August 19, 2014: Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates, is set to further strengthen trade lanes between Switzerland and its worldwide network with the introduction of a weekly freighter service from Basel to Dubai starting 21st September 2014.

The new freighter flight will supplement the existing belly-hold cargo capacity in the Swiss market provided on Emirates' double-daily passenger services to Zurich as well as on the daily Geneva flights. Emirates SkyCargo currently offers more than 380 tons of capacity each week on its routes into Switzerland.

Basel, the centre of the Swiss pharmaceutical and chemical industry will become the 40th European destination to join the Emirates SkyCargo network, giving a further boost to bilateral trade links already in place between the UAE and the region.

Emirates SkyCargo will use a Boeing 777 freighter aircraft on the Basel-Dubai route, which is capable of carrying over 100 tons of cargo, and with its main deck cargo door being one of the widest of any aircraft, enabling it to uplift outsized cargo and carry larger consignments. Popular commodities and goods into and from the region are expected to be pharmaceuticals, chemicals, spare parts and medical devices.

"Europe is key growth region for Emirates SkyCargo and the new scheduled freighter service will create more trade opportunities for importers and exporters across the local markets and across our worldwide network. We are offering advanced Cool Chain and Priority products for goods under temperature requirement, oversize cargo and highly secured protect solutions for any valuable or vulnerable items. The economic region of Basel has a strong pharmaceutical and chemical industry and Emirates is offering seamless trade connections and an efficient hub with multiple flights for time and temperature sensitive freight", says Hiran Perera, Emirates Senior Vice President Cargo Planning and Freighters.

"Thanks to its geographic position in the center of Europe, a catchment area with numerous manufacturing locations of global companies as well as its efficient new Cargo Terminal, the EuroAirport is an important European air cargo gateway", he added.

"We are delighted about Emirates' decision to operate out of our airport," commented Juerg Raemi, Director EuroAirport. "This confirms the attractiveness of our unique geographical position on the borders of France, Switzerland and Germany, and near to Basel, home of many world-renowned pharmaceutical companies. In particular, the decision emphasizes the importance of our new Cargo Terminal, due to open at the beginning of 2015, which offers state-of-the-art, temperature-controlled infrastructure perfectly in line with the needs of local industry and logistics companies as well as optimal freight processing."

PRESS RELEASE

August 15, 2014: As one of the most prominent cargo airline for network growth, Turkish Cargo serves to 32 destinations throughout Far East.

The company continues its expansion plans for Far East with the launch of weekly A330 freighter services from Hyderabad on 28th August 2014, which marks to Turkish Airlines' first presence in the concerning destination and also to the 17th dedicated freighter service in the region.

Turkish Cargo provides the most efficient connections to the leading production and commercial centers in all over the World. It has a network that consists of more than 260 destinations in 107 countries including 49 freighter destinations, currently served by its 9 freighters and 254 passenger airplanes.

While opening its customer's business to the World, Turkish Cargo always meets their needs with its devotedness to providing high-quality services in every step of the shipping process.

Turkish Airlines, which has operated its first international air cargo shipment in 1936, is a 4-star airline company operating flights to more than 260 destinations around the world by its fleet comprising of 263 aircraft (airliners and freighters) at the present.

The Company, which has been maintaining its cargo services and operations under the sub-brand Turkish Cargo since the beginning of the 2000s, stands as the internationally fastest-growing brand offering air cargo service to the highest number of countries around the world.

PRESS RELEASE

August 18, 2014: AAR's Nordisk Aviation Products announced today it has started delivery of 400 Nordisk AluLite AKE air cargo containers to Korean Air. The Nordisk AluLite AKE weighs 65 kg and is the lightest-weight full-aluminium airfreight LD3 container in the industry.

"Korean Air continues to favour aluminium because of its simplicity in maintenance and greater recycling benefits. With the Nordisk AluLite, Korean Air also gets the lightest full aluminium AKE container available," says Boon Yang Sim, Nordisk's Vice President of Sales and Business Development, Asia Pacific and the People's Republic of China."Nordisk's relationship with Korean Air began in 1979 and has leveraged Nordisk's development of lighter containers for the past 35 years without compromising durability and quality."

