Luxair Cargo is confident it will handle over 800,000 tonnes of cargo in 2016 helped by increased rotations from Qatar Airways and other customers expanding, business development and contract manager, Antoine Decker tells Air Cargo Week (ACW).
Describing the year so far, Decker says the Luxembourg Airport based handling agent has seen three per cent growth despite February falling by an expected 4.5 per cent.
For the rest of the year, existing customers have expansion plans, which Decker says means Luxair Cargo is confident it will handle over 800,000 tonnes in 2016. “This positive outlook and strong growth however are on the other hand challenging as our warehouse space and infrastructures have be reshuffled and new staff have to be trained and integrated into the existing teams without compromising Safety and Time – Cost – Quality.”
To cater for increasing volumes, Luxair Cargo is building additional build-up stations in its warehouse as well as expanded unit load devices facilities.
Decker tells ACW: “Due to the fact that all of our carrier customers operate with full freighters through LUX, the number of oversized and heavy shipments is permanently increasing. A second outsized cargo shelter is being built during the second half of 2016 which increases the total available area by 50 per cent.”
Another area for growth is the home carrier, Cargolux Airlines International’s links with China through its dual hub at Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport.
Decker says Luxair Cargo has benefitted from Cargolux operating seven freighters a week between Luxembourg and Zhenghzou, and Asia represents more than 40 per cent of volumes handled in Luxembourg so the airline increasing market share will bring benefits.
Luxair Cargo customers have also benefitted from the pharma and healthcare hub being good distribution practices (GDP) certified. Airport operator, lux-Airport has also signed memorandum of understandings with Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals and Eastern Air Logistics to create GDP-secured trade lanes to Hong Kong and Shanghai, respectively.
Decker comments: “For the customers, a GDP certified trade lane is safe to use as they have a guarantee that all processes are in compliance with the high standards of a temperature controlled supply chain.”
Luxair Cargo is considering International Air Transport Association (IATA) Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) Pharma certification, to be evaluated in 2017.
He says Luxair Cargo would apply for IATA CEIV certification it is of benefit to customers, commenting: “Our aim is not to have all possible certifications on hand but to provide the best and most safe handling processes to our customers and their own clients, the shippers.”
