Showing posts with label Cargo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cargo. Show all posts

18 March, 2024

IAG Cargo launches new service between Barcelona and Miami


IAG Cargo announces a new service between Barcelona and Miami with flights operating up to three times a week from 31st March

Miami is IAG Cargo’s fifth connection between Barcelona and the U.S. 

IAG Cargo also restarts services between Barcelona and San Francisco from 31st March

 

Photo LEVEL / IAG Cargo
IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG), has announced a new service between Barcelona and Miami. The route will run three times a week to Miami International Airport from 31st March 2024, increasing to four services from June to September. 

Barcelona is one of IAG Cargo’s four hubs, alongside London Heathrow, Madrid, and Dublin, and is home to two of the IAG Group’s airlines, LEVEL and Vueling. Miami will mark IAG Cargo’s fifth direct connection to the United States from Barcelona, which already encompasses Boston, Los Angeles, New York’s JFK and San Francisco. This new route adds to almost 200 weekly connections between Spain and the United States. Barcelona is well positioned to connect the United States and the rest of Europe, with an extensive trucking network into nearby countries. 

Miami is the world’s largest gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean and offers two-way cargo traffic, linking the Americas with Europe. It is renowned as a hub for the distribution of perishable products, hi-tech commodities, telecommunications equipment, textiles, pharmaceuticals and industrial machinery. The introduction of this service is being made possible by adding a sixth aircraft to LEVEL’s fleet. 

Camilo Garcia Cervera, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at IAG Cargo said: “The transatlantic corridor is an important part of our network and supports so many of our customers. Miami is a thriving logistics hub, strategic for air freight. With our already well-established network connecting major cities in the United States with Europe, this new route will enhance our connectivity even more.” 

IAG Cargo also restarts services between Barcelona and San Francisco from 31st March, with four weekly frequencies. In 2023 IAG Cargo had a commercial revenue of €1,156 million. It has a combined workforce of more than 2,250 people. Its parent company, International Airlines Group, is one of the world's largest airline groups with 582 aircraft at 31st December 2023.


 




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Cathay Cargo Terminal first air cargo terminal in Hong Kong to enable ePayments...........Providing seamless payment for cargo collection

Cathay Cargo Terminal has become the first air cargo terminal in Hong Kong to introduce a business-to-business (B2B) ePayment solution, partnering with leading global cargo payment platform PayCargo to offer a secure, user-friendly, and efficient digital payment method for import cargo collection.


Photo Cathay Pacific
Cathay Cargo Terminal
Chief Operating Officer Mark Watts said: “We are delighted to have selected PayCargo as our ePayment solution, providing more choice and convenience for freight forwarders and their trucking agents. This marks yet another milestone in our digital journey after enabling eAWBs (electronic airwaybills) and introducing eSRF (electronic Shipment Release Forms) at our terminal, reaffirming our commitment to digital leadership.”

Benefits to freight forwarders include the convenience of settling transactions anytime anywhere, eliminating queuing for cash payments, enhanced security, and expediting the entire cargo release process. This initiative has also been welcomed by the terminal’s customer airlines, who value the ease with which their customers will be able to settle payments in future.

14 March, 2024

Emirates SkyCargo is now live on cargo.one

The new channel cements Emirates SkyCargo’s presence on three of the biggest digital marketplaces, providing more choice and flexibility for global customers.



Cementing its presence on three of the biggest digital marketplaces for air freight logistics, Emirates SkyCargo is now live on cargo.one. The partnership underscores Emirates SkyCargo’s long standing commitment to implementing digital solutions that streamline operations, drive efficiencies and unlock value for its global customer base. Bolstering its advanced and customer-centric digital distribution strategy, partnering with cargo.one ensures that Emirates SkyCargo offers are present where its customers wish to book. 

Through cargo.one, customers will be able to access Emirates SkyCargo schedules, tariff and contract rates, along with real-time access to available capacity, empowering freight forwarders to make immediate bookings at any time. During the initial launch phase, the partnership will roll out in select countries in Europe before expanding across the Americas, Africa, the Far East and Australasia. cargo.one now contributes to Emirates SkyCargo’s digital status in the market, with its seamless booking experience and reach to 15,000 freight forwarders in every corner of the world. 

Jeffrey van Haeften, Senior Vice President Cargo Commercial Worldwide, Emirates SkyCargo, said: “Digitalisation is a key way that we help the world work better, providing flexible and convenient options for freight forwarders to seamlessly access Emirates SkyCargo’s world-class product and services. In turn, by streamlining our quotations and bookings, we enable our teams to focus on providing outstanding customer service, which is the cornerstone of our brand. We will continue to invest in digital solutions and partnerships such as cargo.one to enhance the experience for our customers and expedite the movement of goods all over the world.”