Nordisk is the leading supplier of air cargo containers and pallets in the industry. With more than 700,000 ULDs sold over 40 years, Nordisk ULDs are used by virtually every airline operating wide-body aircraft.

AAR (NYSE: AIR), with its Telair and Nordisk subsidiaries, offers a full line of main-deck and lower-deck cargo systems and a variety of baggage handling and freight solutions that enable increased payload and fuel savings. From the Nordisk Ultralite®, the lightest-weight container in the industry, to a patented Sliding Carpet® baggage loading system to specialized pallets, containers and air mobile shelters, AAR offers products with excellent strength-to-weight performance, high reliability and low total cost of ownership, backed by a global aftermarket support network.

A subsidiary of aviation industry leader AAR CORP., Nordisk Aviation Products designs, manufactures and sells air cargo containers and pallets, also known as Unit Load Devices (ULD) to the global commercial aviation industry. Nordisk, established in 1970, has production facilities in Norway, China and the United States and has spare parts warehousing and sales offices across Europe, Asia, and the United States. Nordisk containers and pallets are flown by nearly every airline operating wide-bodied aircraft in the world, enabling their valuable cargo and baggage to be transported safely and securely.

PRESS RELEASE

August 12, 2014:  CargoSphere, the leading, cloud-based global rate management solution and confidential Rate Mesh for the ocean and air transportation and logistics industries, today announces SEKO Logistics, a global supply chain and logistics management company, has completed implementation of CargoSphere's contract and rate management system and Rate Mesh.

Over 100 SEKO personnel in Asia, U.S., Europe and Latin America are using the CargoSphere system for rate searches, quoting, self-publishing of FMC (Federal Maritime Commission) tariffs and management reporting. In addition, SEKO receives ocean rates from numerous neutral NVOCCs (non-vessel operating common carriers) over CargoSphere's secure and confidential Rate Mesh network.

Prior to CargoSphere, SEKO emailed tariff filings to their outsourced FMC tariff-filing vendor who in time responded with TLI (tariff line item) numbers required for shipment documentation processing. Today, self-filing of FMC tariffs is expediting this essential freight processing requirement providing SEKO with greater control and faster, streamlined documentation and FMC filing management.

Jose Quesada, vice president, ocean services, SEKO Logistics, said, "SEKO's 2014 strategy, which includes CargoSphere, has resulted in year over year growth of 28%. We're winning more business due to fast quoting and the integrity of the data. Our entire global group is empowered with the ability to quickly and easily access standardized freight rates through our CargoSphere system."

Considering the value of systematizing rate management, Jose remarked, "Before CargoSphere, we were regionalized and depended on a great deal of communication. Now, we're centralized and transparent as an ocean product in our global organization."

"We are thrilled SEKO is strengthening their service offerings and achieving greater efficiency, customer acquisition and revenue growth with CargoSphere. Jose's strategy for global growth is clearly paying-off for the SEKO organization. We are delighted that our rate solution could be seamlessly plugged-in to their pricing operations and play an important role in SEKO's global vision," said Neil Barni, president of CargoSphere.

PRESS RELEASE

August 12, 2014: Deutsche Post DHL and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are celebrating a special anniversary: for five years now, both organizations have been working on a joint scheme to provide selected airports in disaster prone areas with training and other special attention to help them better prepare for disasters.

The “Get Airports Ready for Disaster” (GARD) program has now worked with 25 airports to help them cope with the logistical challenge of a humanitarian crisis caused by disaster.

When natural disasters strike, airports become vital hubs and important gateways for aid supplies that are meant to reach disaster victims quickly. Passenger volumes also rise in times of crisis: relatives travel to the region to support their families; the international community sends relief specialists and goods; and media arrive to cover the response. If this isn’t managed properly it can cause bottle necks for aid delivery and stall the distribution of relief.

