Air Cargo World articles from April 2003

Air Cargo World archives from April 2003

Diverging. .(air passenger, air freight industries on divergent tracks)(Editorial)
April 1, 2003... Just as U.S. bombs started raining down on Baghdad last month, airlines around the world canceled hundreds of flights to the Middle East and the International Civil Aviation Organization announced alternative routes to take commercial...

Cargo's war contingencies. (News Updates).(economic asepects of 2003 Iraq war on airlines)
April 1, 2003... The worlds commercial airlines began bracing for the longer-term economic fallout from the war in Iraq last month as many canceled flights to the Middle East and elsewhere and some issued new cargo surcharges along with warnings that shippers...

Atlas tumbles. (News Updates).(Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings Inc. dismisses Richard Shuyler, chief executive officer )
April 1, 2003... Facing upheaval in its core cargo business, Atlas Air shook up its senior management last month as the world's largest operator of 747 freighters sought to climb out of a financial tailspin. With securities regulators stepping up their probe...

Forward security. (News Updates).(air cargo operators' security legislation)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... New legislation working its way through the U.S. Congress would impose new layers of security on air cargo operators, including tough new oversight of air forwarders and stiff penalties for freight agents who fail to meet security standards....

Fueling up. (News Updates).(jet fuel surcharges)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Just a few weeks after many airlines imposed new jet fuel surcharges, carriers around the world started adding to the extra charges last month as they responded to soaring crude oil prices that have sent fuel costs to double the levels of a...

Inching back. (News Updates).(air cargo traffic rebounds )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... New reports from Boeing and regional airline groups suggest air cargo traffic staged a moderate rebound in 2002 from the disastrous 2001 but that the recovery was spread unevenly around the globe and that many major markets see business stuck...

Citizen DHL. (News Updates).(U.S. Department of Transportation review of DHL Airways Inc. citizenship)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Even as it plans expansion in North America, DHL Worldwide Express is facing new challenges to its core business structure that could cripple its ability to operate as an air carrier in the United States. United Parcel Service and FedEx...

TIACA profits. (News Updates).(The International Air Cargo Association to move business base to South Florida from Cayman Islands )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... With $2 million in the bank, The International Air Cargo Association voted to move its business base from the Cayman Islands to South Florida and to start spending some of its stockpile on industry-wide education programs. "I think we...

Net savings. (News Updates).(Air Cargo 2003 conference; need for automated booking, cost and efficiency questioned )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Forwarders and airlines were nearly unanimous at the recent Air Cargo 2003 conference about the need for greater automated booking but questions about cost and efficiency continue to divide the two sides of the air shipping business. ...

Piloting Pilot: contrary and controversial, Richie Phillips has a growth strategy in a decidedly downbeat air forwarding market. (North America).( Richard G. Phillips, owner of Pilot Air Freight)(Interview)
April 1, 2003... For a man who made his name aggressively representing workers against the well-heeled world of Major League Baseball owners, Richard G. Phillips finds himself in a rather curious position. The one-time firebrand chief of the baseball umpires'...

FedEx Corp. (Briefly).(profits rise)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Ground gains pushed net profits at FedEx Corp. up 23 percent to $147 million in the quarter ending Feb. 28 on a 10 percent gain in revenue, to $5.55 billion. FedEx Ground volume jumped 24 percent and the operating profit in that division...

CNF Transportation. (Briefly).(Emery Forwarding name to be changed to Menlo Worldwide Forwarding )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Emery Forwarding parent CNF Transportation said it would change the name of that business to Menlo Worldwide Forwarding by Jan. 1, 2004, removing the Emery name from world freight arena. Formed in 1946, Emery was the first forwarder to apply...

United Parcel Service. (Briefly).(furloughs suspended)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... United Parcel Service suspended the furlough of 100 pilots, saying that a combination of voluntary leaves and the move of some pilots to active military duty had cut the ranks by a sufficient number.

Forward Air. (Briefly).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Air cargo trucker Forward Air struck for cargo handling and linehaul for air carrier Kitty Hawk Air Cargo in 16 U.S. cities.

Lynden Air Freight. (Briefly).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Lynden Air Freight guaranteed better pricing and spacing in its alliance with Continental Cargo, which gains preferential access to the forwarder's non-U.S. business.

