Russian Cargo Ship Makes Fast Delivery to Space Station

A robotic Russian spacecraft filled with supplies for the six crew members on the International Space Station made an express delivery to the orbiting outpost on Wednesday.

The Progress 56 craft was launched atop a Russian-built Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 5:44 p.m. ET (3:44 a.m. local time Thursday). It hooked up with the space station's Pirs docking compartment just after 11:30 p.m. ET.

The Progress was loaded with about 5,700 pounds (2,587 kilograms) of food, water, propellant and other supplies for the station's Expedition 40 crew.

Historically, Progress ships have taken about two days to arrive at the station. Since 2012, however, the Russian crafts have been flying to the science laboratory in six hours or less. Astronauts and cosmonauts have also started taking these quick, four-orbit flights aboard the Soyuz capsules that deliver new crew members to the station.

A different Progress craft, dubbed Progress 55, left the space station on Monday to make room for the new cargo ship. Progress 55 is now flying a safe distance away from the orbiting outpost. It will perform a series of engineering tests before it intentionally burns up over the Pacific Ocean on July 31, according to NASA.

The space station currently plays host to a crew of six. NASA astronauts Steve Swanson and Reid Wiseman, European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst and Russian cosmonauts Max Suraev, Alexander Skvortsov and Oleg Artemyev make up the Expedition 40 crew.

— Miriam Kramer, Space.com

Source : http://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/russian-cargo-ship-makes-quick-delivery-space-station-n163516

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Aerofloat Cargo Revenue Slumps

25.07.2014 | 

THE decision by Russian airline Aeroflot to scrap its dedicated freighters business last year is the reason for a 36 per cent year-on-year slump in its cargo business in 2014. “Switching to belly cargo operations in 2013 is the main reason that cargo and mail carried decreased 36.0 per cent year-on-year to June 2014,” says a statement.
In the first six months of this year the company expanded its fleet, including 13 new A320s, two new B737-800s and six new B777-300ERs.
“The new, factory-direct aircraft contributed to the ongoing modernisation of the fleet, which is now one of the youngest in Europe,” says a statement.

Source : http://www.aircargonews.net/news/single-view/news/aeroflots-cargo-business-slumps.html

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Aramex Revenue Results....

The Middle East-based logistics company's half-year 2014 revenues increased to US$0.45 million [AED 1,768 million], up seven per cent on the corresponding period of 2013.
Net profits rose to $43.4 million, an increase of 13 per cent.
“Following a robust first-quarter performance, strong momentum in the business continued through Q2,” says a statement. 
The results include a one-off cost of $1.54 million for the acquisition of Australia’s Mail Call.
During the period, broad-based revenue growth was seen across all of Aramex’s geographies, with the Gulf States the key driver of this.
There were also much stronger performances from operations in Europe, Asia-Pacific and Africa, as economic conditions improved and the volumes of international and domestic trade increased.
Africa remains vital to Aramex’s expansion strategy and to its global network, as it continues to bridge new emerging market trade corridors, says the company.
Commenting on the results, Hussein Hachem, Aramex’s chief executive, is particularly pleased with the performance of the company’s e-commerce business – “and how we continue to seize the considerable international opportunities in this sector.”

Source : http://www.aircargonews.net/news/single-view/news/aramex-profits-up.html

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Air freight volumes rise for Panalpina

Panalpina saw improved group level profitability in the first half of 2014 as air freight volumes grew four per cent over prior year.

However, the Switzerland-based global logistics operator said that unit profitability in both the air and ocean freight segments was affected by a “challenging market”.

While air freight rates “remained under strong pressure,” Panalpina put the focus on trade lane optimisation and expects the air freight market to grow by between 3-4 per cent in 2014.

Panalpina’s half year air freight volume growth to 417,000 tons was in line with the market. Earlier this month, Swiss logistics rival Kuehne + Nagel reported a similar half year rise in air freight volumes, up 3.9 per cent to 580,000 tons.

Second quarter air freight volumes at Panalpina were up by 1.8 per cent to 213,000 tons, compared with a 6.3 per cent surge in the first three months of 2014.

The Panalpina group’s total gross profit and earnings before interest and tax were “significantly impacted” by currency movements although both financials increased two per cent, reaching SFr777.9 million and SFr60.1 million respectively.

