On Air with Air Cargo Next

Joining us today start-up CLIVE Data Services’ Managing Director Niall van de Wouw speaks on his company’s launch of a new analysis dubbed “the dynamic load factor,” which is aimed at measuring cargo-load factors from a volumetric, rather than weight-based, approach.

In this episode of On Air with Air Cargo World, Southern California-based data integration startup Komodal’s co-founder Julia Pasternack discusses the company’s work to digitalize and improve transparency across multi-modal logistics operations. The startup has already done work to help alleviate congestion for stakeholders operating out of the Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors and is now focusing on expanding and applying its services for the airfreight industry.

With the holiday season well underway, air cargo and logistics are seeing their seasonal boost in volumes when consumer buying habits pick up for the holidays. To avoid any logistical hiccups, integrators have prepared their infrastructure, networks and capacity to meet the forecasted record volumes expected this shorter holiday season.  In this episode of On Air with Air Cargo World, DHL Express U.S. CEO Greg Hewitt shares the integrator’s strategy to meet the seasonal demand, as well as details on volumes it has moved this holiday period thus far. DHL Express anticipates it will see an increase of 15% in volumes for holiday shipments driven predominantly by e-commerce from just before Thanksgiving through to the New Year, compared to the same period last year. Top trade lanes for these volumes include routes to and from the U.S. to China, Hong Kong, Italy, the U.K., Mexico and Australia. 

As the current standing of Brexit hangs in limbo until Jan. 31, 2020, with little light likely to be shed on the situation until the United Kingdom’s general election takes place on Dec. 12, freight forwarders are already at work establishing contingency plans for a worst-case scenario during this murky period.In this episode of On Air with Air Cargo World, we spoke with Robert Keen, British International Freight Association director general, regarding what regulatory uncertainty stemming from Brexit means for freight forwarders – namely, a potential skilled labor shortage and increased costs to customers.  

More year-over-year declines in airfreight traffic and cargo handles for October served to cap off a difficult 2019 for global logistics. However, plenty of opportunities are still available for those operators that can pinpoint creative solutions to recent challenges. In this episode of On Air with Air Cargo World, we spoke with Alexandra Kleinschmidt, Vice President, Customs & Trade Services at Crane Worldwide Logistics regarding the challenges facing global trade in the current market. Alongside her team at Crane Worldwide, Kleinschmidt works to help companies navigate shifting customs landscapes and address short-term trade concerns while planning for the future. 

Zhengzhou Airport (CGO), located in China’s central Henan province, is working to become a Chinese cargo hub with the construction of its Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone (ZAEZ). The airport, which already hosts flights from international carriers such as Cargolux and AirBridgeCargo, has made several moves over the past year to grow its business with the acquisition of fifth freedom rights and signing of agreements with Hungary’s Budapest Airport (BUD) and the Thai government.Today we hear from Celine Hourcade on her consultancy work with Zhengzhou Airport regarding the Economic Zone’s development. At the end of October, she and ten other experts visited the project to advise on its construction and accreditation processes as the airport seeks to boost volumes through attracting carriers, logistics providers and other business, including fintech and sustainable fuel.

As the saga of developing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, or drone) to carry goods and shipments continues, some regions are emerging as forerunners in the development, adoption and regulation of drones. While drone development is still in its early stages, the disruptive technology presents stakeholders in air cargo an opportunity to fill gaps in supply chains and access new markets.  In this episode of On Air with Air Cargo World, we sit down with Cathy Roberson, Cargo Facts Consulting senior consultant and Air Cargo World columnist, to discuss trends and challenges in the application of drones across logistics chains, as well as the position various countries are taking on drone development.  

Mercury Air Cargo began implementing cargo communication and payment platform CargoSprint’s SprintPass at its Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) facilities at the beginning of this month. The move is intended to decrease waiting times for freight forwarders picking up import shipments and support the flow of cargo through facilities as LAX faces continued congestion issues. In this episode of On Air with Air Cargo World, we sit down with John Peery, President & COO, Mercury Air Cargo, to discuss how the handler is working with CargoSprint CEO Joshua Wolf to digitalize Mercury Air Cargo’s ops in an effort to combat congestion at LAX. The implementation efforts come amid the airport’s recent decision to delay construction of its new Century Cargo Complex terminal by two years. 

The real estate arm of U.S.-based Aviation Facilities Company Management (AFCO) secured upwards of $36 million in financing for a new air cargo facility at Baltimore International Airport (BWI). The entire project will include construction of a 200,000-square-foot air cargo facility and a 450,000-square-foot aircraft parking apron, both set to be completed this month. In this inaugural episode of On Air with Air Cargo World, we sit down with Chuck Stipancic, President & CEO, AFCO, to discuss some of the key trends in the development of air cargo facilities in North America that aim to meet future demand in e-commerce and emerging markets.