Airfreight bolsters Expeditors’ figures

A ten per cent year on year increase in airfreight net revenues contributed to a strong 2014 fourth quarter for US forwarder and logistics company Expeditors. The Washington-based company said its net earnings had increased 19 per cent in the quarter, to almost $99.4m, compared with $83.5m in the same period of 2013. Ocean freight net revenue...

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Losses mount at dampened Damco

Damco, the global logistics arm of Danish shipping group AP Moller Maersk, more than doubled its annual losses to $293m for the full year 2014. The ocean giant parent said that Damco's losses were due to “significant” impairment hits  in 2014 and “reduced profitability” in its ocean and airfreight segments. Netherlands- headquartered Damco, which recorded...

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Kale breaks into Iraq Market

Iraqi ground-handler Azmar Air has gone live with Kale’s Galaxy International air cargo management system. Azmar, based at Sulaymaniyah International Airport in the Kurdish-controlled region of northern Iraq will use the system for e-freight compliance, warehouse management and vehicle management, and it will be able to offer real-time updates to customers’ trade partners and EDI messaging, says Indian-based Kale. It added that Galaxy is already in use by handlers including...

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DHL refines risk management system

DHL's Resilience360 risk management tool can now be integrated with customer's transport management systems, allowing them to view shipments affected by disruptive incidents. Customers can then scan the latest position and status of all their shipments worldwide and identify corrective actions. Recent incidents monitored by Resilience 360 included the ash cloud from the Bardarbunga Volcano, the economic fall-out from Russian sanctions and the Ebola crisis. In the case of the...

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We will do better, promise TNT management

TNT Express has outlined the steps that will return the parcels and freight operator to profit. A core part of its strategy is to set up focused international Europe and domestic units, strengthening its management and accelerated investment in its transport and IT, along with improved service levels. At a capital markets day conference this week in London, chief...

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FedEx swaps sides in Illinois

Federal Express officially started operations at Central Illinois Regional Airport (CIRA) in Bloomington on February 2. It follows an announcement in May 2014 that it was pulling out of its operation at nearby Peoria airport, on the west bank of the Illinois River. The express carrier said the move would allow it to upgrade its priority overnight...

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Christmas overspend flattens UPS earnings

  UPS reported “flat” fourth quarter earnings in the fourth quarter of 2014 compared with the same period in prior year. In fact, earnings per share, at $1.25, were identical to 2013, said the US-based express carrier. It blamed higher than expected peak operating expenses in its home market as the carrier sought to maintain delivery times - UPS delivered 1.3bn...

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TNT tweaks its figures

Express carrier TNT said its fourth quarter results, due to be published in full on February 17, would include non-recurring tax expense items totalling €77m, which include a €67m non-cash valuation allowance on deferred tax assets. The Netherlands-headquartered company added that changes to its accounting treatment in Brazil would also result...

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December's dollar yields dip

Air freight volumes continued to rise in December but exchange rate and fuel surcharge fluctuations saw a 2014 end of year fall in dollar-based yields, according to research house WorldACD. December’s healthy year-over-year (YoY) volume growth continued 2014's trend, as chargeable weight increased 6.7 per cent, said the Netherlands-based analyst which uses...

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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...

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Asia Pacific Airlines see 2014 revival in cargo demand

  Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) preliminary figures for 2014 show an “encouraging revival” in cargo demand after three consecutive years of decline. An upsurge in exports from manufacturing hubs in the region led to a rebound in international air cargo markets in 2014, with demand in freight tonne km (FTK) growing by...

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TNT's express trucking link to Istanbul

TNT has launched a daily scheduled road service to Istanbul, linking the Turkish capital city to Sofia, Bulgaria, and on to all countries in Europe via the express company’s trucking network. The Amsterdam-based parcels company says that it is currently the only express operator to run a scheduled road connection between all of Europe and Istanbul, “offering an...

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LOT Cargo starts flights to US and Canada

LOT Cargo has launched a New York – Warsaw – New York freight route with a special all cargo Boeing 767-300 aircraft operated by a Canadian company Cargojet Airways. This year, flights are scheduled for January-April and October-December. For January and March, the company has planned weekly flights departing from New York (JFK) on Saturdays and from Warsaw on Sundays. For February, two flights per week have been scheduled with an additional flight from Warsaw on Thursdays. The ...

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Dreamliner ticket for lionesses Maggie and Sonja

  Lioness sisters Maggie and Sonja made an epic journey home to Africa on the inaugural Kenya Airways Dreamliner flight from London Heathrow via Nairobi to Johannesburg. The two rescued circus cats were waved goodbye at the start of their 6,000 mile journey by singer celebrity and Born Free Patron, Peter Andre. Maggie and Sonj will begin...

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BIFA awards: winners step forward

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has revealed the winners of its Freight Service Awards 2014 at a ceremony in London. Robert Keen, BIFA’s director general, commented: “In a neat twist to celebrate the 26th staging of the awards, it was fitting that 26 different BIFA Member companies were in contention, plus our young freight forwarder finalists.” The air freight award – sponsored by IAG Cargo – went to DSV Air & Sea. The judges thought this company stood out from...

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