China Post & Lufthansa Cargo inks Joint Freight Operation

China Post & Lufthansa cargo have come up with a strategic agreement of sharing Boeing 777 freighter cargo capacity on Shanghai - Frankfurt route.

Lufthansa airlines (LH) will provide block space to China Post on its freighter & passenger aircraft on regular basis. Currently LH is operating 18 wide body aircrafts &10 weekly 777F weekly out of China .

Both China Post & LH airlines is exploring to develop new international routes also to explore new markets .

Earlier China Post was planning to develop international routes but this agreement with LH airlines indicates alternate strategy.

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Hong Kong airfreight chief steps down

Hong Kong Association of Freight Forwarding and Logistics (HAFFA) chairman Paul Tsui is to step down and will be replaced by Cliff Sullivan, senior vice-president of A-Sonic Logistics. Mr Tsui is a 30-year veteran of the airfreight industry and in 2001 founded Janel Group, which now employs 250 staff in offices throughout China. Mr Sullivan has been a HAFFA executive committee member since 2001.

Source : http://www.aircargonews.net/news/people/single-view/news/hong-kong-airfreight-chief-steps-down.html

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FedEx-TNT deal edges forward

FedEx’s potential $4.8bn takeover of TNT has edged further forward as the US express giant has filed regulatory paperwork to the European Commission.
Over the weekend, the New York Stock Exchange-listed logistics company confirmed it had submitted the required filing to the EC to obtain regulatory clearance in connection with the intended recommended public cash offer for all issued and outstanding ordinary shares in the capital of TNT Express.
It added that it expected to submit a request for review and approval of its offer document with the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets before June 30, as required under Dutch law.
“Based on the required steps and subject to the necessary approvals, closing of the Offer is anticipated in the first half of calendar year 2016,” FedEx said.
Other approvals will also need to be gained, with the offer conditional on FedEx also obtaining the required competition clearances in China, Brazil and, to the extent applicable, the US.
Under the planned deal, the relatively small TNT air fleet of 54 freighter aircraft would be sold to a third party, to assuage the competition authorities in the European Union and elsewhere. This had been one of the major sticking points in the previous proposed UPS takeover.
TNT's owned and leased fleet includes B777Fs, B747Fs, and a combination of BAe 146, Boeing B737Fs and B757Fs. 
The two sides reached a conditional agreement on the deal earlier in April. The agreement recommends an all-cash offer by FedEx for all issued and outstanding ordinary shares, including shares represented by American Depositary Receipts of TNT Express for a cash offer price of €8.00 per share.

Source : http://www.aircargonews.net/news/airlines/single-view/news/fedex-tnt-deal-edges-forward.html

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Hellmann gains AEO status in the UK

Hellmann Worldwide Logistics UK has been awarded authorised economic operator (AEO) status by HM Revenue & Customs.



The supply chain quality standard highlights businesses involved in the international supply chain.
The two-year process began in December 2012 and involved Hellmann training over 500 staff to complete the process and achieve its goal of becoming AEO certified.
HMRC inspected all areas of the business, offering recommendations for improvements, and making Hellmann UK the third country in the company’s global network to receive the accreditation.
Ian Dallow, security manager at Hellmann Worldwide Logistics UK, said: “Gaining the AEO status has been a lengthy process but something that has been extremely worthwhile. New procedures have been implemented and a more stringent security culture has been adopted to ensure the best service to our customers.
“AEO also provides us with additional business opportunities with major clients and a framework based on quality to help to drive the business forward.”

Source :http://www.aircargonews.net/news/single-view/news/hellmann-gains-aeo-status-in-the-uk.html

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China lifts price controls on 24 commodities, services

China will lift controls on prices of 24 commodities and services, said the National Development and Reform Commission on Sunday.

Market will decide the price of tobacco leaves, the last agricultural product to be freed from government price control, but a minimum price will be set to protect farmers, said a statement on the commission website.

Prices of railway bulk cargo, parcels and privately funded cargo and passenger transport will also be allowed to float. Railway passenger and cargo prices have been decided by the government, but lag far behind changes of road and water transportation prices, which has impeded the development of the railway sector, said Sun Zhang, a professor with Tongji University.

Prices of domestic air cargo will be freed, as well as prices of passenger transport of some airlines.

Wu Tongshui, deputy director of China Air Transport Association, said the move will help activate the market, attract more private investment and enhance the competitive edges of carriers.

Limits will be removed on port service fees, including fees on container loading, ship rubbish treatment and water supply.

Limits will be removed on factory prices of explosives for civil use.

Source: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/xinhua-news-agency/150104/china-lifts-price-controls-24-commodities-services

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