LATAM Cargo to launch new product portfolio as it reveals future strategy
The LATAM Group has launched a new strategy for its cargo operations following the merger of its various businesses under a single brand.
LATAM Cargo, which is made up of LAN Cargo, TAM Cargo, LAN Cargo Colombia and Mas Air, has already introduced a new pharma product, cargo rewards scheme and a new website as part of the new look group.
A new product portfolio is also set to be launched this year.
The airline group said the new strategy would be built on three pillars: agility, reliability and trust.
LATAM Cargo commercial vice president Álvaro Carril said: “Customers are still the main focus of all of the company’s decisions, developments and actions.
“This new strategy responds to their needs and seeks to strengthen the relationship of trust and transparency that we share with them, backed by high standards of service and more convenient and reliable solutions.”
During the second half of 2016, the airline group will offer a new product portfolio for its international business, designed to "respond to cargo customers’ diverse needs on the basis of clear promises and the development of processes and systems that ensure consistent delivery".
the cargo airline’s marketing and commercial development director Gabriel Oliva said: “According to our customers’ needs, the new portfolio will include different types of products with specific attributes for each shipment, ensuring clear agreements and the transparency of information.
“Moreover, products will feature a new and innovative routing alternative, making more service options available.”
The pharma product was launched last year and offers load priority, temperature control and constant communication with customers.
Another recent implementation is the Cargo Rewards loyalty scheme, which rewards around 80% of all tons shipped, with customers accumulating miles that can then be exchanged for flight tickets on oneworld airlines.
The new website was launched at the start of May.
The airline group's cargo business has had a difficult start to the year as weak economic conditions have taken their toll on freight traffic. The airline has responded by reducing freighter capacity.
Chapman Freeborn utilises AN-225 for transport from Germany to Abu Dhabi
Chapman Freeborn and Fiege Logistics Switzerland have successfully completed a project to transport outsize oil and gas equipment totalling 232 tons from Germany to Abu Dhabi.
Chapman Freeborn utilised an Antonov AN-225 freighter and an additional Boeing B747-400F aircraft to deliver the time-critical cargo from and Frankfurt–Hahn Airport to Abu Dhabi International Airport on May 20.
The AN-225 operation at Leipzig Halle Airport was closely managed by Chapman Freeborn’s project manager Christian Becker.
The 16-hour loading process to manoeuvre 153 tons of cargo involved using the AN-225’s ramp-loading apparatus and internal winch, in addition to an external heavy-lift crane.
The largest of the six pieces handled was a compressor weighing 79 tons and measuring over 14 metres in length.
Following the successful loading of the outsize cargo, the AN-225 departed and flew to Abu Dhabi via Cairo for refuelling.
At the same time, the closely-synchronised B747-400F operation at Frankfurt–Hahn Airport was overseen by Chapman Freeborn representatives, with a further consignment of nearly 80 tons of cargo successfully loaded and dispatched to Abu Dhabi.
The six-engine AN-225 can carry payloads of up to 250 tons and was originally developed by Antonov Design Bureau in the 1980s to transport the Soviet Union’s Buran spacecraft.
Cathay Pacific and Lufthansa Cargo enter joint business agreement
Numerous benefits to customers from joint network between Hong Kong and Europe
Frankfurt, 12 May 2016
More direct connections, greater flexibility and time savings combined with service enhancements – these are just some of the benefits customers will enjoy thanks to the cooperation between the cargo division of Cathay Pacific Airways, the leading air cargo carrier in Asia, and Lufthansa Cargo, Europe's largest air cargo carrier. Simon Large, Director Cargo at Cathay Pacific, and Peter Gerber, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board of Lufthansa Cargo, signed an agreement for a highly integrated bilateral cooperation in Frankfurt. With respect to the cooperation routes between Hong Kong and Europe, both airlines will, in the future, work closely together on network planning, as well as sales, IT and ground handling. This will bring Hong Kong, the world’s busiest air cargo hub, closer to Europe, strengthening one of the world’s great trade lanes.
“Our joint network will cover more than 140 direct flights per week between Hong Kong and 13 European destinations”, says Simon Large. “Cathay Pacific’s large number of direct connections to multiple European destinations fits perfectly with Lufthansa’s strength in Frankfurt, the most important European air freight hub, and in Europe through its dense feeder-network.”
“By joining forces, customers gain access to unique flexibility with more flights to choose from and a combination of feeder and direct flights. In this way their cargo can reach its destination hours earlier”, explained Peter Gerber. “We will also have more options for shipments which have to be transported by freighter due to their size or properties.”
The cooperation will also focus on service enhancements. For example, customers will be able to access the entire joint network via the booking systems of both partners. Joint handling, initially at the Hong Kong and Frankfurt hubs, will also make things easier for customers since there is just one point for export drop off and import delivery.
Both partners plan to transport the first shipments under the framework of the cooperation from early next year – initially from Hong Kong to Europe. The ability to also book eastbound shipments from Europe to Hong Kong will then follow in the course of the year.
The joint activities will be carried out in full compliance with all applicable laws, including the competition rules of the European Union and Hong Kong.
Video: World's largest aircraft makes latest stop in Dubai
The world’s largest aircraft, Antonov’s An-225 (Mriya) freighter, has made its latest landing, this time touching down at Dubai World Central.
The aircraft’s journey from the Czech Republic to Australia and back has been heavily publicised, with airports across the world announcing its arrival.
The aircraft is transporting a 117 ton generator and has so far visited airports Prague, Turkmenbashi, Hyderabad, Kuala Lumpur and Perth.
It stopped at DWC today for a technical stop on its return journey and will also can at Milan’s Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino airport to deliver a 25 ton rotor before heading home.
QATAR AIRWAYS CARGO REACHES 10-YEAR MILESTONE IN KENYA
According to the carrier, it first started serving the capital Nairobi with two Airbus A300 freighters in 2006. Over the years, it has ramped up services to today’s daily A330-200Fs and bellyhold capacity on three A320s, offering a total weekly capacity of approximately 232 tonnes into the city and 362 tonnes out.
“We are proud to have completed 10 successful years of freighter operations to and from Nairobi,” said Ulrich Ogiermann, chief officer of cargo at Qatar Airways. “Kenya is an important market for us, and we are a great partner with the businesses that need high-quality, reliable cargo services. We anticipate continuous growth as we begin our second decade of freighter operations into the country. We owe our success to our customers, business partners and local stakeholders for their tremendous support over the years.”
Qatar Airways operates freighter services to Accra, Djibouti, Entebbe, Johannesburg, Khartoum, Lagos and Nairobi on the African continent, as well as passenger services to 23 cities, according to the carrier.