Qatar Airways Cargo and Qatar Development Bank (QDB) have made significant progress on a joint initiative to support local perfume manufacturers in the State of Qatar.

In 2020, the cargo carrier and QDB introduced discounted rates for local Qatari perfume manufacturers to export to international markets. The initiative aimed to boost exports and sales of locally manufactured perfumes to international markets and provide opportunities for Qatari exporters to expand their activities through business to consumer channels. The program has now been broadened to provide local manufacturers with better access, through the airline’s approved network of courier companies, to Qatar Airways’ extensive global network and modern fleet to transport their products.

Qatar Airways Cargo will also continue to provide local manufacturers with required certification by offering the Dangerous Goods Training programme in compliance with the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, which have been adopted by QCAA; the aim is to equip companies with specialised knowledge for shippers to comply with the requirements for correct classification, declaration, documentation, packaging, labelling and marking of dangerous goods in line with international standards. This certification is a pre-requisite imposed on all local manufacturers to ensure they are prepared for the safe carriage of perfumes which are classified as dangerous goods shipped by air.

Mr. Guillaume Halleux, Qatar Airways Chief Officer Cargo said: “We are happy to support local perfume exporters who can benefit from our state-of-the-art fleet and extensive network. Qatar perfume manufacturers offer high-quality and unique fragrances, and this partnership will help them expand their business into new markets.”“The initiative to support local manufacturers has so far helped several perfume companies to grow their business, thus boosting their exports. With the latest development in the programme, we are hoping that even more businesses will benefit from this partnership between Qatar Airways Cargo and QDB.”

Ms. Hala Ali Al Misnad, Manager of QDB’s Export Development, stressed the importance of this initiative, particularly in terms of streamlining the classification of perfumes and the ensuing reduction in total shipping costs. “QDB is pleased to expand the scope of this significant initiative in partnership with Qatar Airways Cargo. As part of QDB’s commitment to supporting Qatari exporters, the initiative will offer perfume manufacturers an additional way to tap new markets and compete globally, offering them access to training courses in line with international standards and reduced shipping costs, thus raising their efficiency and export capabilities. The partnership falls in line with our current initiatives to empower SMEs and boost their export competitiveness,” Ms. Misnad said.

As part of Mother's Day celebrations, LATAM Cargo, Kuehne+Nagel and Elite Flower joined forces to purchase more than 25,000 liters of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The amount purchased would reduce the equivalent of the total emissions generated by a cargo flight on the Bogota-Miami route, carrying a large shipment of flowers, mainly roses.

The SAF acquired is a type of fuel that comes from alternative raw materials such as waste, fats and oils, among others, to produce a low-CO2 fuel. The SAFis then blended with conventional fuel.

In this case, the sustainable aviation fuel purchased was produced from used cooking oil, which after being treated is blended with traditional jet fuel. Considering that SAF has an attributed CO2 reduction factor of about 80% in its life cycle compared to the conventional fuel, the companies purchased the necessary quantity of SAF to achieve the total emissions reduction on the announced route.

"This initiative marks yet another milestone for the LATAM Group in our efforts against climate change. We want to make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of the region, and to this end, among other things, we have committed to be carbon neutral by 2050. This purchase is in line with this objective as it allows us to continue moving forward with our SAF agenda. It also reflects the importance of collaboration throughout the logistics chain in order to achieve major changes. We hope that examples like this help capitalize on South America's potential for SAF generation,” says Andrés Bianchi, CEO of LATAM Cargo.

In the case of the global logistics company, Kuehne+Nagel, this represented a milestone in its goal to develop tangible solutions for all types of customers and industries, with the aim of reducing CO2 emissions in supply chains and their environmental impact. In this line, Ingo Goldhammer, President of Kuehne+Nagel for South and Central America, said: "There is no doubt that climate change is one of the greatest challenges we face. At Kuehne+Nagel we understand this and, as an industry, we need to accelerate the path to reducing global warming. Our alliance with Elite Flower and LATAM Cargo, reflects that collaboration between companies is the best way to carry out concrete actions, with each company contributing its experience and expertise to work under a common goal that benefits us all".

Galo Sanchez, Executive Vice President, Elite Group, a recognized company in the floral world, added: "Sustainability is at the core of our values at Elite Group and in each part of our business units. Thus, we understand the urgency of addressing the environmental challenges of flower’s transportation by air freight from Colombia and Ecuador to the United States, Canada and parts of Europe. Our relentless pursuit to reduce emissions continues as we work toward our net zero goal. By investing directly in SAF, we are taking a significant step toward reducing our emissions and contributing to a better future for the environment. This initiative is in line with our broader sustainability strategy, where we are exploring innovative solutions to achieve a more sustainable supply chain.”

