The Hong Kong government gave final approval for a third runway at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), aiming to meet the phenomenal growth in passengers and air cargo. Officials said the project will begin next year and cost US$18.2 billion. About 650 hectares of land will be reclaimed from the sea for the runway and a new passenger building. Construction is expected to be completed by 2023. HKIA expects to reach maximum capacity under its current layout by 2022 at the latest. The airport predicts that the third runway will allow it to handle 102 million passengers and 8.9 million tons of freight a year by 2030.- IAG Cargo leads European carriers for e-AWB (electronic air waybill) penetration and is fifth globally for volumes, as of January this year. IAG Cargo’s e-AWB penetration ranks well above the industry average of 25 percent. The carrier has made e-AWB available in more than 160 stations globally, amounting to nearly 100 percent of its network where e-AWBs are legally recognized. IAG Cargo now has multi- or bilateral agreements in place with in excess of 100 forwarders and has completed data quality assessments on 2,400 branches.
- MASkargo, the airfreight arm of Malaysia Airlines, is set to go to all-in pricing. The carrier plans to introduce an inclusive single rate on ex-Europe routes, joining Emirates, Qatar Airways, IAG Cargo and SAS Scandinavian Airlines in abandoning fuel and security surcharges. The new system will be in effect April 1.
- TNT has launched a new regular air link between its hub in Liége, Belgium, and Tel Aviv, Israel. Flights run five times weekly, beginning in March, using a 737-400. The new service will have fixed departure times, guaranteed uplift, later pick-up times in Israel and easy connections to TNT’s road and air networks via Liége. The company is promising shorter transit times for express shipments to and from Tel Aviv, by one day.
- Lufthansa Group’s cargo arm raised its operating profit from €79 million in 2013 to €100 million in 2014. A company release said, “despite tough competition within the airfreight sector and higher depreciation needs, the Lufthansa Group’s logistics business was able to maintain its success, thanks to its efficient capacity management and its modernized freighter fleet.”
- DHL Express nearly doubled the capacity of its operations in Houston with the opening of a new 28,000-square-foot service center. The need for the US$2.5 million facility was driven by heavy demand and international shipment growth resulting from the region’s booming oil and gas sector. The facility can process more than 2,500 shipments per hour, serving Houston and surrounding areas for pick-up, delivery and sorting operations of international shipments.
- A new perishables handling facility will open at London Heathrow at the end of the month, a project of DB Schenker Logistics. The 11,000-square-foot facility will have cross-dock capability to minimize contamination exposure and reduce manual handling.
- CEVA Logistics was recognized as a “Supplier of the Year” at the General Motors 2014 Supplier of the Year award ceremony in Detroit. GM recognized its top 78 global suppliers at the 5 March awards ceremony. CEVA was the sole 3PL provider to receive an award at the event. GM and CEVA began doing business together in the 1980’s. CEVA serves GM through dozens of global operations in North America, South America, Asia Pacific and Europe.
Find opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region, the world’s most dynamic airfreight market, at Cargo Facts Asia, April 21-22 in Hong Kong. Get more information here.
