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The Cargo Letter
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Section A: Section: Trade, Financial & Inland News|
Section B: FF World Air News |
Section C: FF World Ocean News | Section
D: FF in Cyberspace |
Section E: The Forwarder/Broker World
Freight Forwarder World Air Briefs
- 45 Years -- Shot ........
as the Int'l Air Transport Association (IATA) says that losses for the global airline industry amounted to an astounding US$13Bn in 2002, with the figure for 2001 standing at US$18Bn. IATA said the total amount of loss for the past 2 years exceeded the profits accumulated over the previous 45 years, which indicated the air industry was beset with serious problems. In 2002, Int'l freight handled increased 6% over 2001 tonnage, while the number of air passengers dropped 2.5% from 1.6 billion people the year before.
- How Would This Work? ........
as air cargo carriers have portrayed a doomsday scenario for their industry if the U.S. Customs Service goes ahead with a preliminary idea that would require them to submit electronic versions of manifests 12 hours prior to departure & 8 hours ahead of time for express shipments. Air cargo representatives have complained that the advance notification proposals would delay shipments & make them uncompetitive with other modes of transportation. In Dec. 2002, (effective Feb. 2003) Customs began requiring vessel operators & consolidators to provide manifests 24-hours prior to loading containers on ships bound for the U.S. Under the Trade Act of 2002, Customs must implement a system by Oct. 1 to collect all cargo manifest information before goods are imported or exported by air, rail or truck. Some observers are skeptical about Customs’ claims that it will remain flexible throughout the rulemaking process. Comments should be sent to the Office of Trade Regulations:
traderelations@customs.treas.gov
- NO! ........
as the U.S. Senate has killed a proposal to allow US Airways Group to restructure payments to its employee pension system, increasing chances the bankrupt carrier will end its pilots' retirement plan.
- Lufthansa Drifting ........
as it has cautioned that profits in 2003 would remain far below the EUR 1Bn posted in 2000, and warned of a possible hiring & investment freeze after a cut in capacity. Following a surprisingly strong recovery in the first 8 months of 2002, yields have steadily declined since Oct. Nine aircraft will be taken out of service April 1.
- KLM Drifting ........
as it is being forced to reduce capacity & to make cuts in its network because of the continuing bad results. KLM announced an operating loss of EUR63M & a net loss of EUR66M for 3rd quarter to the end of Dec. 2003. KLM Cargo's operating revenues of EUR272M in the 3rd quarter were at the same level as last year. Cargo traffic (measured in RFTKs) increased by 3%, whilst cargo capacity (measured in ATFKs) also increased by 3%. As a result, the cargo load factor was flat year-on-year at 72.7%.
- We've Got This Bridge ........
as the trustee representing United Airlines' employee stock ownership plan has been authorized to sell 12.8 million shares of parent company UAL Corp. -- marking the 1st time it's been able to sell UAL stock since the carrier filed for bankruptcy organization last month. On the other hand, Air New Zealand shot up 6% on news that United would suspend flights to New Zealand this March.
- Atlas Shrugged ........
as the carrier has entered into an amendment & waiver with its bank lenders to amend certain loan agreements & to waive certain events of default arising under loan agreements and related aircraft leases. Atlas Air Inc. said compliance with various financial covenants has also been waived through March 31 and that it expects to discuss its financial balance for the year with its bank lenders later this quarter. Parent company Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings also owns Polar Air Cargo, which is not affected by the loan agreement or the restatement of earnings.
- Southwest Blushed ........
as Air Transport World Magazine, the leading monthly magazine covering the global airline industry, selected Dallas-based Southwest Airlines as its Airline of the Year for 2003.
- No Co-Piot ........
as Pilot Air Freight, with 65 offices in North America, said the company's chairman, president & CEO, Richard Phillips, has acquired all outstanding stock in the privately owned company. Mr. Phillips had previously owned a 50% stake in the company & has managed since 1994. Pilot had sales of US$217M in 2002.
- Ad Lib The Deal ........
as troubled French regional carrier Air Lib & the Dutch group IMCA have agreed that IMCA would take a 50% stake in the airline.
- FedEx On The Small Side ........
as it has purchased 8 commuter passenger planes from Continental Airlines & will modify them to carry cargo to & from areas not easily served by expedited ground transportation. The company will receive the 1st ATR 42-320 turboprop aircraft from Continental on Jan. 27. The remaining 7 aircraft will be delivered through Feb. FedEx will use the planes for routes such as Seattle to Ketchikan, Alaska, that are between 200 to 600 miles & where the terrain is difficult or the road structure is not sufficient for next day service. FedEx, in turn, will swap the ATRs with its much older Fokker F-27s. FedEx has 32 Fokker's in its fleet. The ATR 42 & 72 have a 12,000-pound payload & can accept palletized loads. Almost 30 of the 652 ATR planes in existence have been converted to cargo applications, according to ATR.
- Goodbye CharterAir ........
as the Fedex subsidiary has changed its name to "Air Expedite" as the company said this new name better reflected the division's expanded portfolio of air services. One offering the division points to is the company's point-to-point air freight service. Air Expedite is one of 5 divisions within Custom Critical, the FedEx unit that provides nonstop, time-specific, door-to-door delivery of urgent shipments within the U.S., Canada & Europe.
- Nude Air ........
as passengers aboard a May 3 chartered flight from Miami to Cancun, Mexico, dubbed "Naked-Air," will be free to drop their pants, shed their bras & underwear and move about the cabin au naturel. Castaways Travel, a Houston travel agency that specializes in "clothing-optional trips," is offering what it bills as the world's 1st all-nude flight for US$499, round-trip. "Once the aircraft reaches cruising altitude, you will be free to enjoy the flight clothes-free," the agency's website says. Seats aboard the chartered Boeing 727-200 jet are reserved for the 1st 170 passengers, & the destination is an all-inclusive "Nude Week" vacation at El Dorado Resort & Spa in Cancun. Castaways bills "Nude Week" as the 1st event of its kind to be held Mexico (perhaps the last). Guests at the resort on the Caribbean coast will only have to cover up when they are in the hotel's restaurants & reception areas. The bars are fair game for the naked. Among the activities planned for Nude Week are "Caesar's Rampage/Toga night, a special "Castaway" night a la the Tom Hanks' movie (no FedEx freighter said involved), Karaoke night, PJ night, body painting plus lots more "fun" themes & games," the website promises. Given the incredibly strict airport security now the rule in the U.S., passengers aboard "Naked-Air" should have it a bit easier -- none are likely to be carrying too much in their luggage. Sign of the airline times -- 1st to go was hot meals -- now clothes! Geeeeez -- do they put towels on the seats?
http://www.castawaystravel.com/menu.htm
- Volume. ........
Macau Int'l Airport has reported that the amount of air cargo handled during Dec. 2002 was 11,441 tons, or 41.95% more than it processed in Dec. 2001. Singapore's Changi Int'l Airport handled 1.64 million tons of cargo in 2003, a rise of 8.7% over 2001's total throughput, as last year's figures came close to the pre 9 -11 level of 1.68 million tons of freight handled in 2000.
Please click below for other sections:
Section A: Section: Trade, Financial & Inland News|
Section B: FF World Air News |
Section C: FF World Ocean News | Section
D: FF in Cyberspace |
Section E: The Forwarder/Broker World
Written from wire stories, the Associated Press,
Reuters, Hong Kong Shipping News Lloyds & other world sources.
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