According to IATA, the use of SAF can currently make a big difference in the decarbonization of the aviation industry. However, the amount of SAF available worldwide is limited, mainly due to the lack of conditions necessary for its research, development and production.

South America has great potential to produce SAF in terms of natural resources and expertise. Thus, it is capable of making a very significant contribution to climate action. For this reason, collaborative work between the different actors involved in the industry is necessary to promote the production of SAF in the region.

In 2021, the LATAM Group launched its renewed sustainability strategy in which it set challenging goals: for SAF to represent 5% of all fuel consumption in its operations by 2030; to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050; to eliminate single-use plastics by 2023; and to become a zero-waste-to-landfill group by 2027.

For its part, Kuehne+Nagel communicated in March its new business strategy for the next four years and, in order to meet its goal, it established the following priority pillars: Kuehne+Nagel Experience, Digital Ecosystem, Market Potential and Living ESG. The latter with a focus on developing concrete actions that contribute to reducing environmental impact, along with working at a social level with the communities with the support of a consolidated governance structure. In its commitment to decarbonize the industry, the company has reached important agreements at a global level to be able to offer SAF in the 100 countries where it operates.

In addition to this, Kuehne+Nagel provides platforms to its clients such as myKN and SeaExplorer, capable of providing visibility on the carbon emissions of operations as well as providing reporting that seeks to measure, avoid and reduce the carbon footprint around logistics processes.

Strike Aviation is gaining momentum in Costa Rica as it begins to service Air Canada cargo flights, thus marking a significant development in the company's presence in the Central American market.

For the first time in Air Canada's history, the airline has decided to operate a cargo aircraft to and from San Jose, Costa Rica.

The inaugural Air Canada cargo flight to San Jose airport took place on May 19th. "We are delighted to strengthen our position in Latin America - one of our most important business centers. We are also pleased that our successful activities in this region have allowed Air Canada to recognize the potential of this cargo route," points Frank Ziesemer, the CEO of Strike Aviation Group.

Since 2018, Strike Aviation has been the official GSSA (General Sales & Service Agent) of Air Canada. Oliver Spors, Managing Director of Central America & Panama at Strike, added: "We are proud to have acquired this freighter for the San Jose to Toronto route and to spearhead the success of the Air Canada Cargo Team in Central America. We attribute this accomplishment to our local Strike Aviation Cargo Team and the invaluable support from our clients. We hope to add more freighters in the upcoming months to meet the demands of the local market."

Previously, Strike Aviation performed cargo operations on regular Air Canada passenger flights, with the airline successfully operating passenger flights to and from Costa Rica using B787-800 aircraft. However, with the decision to initiate cargo flights, Air Canada will now employ its B767-300 freighter. This aircraft has a payload capacity of 55 tons and will operate twice a week from the Central American Pineapple and Medical Devices HUB in Costa Rica to Canada and other destinations.
Strike Aviation has been operating in Central America since 2016.

And the winners are in, and in some cases, it was not even close as you, Freightweek readers and the industry at large, determined which companies you felt had met word with action in their pledge towards more a sustainable logistics world.

Taking place at the Sheraton Istanbul Atakoy and running alongside the forwarding network FOR’s seventh annual global meeting, the sold-out Freightweek Sustainability Awards, now in their second year, welcomed a host of industry veterans as the winners, whittled down from 280 nominations to a shortlist of 100 companies across 16 different categories were announced.

Chief executive officer of Freightweek and the brains behind the Freightweek Sustainability Awards (FSA) FSA director Richard Broom says: “The FSA awards honours the entire global logistics industry across 16 major categories. It is also a pleasure to be an important part of the FOR Logistics Network Conference 2023, and I’d like to thank the organisers for a great event held in the lovely city of Istanbul, Turkiye.”

First up on the night to hear their name read out was Ethiopian Airlines Cargo, which nabbed the regional award for most Sustainable Cargo Airline of the Year, Africa. As with all the award winners, Ethiopian was fighting among a strong field but the efforts it has taken seemingly reached out to voters.

The heavily attended Awards’ ceremony welcomed forwarders from across the planet alongside the winners themselves, with Broom describing it as having been a “privilege” to be involved with these companies that are really show the logistics world how to act when it comes to creating more sustainable supply chains.

