Wexco Group & Wexco NZ, subsidiaries of ECS Group, are partnering with DHL Aviation to provide GSSA services in Australia and New Zealand from 01 December 2023.

Effective from 01 December 2023, all DHL Aviation air cargo sales activities from Australia and New Zealand will be managed by Wexco Group & Wexco NZ, two long-established subsidiaries of ECS Group. The four-year GSSA contracts were concluded at the end of September 2023. Since then, both companies have been preparing the smooth transition of sales operations for a total of 45 weekly flights: 26 flights from Australia and 19 flights from New Zealand.

“The wide variety of perishable commodities alongside regular horse shipments, make DHL Aviation a particularly interesting airline partner and we are therefore all the more delighted to enter into this partnership,” states Wexco General Manager, Richard Valenzuela. “With 550 tons of capacity to be filled each week, often with shipments requiring meticulous planning and expertise, our Wexco teams are able to demonstrate what they do best while playing a key part in DHL Aviation’s regional and international success.”
DHL Aviation connects to many international destinations out of Australia and New Zealand, including Singapore, Seoul, Hong Kong, Bahrain, USA, and various European locations. Its Australian flight schedule offers a Melbourne (MEL) – Singapore (SIN) connection, 5 times per week, Sydney (SYD) – Singapore (SIN) operations, 7 times per week, Melbourne (MEL) – Auckland (AKL) – Christchurch (CHC), 5 times per week, and Sydney (SYD) – Auckland (AKL) – Christchurch (CHC), 6 times per week. The weekly uplift consists of meat, chilled salmon and other perishable produce to Asia, whilst exports to New Zealand include general cargo, e-commerce, regular horse movements, and perishables – predominantly stone fruits.

Out of New Zealand, DHL flies from Christchurch (CHC) via Auckland (AKL) to Sydney (SYD), 6 times per week, and Christchurch (CHC) – Auckland (AKL) – Melbourne (MEL), 5 times per week, connecting with intra-Australian road feeder services where necessary. Main commodities are including fish, dairy, general cargo and horses to Australia, and meat, fruit, and seafood to destinations in Asia.

“DHL operates a fleet of more than 20 Asia Pacific dedicated aircrafts and is committed to ensuring reliable and efficient service performance, in particular when it comes to supporting trans-Tasman trade. We have invested heavily in Oceania over the past five years and partnering with equally driven partners is essential to the success of our challenging growth strategy,” says Nathan Vellasamy, Vice President at DHL Aviation, Air Capacity Sales, Asia Pacific. “Wexco has a proven track-record as a highly professional, digitally advanced and unique GSSA and, as part of ECS Group, is another solid link in our well-functioning international partnership. We look forward to an excellent 2024 and beyond.”

“As Australia’s longest-serving General Sales & Services Agent (GSSA) since 1979, and two decades of existence in New Zealand, I can confidently claim that no one knows our regional air cargo markets better than Wexco does. Thanks to our team of highly skilled professionals, coupled with our customer centric business approach and state-of-the-art digital solutions, we are in an excellent position to provide DHL Aviation with the best possible representation it deserves,” says Cedric Millet, Managing Director of Wexco Group & Wexco NZ and Chief Strategy & Digital Officer of ECS Group.

ECS Group now represents DHL in more than 20 countries across the globe.

As part of the company's transformation process and with a firm commitment to delivering better service levels to its customers, avianca cargo redesigned its GSA network and announced new partnerships that will allow it to continue working closely with specialized teams in different key global markets.

“We reconfigured our sales agents’ network to further strengthen our presence in strategic markets. We relied on collaborations with best-in-class business partners with extensive experience in cargo sales. Combined with avianca cargo's wide network and value proposition, it will contribute to our tireless pursuit of new opportunities and efficient solutions to continue offering an exceptional customer service," said Juan Correa, Vice President of Sales at avianca cargo.