Panalpina chief executive Peter Ulber said that there “is still a lot of work to be done in terms of profitability”, especially in ocean freight.

Added Mr Ulber: “The fact that low margins have absorbed much of the growth in the first half of 2014, particularly in ocean freight, goes to show just how important it is that we stay absolutely on course with our strategic execution.

“Turning around loss-making operations continues to be our firm focus. In the mid- and long-term better IT systems and processes will help us improve productivity and profitability as we keep restructuring and rolling out our new operational system SAP TM.”

Source: http://www.aircargonews.net/news/single-view/news/air-freight-volumes-rise-for-panalpina.html

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C.A.L. Cargo Air Lines to Introduce Younger B747 Freighters

C.A.L. Cargo Air Lines Ltd., Israel's boutique air cargo company which provides air cargo services worldwide, has announced the signing of an agreement to dry lease a B747-400F and the purchase of a B747-400ERF, both with nose and side doors.

The B747-400F will be introduced to C.A.L.'s network in September this year and the second aircraft will come into service two months later.

The B747-400F has maximum payload of 112,630 kg and maximum range of 4,445 nautical miles (8,230 km). The B747-400ERF has maximum payload of 112,760 kg and maximum range of 4,970 nautical miles (9,200 km). Both aircraft can fly nonstop to destinations in South America and Far East.

At present C.A.L. owns and operates two widebody 747-200F aircrafts, each with an over 110 ton capacity, and with special nose and side loading cargo doors specifically designed to accommodate cargo of exceptionally large size.

C.A.L. Cargo Air Lines Ltd. was founded in 1976 and is based in Airport City, Israel. It has air cargo stations and offices in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Germany, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland; China, India, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, and Japan; and California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, and Texas.

Source :http://www.port2port.com/article/Air-Transport/Airlines/C-A-L-Cargo-Air-Lines-to-Introduce-Younger-B747-Freighters/

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Joint Effort by Cargo Tracking and Loss Detention Groups to Prevent Freight Theft

US – Covert cargo and vehicle theft detection, recovery, and loss prevention company, SC-integrity (LoJack SCI) and perishable and high value shipment tracking firm Locus Traxx Worldwide, have announced an alliance which aims to both advance and bolster supply chain and cargo shipment security and efficiency. Together, the organisations plan to release a series of bundled tracking and information solutions based on Locus ‘SmartTraxx™ GO’ tracking technology, which monitors both the security and condition of the freight in real-time. LoJack SCI CEO, Ted Wlazlowski, said:

"We couldn't be happier with this collaboration. This venture will allow both Locus Traxx and LoJack SCI to support the latest generation of communication and geo-localisation technologies, while continuing to provide high value service to customers. Our market is ready for the flexibility and ease in providing a disposable tracking solution; and, together with Locus Traxx, we intend to exceed expectations for reliable, low cost visibility and control."

Locus Traxx will cooperate in providing information to and through the LoJack SCI sponsored Supply Chain Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Supply Chain-ISAC). Food is the primary target product for freight theft, accounting for 27% of recorded sector robberies in the US last year, leading to the industry facing increasing regulatory pressures from the FDA. The ability for Supply Chain-ISAC participants to obtain an enhanced view of potential risk or efficiency opportunities in the food, produce and cold chain markets could be extremely beneficial.

Source: http://www.handyshippingguide.com/shipping-news/joint-effort-by-cargo-tracking-and-loss-detention-groups-to-prevent-freight-theft_5605

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Japanese logistics firms to share drivers

Logistics companies in Japan are moving to combine their freight truck operations amid an industry-wide shortage of drivers as the economy recovers.

Yamato Transport, Seino Transportation and six other companies have set up a committee to study possible collaboration, according to Nikkei Report.

As early as the fall, the group, which also includes Tonami Transportation, Sapporo Express, Meitetsu Transport, Chuetsu Unso, Daiichi Freight System and Kanda, plans to begin sharing cargo space and sorting sites on a trial basis as early as the fall. Based on this, they will decide how to split costs.

A nationwide association of logistics companies will implement the initiative. Other carriers, such as Sagawa Express and Nippon Express, will be encouraged to take part as well.

Trucks handle about 90 percent of domestic freight transport.