During workshops, airport specialists from DHL and representatives from UNDP work with participants from airports and emergency services on a crisis plan. This plan highlights efficient and practical contingencies for handling a surge in international relief goods and humanitarian personnel following a disaster. The workshop also considers the implications of extensive damage to airport infrastructure and/or a loss of staff and capacity due to earthquake, floods, hurricanes or tsunami.

During a GARD workshop, airport employees and representatives of the national government disaster management body learn which mechanisms are effective in the wake of a natural disaster; which actors of the international community – the United Nations, for example – take action; the scope and timing of emergency response; as well as the processes that are set in motion. Particular emphasis is placed on evaluating the capacity of participant’s own airport, including potential storage opportunities for relief goods, available personnel and equipment, and technical requirements or corresponding alternatives.

To date, GARD workshops have been conducted in Armenia, Bangladesh, El Salvador, Indonesia, Lebanon, Nepal, Panama, Peru, the Philippines and Turkey, training at least 430 people. Interest has only increased and the next workshop is scheduled for Jordan in September.

“Due to the deployment of our so-called “Disaster Response Teams” we have many years of experience in handling these terrible events. The work these teams have done at airports in crisis zones has permitted us to experience first-hand the importance of comprehensive prevention. In 2009, we used that knowledge to develop the “Get Airports Ready for Disaster” program in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme and we are very satisfied about the positive feedback from the countries,” said Christof Ehrhart, Executive Vice President Corporate Communications and Responsibility at Deutsche Post DHL.

“In the last 20-years, disasters have affected at least 5 billion people; given the impact it is crucial that we prevent unnecessary deaths by being as prepared as possible, and this is precisely what GARD does with airports,” said Marta Ruedas, Deputy Director of the UNDP’s Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery.

Aviation experts from the world’s biggest logistics provider, DHL conduct the GARD training pro bono and provide relevant training materials. UNDP, with an extensive country level presence and decades of experience supporting national development efforts, manages the project, coordinates with government authorities, and provides funds to shoulder workshop costs.

The GARD concept complements the disaster management program of Deutsche Post DHL, which also encompasses DHL’s Disaster Response Teams (DRT). The DRTs provide logistical support at airports following a natural disaster and have been deployed over 25 times since their formation in 2005. The DRTs, in close cooperation with the UN, help keep the flow of incoming relief goods moving at disaster-site airports. Both GARD and the DRTs form part of the Group's Corporate Responsibility Program “Living Responsibility”. Both programs are conducted in partnership with the UNDP and/or UNOCHA and are offered free of charge.

PRESS RELEASE

August 11, 2014: Agility has strengthened its East China ocean freight service capabilities with a strategic partnership agreement with Shanghai International Port Group Logistics (SIPGL).

The agreement covers all ocean freight activities and LCL/FCL and break bulk cargo, giving Agility unprecedented access to the complete infrastructure of SIPGL, including depot management, vessel planning and loading, trucking, door-to-port and port-to-door, Container Freight Station warehousing, brokerage, booking agency and port handling.

Agility is the first foreign logistics services provider to be given access to all of SIPGL's port operations and services. As the sole port operator in Shanghai and for all the Yangtze River ports, SIPGL gives Agility increased access options and the ability to offer a wide range of services covering the ports of Shanghai, Jiangsu, Hebei, Anhui and Chongqing.

A key element of the new agreement is that it will enable Agility to provide an integrated sourcing solution and a seamless transition of its customers' cargo. The strategic partnership will also significantly improve Agility's exception handling capabilities.

"We are delighted to embark on this strategic partnership with Shanghai International Port Group Logistics as we believe it will enable us to offer our customers enhanced levels of service and options," said Thomas Gronen, Managing Director, Agility East China. "We have seen a significant increase in demand for our ocean freight services across China. This partnership provides us with an improved platform from which we can better serve our customers in East China."

 

PRESS RELEASE

August 12, 2014: Boeing Shanghai Aviation Services Co., Ltd., (Boeing Shanghai) today redelivered the third of three Boeing 737-400 passenger-to-freighter conversions to Hainan Airlines and Yangtze River Express, both subsidiaries of the HNA Group. The modification was conducted under the Supplemental Type Certificate held by Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI).