This redesign resulted from a massive bidding process in which the company provided transparent access for different experts who shared their values and desire to boost sales, becoming dynamic and innovative allies that join the current GSAs with which avianca cargo continues to work successfully.

Key GSAs joining this reconfiguration and collaboration include ATC Aviation for Germany, Hit Cargo for Amsterdam and Brussels, Hermes Aviation for the United States, GSA Force for Chile, GOCargo for China and Hong Kong, and ECS for India, Korea, and Japan.

“As ECS Group, we truly enjoy the partnership with Avianca cargo. Their network, consisting of freighters, belly-lift, as well as a large set of quality interline agreements allows us to bring value to our mutual customers. The intense co-operation between Avianca cargo and ECS Group is focused on delivering service to our customers, every day. We are honored to be part of avianca cargo’s success story over the last decades”, commented Robert Van de Weg, CCO of ECS Group.
On the other hand, Timothy Pfeil, President Americas for World Freight Company, the world’s largest GSA portfolio of air cargo capacity, commented: “Hermes Aviation is proud to be chosen by avianca cargo as its partner for expansion in the USA. Our new tandem sales partnership strongly positions the avianca cargo's network to a wider cross section of customers in the United States, and brings together the best aspects of reliability, flexibility, and growth from avianca cargo's new vision, together with the creativity and enthusiasm of Hermes Aviation team to deliver exceptional results.”

Finally, "It is a great honor for GoCargo, a subsidiary of GSA Force Group and Megacap China, to have been selected as representatives of avianca cargo in China and Hong Kong. We work tirelessly to strengthen the connection between the China and Hong Kong markets with Latin America through avianca cargo's robust network, the oldest airline in America. We are committed to facilitating and enhancing trade between these regions, delivering a first-class service that contributes to the continuous growth and development of our region," said Maximiliano Vicente, Vice President of Sales at GoCargo GSA.

In the coming months, the cargo airline will continue to announce new changes on different continents, prioritizing efforts to ensure a coordinated sales approach and expand its global cargo offerings.

WestJet Cargo proudly unveils a strategic arrangement operating on behalf of Awesome Cargo, a rising star in the Mexican air freight industry.

This collaboration represents a groundbreaking venture, connecting Awesome’s Cargo NLU hub with North America.

Kirsten De Bruijn, SVP Cargo of WestJet, enthusiastically declares, "This collaboration brings together two visionary cargo airlines, weaving our strengths into an innovative tapestry of enhanced services for Awesome’s Cargo customers. We're thrilled to embark on this journey with Awesome Cargo, unlocking endless possibilities for both organizations and setting new standards in the industry."

Initiated by a longstanding industry relationship, a testament to their shared vision and past triumphs in collaborative ventures. Awesome Cargo secured its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from Mexico's Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) on October 13 of this year. The airline strategically operates from NLU Airport (Felipe Angeles) in Mexico City. Awesome Cargo aims to become a pivotal partner in the North American and Latin American region through its NLU hub. Less than a month into its inception Awesome Cargo operated 17 missions bringing over 800 tons of humanitarian aid into Acapulco, which demonstrates the DNA of the airline and its commitment to its community. Luis Ramos, CEO of Awesome Cargo, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "This partnership is a significant milestone for Awesome Cargo. By uniting forces with WestJet Cargo, we not only expand our reach into North America but also contribute to the evolution of air cargo transport in the region. Our shared values and commitment to excellence make this collaboration a dynamic force in the industry."

As the inaugural flight approaches on December 4th, symbolizing a new era in air cargo collaboration, we unveil the technical brilliance that defines this strategic partnership. The specific routes that WestJet Cargo will operate on behalf of Awesome Cargo will facilitate connectivity between North America and Mexico via Awesome Cargo's NLU hub allowing feeding options towards Awesome’s Cargo two newly deployed A330s, fostering enhanced connectivity and efficiency in air cargo transportation.

Routes: US - Mexico via Awesome Cargo's NLU hub.

Enhanced connectivity and efficiency for air cargo transport to and from Latin America.

