseldorf GmbH)
Air India Lifts 1500 Tons
  There is a great song in the American pop culture of the 1950s that was sung by Tennessee Ernie Ford titled “16 Tons” with an opening line
    “You lift 16 tons and what do you get?
     Another day older and deeper in debt.”
 We were thinking of ole Ernie when Ms. Anita Khurana, the outstanding female head of cargo talked of plans ahead last week in Mumbai telling Air Cargo News FlyingTypers that the carrier currently can lift 1,500 tons.
 Although debt will continue in 2010 the flip is that AI expects this year the red ink will not go any deeper.

Snow Day In A Boeing 40C
 As we think ahead to Summer 2010 we are looking with not a little bit of excitement at some pictures of the oldest Boeing airliner in flying condition while thinking:
   
      
A Chinese New Year Story
  We cannot remember the last time Chinese Lunar New Year occurred on the same date as Valentine’s Day but that is certainly the case this coming Sunday February 14 as Year of the Tiger gets underway and is celebrated as is also the universal day of love, Valentine’s Day.
What a great opportunity for family and special lovers and great meals surrounded by lots of flowers.
And what a great day to be Chinese!
But if you are in New York a great Chinese meal is an around the clock 24/7/365 moveable feast.

 Vol. 9 No. 20                                                                                   Thursday February 11, 2010
20/20 On 2010
 Over the past two decades, fuel costs have remained relatively low, accounting for between 10 and 30 percent of operating costs, depending on transportation modes. When oil prices began their sharp rise in 2007, the freight industry woke up to a new reality. Petroleum’s supply curve, reflecting the end of cheap oil and its replacement by expensive sources, such as deep-sea exploration and tar sands, suggests a medium-term equilibrium price of around $70 to $80 per barrel. Of course, excessive speculation and political disruptions in sensitive countries or along critical shipping lanes could lead to spikes well above that level.
20/20 On Asia Growth Engine
  In 2010, Asia will again be the growth engine of the world economy, with Chinese domestic demand as an important pillar of the recovery. Expect to see a further rise of domestic demand in China this year. However, it's unrealistic to think that Chinese consumers alone can save the world.

20/20 On Middle East And Africa
Africa and the Middle East will emerge from the recession in 2010. Rising commodity prices and increased demand for their exports will fuel the region's economic growth,
      
Valentines Flower Air Cargo
  Now comes the time of year when the favorite story is who flew how many flowers just in time for the romance of Valentine’s Day (Sunday February 14) or upcoming Eastertide on Sunday April 4, 2010.
     As example, here are the Germans leading the romantic rush to endless love while hoisting some 500 tons of roses to Germany in times for Valentine’s Day.
     The flowers on wing from Kenya, the main countries where roses are grown also arrive from Colombia, Ecuador and Ethiopia.

 Vol. 9 No. 19                                                                                    Monday February 8, 2010
Why IATA Cargo Matters Now
  By now everyone undoubtedly is aware of that recent report by IATA that global air cargo soared nearly 25% in December.
  That news was followed quickly by the sobering realization that 2009 was commercial aviation's worst year in history
  Air cargo traffic in December was 24.4% higher than a year earlier with load factor at 54.1%.
  Globally for the full year however, cargo demand dropped 10.1 % overall, a load factor of 49.1%.
GSSA Goes All In Rates
  The list of mandate airlines served by general sales and service agent ECS Globe Air Cargo Germany is quite impressive.
 It includes Brussels Airlines Cargo, Delta Cargo, Mexicana, El Al, Ukraine International Airlines, Gulf Air and Hainan Airlines just to name a few clients. Most of them are important accounts that opted for collaboration with sales agent European Cargo Services for filling the freight compartments of their aircraft with shipments. But having contracted a customer doesn’t necessarily mean having the catch on the hook for a longer period of time. For many cargo carriers tend to change their GSSAs now and then.