Emirates SkyCargo’s four core products are listed on cargo.one, including Emirates Fresh and Emirates Fresh Breathe, an integrated and responsive cool chain purpose-built for perishables; Emirates Airfreight Priority for urgent shipments that require speed and reliability; and Emirates Airfreight for the quick and careful transport of general cargo.



Airbus establishes an OpenCargoLab with leading airfreight industry partners

Airbus has launched the OpenCargoLab, a collaborative initiative with leading partners from the airline, logistics and handling sectors, focusing on the entire airfreight ecosystem. The collaboration involves a team of experts from CHAMP Cargosystems, Fraport, KLM Cargo, Kuehne+Nagel and Swissport. Together, the partners will work to drive digital, resource-saving concepts, contributing to more resilient and efficient airfreight processes.



Announced at the IATA World Cargo Symposium in Hong Kong taking place from 12 to 14 March, the OpenCargoLab supports Airbus’ forecast, which expects the global freight market to grow by 50% by 2042. Specifically for Asia-Pacific, the region’s continued rapid economic growth means this market remains highly promising for modern airfreight business with digital-savvy hubs. Airbus anticipates demand for around 400 widebody freighters, including new builds and conversions, in Asia-Pacific over the next 20 years. This represents more than 25% of global demand for 1,490 cargo aircraft in the above 40 tonne segment.

As part of the OpenCargoLab initiative, Airbus will also evaluate digital solutions such as augmented reality and robotics in order to optimise data connectivity in general and, for example, the transport of dangerous goods in particular.

"With the OpenCargoLab, we benefit from a holistic think tank for the dynamically growing cargo market and thus an agile environment for developing innovations connecting the airfreight market of today and tomorrow,” says Marvin Ehrmann, Head of Airbus’ OpenCargoLab. “We are very excited to have established a thought leadership platform where experienced partners can drive the airfreight sector to become even more efficient, sustainable and connected.”

In addition, the OpenCargoLab will contribute to the A350F’s further design and application development. Just two-and-a-half years after launch, the order book for this all-new, next-generation freighter stands at 50 firm orders from nine customers as Airbus steadily expands its market share in this highly competitive segment.

In order to test the findings developed at the OpenCargoLab, an innovative test field for validating these new technology concepts is currently established at Airbus’ Cargo competence site in Bremen, Germany, e.g. known for the development of the cargo loading systems or the cargo door actuation systems.  Among others, a replica of the A350F fuselage with the large cargo door included will be installed at the sites’ new Cargo Test Center by the end of 2024.




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13 March, 2024

Emirates SkyCargo is now live on cargo.one

The new channel cements Emirates SkyCargo’s presence on three of the biggest digital marketplaces, providing more choice and flexibility for global customers.



Cementing its presence on three of the biggest digital marketplaces for air freight logistics, Emirates SkyCargo is now live on cargo.one. The partnership underscores Emirates SkyCargo’s long standing commitment to implementing digital solutions that streamline operations, drive efficiencies and unlock value for its global customer base. Bolstering its advanced and customer-centric digital distribution strategy, partnering with cargo.one ensures that Emirates SkyCargo offers are present where its customers wish to book. 

Through cargo.one, customers will be able to access Emirates SkyCargo schedules, tariff and contract rates, along with real-time access to available capacity, empowering freight forwarders to make immediate bookings at any time. During the initial launch phase, the partnership will roll out in select countries in Europe before expanding across the Americas, Africa, the Far East and Australasia. cargo.one now contributes to Emirates SkyCargo’s digital status in the market, with its seamless booking experience and reach to 15,000 freight forwarders in every corner of the world. 

Jeffrey van Haeften, Senior Vice President Cargo Commercial Worldwide, Emirates SkyCargo, said: “Digitalisation is a key way that we help the world work better, providing flexible and convenient options for freight forwarders to seamlessly access Emirates SkyCargo’s world-class product and services. In turn, by streamlining our quotations and bookings, we enable our teams to focus on providing outstanding customer service, which is the cornerstone of our brand. We will continue to invest in digital solutions and partnerships such as cargo.one to enhance the experience for our customers and expedite the movement of goods all over the world.”

Emirates SkyCargo’s four core products are listed on cargo.one, including Emirates Fresh and Emirates Fresh Breathe, an integrated and responsive cool chain purpose-built for perishables; Emirates Airfreight Priority for urgent shipments that require speed and reliability; and Emirates Airfreight for the quick and careful transport of general cargo.



12 March, 2024

Sustainability, digitalization and safety in air cargo



The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reviewed progress in digitalization, safety and sustainability at the opening of the IATA World Cargo Symposium with the aim of accelerating progress on these critical priorities. 

“Air cargo volumes are now firmly back to pre-pandemic levels. The challenge now is to ensure that air cargo growth is efficient, safe and aligned with achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Through the hard work of the air cargo industry, the building blocks are in place to significantly accelerate progress in all these areas,” said Brendan Sullivan, IATA’s Global Head of Cargo at the World Cargo Symposium (WCS), which opened in Hong Kong, today. 