With this redelivery Boeing Shanghai will have completed five conversions at their facility, which is strategically located at Shanghai's Pudong International Airport.

"We are pleased to have Boeing Shanghai's professional team to support our 737-400 passenger-to-freighter conversion program. Their hard work and high level of technology and quality ensure reliable, safe flights," said Liu Weibin, General Manager of Hainan Airlines Engineering. "We see this successful conversion program as a good start for future cooperation with Boeing Shanghai in more areas."

"AEI is very proud to have been selected by Hainan Airlines and Yangtze River Express for their 737-400 freighter program and to have teamed with Boeing Shanghai to deliver these conversions. AEI looks forward to a continuing relationship with both airlines as they plan future fleet upgrades," said David McDonald, Vice President of AEI. "We also look forward to working together with Boeing Shanghai to pursue opportunities for serving more customers in Asia."

"This redelivery is a testament to Boeing Shanghai's capability of providing high-quality and on-time conversions. It is our honor that Hainan Airlines and Yangtze River Express selecting Boeing Shanghai to be their aircraft modification service provider," said Dermot Swan, CEO of Boeing Shanghai. "Our partnership with AEI ensures the successful completion of this well-designed conversion that enables the operator to maximize the value and operational efficiency of an important asset. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with Hainan Airlines, Yangtze River Express and AEI."

Hainan Airlines, with headquarters in Haikou, is the largest privately-owned air transport company and the fourth-largest airline in terms of fleet size in China. It operates scheduled domestic and international services on 500 routes from Hainan and nine locations on the mainland, as well as charter services.

Yangtze River Express Airlines Company Limited provides domestic and international air cargo transportation and logistics services. Yangtze River has 40 domestic and international routes and more than 800 staff and presently operates more than 200 flights weekly.

Formed in 1958, Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI) is the oldest conversion company in existence today. For more than 55 years AEI has provided advanced engineering solutions to aircraft owners and operators. Today the company is a global leader in passenger to freighter conversions for a wide array of aircraft, helping customers extend the life of the aircraft and increase the value of their asset. AEI has developed over 120 Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) and 388 aircraft have been modified with AEI STCs – more than any other conversion provider.

Boeing Shanghai is a joint venture between Boeing, Shanghai Airport Authorities and China Eastern Airlines. Boeing Shanghai offers a broad range of services from engineering, aircraft maintenance and modification to material management and component repair and overhaul.

ITAR-TASS RUSSIA NEWS AGENCY

August 14, 2014: Russian aviation authorities intend to develop and introduce new rules for freight and postal air delivery from the EU states to Russia similar to unilateral sanctions the EU had imposed on several Russian air companies, Russia's Transport Ministry said in a letter.

"We plan to develop and adopt a regulatory legal act similar to EU Regulations 185/2010 regarding cargo and postal delivery from the EU member-states to Russia. To resolve this problem, we plan to propose to the EU to conclude an agreement on recognizing adequate air security measures applied in Russia and the EU states," Russia's Air Transport Agency said in a document posted on the agency's website.

According to air security rules the European Commission introduced in 2010, companies that deliver cargoes and post from airports of third countries for transfer, transit or unloading at European airports should receive ACC3 security status for consignments from third countries upon results of an inspection by aviation security independent validators. To obtain this status, a company should provide aviation security information, including confidential data to an inspecting agency and to send a declaration under which this company meets aviation security requirements to the EU before July 1, 2014.

"According to the Russian legislation, confidential information is restricted data with concrete requirements for people who possess this information, and any leaks entail criminal responsibility," the Transport Ministry's department said, noting that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recognizes the sovereign right of each state to protect domestic aviation from acts of illegal interference.

Russia might stop some charter flights from EU: In early July, several Russian air companies received notifications from aviation authorities of several European countries that these companies are banned from delivering cargoes to EU states over the lack of ACC3 status.

In this regard, the Transport Ministry has sent letters to aviation authorities in Germany, Italy, Spain, France and Sweden that "it is impermissible to impose unilateral sanctions, possible introduction of retaliatory measures to protect interests of Russian air carriers and proposed to have talks to settle the issue as quickly as possible".