Telford Group. (Briefly).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Air freight charter operator AirNow agreed to take over the scheduled freight operations of the Maine-based Telford Group, a regional sub-service cargo flier whose customers include UPS and Airborne Express.

Virgin Atlantic Cargo. (Briefly).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Virgin Atlantic Cargo named Air Cargo Partners its general sales agent for Chicago and the Ohio Valley.

Forward Air. (Briefly).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Trucker Forward Air's net profit grew 8.5 percent in 2002 to $21.7 million on flat revenue of $226.1.

TransGroup Worldwide Logistics. (Briefly).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... TransGroup Worldwide Logistics moved into larger forwarding facilities in Phoenix and El Paso, Texas.

Carrying Swiss: after rising from the ashes, Swiss WorldCargo is focusing on quality in its smaller air freight network. (Europe).
April 1, 2003... What is it about the Swiss which enables them to produce high-quality products and then only make them available in limited quantity, thus making them all the more desirable, and, for most of us, all the more unattainable? The same could be...

British Airways. (Briefly).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... British Airways will move its Russia gateway operations from Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport to newer Domodedovo Airport on July 1.

Martinair Holland. (Briefly).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Martinair Holland attributed a $3.3 million net profit in 2002 following a $14.3 million loss the year before to improvement in cargo business as passenger traffic fell from 2001. Martinair will return a 767 passenger plane this year and take...

Hellmann Worldwide Logistics. (Briefly).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Peter Cochrane, a former senior executive at Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, led a group that purchased the assets of Achilles International Freight Forwarders, a privately-held forwarder that went into receivership last month.

Hellmann Perishable Logistics. (Briefly).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Hellmann Perishable Logistics opened two offices in the Netherlands, one at the Aalsameer Flower Auction and other in the city of Poeldijk. HPL also started service in Norway through a new agreement with Oslo-based Universal Air & Sea and...

AMI. (Briefly).(new express and courier services)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... United Kingdom-based wholesaler AMI announced a range of new express and courier services under the GS and SOS brands, offering cost savings on deliveries including same day, heavyweight and "timed solutions."

Vatry International Airport. (Briefly).(links to the French motorway network)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Vatry International Airport linked directly to the French motorway network to benefit just-in-time cargo delivery service.

Menzies World Cargo . (Briefly).(partnership with Eimskip )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Menzies World Cargo and Iceland's Eimskip teamed to open a perishables handling center at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol called Freshport.

Ghana Airways. (Briefly).(new service)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Ghana Airways started weekly service between Hamburg and Accra, the capital of Ghana.

Cry Freedom: Japan Airlines is postponing its cargo spinoff, but that doesn't mean JAL Cargo's independent streak is going away. (Pacific).
April 1, 2003... Nobody can accuse JAL Cargo of lacking independent thinking. The parent may have aligned itself with American Airlines in the oneworld alliance, but that didn't prevent the cargo division from developing other ties besides the bellyhold...

DHL Worldwide Express. (Briefly).(increase in Air Hong Kong ownership)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... DHL Worldwide Express added 10 percent to its ownership stake in Air Hong Kong, giving the express carrier 40 percent of the freighter operator. The other 60 percent is owned by Cathay Pacific Airways.

Association of Asia Pacific Airlines. (Briefly).(freight traffic and capacity)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines said the region's average freight load factor grew 4.6 percentage points in 2002 as traffic soared 14.3 percent against a capacity increase of just 6.6 percent.

Cathay Pacific. (Briefly).(gain in profit)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Cathay Pacific reported a US$510 million net profit in 2002 that was helped by a 20.4 percent gain in cargo revenue, to $1.2 billion. Cathay said its cargo yield slipped about 3 percent as traffic grew on lower-yield long haul routes.

Singapore Airlines Cargo. (Briefly).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Singapore Airlines Cargo started 2003 with an 8.5 percent gain in freight traffic but saw its cargo load factor slip for the second straight month as capacity grew 11.2 percent.

Pudong International Airport. (Briefly).(freight facilities backed up)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Published reports in China said forwarders there were seeking alternatives to Shanghai Pudong International Airport as freight facilities there were backed up as traffic surged after the Chinese New Year.