Digitalization 

“The biggest opportunity for the air cargo industry is digitalization. This has not happened as fast as any of us would have liked. But progress is real. Inefficient paper-based, manual processes are being replaced with digital solutions in all aspects of cargo operations from tracking to customs clearance. That’s a fact. And it’s making international trade more efficient. Our call to action is clear: Governments must consistently implement global standards, supply chain partners need to collaborate to overcome shared challenges, and the entire industry must align to ensure a unified and effective approach to digitalization,” said Sullivan. 

Three areas were highlighted to illustrate progress:

•    Seamless sharing of digital information: The adoption of the ONE Record standard is enabling efficient data exchange throughout the supply chain. The aim is for all IATA members to achieve ONE Record capability by January 2026. Cathay Cargo and Lufthansa Cargo have already met this target. And all major airline IT platform providers have pledged to attain ONE Record capability to support this transition. 

•    Digitalization of customs and trade facilitation processes: Among countries already implementing, Brazil's use of IATA's digital standards has cut cargo release times from 5 days to just 5 hours, potentially reducing manual processing by up to 90%. And the EU, UAE and Canada recognized the value of accurate data sharing across the air cargo supply chain and will adopt pre-loading advance cargo information systems by the end of 2024. The US was the early-adopter of this in 2019. 

•    Shipment tracking: The updated IATA Interactive Cargo Guidance offers a unified framework, enabling tracking devices to ensure the quality and accuracy of conditions for time and temperature-sensitive goods. This is critical to facilitate growing demands for real-time shipment tracking by e-commerce and pharmaceutical trade.

04 March, 2024

Ethiopian inaugurates the first of its kind e-commerce logistics facility at Bole International Airport

The facility positions Addis Ababa to be the cross-border e-commerce logistics hub for Africa and beyond




The facility positions Addis Ababa to be the cross-border e-commerce logistics hub for Africa and beyond
Ethiopian Airlines Group, the largest airline group in Africa and one of the fastest-growing airline brands globally, proudly announced the launching of its state-of-the-art e-commerce logistics facility in a grand event recently. The Ethiopian e-commerce facility is located inside the Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics premises.

The newly built facility, which is dedicated to e-commerce, mail and courier logistics services is aimed at bridging logistical gaps and positioning Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as the cross-border e-commerce logistics hub for Africa and beyond. Marking the unveiling of the new facility, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew said: "The inauguration of this cutting-edge e-commerce logistics facility is a significant breakthrough for Ethiopian Airlines Group and the entire African economy. We have implemented high-end technologies in the infrastructure that revolutionize the way goods are transported and delivered in the e-commerce industry in Africa. Through this facility, Ethiopian Airlines paves the way for the development of e-commerce services in Ethiopia and the African continent. Built on 15,000 square meters of area, the facility boasts a capacity to handle 150,000 tons annually. We are glad to witness that our investment of 55 million USD has indeed pay off and enabled us to set the e-commerce industry in the continent to follow the global trend.”

This e-commerce Logistics Facility is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and meticulously implemented systems; as a result, the facility will offer a range of services including consolidation, deconsolidation, sortation, repacking, labelling and more.

29 February, 2024

Air Canada Cargo Named 2024 ATW Cargo Operator of the Year

First Canadian operator to receive the award


Air Canada and Air Canada Cargo are honoured to have been named the 2024 Cargo Operator of the Year as part of the 50th annual ATW Airline Industry Achievement Awards, the first Canadian operator to be bestowed the award.

Air Canada Cargo was recognized for its digital transformation as a key pillar of its commercial strategy, including a customer-centric digital environment that provides valuable self-serve scheduling and booking tools. Air Canada Cargo has also moved customer accounts to a cloud-based system, reducing the need for paper air waybills.

"We are extremely honoured to be recognized by ATW as Cargo Operator of the Year for 2024. I thank the thousands of dedicated employees at Air Canada Cargo who work tirelessly to ensure the unique needs of all of our customers are met and that essential goods keep moving around the globe. We have continued to invest in technology that allows us to find efficiencies and provide our customers with the best service possible. As a true global combination carrier, we have been able to provide consistent capacity worldwide through the flexibility our freighter fleet and expansive passenger widebody network provides," said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President, Revenue and Network Planning.

08 February, 2024

IATA World Cargo Symposium agenda released.

The agenda for the IATA World Cargo Symposium (WCS) which will feature specialized tracks on Digitalization, Sustainability and Safety & Security. WCS is taking place in Hong Kong (SAR), China from 12 - 14 March 2024, has been released.