To ensure the safe and secure transportation of various cargo types, the collaboration leverages the combined expertise of WestJet Cargo and Awesome Cargo, establishing new standards for safety in air cargo transport. Technical highlights include: Utilization of reefer trucks for temperature-sensitive cargo; Implementation of temperature-controlled facilities to maintain cargo integrity; Enhanced security measures throughout the transportation process; Connectivity of different types of cargo across networks; Horse transfers between Mexico – the USA and Canada.

Movu Robotics, one of the leader supplier for designing, developing, and implementing innovative and easier warehouse automation solutions, announces the launch of the innovative Movu eligo robot picking arm.

A fully integrated robotic bin picking solution, developed in close collaboration with Righthand Robotics, Movu eligo can automatically piece-pick from a single-SKU source bin and place the individual items into multiple mixed-SKU destination bins. Developed to close the gap between manual and fully automatic pick operation, Movu eligo provides warehouse operators with a huge step forward in order picking.

It also provides a solution for labour shortage issues, with a robot that can work through inconvenient work hours at reduced cost but with higher pick accuracy and quality. Other key benefits include: Reliable and effective robotic picking of up to 600 items per hour at any time; Enabling the picking and placing of a wide variety of SKUs;Providing a unique plug and play sub-system that is integrated with the Movu escala bin shuttle, resulting in an innovative end-to-end automated solution from storage to picking; Easy way to automatically pick SKUs that are suited for robotic picking, store the bins and then finish the order with a manual pick when the time is convenient; Reduced cost per pick, resulting in a strong Return on Investment (ROI).

Provided with seamless integration as a pick station option for the Movu escala bin shuttle, the Movu eligo combines advanced software with intelligent grippers and machine vision to ensure reliable throughput. Gently grasping an item from a bin retrieved from the escala while picking, the robot then places the item in a delivery bin. Providing feedback on grasp success, the intelligent grippers ensure an accuracy of 100%. In addition to a low gripping failure rate the Movu eligo reduces the number of manual ‘touches’ required for order fulfilment or replenishment and can reach a pick success rate greater than 99%.

Able to achieve 600 picks per hour, depending on the specific implementation, the robot can pick goods up to 2 kg and with dimensions of 1 cm minimum to a maximum of 30 cm. Being completely product agnostic gives it the flexibility to handle changing product mixes.

The robot arm stands 2.2 metres high and has an operating radius of 1.3 metres. A safety interface makes robotic work cells safe when human interaction is required.

Driven by software, the system leverages machine learning to continuously improve picking. Movu eligo runs on a plug-and-play Application Programming Interface (API) which integrates directly with the Movu escala bin storage solution. This user-friendly complete solution allows the seamless integration of robotic and manual picking operation for maximum efficiency. Movu escala interacts with overlying Warehouse Management Software (WMS), Warehouse Control Software (WCS) and Warehouse Execution Software (WES) as needed to mission the piece picking operations. By planning tasks for the robot such as robot arm movements around the source and destination bin exchange phases, the software optimises pick cycle times to maximise throughput.

Real-time operational data is presented to staff stationed away from the active systems to resolve exceptions quickly and efficiently. Performance dashboards enable warehouse operations to visualise current and historical data.

Available with full 24/7 support, the Movu eligo allows customers, particularly those involved in pharmaceuticals, apparel, e-commerce, manufacturing and kitting, to realise the benefits of reliable robotic piece-picking without worrying about integrating all the elements.

Stefan Pieters, CEO of Movu Robotics, commented: “Movu eligo is the next level for Movu Robotics to offer innovative and easier Automation solutions to our customer. It is a data-driven, intelligent piece picking platform unlike any other. Automating the conventionally manual operation or piece picking results in a lower cost per pick, leading to a strong return on investment. Integrated seamlessly as a work station for the Movu escala bin storage system, eligo offers a flexible and scalable automation solution for predictable and accurate order fulfilment, adding value for warehouses pursuing improvements in efficiency, productivity and customer service levels.”