“It is a privilege to be involved in such an important event that truly recognises the importance of Sustainability,” Broom tells the magazine he founded. “Freightweek has championed Sustainability within the Logistics Industry for many years. There is now no longer an option regarding Sustainability. Either companies absolutely embrace Sustainability or face loss of business, and eventual extinction.”

Bagging the gong for Sustainable Cargo Airline of the Year, Asia, was Cathay Pacific Cargo. Collecting the award on behalf of the Hong Kong-based carrier was area cargo manager for Germany, Israel, Switzerland, Scandinavia, and Eastern Europe, Michael Spiegel, who tells Freightweek “it was a real pleasure to be in attendance”. Thanking those that voted for Cathay Spiegel says the show was a success. In Europe, Turkish Cargo picked up the regional winner award while Etihad Cargo beat off strong competition to win for the Middle East. In the Americas, it was United Airlines Cargo that won. United’s strategic partner manager and Eco-Skies ambassador Courtney Buckwalter picked up the award on behalf of the carrier.

“At United we believe the industry needs to be bolder when it comes to scaling SAF and climate change and we’re building on that approach by investing in both companies that can capture CO2 and others that can turn it into fuel,” Buckwalter tells Freightweek when asked why she thought United won. “There’s no question that this carbon utilisation is in its infancy today, but as a leader in sustainable flying we must help build the foundation to deploy this technology of the future as expediently as possible.”

Crowned Sustainable GSSA of the Year 2023 was Strike Aviation Group. And like most of the other categories it was a close-run win, Strike fending off last year’s winner ECS Group. Strike’s COO Europe, Julia Knecht-Ostwaldt, tells Freightweek she is proud that the company she works for has been recognised for “leading the way in sustainability”. Strike’s success stems from a range of innovative initiatives such as its “Plant for the Plant” programme and Job Ebike.

“It is an honour to be recognised with an industry award for our sustainability work, which is a testament to our dedication and hard work towards reducing our carbon footprint,” continues Knecht-Ostwaldt. “We were the first Cargo GSSA to participate in the TIACA Blue Sky program, which promotes the use of sustainable aviation fuels and other environmentally friendly practices in air cargo operations. By participating in this program, we are taking a proactive approach to reducing our carbon footprint and promoting sustainability in the air cargo industry.

“At Strike Aviation Group, we believe that sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand. Our commitment to sustainability is making a positive impact on the environment, and we hope to set an example for others to follow. Together, we can work towards a more sustainable future.”


Full list of winners:
Cargo Airline of the year 2023
Winner: Qatar Airways Cargo

Sustainable Cargo Airline of the year award 2023 - AFRICA
Winner: Ethiopian Airlines Cargo

Sustainable Cargo Airline of the year award 2023 - AMERICAS
Winner: United Airlines Cargo

Sustainable Cargo Airline of the year award 2023 - ASIA
Winner: Cathay Pacific Cargo

Sustainable Cargo Airline of the year award 2023 - EUROPE
Winner: Turkish Cargo

Sustainable Cargo Airline of the year award 2023 - MIDDLE EAST
Winner: Etihad Cargo

Sustainable Cargo Airport of the year award 2023
Winner: Miami International Airport

Sustainable Cargo Forwarder of the year award 2023
Winner: Kuehne + Nagel

Sustainable Cargo GSSA of the year award 2023
Winner: Strike Aviation Group

Sustainable Port of the year 2023
Winner: Port of Jebel Ali

Sustainable Cargo Handling Agent of the year award 2023
Winner: Challenge Handling

Sustainable Cargo ULD Provider 2023
Winner: Unilode Aviation Solutions

Sustainable Cargo Technology of the year award 2023
Winner: Aerotuf

Sustainable 3PL award 2023
Winner: Crane Worldwide Logistics

Sustainable Cargo Drone Technology award 2023
Winner: Dronamics

Sustainable Cargo Airline of the year award 2023
Winner: Ethiopian Airlines Cargo

Sustainable Cargo Warehouse Operator of the year award 2023
Winner: Asia Airfreight Terminal

CSX Corporation (NASDAQ: CSX) today announced that it has reached a tentative agreement with the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division CSRA (SMART-TD CSRA) to provide paid sick leave benefits.

SMART-TD CSRA represents trainmen, conductors and yardmen on territories of the former A&WP, WSSB, L&N, NC&STL and SCL railroads.