"Air cargo is an unsung hero of the global economy. In normal times, it delivers some 35% of the value of goods traded across borders. In the pandemic, air cargo brought medical supplies and vaccines to where they were needed. And today it is providing a vital transport alternative for some products as Red Sea shipping lanes face geopolitical uncertainty. Air cargo’s success matters. When air cargo’s global leaders gather in Hong Kong for the IATA World Cargo Symposium, ensuring the future reliability and growth of this critical sector will be top of mind with an agenda focused on sustainability, digitalization, safety and security," said Brendan Sullivan, IATA’s Global Head of Cargo.

Speakers & Sessions 


Ronald Lam, Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer, Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, and Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s SVP Sustainability and Chief Economist, will join Sullivan in setting the scene for the conference with keynote addresses. They will be followed by key air cargo experts, including: 

•    Tom Owen, Director of Cargo, Cathay Pacific 
•    Michael Steen, Chief Executive Officer, Atlas Air 
•    Vivian Lau, Chief Executive, Jardine Aviation Services Group
•    Kirsten de Bruijn, Executive Vice President Cargo, WestJet
•    Marco Bloeman, Managing Director, Accenture and Head of Accenture Cargo

The event’s overall theme of Driving Sustainable and Inclusive Growth will be supported by three tracks: 
•    Sustainability, which will include sessions on tracking progress towards net zero carbon emissions by 2050, ESG reporting, optimizing operations for environmental performance, reducing single use plastics, and circular strategies for Unit Load Device (ULD) components.
•    Digitalization, which will include sessions on data driven strategies to improve performance and reduce costs, achieving the efficiencies of OneRecord, and the potential for generative AI in air cargo.
•    Safety & Security, which will include sessions on Annex 18 Regulatory oversight of freight forwarders/handling agents for dangerous goods shipments, fire containment strategies for lithium battery shipments, ULD airworthiness, latest developments for the safety of live animal shipments, implications of an integrated risk management framework.


 

06 February, 2024

Virgin Atlantic Cargo Joins Freightos' WebCargo to Bring Air Cargo eBooking to Thousands of Freight Forwarders Globally

Freightos, a leading vendor-neutral booking and payment platform for the international freight industry, announced that WebCargo by Freightos has partnered with Virgin Atlantic Cargo, a global air cargo leader. This collaboration combines Virgin Atlantic Cargo's extensive network with WebCargo's digital reach, providing more options for forwarders globally.

With the largest off-site cargo handling operation at the UK's largest commercial aviation hub in London, Virgin Atlantic Cargo flies to 30 destinations across four continents, including key locations across the United States, India, China, Nigeria, South Africa, and the Caribbean. Virgin Atlantic Cargo's state-of-the-art cargo centre "dnata City East" offers the latest technology and facilities available to handle cargo efficiently and enables smooth connections to its onward network. The airline's facilities and the processes implemented worldwide are designed to keep all types of products from general cargo to perishables and pharma safe during their transportation.


"We are delighted to have partnered with WebCargo as we continue to provide intuitive experiences for our customers, so they can move cargo their way. As customer requirements and digital experiences evolve it's important for us to work with a platform that has an optimized digital booking process and provides access to the largest number of forwarders with seamless access to our global network," said Virgin Atlantic Cargo Managing Director Phil Wardlaw. "Customers are at the heart of everything we do and we strive to make air cargo easier for everyone, offering more ways to book and access our capacity," Wardlaw added.

"The addition of Virgin Atlantic Cargo's capacity to WebCargo means that freight forwarders in over 10,000 offices worldwide gain instant, digital access to Virgin's vast network, including key destinations, such as New York, Los Angeles, and New Delhi," said Manel Galindo, Chief Revenue Officer at Freightos. "Global reach is crucial in our current era of supply chain disruptions and Red Sea workarounds. We are proud to partner with Virgin Atlantic Cargo to expand trade between the people of the world."


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31 January, 2024

Air Cargo demand surges 10.8% in December....

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for global air freight markets showing that air cargo demand rebounded in 2023 with a particularly strong fourth quarter performance despite economic uncertainties. Full-year demand reached a level just slightly below 2022 and 2019. 


•    Global full-year demand in 2023, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs), was down 1.9% compared to 2022 (-2.2% for international operations). Compared to 2019, it was down 3.6% (-3.8 for international operations).

•    Capacity in 2023, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTKs), was 11.3% above 2022 (+9.6% for international operations). Compared to 2019 (pre-COVID) levels, capacity was up 2.5% (0.0% for international operations).

•    December 2023 saw an exceptionally strong performance: global demand was 10.8% above 2022 levels (+11.5% for international operations). This was the strongest annual growth performance over the past two years. Global capacity was 13.6% above 2022 levels (+14.1% for international operations). 

•    Some indicators to note include: 
   
o    Global cross-border trade recorded growth for the third consecutive month in October, reversing its previous downward trend.

o    December inflation in both the United States and the EU as measured by the corresponding Consumer Price Indices (CPI) stayed below 3.5% year-on-year. China’s CPI, however, indicated deflation for the third consecutive month, raising concerns of an economic slowdown. 

o    Both the manufacturing output and new export order Purchasing Managers Indexes (PMIs) – two leading indicators of global air cargo demand—continued to hover below the 50-mark in December, usual markers for contraction.

