- This past December, LAN Cargo set a new monthly record for the transportation of mangoes from Peru to Europe, shipping 525 tons of the tropical fruit using two 767 freighters. The mangoes were flown from Lima to São Paulo, where operations teams at Guarulhos ensure that the cold chain and the fruit’s optimal quality are maintained before onward shipment to Europe. LAN is responsible for transporting approximately 35 percent of Peruvian mangoes to Europe. Peruvian mango exports have increased 28 percent from the 2012-2013 to the 2013-2014 season, reaching 10,159 tons. For 2014-2015 producers expect to maintain last season’s figures, and LAN anticipates transporting around 3,000 tons.
- AirBridgeCargo has added Helsinki, Finland, to its international network, with twice-weekly 747F service. The flights will operate from Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport to Helsinki, returning to Moscow via Frankfurt. The new service offers 48-hour connection opportunities for ABC’s customers between Asia and Helsinki. In the past five years, ABC has been one of the world’s fastest growing international cargo airlines with a compound growth rate of 11 percent.
- Cargomatic, a tech-company based in Venice Beach, Calif., has received $8 million in new funding from Canaan Partners to expand its reach. Modeled after ride-sharing service, Uber, Cargomatic aims to give shippers access to drivers and help truckers monetize underutilized space on their trucks with a real-time application. Cargomatic’s plan is to improve the platform’s user experience so that it can hire additional employees.
- Cathay Pacific Airways introduced a cargo mobile application that allows cargo agents, forwarders and customers to track shipments, in addition to a wide range of other information relevant to Cathay Pacific Cargo. The application allows customers to track shipments through their smartphone or tablet device at any time, from anywhere. Customers can also review the e-booking status of their shipment by logging into the application, just as they would with the cargo website. The application is available for download from both the Apple iTunes and Google Play stores.
- AirBridgeCargo has extended its cargo-handling contract with Frankfurt’s Fraport Cargo Services (FCS). The carrier started its partnership with FCS in 2008, and has renewed earlier than required. For the 2014/15 winter, ABC has increased its frequencies to/from Frankfurt from 14 to 17 per week.
- Reddaway, a trucking company that serves 12 states and British Columbia, has introduced a guaranteed Friday to Monday service, with delivery no later than 3:30 p.m. on Mondays. This service is being positioned with the company’s traditional customers – those that ship less-than-truckload shipments throughout the western United States. A typical shipment averages around 1,000 lbs. and travels a little more than 500 miles. Reddaway also ships door-to-door in Hawaii and provides twice weekly ocean delivery to Alaska.