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Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) ended 2014 with its strongest quarter of the year, handling 491,476 tonnes of goods, up 4.9 percent compared to the same period of 2013. The fourth quarter was also the best in 2014 for exports, which totaled 287,456 tonnes, up 4.2 percent on 2013, and for imports, which totaled 131,202 tonnes, up 7.7 percent. Mail and express, which totaled 41,558 tonnes was down 2.2 percent. Transshipments totaled 31,261 tonnes, which was up 11.1 percent, yet only the third highest quarter of 2014. For the year as a whole, Hactl’s total tonnage was up 8.7 percent at 1.81 million tonnes.
- AirBridgeCargo Airlines, part of the Volga-Dnepr Group, will take delivery in February of a 747-400ERF, which was formerly operated by KLM/Martinair Cargo. It is also likely that it will acquire a 747-8F in September. The carrier, eager to increase its presence in the U.S., will start service to Los Angeles this summer if all goes as planned, via Atlanta or Chicago. AirBridgeCargo is also looking at Helsinki and Amsterdam, where Martinair is decreasing operations, while already increasing operations at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
- Hermes Logistics Technologies has implemented a new cargo management system for Etihad Cargo, the freight division of United Arab Emirates (UAE) flag carrier Etihad Airways, to provide its customers with greater communication and improved handling processes. The new IT system was developed to meet Etihad Cargo’s specific requirements to manage physical handling, documentation and messages in real time. To track cargo shipments across the hub in Abu Dhabi, the system includes the use of hand-held devices that can identify and verify all shipment details.
- Netherlands-based IJS Global and Belgium-based H. Essers, both logistics providers, are teaming up to strengthen IJS Global’s transportation services between Belgium and the group’s worldwide offices and partners. IJS Global has a network of fully owned and exclusive-agent partnerships across 77 countries, and has recently opened a pharmaceutical warehouse facility at Frankfurt Airport.
- Malaysian air cargo carrier MASkargo, the cargo division of national carrier Malaysia Airlines, has selected the cloud-based Unisys Logistics Management System (LMS) to manage its domestic and international cargo services. MASkargo, headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, serves approximately 100 destinations worldwide. The cloud-based delivery model was designed to reduce costs for airlines, compared to running in-house systems.
- Volga-Dnepr Airlines transported a 15-ton “teacup” – a large piece of a rock-breaking machine – to a mining customer between the Russian cities of Anapa and Murmansk. The delivery onboard one of the airline’s Il-76TD freighters was organized for the Russian mining and smelting company Norilsk Nickel, one of the largest producers of colored and precious metals in the world. The machinery, which resembled a giant teacup in shape, was destined for its affiliated mining company in the Murmansk region of northern Russia.
- GAC global shipping services has been appointed sole provider of hub agency services for the worldwide-liquefied natural gas fleet of BG Group. The agreement, which began on Jan. 1, also covers crude oil and LPG shipments to accommodate BG Group’s expanding cargo range. GAC operates Hub Agency Centers in Dubai, Houston, Singapore and Grangemouth, coordinating port calls globally for fleet operators.
- Cargolux International Airlines is changing handling agents in Brussels. Effective Feb.1, all freight is to be delivered to Swissport Cargo Services, at 1820 Steenokkerzeel, building 701. Cargolux will also move its Brussels office to the Swissport 701 Building at B-1820 Steenokkerzeel.
- West Air Sweden will soon take delivery of its first 767-200F. The aircraft is currently at Birmingham International, U.K., undergoing its final European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) inspection and airworthiness checks ahead of delivery. Formerly with ABX Air, the freighter is part of an agreement in which ABX Air’s parent, Air Transport Services Group (ATSG), acquired a 25 percent stake in West Air’s parent, the Gothenburg-based West Atlantic Group. Once in service, the freighter will be based in London Stansted, serving Liège for TNT Logistics.
- Southwest Airlines Cargo began service to and from Dayton, Ohio. Shipping is available on nonstop flights from Dayton to Baltimore, and Denver and Orlando, with more through or connecting flight options to the rest of the Southwest Airlines system.