“Despite political and economic challenges, 2023 saw air cargo markets regain ground lost in 2022 after the extraordinary COVID peak in 2021. Although full year demand was shy of pre-COVID levels by 3.6%, the significant strengthening in the last quarter is a sign that markets are stabilizing towards more normal demand patterns. That puts the industry on very solid ground for success in 2024. But with continued, and in some cases intensifying, instability in geopolitics and economic forces, little should be taken for granted in the months ahead,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

22 January, 2024

IAG Cargo named as one of UK’s Top Employers

Top Employers Institute has named IAG Cargo as a Top Employer for 2024
IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG), has been recognised as a Top Employer in the UK. Reflecting the company’s ongoing commitment to the development and wellbeing of its people, through a progressive, ‘people-first’ approach.






Top Employers Institute has named IAG Cargo as a Top Employer for 2024
 
The Top Employer Institute is the global authority on recognising excellence in people practices.
 
The Top Employers Institute programme certified IAG Cargo based on its excellent HR policies and people practices


The Top Employers Institute conducts a rigorous process exploring a company’s policies and practices in regard to 20 topics including People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and Wellbeing among others. 

The Top Employers Institute programme certified IAG Cargo based on its excellent HR policies and people practices
IAG Cargo’s commitment to its people and robust programmes enabled it to be selected among other significant organisations. One initiative is a new learning and development series the business introduced, “Leading the Way”, that is designed to energise all employees across the business on IAG Cargo’s vision, mission, values and customer essentials; over 500 employees from 13 countries attended the programme in person in 2023. The business also introduced initiatives such as ‘Power hours’, inviting employees from various departments to share knowledge bites, contributing to the upskilling of their colleagues across the business. 

In the last year, IAG Cargo has devoted resources to learning and development, including opening a new learning hub at its London HQ, introducing a global digital training platform, alongside a programme called CoLAB designed to hear and capture the ideas of employees in an open forum, creating a sense of belonging within the business. 

Caroline Andrews, Chief People Officer, IAG Cargo, said: “We are incredibly proud to be named as a Top Employer 2024 as a business dedicated to supporting our employees and fostering a purpose-driven business. A company’s culture greatly influences its employees’ work experiences and is a crucial component of empowering employees to be inspired and bring their curious minds and determined attitudes to work. 

As a global business that operates 24/7 throughout the year, we could not be successful without a remarkable group of employees.” 

In addition to the programmes and learning initiatives implemented at IAG Cargo, the business introduced a complimentary 24-hour gym at its London Heathrow campus, established a mental health first aider programme and opened a brand-new canteen that provides delicious and nutritious meals –working to create an office environment that is supportive and motivating.

16 January, 2024

IAG Cargo to open applications for 2024 graduate scheme at London Heathrow

IAG Cargo is taking applications for its 2024 Graduate Scheme

The programme has been running for 11 years and specially selects the top 1.1% of applicants to launch their careers in global logistics

 

Successful candidates will gain experience across a range of head office functions and have great opportunities for fast progression within the business.



IAG Cargo is taking applications for its 2024 Graduate Scheme
IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG), is looking for eleven budding logistics professionals to join its two-year graduate programme commencing in September 2024 based at London Heathrow. Having first launched in 2012, the programme has produced numerous senior business leaders and provides valuable experience across different areas of the business from operations, revenue management, human resources to sales.

IAG Cargo supports many industries to transport goods across the globe, helping to keep the world’s economy turning. By utilising the belly-holds of passenger flights across the Group’s five airlines - British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling and LEVEL – IAG Cargo moves everything you can think of whether it’s to keep the automobile production line on schedule, stock supermarket shelves, or to deliver life-saving medicines. 

New intakes will benefit from IAG Cargo’s brand-new learning hub to ensure a comprehensive induction into the business. Graduates from the 2023 cohort also had the opportunity to travel to IAG Cargo’s hubs in Madrid and Dublin to provide an insight into the business’ global operations.

Caroline Andrew, Chief People Officer at IAG Cargo said: “Our graduate programme is a key initiative for the business in supporting and developing early-career talent. Working within high-performing teams across the organisation, our graduates are provided with nurturing support in a collaborative setting, fostering their true potential and paving the way for their journey as future leaders.

"Alongside our enticing accelerated development opportunities such as our Leadership Programme Leading the Way, recently revamped fitness facilities, and travel opportunities, we are establishing an environment conducive for everyone to excel in their careers. We’re looking forward to welcoming the upcoming wave of talented individuals and bringing their unique perspectives, and I send my best wishes to all applicants.”