About 60 percent of the carriers had anticipated a labour shortage between April and June, according to an industry survey. And drivers are ageing as well. By collaborating with peers, the carriers will work to maintain quality service while curbing costs.

The joint operations will be employed on routes that include small and mid-size cities. Trucks hauling freight along these routes often have under-utilised cargo space on return trips.

Source: http://www.cargonewsasia.com/secured/article.aspx?id=7&article=33655

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FedEx strengthens its domestic ground and supply chain services in India.......

Mumbai, May 7, 2014 — FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) announces the successful integration of its acquired AFL and UFL businesses in India.  Since the acquisition in 2011, FedEx has focused on strengthening its domestic transportation and supply chain capabilities to meet the demands of Indian businesses. FedEx now offers end-to-end logistics solutions, including international and domestic air express services, domestic ground services, warehousing and supply chain management.

With the integration complete, FedEx has:

• Expanded its service coverage from 4,000 postal codes to over 19,000 in India
• Strengthened its ground transportation service: it now has a fleet of over 1,000 trucks connecting cities and towns across India, leading technology and competitive pricing
• Increased its office and hub space capacity from 300,000 to over a million square feet
• Added inventory management services via more than 900,000 square feet of warehousing space across the country

“In a little over a decade, India is expected to have as many as 18 mega-demand cities with a GDP surpassing $20 billion.[1]  The internet is also propelling small towns such as Guntur in Andhra Pradesh or Choryasi in Gujarat, into the league of top rural hubs for eCommerce in India.  This is why we have expanded our network to over 90% of India’s manufacturing GDP, thereby providing seamless access to Indian businesses with diverse logistics needs,” said David Canavan, vice president, Operations, FedEx Express India.
“Increasingly, the success of modern retail chains, hi-tech industries or booming eCommerce sites depends on the efficiencies and intelligence of their supply chain.  Innovative services such as cash on delivery, repair-and-return, pick and pack and returns management are critical.  Our successful integration places us in a formidable position to meet all of these logistics requirements.”
Now, customers using FedEx domestic ground services can also benefit from shipping applications that enable them to create waybills for single or multi-piece shipments. In addition, they can monitor incoming and outgoing packages, get status notifications and near real-time tracking. High volume businesses such as eCommerce are supported with robust web integration for faster processing.
Industries with complex supply chain requirements (particularly hi-tech, retail, medical equipment or consumer durables) will gain a competitive advantage by using FedEx domestic ground and supply chain services.

Source : http://news.van.fedex.com/fedex-strengthens-its-domestic-ground-and-supply-chain-services-india-following-successful-integrati

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Air cargo industry needs a structural redesign

The freighter plane may become a thing of the past if airlines failed to devise strategies to make their cargo operations more efficient, an aviation industry specialist has warned.

The industry needs a structural redesign, said Glyn Hughes, director of cargo industry management at International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Air cargo volumes have remained flat since 2010, he said during IATA’s annual general meeting.
IATA predicts cargo volumes will total about 52 million tons this year, effectively unchanged since 2010.

The $6.8 trillion worth of goods transported by air cargo every year represents 35 percent of international trade by value but only 0.5 percent of total volumes, Hughes pointed out.
He called for more drastic changes to shorten transport times and regain ground lost to the shipping industry.

Some carriers have already reduced the number of freighter planes they operate, he said.
Air freight built a reputation for getting bulky, expensive goods from A to B as quickly as possible. But as paperwork has increased, the average time it takes to shift a product from the manufacturer to the final importer stands at 6.5 days, compared with Lufthansa Cargo’s boast in the 1960s that the process took only three days.

High value goods such as electronics have also become smaller, meaning they take up less space and do not need dedicated freighters for transportation.

These trends are pushing companies such as AstraZeneca, Ericsson and Sony to transport more of their pharmaceuticals and electronics via sea at lower cost. In addition, growing demand for plane travel means more and more freight is being transported in the holds, or bellies, of passenger planes.
Airlines have so far reacted to the tough cargo market by cutting capacity and taking freighters out of service.

To remain competitive in the long term, airlines need to cut shipping times and position themselves as premium operators specializing in high value or perishable goods, such as flowers, or bulky over-sized goods, delegates said.