UPS Shenzhen Opens Tomorrow
 UPS Intra-Asia Hub at South China’s Shenzhen Airport opens tomorrow February 9, and with no doubt, the airport expects a remarkable growth of its mail and cargo volume in this new year, especially on international routes.
  During a telephone interview with Mr. Luo Yi, Board Secretary of Shenzhen Airport Co. Ltd, Air Cargo News FlyingTypers had a chance to get a full picture of the airport’s cargo business.
Why China Is On Upswing Now
  China’s National Bureau of Statistics reports November industrial output rose 19% y-o-y in real terms. On-year growth accelerated sharply from the previous month (16% in October). Industrial output also increased more than 1% m-o-m. Recoveries in the domestic economy and the global economy helped boost industrial growth.
  Retail sales, an indicator of domestic consumer demand trends, rose about 15 % y-o-y in real terms last month, although November retail sales were down slightly month-to-month.

 Vol. 9 No. 18                                                                                      Friday February 5, 2010
Infrastucture Challenges India
   During this week as transportation professionals gathered in Mumbai for Air Cargo India here is an exclusive report outside the cordiality hand shaking, back slapping world of hospitality ambience that offers the latest news about facts and figures-driven information about India’s air, rail and port infrastructure that many consider the number one issue of doing business there as 2010 begins.
   The Indian government has announced a series of measures aimed at attracting foreign investment into the Indian economy and assisting with the restructuring of the nation’s somewhat decrepit infrastructure architecture.
Will Nagpur Work As Express Hub
    Nagpur, popularly known as the orange city of India, is all set to develop as the country’s first multi-modal air cargo, or express delivery services (EDS) hub. The new Nagpur airport project is expected to be completed by 2010 and targets to serve 14 million passengers and 0.87 million tons of cargo. Will it bring a new dimension to the country’s cargo industry?

Setty Pioneered India Flight
   JR Tata is generally acknowledged as first India pilot to gain certification but there is little doubt that a much overlooked pioneer Srirama Venkatasubba, (SV) Setty (right) was India's first pilot and aircraft designer.
   In an interview a few years back with Times of India, Jayaprakash G N, the great grandson of Setty says that he has proof including papers


 Vol. 9 No. 17                                                                                    Wednesday February 3, 2010
TSA—100% Comply Or No Fly
Cargo Security Conference A Winner
An alliance that makes it possible for everybody in air cargo to be compliant with 100% belly-cargo screening. From left to right, Thomas J. Long, Executive Vice President, Covenant Aviation Security; Gerry Berry, President, Covenant Aviation Security; Klaus Holler, Lufthansa Cargo Vice President The Americas; Harald Zielinski, Lufthansa Chief of Security & Environmental Management and Daniel Martel, Manager Key Accounts, Smiths Detection.
 

 Vol. 9 No. 16                                                                                     Monday February 1, 2010
Security Zeitgeist In East Meadow
   Tomorrow February 2 when Lufthansa Cargo Manager North America Klaus Holler calls the meeting to order, on the agenda will be presentations by experts including academics as the top airline-driven air cargo security conference of 2010 gets underway.
Venue is the landmark Lufthansa Center located in the town of East Meadow, New York on Hempstead Turnpike about six miles from JFK International Airport.

Lufthansa Cargo Raises Rates
 Lufthansa Cargo intends to increase rates by ten percent on average. This was announced today in an e-mail to customers.
According to the message the general rate hike will become effective March 1, 2010 and includes all the markets the carrier is serving.

Closer Logistics Look At China
  As the financial crisis impacts China, the country’s logistics industry is being reshaped by three major dynamics. While many companies hope to just weather this storm, others will seize the opportunity to leapfrog competition and reposition for long-term success.
Dynamic 1: continued downward pressure on demand coupled with shifting mix call for assessment of service offerings.

Forwarder Handicaps TSA 2010
Joachim (Jo) Frigger, Chairman and CEO of the freight forwarder EMO TRANS USA states that his company is ready to comply with the mandated 100% screening in August 2010.
“Similar to other government regulations related to international air or ocean transportation, EMO TRANS has always been at the forefront of those issues for the benefit of security and our customers.
     
SkyCargo Eyes Bi-Level Trucks
Take two air freight containers instead of one, pile them up on a truck for building two layers and send the vehicles with their high reaching loads right across Dubai.
Febuary 1: Emirates opens second month of decade now going twice daily DXB/FCO. EK to launch DXB/TYO March 28, AMS May 1, PRG July 1, MAD Aug 1.

 

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