The world’s leading air cargo carrier, announced its latest product, Drive.

Designed to transport various types of automobiles by air, Drive caters to the unique requirements of each vehicle - be it regular cars, vintage cars, premium or luxury models, new cars and sports cars. It underscores the carrier’s commitment to delivering meticulous solutions for both personal and commercial vehicles.

Miguel Rodriguez Moreno, Head of Cargo Products said, "Drive exemplifies our unwavering commitment to precision and customer centricity. With this product, we combine technical proficiency, experienced teams and charter solutions to offer a tailored experience for the transportation of automobiles. We take pride in our expert and dedicated teams who have been involved in transporting vehicles for several years including vehicles for many global racing events. Our rigorous and meticulously designed training ensures that our dedicated staff follow handling protocols diligently at every stage of the journey."

Drive offers customers the ability to move different types of high value vehicles with engine and wheels in a safe and efficient manner, on the airline’s freighters and passenger flights to more than 160 belly-hold and over 70 freighter destinations as well as to those destinations that are not part of its scheduled services. The Drive product is equipped to offer full or part-charters catering to the airline customers’ requests, and ensuring that even the most unique and exclusive automobiles are transported with the utmost care.

The airline’s specialist teams from Special Loads, Dangerous Goods, Operations, Charters and its Loadmasters collaborate to offer the optimal loadability and cost-effective solutions for all vehicles being transported. Safety is paramount and the teams take extreme caution ensuring all safety measures are followed, and vehicles are tied down and secured properly before being flown on the flight. The vehicles are monitored throughout the entire journey by the airline’s operational experts.

The airline has been transporting cars for several years. In 2022, Qatar Airways Cargo transported over 1400 vehicles, asserting its proven capability and expertise in handling different segments of vehicles. The introduction of Drive showcases Qatar Airways Cargo's position as a global leader in air cargo transportation, delivering solutions that meet the unique demands of the market and its discerning customers.

Challenge Group, an international air cargo conglomerate offering tailored end-to-end logistics solutions for complex verticals, is pleased to announce the appointment of David Canavan as Chief Operating Officer (COO).

In his new role, Canavan will be responsible for leading, planning, directing, coordinating, aligning and overseeing all Group Operations, bringing his extensive experience and expertise to drive operational excellence and contribute to the company's overall expansion plan and fleet growth.

Canavan comes to Challenge Group with a proven track record of more than 30 years’ international experience in strategic planning, operational efficiency, supply chain management and logistics, having previously led various multinational teams and business units in senior management roles both in Europe and Asia at FedEx.

"We are thrilled to welcome David to our Executive Team," said Yossi Shoukroun, CEO of the Challenge Group. "His wealth of experience and demonstrated leadership will be instrumental in propelling Challenge Group to new heights. We are confident that he will play a key role in developing and implementing efficient and cost-effective operational processes to meet the current and future growing business needs of the Group to better serve our customers and partners."

From 1 January 2024, train traffic in the Antwerp port area will be organised differently.

For Single Wagon Load, there will be a new operational model that is neutral and usable by all interested parties. In order to bundle this traffic, Railport launched a tendering process, and the winners are now known. This is a first result of the rail vision for the port and should lead to a more efficient and better offering.

Efficiently organising what is known as the first mile and last mile traffic in the port area is a very difficult exercise. First of all, rail traffic is expected to grow. In addition, there are many different rail operators, each with its own operational model. There is also currently no collaboration between these companies. All that rail traffic has to go over the limited available rail infrastructure with some bottlenecks, such as the bridges over the locks.

The deliveries of railcars are many and fragmented. This dramatically increases costs and has a negative impact on the environment.

Significant efficiency and sustainability gains can be achieved by better coordinating railcar deliveries and collections and by bundling the delivery and collection within the port area. As such, longer trains can be used instead of many short trains.