To boost competitiveness and revitalize trade growth, the industry is working toward a goal of reducing shipping times by 48 hours before 2020.
Of the 6.5 days on average it takes to get air freight from door to door, only a few hours are actually spent in the air, according to IATA.

It is therefore encouraging airlines to simplify procedures with freight forwarders and ground handlers, and to cut down the amount of paperwork it creates by moving to digital documents.
The association said that just 14.3 percent of contracts, known as airway bills, were in electronic form in 2013, short of its target of 22 percent for 2014.

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US postpones 100 per cent container scanning US postpones 100 per cent container scanning

FORWARDERS are not surprised by the latest US climbdown on controversial plans to introduce 100 per cent ocean container screening.

Peter Quantrill, director general of the British International Freight Association (BIFA), says it is “hardly surprising” to hear the news that the USA has delayed – for another two years – its demand that all cargo containers entering the USA must have been security scanned prior to departure from their origin stations.

The decision comes amid questions over whether the total scanning scheme is the best way to protect US ports.

Five years after Congress set a deadline requiring all US-bound shipping containers to be X-rayed overseas for nuclear weapons, US Customs officials now appear to have given up on the goal.

Screening 100 per cent of incoming containers would be nearly impossible to implement now, would cause huge delays and be less cost-effective than focusing only on suspicious cargo, observers say.

More than 30,000 ocean containers arrive at US ports each day and many foreign ports are just not physically equipped to comply.

“As BIFA has said repeatedly, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has consistently underestimated the enormity of the task in hand relative to the costs both to the US government and to foreign governments as well as, importantly, the limited ability of contemporary screening technology to penetrate dense cargo, or large quantities of cargo in shipping containers,” says Quantrill.

BIFA’s comments are in response to a letter from Thomas Carper, chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, which suggested that the use of systems available to scan containers would have a negative impact on trade capacity and the flow of cargo.

Quantrill notes: “Media reports suggest that the US government now doubts whether it would be able to implement the mandate of 100 per cent scanning, even in the long term, and it would appear that it now shares BIFA’s long-standing opinion that it is not the best use of taxpayer resources to meet the USA’s port security and homeland security needs.

"We have always said that expanding screening with available technology would slow the flow of commerce and drive up costs to consumers without bringing significant security benefits.”

BIFA says the US government should take an even bolder step – and repeal the original legislation.

“That would be the most appropriate way to address this flawed provision and allow the Department and industry to continue to focus on real solutions, including strengthened risk-based management systems to address any security gaps that remain in global supply chains.”

Source: http://www.aircargonews.net/news/single-view/news/us-postpones-100-per-cent-container-scanning.html

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AirAsia revenue jumps 40% under cargo services

Upgrowing Malaysian airline AirAsia X Berhad achieved a revenue of 749.5 million ringgits ($233 million) for the quarter ending 31 March, while carrier cargo services geenrated 25.3 million ringgits throughout.

The cargo revenue is a 27 per cent year-on-year increase from the 19.9 million ringgits it generated in the same quarter last year. The quarter's overall revenue was a leap of 40 per cent, compared to the first three months of 2013.
Also, AirAsia X has 19 Airbus A330-300, up from 15 in December last year. The carrier has ordered 51 Airbus A330-300, with six more being leased from the International Lease Finance Corporation; bringing its fleet deliveries to 57 by 2019. The airline also has 10 Airbus A350 eXtraWideBody on order. Osman-Rani adds: "As new capacity typically takes 12-months to reach break-even, we expect to see yield improvement and an earnings turnaround in the second-half of this year." AirAsia X received one A330-300 on finance lease and two on operating lease in the first quarter.  With thirteen aircraft under operating lease as of 31 March, operating lease expenditure escalated 58.6 per cent year-on-year to 59.9 million ringgits, from 37.8 million during the same period. Due to a one-off investment in its sister airline, Indonesia AirAsia X and one aircraft delivery earlier this year under finance lease, net cash flow reduced to 136.8 million ringgits.

Source :  http://www.aircargoweek.com/news/AirAsia-X-Berhad-sees-40-revenue-jump_5243.html

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The No. 1 platform for the sector: Asia’s leading event for air cargo and logistics

Air Cargo China is the leading event in the air freight sector in Asia – and it is continuing to grow in size and significance.

Come along and present your company and its expertise at this major exhibition, taking place for the sixth time from June 17 to 19, 2014, at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre.

