Aviation in Russia, along with the country’s economy, had a difficult year in 2015, with imports noticeably decreasing, but domestic traffic has been better, Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport tells Air Cargo Week.
The airport says sanctions, falling oil prices and the strength of the US dollar made 2015 challenging for the Russian economy and for air cargo, and the airport says companies are trying to reduce expenses.
Moscow Cargo, the cargo and mail ground handler at Sheremetyevo, took over all handling for Aeroflot, which after a difficult first month has now become a successful partnership.
Sheremetyevo says: “In 2015 Moscow Cargo took part in Aeroflot tender and was selected as a single provider of ground handling services of cargo and mail transportation for the company.”
“The first month after the start of servicing all Aeroflot flights was very difficult and busy but Moscow Cargo managed the task. As for now Moscow Cargo successfully handles almost 20 per cent more cargo on Aeroflot flights than a year ago.”
So far in 2016, domestic traffic has growth steadily and airlines are working on compensating for reduced imports, something Moscow Cargo is trying to help with by minimising transfer times.
“Moscow Cargo provides the shortest transfers, handles up to 6 cargo aircrafts at the same time, develops the special goods transfer processes (PER, HEA). Airlines and airfreight forwarders are very interested in transit mail processing using airfreight bills.”
As part of a joint project with AirBridgeCargo Airlines, Moscow Cargo has put new refrigerating chambers designed for temperature sensitive pharmaceuticals into operations, which passed GDP validation on 21 March.
It explains: “The refrigerating chambers are equipped with a modern temperature control system and storage conditions monitoring with temperature data online-control available via web-application from anywhere in the world.”
Moscow Cargo is also building a new cargo terminal, designed to handle 380,000 tonnes a year, which will include an automated system of cargo storage, conveyor lines with access to the airfield, temperature controlled storage in packaging, automatic sorting of courier cargo with the integrated size and weight measurement system and automatic identification systems are provided in the new terminal.
“This terminal is unique for Moscow Air Cluster. The overall area of the terminal will exceed 40,000 m2. The terminal is being planned to put into full operation in the second quarter of 2017.”