Jack Mulholland Kinsella, Logistics Graduate at IAG Cargo commented: “Participating in this graduate programme has been an enriching experience. From the onset, I've assumed significant responsibilities, collaborating with professionals from diverse sectors and drawing inspiration from leaders in the business. Each day presents unique problem-solving opportunities which provides an engaging work environment that continuously challenges and motivates me.”        

The programme is based at IAG Cargo’s head office at London Heathrow and offers a competitive salary, in addition to several employee benefits, flexible work arrangements, including discounted flights.

Applications close at the end of January and applicants will hear whether they have been successful in April.
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Find out more about the IAG Cargo Graduate Programme and how to apply here: https://www.iagcargo.com/en/careers/

15 January, 2024

Odys Aviation and Aramex Announce Partnership to Develop Cargo Operations in the United Arab Emirates and Oman

Odys Aviation, a sustainable aviation company building hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft and Aramex, a market-leading provider of express delivery and logistics services to the Middle East and other emerging economies, today announced a partnership to develop cargo operations in the UAE, Oman and further afield in the region. Odys Aviation's state-of-the-art aircraft, designed in multiple configurations for cargo, will be capable of delivering all-electric propulsion for distances up to 320 kilometres and will offer a hybrid-electric range of more than 1,200 kilometres. As a result, flights operated via these aircraft have the potential to reduce carbon emissions on pan-GCC flights by up to 76 per cent and provide a zero-carbon air cargo alternative for routes across the UAE, Oman and beyond.

Under the terms of the partnership, Odys Aviation and Aramex intend to collaborate on the development of autonomous logistics programs which will ultimately introduce cargo flights leveraging Odys Aviation’s cargo aircraft and Aramex’s fleet management capabilities. The first pilot programs will utilize Odys Aviation’s Laila aircraft (22 ft wingspan and 130 lbs payload) and will expand to include the company’s Alta aircraft, a full-scale vehicle with payload capabilities up to one ton. Aramex intends to support pilot training and a test flight program which will demonstrate the movement of cargo between its regional locations. The teams will further work jointly to tailor the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) that will develop Odys Aviation’s aircraft to serve specific local environments. Upon approval from regional regulatory bodies, the two companies intend to launch operations and commercial activities and expand beyond test programs to demonstrable routes and new markets within the GCC.

10 January, 2024

Air Cargo Demand Up 8.3% in November

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for November 2023 global air cargo markets indicating the strongest year-on-year growth in roughly two years. This is partly due to weakness in November 2022, but also reflects a fourth consecutive month of strengthening demand for air cargo.

Global demand for air cargo, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTKs), increased by 8.3% compared to November 2022. For international operations, demand growth was 8.1%. 

Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometres (ACTKs), was up 13.7% compared to November 2022 (+11.6% for international operations). Most of the capacity growth continues to be attributable to the increase in belly capacity as international passenger markets continue their post-COVID recovery.

Compared to November 2019 (pre-COVID-19), demand is down 2.5% while capacity is up 4.1%.

Some indicators to note include: 


•    Both the manufacturing output and new export order Purchasing Managers Indexes (PMIs) – two leading indicators of global air cargo demand—continued to hover just below the 50-mark in November with small positive movements indicating a deceleration of the economic slowdown. 

•    Global cross-border trade recorded growth for the third consecutive month in October, reversing its previous downward trend.

•    Inflation in major advanced economies continued to soften in November as measured by the corresponding Consumer Price Index (CPI), centering around 3% year-on-year for the United States, Japan, as well as the EU, in November. In the meantime, China exhibited negative annual growth in its CPI for the second time in a row.
 
•    Air cargo yields (including surcharges) continued their significant upward trend (+8.9% since October). Rising yields are in line with improving air cargo load factors over recent months. This could be tied in part to booming e-commerce deliveries from China to western markets.

“November air cargo demand was up 8.3% on 2022—the strongest year-on-year growth in almost two years. That is a doubling of October’s 3.8% increase and a fourth month of positive market development. It is shaping up to be an encouraging year-end for air cargo despite the significant economic concerns that were present throughout 2023 and continue on the horizon,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

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November 2023
(% year-on-year)
World share1CTKACTKCLF (%-pt)2CLF (level)3
Total Market100.0%8.3%13.7%-2.3%46.7%
Africa2.0%3.9%14.0%-4.1%42.1%
Asia Pacific32.4%13.8%29.6%-6.6%47.9%
Europe21.8%6.7%6.5%0.1%57.0%
Latin America2.7%4.2%7.7%-1.2%36.3%
Middle East13.0%13.5%15.4%-0.8%46.9%
North America28.1%1.8%4.0%-0.9%40.8%

1% of industry CTKs in 2022   2year-on-year change in load factor   3Load Factor Level

November Regional Performance (total market)

Asia-Pacific airlines saw their air cargo volumes increase by 13.8% in November 2023 compared to the same month in 2022. This performance was significantly above the previous month’s growth of 7.6%. Available capacity for the region’s airlines increased by 29.6% compared to November 2022 as more belly capacity came online with the removal of COVID-19 restrictions.

