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Air cargo gains ground with shippers, but concerns remain on waybill changes

Airfreight is becoming an increasingly important contingency option for shippers, but new rules on direct air waybills could cause complexity, according to Global Shippers Forum director James Hookham. At Aviation Connect in Athens this week, Mr Hookham said air had traditionally been regarded as "Plan B", but since Covid had become increasingly embedded in supply chain planning. And with post-peak season holidays approaching, he added, shippers were more likely to turn to air transport as deadlines for Black Friday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas approached. "At a time when goods must be in for onward distribution, to meet sales windows and contractual deadlines, the customer may reach for the air cargo solution." But he said airfreight was especially "part and parcel of the planning for many shippers" now, because ocean transport had become less predictable, creating opportunities for the air cargo sector. Mr Hookham stressed to air cargo stakeholders that shippers should not be treated as a single, homogeneous customer group, their requirements varied, according to cargo type, destination, delivery speed, and handling requirements. For airports, however, one of the most important considerations was simply "how little time my cargo spends in a particular airport"; and he underscored that efficient interaction between commercial and statutory processes was crucial to minimising that dwell time. But he also highlighted the potential implications of recent changes on liability in direct air waybills - an issue he said could become increasingly important for shippers, forwarders, and insurers, as the changes by IATA altered where liability could fall in the event of a dispute or disruption involving a DAB. "Instead of dealing with the original shipper, the decision has been taken for the forwarder [to be the liable party], even though they are acting as an agent in the booking rather than as a contracted party. "I was surprised by the number of shippers that are affected by this," he added. However, he said, it was still too early to determine the operational impact, partly because awareness of the change had been slow to reach the market. "When I was in Australia and New Zealand last month, I have to say it hadn't really registered as an operational issue." And Mr Hookham warned: "It creates uncertainty, possibly risk; certainly for the forwarder community, with some unwelcome new liabilities which they either seek to avoid, which causes some changes in arrangements, or possibly leads to insurance, which again causes costs, which nobody wants to want to pass on." He said the lack of clarity meant the issue could ultimately become a matter for the courts. "Unfortunately, I think this is going to end up with the lawyers," he said. "Watch this space because I think it will be a continuing issue."

Mærsk parent takes Euroports - 'end-to-end oligopoly' risk heightens

Casual observers shared plenty of insight on social media earlier this month about AP Møller-Mærsk's (APMM) multi-year strategy as a "global integrator of container logistics" after a press briefing with CEO Vincent Clerc. Undoubtedly, APMM has learnt a lot from past mistakes - and not only in its core ocean shipping business. Setting a higher freight-rates floor has been the mission in a carrier-led market where the line between friendship and rivalry is often blurred. Accomplished. In Logistics & Services (L&S) - ...

FedEx Panda Express transports special cargo

FedEx has transported two giant pandas from China to the US aboard a Boeing 777 freighter known as the "FedEx Panda Express". The airline said that it worked with Zoo Atlanta to move six-year-old male Ping Ping and five-year-old female Fu Shuang, from Chengdu, China to Atlanta, Georgia. Throughout their non-stop flight from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang travelled in custom-built travel crates under the care of Zoo Atlanta animal specialists. The pandas were the sole cargo aboard the aircraft, accompanied by fresh bamboo, water, and an assortment of their favourite treats. Before their trip, the bears spent time getting accustomed to their enclosures to ensure a safe and comfortable journey. As well as operating the flight, FedEx also provided trucking and logistical support in Atlanta to safely transport the pandas from the airport to Zoo Atlanta. The airline said it would donate the full transportation cost of this move as part of its ongoing corporate social responsibility and environmental conservation efforts. Including this move, FedEx has had the privilege of transporting 23 pandas to and from China since 2000. "We have had the privilege of transporting giant pandas for more than two decades, and every time the FedEx Panda Express is called into service, our entire team feels the significance of the mission," said Richard Smith, chief operating officer, International, and chief executive officer, Airline, FedEx. "Safely delivering Ping Ping and Fu Shuang to their new home in Atlanta underscores our long-standing commitment to global conservation and our network's ability to securely transport high-priority, precious cargo."