On these dates a dynamic trade audience from around the world will be converging on Shanghai, that makes Air Cargo China to such an interesting platform for you, as a place to present your latest products and solutions and as a place to engage in intensive networking.

The Air Cargo China Conference
 
The experts’ view on sector trends Again this year, the international air freight conference is being held as part of Air Cargo China 2014. This forum attracts decision-makers in the industry to come and talk about the latest challenges facing the air cargo business – with a special focus on the Asian market of course.

As an exhibitor you also profit from the presence of the entire Asian logistics and transport sector, as Air Cargo China is an integrated part of transport logistic China.

This leading show for the Far East has expanded fast to become the most important meeting place for the transport, logistics and air cargo industry in this region.

Seize this opportunity, and secure your foothold in the markets of Asia.

Source: http://www.aircargochina.com/en/home/home.html

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Ocean secure: A new Initiative by DHL to enhance Ocean Freight

DHL, has enhanced its tracking capabilities by launching a new global ocean freight service called Ocean Secure.

This service has been designed for customers who use to ship sensitive or high-value cargo i.e. who specifically belong to sciences & healthcare, technology, automotive and consumer goods industries.

By using Ocean Secure, DHL and customers both can access real time tracking and temperature data at any given point and take remedial action if necessary.

“Ocean Secure is a significant leap forward regarding transparency along the supply chain and a further development of the ocean freight business itself. Knowing the exact whereabouts and condition of their goods will give our customers more planning flexibility,’’ said Andreas Boedeker, global head of ocean freight, DHL Global Forwarding.

An integral part of the DHL Ocean Secure services are in-transit visibility and in-transit control. Customers have access to real time information on the location and condition of their shipment at any given time via an online platform. In case of irregularities, a DHL team will intervene. Intervention points are all over the world, ensuring customers that their goods are taken care of quickly.

The service is globally available and can be individualised by customers, depending on their needs. Customers can choose between container tracking along key milestones, monitoring of any opening of the container, or of temperature and humidity in the container leveraging the DHL SmartSensor GSM technology as well as real-time and in-transit information for all container parameters from remote areas and at sea through satellite transmission.

Source: http://www.cargonewsasia.com/secured/article.aspx?id=7&article=33149

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DHL loose its Banglore city airport license for courier services

Top LOgistics Company DHL’s courier service licence for Bangalore’s Kempegowda International Airport has been suspended following confiscation of a consignment originating from Singapore that allegedly contained gold.

The company has approached the Karnataka High Court against the suspension.

“It is a fact that DHL’s license to operate as a courier service provider from Bangalore has been suspended,” said a source in the know of the development.

According to sources, customs officials at the airport confiscated a consignment ferried by DHL from Singapore to Bangalore as they found gold/gold items in a packet. When contacted, a DHL spokesperson said: “A suspicious consignment was intercepted by customs in Bangalore, which is being investigated.”

The company declined to comment on details such as to whom did the consignment belong and what was the value of the gold/gold items. “As the matter is sub-judice we cannot comment further,” the spokesperson said.

Under current regulations, precious metals, including gold and sliver, can’t be imported through courier-on-board mode.

“Our close working relationship with Customs authorities will help understand and address concerns raised regarding this shipment. We are fully co-operating with the Customs authorities to support the investigation,” the company spokesperson said.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/dhl-in-the-dock-over-smuggling-of-gold-at-city-airport-114032000924_1.html

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Hyderabad airport bags award for cargo operations

The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad has been adjudged the “Best Cargo Airport of The Year” at the recently concluded 40th annual convention of Air Cargo Agents Association of India held at Jaipur.

This is the second year in a row that RGIA has won the award for its cargo operations.

S.G.K. Kishore, Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are delighted to be recognised by a prestigious industry body such as ACAAI which represents India’s Air Cargo Industry."

The airport has emerged as India’s first airport based Free Trade Zone, offering services such as value processing, trading and distribution, duty deferment options and warehousing to optimise their logistics and distribution costs significantly and also enjoy the benefits of tax incentives as offered by the Government of India.

The facilities provided at the FTZ would help logistics companies to warehouse their commodities for both short and long term without impact on import duty.

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/hyderabad-airport-bags-award-for-cargo-operations/article5338627.ece

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