North American carriers had the weakest demand growth in November with a 1.8% increase (YoY) in cargo volumes. This was, nonetheless, a significant improvement in performance compared to October’s -1.8% contraction. Capacity increased by 4.0% compared to November 2022.

European carriers saw their air cargo volumes increase by 6.7% in November compared to the same month in 2022. This was a stronger performance than in October (1.0%). Capacity increased 6.5% in November 2023 compared to 2022.

Middle Eastern carriers had the strongest performance in November 2023, with a 13.5% year-on-year increase in cargo volumes. This was similar to the significant improvement noted in the previous month’s performance (+13.0%). Capacity increased 15.4% compared to November 2022.

Latin American carriers experienced a 4.2% increase in cargo volumes compared to November 2022, very similar to the 4.0% year-on-year increase recorded for October. Capacity in November was up 7.7% compared to the same month in 2022.

African airlines saw their air cargo volumes increase by 3.9% in November 2023, slightly improved compared to October’s +2.9% growth performance. Capacity was 14.0% above November 2022 levels.

06 December, 2023

Repsol to supply SAF to Atlas Air and Inditex for regular use on cargo flights....

Flights from Zaragoza Airport (Spain) carried out by Atlas Air for Inditex are using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced by Repsol.

Atlas Air becomes the first cargo airline to use SAF regularly on its freight transport flights in Spain, marking a new milestone towards the decarbonization of the airline sector.


Repsol, a multi-energy company committed to leading the energy transition, announced that it has begun supplying sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to Atlas Air for use in all its flights with its customer Inditex from Zaragoza Airport (Spain). Beginning in November, Atlas Air is initially incorporating 5% SAF in all its flights.

The agreement makes New York-based Atlas Air the first cargo airline to use SAF regularly on its cargo flights in Spain, marking a new milestone in the airline sector. The initiative is in line with the companies’ commitments to achieve their respective carbon footprint reduction goals, and also positions them to comply with anticipated compliance measures included in the ReFuelEU Aviation regulations that require use of 2% renewable fuels in 2025, 6% in 2030 and 70% in 2050, respectively.

“With this agreement, we take another step in the decarbonization of aviation. We show that SAF is the future, but also the present. With the upcoming launch of our new advanced biofuels plant in Cartagena (Spain), we are ready to supply the sector with the SAF it needs to realize its decarbonization ambitions,” said Óliver Fernández, Director of International Aviation at Repsol.

“We are committed to contributing to the sustainability of the aviation sector and appreciate this opportunity to work with our valued partners at Inditex and Repsol,” said Richard Broekman, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Sustainability for Atlas Air Worldwide. “It is critical for our sector to work together in driving wider adoption and availability of SAF, which ultimately will have a positive impact on our industry and the environment.”

Air Cargo Demand up 3.8% in October says IATA

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for October 2023 global air cargo markets indicating the third consecutive month of stronger year-on-year demand.

Global demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTKs*), increased by 3.8% compared to October 2022. For international operations, the demand lagged slightly at 3.5%. 

Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometres (ACTKs), was up 13.1% compared to October 2022 (11.1% for international operations). This was largely related to the growth in belly capacity. International belly capacity, for example, rose 30.5% year-on-year on the strength of passenger markets.

Several factors in the operating environment should be noted:


•    Economic activities slowed in October. With the Purchasing Managers’ Index for manufacturing output and export orders for major economies (excluding the US) remaining below the critical 50 mark, there is a clear marker for economic challenges ahead.

•    Inflation in major advanced economies continued to ease from its peak in terms of Consumer Price Index (CPI), reaching between 3% and 4% for the US and for the EU respectively, in October. China’s CPI, however, indicated deflation for the second time this year, raising concerns of an economic slowdown.

•    Global trade reversed its downward trajectory and stabilized in September. Although below its 2022 peak, global cross-border trade is more than 5% above pre-pandemic levels.

•    After a continuous 17-month decline, cargo yields ticked-up in September and continued into October with a 2.6% month-on-month gain, remaining well-above pre-pandemic levels.