China-Singapore Airport Management Academy. (Briefly).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The aviation authorities in Singapore and China set up the China-Singapore Airport Management Academy to strengthen civil aviation ties between the countries.

Cathay Pacific Airways. (Briefly).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Cathay Pacific Airways will use the Ultramain materials and procurement system from Systems Solutions Unlimited.

GeoLogistics. (Briefly).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Forwarder GeoLogistics will take over the operations of its agent in Korea, Airway Express.

DHL Danzas Air & Ocean. (Briefly).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... DHL Danzas Air & Ocean moved into a new freight facility in Selangor that will also serve as its headquarters for Malaysia.

Formosa Express and Propitious Air Cargo. (Briefly).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Taiwan's Formosa Express and Propitious Air Cargo, both agents for Britain's Genesis Forwarding, were merged into a single company that will be called Genesis Forwarding Services.

Korean Air. (Briefly).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Korean Air said it would increase service between Seoul and Taipei after a temporary agreement on air services between the countries was extended.

The United States and Vietnam. (Briefly).(talks for new air services agreement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The United States and Vietnam went into the second round of talks aimed at reaching a new air services agreement.

Uzbek, South: in a crowded cargo community Avialeasing is using Russian transports to carve a unique and unlikely niche. (Latin America).
April 1, 2003... Taken from the Spanish word for adventure, Aventura is the name of an upscale South Florida city where Avialeasing Aviation Co. opened its second U.S. office in late 2000 after setting up its New York outpost. But the Uzbekistan-based...

Varig Brazilian Airways. (Briefly).(airplane seized for missed lease payments)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Creditors seized a Varig Brazilian Airways 767-200 in Miami after the airline missed lease payments on the plane, the second aircraft troubled Varig has had to give up in a month.

Menzies Aviation Group. (Briefly).(acquisition of Atlantis Air Cargo Management )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Menzies Aviation Group, the Great Britain-based ground services specialist, set up its first venture in Central America by taking a majority stake in Atlantis Air Cargo Management of Panama.

Gartner Dataquest. (Briefly).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Gartner Dataquest says personal computer shipments in Latin America declined 6 percent last year, printer shipments fell 15.3 percent and shipments of servers were down 15.6 percent.

Mexicana Airlines. (Briefly).(new flight service)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Mexicana Airlines started service to Austin, Texas, from Mexico City and Cancun.

US Airways. (Briefly).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... US Airways started four-times-weekly A319 flights between Charlotte, N.C., and Belize. The airline also added daily nonstop flights from Boston to Bermuda.

BWIA West Indies Airways. (Briefly).(aircraft)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... BWIA West Indies Airways added its seventh 737-800 and retired its last MD-83.

Trading Hong Kong: Hong Kong has a high-gloss logistics strategy to go with its gleaming airport, but cargo competition is uncomfortably close. (Feature Focus: Hong Kong).
April 1, 2003... With its spectacular setting, a sleek, modern passenger terminal and a growing set of large and busy cargo facilities, Hong Kong International Airport is a fitting flagship for Hong Kong's future as a hub of international trade. That's why it...

Airports' industrial cargo strength: Cargo-focused airports are growing, but backers say freight isn't the only story at the new facilities. (Feature Report: Cargo Airports).
April 1, 2003... Government officials tend to utter the phrase "all-cargo airport" with a certain gleam in their eye. Build a few runways -- or, better yet, convert an aid military base -- then print a nifty brochure and start pitching to combination...

Network partners. (Special Advertising Section).
April 1, 2003... The last time North America's top air cargo decision makers gathered at the annual Cargo Network Services Partnership Conference, the industry was in the throes of the turmoil and challenges of a business environment roiled by an economic...

Events.(Calendar)
April 1, 2003... April 24-25 Orlando, Fla.: Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association, at the Renaissance Orlando Resort, the first annual meeting of the new U.S. association takes a short-haul look at air cargo service issues. For information, call (508)...

Honors. (People).(International Air Cargo Association Hall of Fame awards)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... TIACA: At its Annual General Meeting in February, The International Air Cargo Association named Pyotr Balabuyev, the president of the Antonov Design Bureau, and Latin American cargo aviation pioneer Eric Campana to its Hall of Fame. Balabuyev...