The SMART-TD CSRA agreement, which is pending ratification by union members, marks the 10th such agreement CSX has reached with its union-represented employees since February. A majority of the company’s unionized workers now have paid sick leave benefits.

“The constructive cooperation that has enabled this initiative to move forward is a credit to the willingness of our union organizations to engage with CSX and recognize the sincere effort we are making to improve the work experience for our front-line employees,” said Joe Hinrichs, CSX president and chief executive officer. “We will continue to work toward additional agreements as we listen to our employees and collaborate on solutions that benefit everyone who wants to see our railroad grow.”

FedEx remains focused on providing world class service to our customers.

While strike authorization votes are a common tactic for labor organizations during Railway Labor Act negotiations, strikes are only possible with the express permission of the National Mediation Board. They can only occur after the parties have passed through multiple legally mandated steps, and only when other safeguards, such as Presidential or Congressional intervention, do not occur. At this time, we are still in productive negotiations with our pilots under the supervision of a government-appointed mediator and will return to the bargaining table next week.

ALPA’s announcement is consistent with the recently announced authorization votes from other represented carriers who continue to bargain without any interruption to their operations. FedEx is focused on reaching a comprehensive agreement and remains committed to bargaining in good faith with our pilots to achieve an agreement that is fair to them, our other team members, and all other FedEx stakeholders. The results of ALPA’s strike authorization has no impact on our service as we continue delivering for our customers around the world.

Air Canada and Air Canada Cargo yesterday operated its first commercial flight into Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, with its Boeing 767 freighter.

The service will be operated once per week.

“We are excited to add yet another destination to our expanding freighter network. This new service builds upon our capabilities to serve the island through Air Canada’s passenger network, providing consistent year-round cargo capacity for our key customers in the region,” said Jon Turner, Vice President, Cargo at Air Canada.

"We are pleased to welcome the first freighter flight from Air Canada Cargo. As winners of the Airports Council's International Airport Service Quality Awards for seven consecutive years, we are confident that this will contribute to the excellence and diversification of our cargo operations," affirmed Giovanni Rainieri, director of Airside Operations at Punta Cana International Airport.

Air Canada Cargo’s flight to Punta Cana is the latest addition to its worldwide freighter network, following recently launched freighter services to San José, Basel, Liege, Dallas, Atlanta and Bogota.

Three Crowley-managed tankers have been selected by the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) to serve in its Tanker Security Program.

The program ensures a commercial fleet can readily transport liquid fuel supplies in times of need for the U.S. Department of Defense.

The selected medium-range tankers are part of a joint venture between Crowley and Stena Bulk USA awarded TSP participation. The vessels — Stena Immaculate, Stena Imperative and Stena Impeccable – will be reflagged as U.S. registered vessels with U.S. crews. The tankers will continue international commercial operations but can be chartered on a short-term basis to serve the U.S. government’s operations.

Three Crowley-managed tankers have been selected by the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) to serve in its Tanker Security Program. The program ensures a commercial fleet can readily transport liquid fuel supplies in times of need for the U.S. Department of Defense.

The selected medium-range tankers are part of a joint venture between Crowley and Stena Bulk USA awarded TSP participation. The vessels — Stena Immaculate, Stena Imperative and Stena Impeccable – will be reflagged as U.S. registered vessels with U.S. crews. The tankers will continue international commercial operations but can be chartered on a short-term basis to serve the U.S. government’s operations.

“Crowley appreciates the U.S. government and military’s continued trust in our capabilities to serve the nation’s needs. Crowley’s team with Stena Bulk offers government customers a deep, full suite of capabilities to maintain an efficient, dependable supply chain with management that adds value by being able to meet needs quickly and innovatively,” said Gavin Hughes, vice president, Crowley Government Solutions, the company’s business unit for government services.
A federal law requires the U.S. Department of Transportation, which includes MARAD, work with the Defense Department to establish a fleet of active, commercially viable, militarily useful, and privately-owned product tank vessels to meet national defense and other security requirements. The initial fleet size is 10, and companies receive a stipend for each ship enrolled in support of the nation’s defense forces.

Crowley and Stena Bulk partnered before to serve the energy needs of the government and military. For example, Crowley won the Military Sealift Command charter contract in 2022 to run the Stena Polaris, an Ice Class tanker serving bulk fuel needs of the U.S. Department of Defense in the Arctic and Antarctic regions as well as transporting fuel in the Mediterranean Sea region.