“Demand for air cargo was up 3.8% in October. That marks three consecutive months of year-on-year growth, placing air cargo on course to end 2023 on a much stronger footing than it began the year. Recovering demand, slightly stronger yields and the uptick in trade are all good news. But with demand still 2.4% below pre-pandemic levels, and much uncertainty remaining over the trajectory of the global economy, optimism must be balanced with caution. Nonetheless, a continued strong peak year-end season will certainly help the sector to manage through whatever turns the global economy might take in 2024,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

04 December, 2023

IAG Cargo hosts roundtable in India to discuss growth in the region

The cargo division of International Airlines Group  - IAG Cargo, hosted a roundtable at the JW Marriott Hotel in New Delhi to discuss key air cargo trends and business updates. Speakers included David Shepherd, Chief Executive Officer at IAG Cargo, Kapil Madhok, Regional Manager, Air Services, India Sub-Continent Region at Expeditors, Camilo Garcia Cervera, Chief Sales and Marketing Office at IAG Cargo, and Yashpal Sharma, President of Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI), moderated by Ankush Chawla, South Asia Commercial Manager for IAG Cargo. 
IAG Cargo has 56 flights per week from India across 5 routes and has seen a 31% increase in tonnage versus last year – with notable growth in Constant Climate, Fresh and Courier

As the world adapts to the new normal post-pandemic, India has emerged as a global powerhouse for the production and exportation of key goods such as pharmaceuticals, high-tech e-commerce such as mobile phones, and fresh produce. 

This growth is reflected in data from IAG Cargo: operating 56 flights per week from India across 5 routes, the company has seen a 31% increase in tonnage versus last year – with a notable increase in Constant Climate, Fresh and Courier services. 

David Shepherd, Chief Executive Officer, of IAG Cargo said: “This is my first trip to India since re-joining the business and I am delighted to be back. India is an exceptionally important part of our global network. Every day we connect customers through five gateways in India to the UK and onto our expansive network. Next week, we will increase our capacity going into – and out of – Delhi through up-gauging services from the current 787s with A350s. With incredibly strong pharmaceutical, high-tech and fresh produce industries, we are always looking for ways to support this growth.”

Premium Hong Kong travel lifestyle brand Cathay collaborates with AWS to reduce IT infrastructure costs by 40%


Amazon Web Services - AWS has announced that Cathay, the premium travel lifestyle brand that includes Hong Kong's hometown airline Cathay Pacific, has selected AWS as its strategic cloud provider and is working with AWS to establish the Cathay Machine Learning Innovation Hub. 

The program combines AWS's broad set of cloud technologies and comprehensive cloud skills resources with Cathay's machine learning (ML) expertise to deliver companywide innovations across its global operations, unlocking business value and equipping employees with ML skills. As part of the company’s ongoing digital transformation, Cathay will also move the majority of its IT workloads to AWS.

Working with AWS, Cathay has already identified hundreds of ML use cases and successfully deployed more than 50 ML models. For example, Cathay and AWS developed ML models that accurately predict the demand for inflight meals, to help minimize food waste, and dynamically forecast available cargo space for each flight. The Cathay Machine Learning Innovation Hub will advance this work by leveraging AWS technologies to identify use cases and accelerate ML innovations for its travel, lifestyle, and cargo business lines. In the long term, Cathay plans to make industry solutions developed through the Cathay Machine Learning Innovation Hub, such as cargo revenue planning and aviation route prediction, available to other companies in the commercial aviation sector.

 AWS to reduce IT infrastructure costs by 40% and establish the Cathay Machine Learning Innovation Hub to automate operations and enhance air travel experiences

16 November, 2023

Cargojet to off load four Boeing 757 jets

Air cargo operator Cargojet is slimming down its fleet as it struggles to deal with a massive downturn in business despite recently giving shareholders a 10% increase in dividends. 





The Canadian carrier is cutting capacity and trying to preserve its strong cash flows by offering at least four of its converted Boeing 757 aircraft up for sale according to the airline's Chief Financial Officer Scott Calver during a third-quarter results call. 

The planes will continue to be available for other companies to lease until they are sold the airline confirmed. Earlier this year Cargojet sold one Boeing 777-300 aircraft for $36 million resulting in a loss on sale of $3.6 million. Two Boeing 777-300 hulls suffered significant damage due to severe hailstorms, the airline assessed the damage cost $13.8 million, for which the insurers paid  $12.2 million. Cargojet has also paused all planned conversions on 767s and 777s. 

After launching Cargojet 22 years ago as Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ajay Virmani will be stepping into the role of Executive Chairman effective January 1, 2024 and the Corporation has announced leadership appointments in a separate announcement. This strategic move reflects Dr. Virmani’s dedication to the company’s long-term success and the need to ensure a seamless transition in the leadership.

Dr. Ajay Virmani, who has served as the CEO since its inception in 2001, along with the team he built, has been instrumental in Cargojet’s remarkable journey from a start-up to Canada’s #1 cargo airline. Just last week Dr. Virmani was appointed to the Order of Ontario.  The Globe and Mail honored Dr. Virmani as the CEO-Strategist of the year in 2020. In 2004, Dr. Virmani was awarded the “Entrepreneur of the Year award” by Ernst &Younge. Recognizing his entrepreneurial and philanthropic contribution to Canada, he was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame with his own star in 2021. Cargojet and its leadership has also been recognized as the 50 Best Managed Companies by Deloitte’s and has been a consistent winner of Canada’s Best Cargo Airline award 21 years running.

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