WFS gains Cargo iQ certification covering 50 airport stations

Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has achieved Cargo iQ's quality standards certification for its air cargo handling operations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa & Asia (EMEAA). The accreditation covers some 50 major airport stations in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, and the UK. Developed by the industry, Cargo iQ's Master Operating Plan (MOP) describes the standard end-to-end process of transporting air cargo and introduces standardised performance monitoring for the duration of shipment movements from consignor to consignee. For WFS and other handlers, this incorporates key export milestones such as shipment acceptance into the warehouse, confirmation that shipments are ready for carriage and have been manifested, and departed. Using Cargo iQ's quality processes for imports includes receipt of the cargo off the flight, notifying freight forwarders that goods are available for collection, and then completion of delivery to the agent. To be certified, companies must provide evidence that Cargo iQ's MOP is embedded in their operations, as well as how they manage reporting, and look to continuously improve performance standards. As part of the audit process, they must also demonstrate they have a training plan in place to ensure staff at every station understand and implement Cargo iQ's requirements. "Gaining Cargo iQ certification across our EMEAA region reinforces WFS and SATS' commitment to improving our service quality and performance for our customers," said John Dowds, senior vice president, service delivery - EMEA at WFS. "Our full compliance with Cargo iQ's processes allows us to standardise our approach across all our stations in the region and to deliver service levels our customers know and recognise. "By implementing the Cargo iQ processes, we monitor our export and import operations in accordance with our customer SLAs in a live environment using the warehouse management screens in our facilities. "This enables our warehouse managers to monitor performance in real-time and, when necessary, to reallocate resources or reprioritise tasks to meet customer targets." The combined SATS and WFS network operates over 215 stations in 27 countries. These cover trade routes responsible for more than 50% of global air cargo volume. In April, Cargo iQ said it would roll out a tiered certification programme that it hoped would drive improved quality standards amongst members. Supported by IATA, Cargo iQ is composed of around 60 major airlines, freight forwarders, ground handling agents, trucking companies, and IT solution providers globally. The group's mission is to create and implement quality standards for the worldwide air cargo industry through a system of shipment planning and performance monitoring based on common business processes and milestones.

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Africa's Air Bonanza Express shifts IL-76 freighter base

African charter service provider Air Bonanza Express is shifting the base of its IL-76 freighter aircraft to cater for demand out of Chad and the Ivory Coast. The Nairobi-based firm will base its IL-76TD at Ndjamena in Chad and Abidjan in the Ivory Coast. It has previously been based in Ghana, where it was catering for demand from the United Nations for its peace-keeping operation in Mali, and Kenya and South Sudan. Air Bonanza Express chief executive Boniface Kimani said that the decision to move the aircraft is "both strategic and demand-driven". "There are a few project cargo movements and several others awaiting confirmation," he said. "This is an indicator that, alongside demand, helps us take calculated risks in moving the aircraft to the region." He added that Air Bonanza is partnering with local cargo agencies around the region and identifying opportunities to consolidate cargo, with the aim of opening up an intra-regional cargo network. "In view of the vastness of the West African region, there is a lack of enough equipment with oversized capacity like the IL-76. "Most customers find the cost of mobilisation and demobilisation way too high as opposed to the actual cargo airlift from one location to another. "We want to be a solution to the region by bringing the aircraft closer to our customers in the regions of West and Central Africa." Kimani added that the airline is also in the advanced stages of striking a lease deal for a Boeing 767-300 freighter, which will provide a more fuel-efficient operation. As well as the IL-76 aircraft, Air Bonanza Express also offers capacity on a Mi-26T heavy transport helicopter. The Russian-built helicopter is the largest serial production in the world. The Mi-26T cargo variant offers a large payload capacity of around 20 tons and rear loading doors.