Nils van Vliet, CEO Railport: Although this was not an easy exercise, we are extremely happy with the result and with the huge support and backing from the industry and freight payers. Without their support we would not have succeeded. The project shows that together we can effectively change things by joining forces. Moreover, the project does not stop here. Railport will continue to monitor quality, organise area meetings to increase efficiency and take the necessary initiatives to accelerate the digitalisation exercise that has already started. We look to the future with hope.

In order to achieve this, Railport has divided the port into zones based on consolidated volumes and operational optimisation. On that basis, Railport has organised a tender for the first and last mile in each zone. It received a mandate for this from freight payers in these zones.

In doing so, Railport is aiming to make first-mile and last-mile traffic more accessible to both rail operators and freight payers. The model counters fragmentation and increases transparency as to their own goods.

After evaluating the bids received, the results of the tendering are known: Area 1 – Kanaaldokken: Lineas; Area 2 – Buitenschoor: Lineas; Area 3 – Bevrijdingsdok: Railtraxx; Area 4 – Oorderen : DB Cargo; Area 5 – Old Port: individual solution tailored to each freight payer; Area 6 – Oosterweel: Lineas; Area 7 – Deep sea: Railtraxx; Area 8 – WLH: Railtraxx; Area 9 – Zwijndrecht: Railtraxx

The participating freight payers can now enter into a first and last mile agreement with the selected railway operators.

The selected operators will offer their services in a neutral manner, to all interested parties. This means that even freight payers who had not (yet) submitted their volume in the tendering process can still join the project and make use of the services offered.

This regulation will take effect on 1 January 2024.

Rolls-Royce (LSE: RR., ADR: RYCEY) today announces it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a comprehensive TotalCare service agreement with Ethiopian Airlines for 22 Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84 engines.

The Trent XWB-84 exclusively powers the Airbus A350-900 aircraft.

TotalCare is designed to provide operational certainty for customers by transferring time on wing and maintenance cost risk back to Rolls-Royce. This industry-leading premium service is supported by data delivered through the Rolls-Royce advanced engine health monitoring system, which helps provide customers with increased operational availability, reliability and efficiency.

Ethiopian Airlines became Africa’s first A350 operator in 2016, and has been a customer of Rolls-Royce for many years. This order will complement the airline’s existing fleet of 40 Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84 engine. Rolls-Royce also powers the airline’s fleet of 10 Boeing 787s with their Trent 1000 engine.

Rolls-Royce congratulates Ethiopian Airlines on their continued route development and looks forward to the inaugural flight from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to London Gatwick, UK, later this month using their Trent XWB powered A350 aircraft.

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Mr. Mesfin Tasew, said: “We are excited to place this commitment for 11 Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84 powered Airbus A350-900 aircraft, which will be supported by a comprehensive Rolls-Royce TotalCare services agreement. We are keen to expand our fleet size, acquiring the latest technology aircraft to offer a convenient and memorable onboard experience to our esteemed passengers.”

Rob Watson, President – Civil Aerospace Rolls-Royce plc, said: “Today’s announcement marks an exciting day for Ethiopian Airlines and Rolls-Royce. It is proof that the Trent XWB-84 continues to perform and deliver for our customers. It is the perfect engine platform to support Ethiopian Airlines’ growth ambitions as a leading airline in Africa.
“We have enjoyed a relationship with Ethiopian Airlines for many years and we would like to thank them for yet again putting their trust in the Trent XWB and Rolls-Royce. We look forward to supporting them with their global route development.”

As versatile as it is reliable, the Trent XWB has already shown it is equally efficient at powering short-haul or long-haul flights, which makes it the ideal solution for passenger and freighter operators with a varied network. As the world’s most efficient large aero engine in service, the Trent XWB will also help fast track Ethiopian Airlines’ sustainability journey.

With a 15 per cent fuel consumption advantage over the first generation of Trent engine, the Trent XWB goes further on less fuel, and offers leading performance and noise levels. It is also certified to operate on a 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blend today and has been proven to be compatible with 100% SAF for the future.