Airlines. (People).(appointments and promotions)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... AirRep Cargo: The general sales agent arm of AirRep Group appointed Sharon Thompsett as sales manager for its new five-times-weekly TU-204C scheduled freighter service from Brussels to Moscow. Thompsett's more than 20 years in the air cargo...

Integrators. (People).(multiple company appointments and promotions)
April 1, 2003... DHL Airways: The American arm of DHL Worldwide Express named John H. Dasburg, the former president and chief executive officer of Northwest Airlines, chairman and chief executive officer. Roy Moulton had been acting chairman since the sudden...

Third-parties. (People).(multiple company appointments and promotions)
April 1, 2003... Official Airline Guide: The transportation-scheduling database provider announced the creation of OAG cargo to provide greater focus on the air cargo industry, including airlines and forwarders. OAG cargo will be led by Rich Savage in the new...

Associations. (People).(apointments and resignations at the National Industrial Transportation League)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... NITL: Peter Gatti became acting president of the National Industrial Transportation League as the largest shipper organization in the United States began a search for a permanent replacement for Edward Emmett, who left the president's post...

Trucking. (People).(appointments, resignations and promotions at Roadway Express)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Roadway: The trucking firm announced the retirement of chief executive Michael Wickham. Wickham will remain chairman of the board. Taking his place as CEO is Roadway veteran James Staley, 53, previously chief executive of Roadway Express....

Structural Integrity Engineering. (Ground Handling/Equipment).(approval for cargo door from the Federal Aviation Administration)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Structural Integrity Engineering: The California aviation engineering firm won final approval for its Pemco 727-100/200 Cargo Door SSID Program from the Federal Aviation Administration. To meet the FAA's June 23 deadline for cargo door...

Walkabout Vehicle Search Kit. (Ground Handling/Equipment).
April 1, 2003... Zistos: The New York-based video security applications provider announced its new Walkabout Vehicle Search Kit for operational security. The company says the device will provide a turnkey vehicle inspection solution with a portable video...

PushBack. (Ground Handling/Equipment).
April 1, 2003... SpaceRak: The Michigan manufacturer of steel storage rack systems announced the availability of its PushBack rack system, which combines high-density pallet storage capacity with easy aisle access. Businesses needing fast throughput or...

MegaStar Systems. (Technology).
April 1, 2003... MegaStar Systems: The Swiss firm's new MM550 Controller is an inventory management system built into the company's vertical storage systems for better logistics storage and retrieval. Features include item size configuration, order processing...

Freight Tracker. (Technology).
April 1, 2003... APRIVA: The technology company introduced Freight Tracker, software providing wireless, real-time access to data for forwarders, couriers, shippers and truckers. The package includes wireless barcode scanning, route scheduling and signature...

IRIMS Express Online. (Technology).
April 1, 2003... PPM: The Canadian company released IRIMS Express Online, an Internet-based subscription service for incident tracking, reporting and analysis. The system supports multi-site, integrated security programs with features such as application...

Freight Solution Providers. (Technology).
April 1, 2003... Freight Solution Providers: The California-based firm announced its new online Asset Recovery System for helping customers to move and manage data as well as containers. Customized reports are available in various formats and configurable,...

FKI Logistics Alvey Systems. (Packaging/Labeling).
April 1, 2003... FKI Logistics Alvey Systems: The material handling provider introduced the 780 Series Case Palletizer, a low-speed, high level in-feed palletizer with a compact footprint, heavy construction and flexible layout options. Alvey also announced...

Freight Glove. (Packaging/Labeling).
April 1, 2003... Freight Glove: The New York packaging materials firm introduced Freight Glove, a reusable, complementary, aid to conventional plastic shrink wrap that encases freight pallets in a durable, water-resistant packaging, secured with a...

AirCargo the bottom line.(Illustration)
April 1, 2003... AirCargo the Bottom Line Sharing US Share of the American air cargo market in 2002 divided by the nine major American combination airlines, based on revenue. Continental 9.0% US Airways 4.6% Southwest 2.8%...

Forwarder Futures: changing global competition prompts the question, are air forwarders today's dinosaurs or dynamos?
April 1, 2003... Ted Scherck * President * The Colography Group In the early 1990s, during one of the many periods in the last 20 years when the "end of the world" for U.S. freight forwarders was being predicted, we opined that the qualities forwarders...