By Karen E. Thuermer, AJOT

Just back from Transport Logistic 2005 and Europe Air Cargo Forum in Munich, Germany, the American Journal of Transportation reports the event was a success for those doing business in Europe.

Over 1,330 exhibitors from 51 countries ranging from ocean carriers, freight forwarders, trucking companies, airlines, seaports, airports, logistics providers, telematics system providers, rail providers and the like met with customers during the four-day event. Dominated by German transport/logistics providers of all types (as well as a good showing from the Dutch, Belgians, Scandinavians, Russians, and East Europeans), missing were the Americans. In the hall hosting Air Cargo Europe exhibitors, only Houston and Miami airports were present, along with Continental Airlines, World Airways, Polar Air Cargo, and the Boeing Company hailed from the US. Delta Air Logistics found its home at the Sky Team booth shared by its partner airlines. Even British Airways World Cargo and Lufthansa were missing. Yet, carriers and airports from the Middle East, particularly the United Arab Emirates, were widely present. As in the past, Emirates Sky Cargo took the dominant position inside the entrance to Hall 4 of the multi-building exhibition village.

Scores of forums were held within the exhibit halls spanning six buildings, including outdoor displays.

Air Cargo Europe

At Air Cargo Europe, issues regarding security were discussed with Jack Boisen, vice president, Continental Airlines Cargo, chairing the session. In his presentation he outlined the patchy progress of security measures on going in the United States. In a nutshell, he emphasized that government should pay for the cost of added security, not the airlines and not the airline's customers. "The security chain cannot absorb any more of these costs," he said.

Julian Hansen, chairman of TAPA EMEA and responsible for security of freight in transit at Intel Corporate, discussed the issue of freight theft. He pointed out that the annual cost in the U.S. alone for freight theft is $18 billion, with the global cost estimated as being 'anywhere between $30 billion and $60 billion."

Among other initiative, his organization has introduced its worldwide Freight Security Requirements Program.

Ron Cesana, project director, outline the benefits of Cargo 2000 that sets in place standards to boost reliability, scheduling and the transparency of all processes in the airfreight sector. This includes all steps of moving freight by air from the consignor to consignee, as well as enhancing customer service at all levels.

During Air Cargo Europe, Swiss WorldCargo and Swissport International, the airport ground services group, signed a global cooperation for a five-year contract covering cargo handling services at 25 major destinations. Among the airports named were Frankfurt, Singapore, Johannesburg, and most of the major US destinations served by Swiss International Air Lines.

The new agreement, which covers the handling of well over 200,000 tones of cargo a year, is an indication of the direction in which collaborations between airlines and their ground handlers are currently developing. Under this trend, local agreements are being increasingly replaced by closer and more extensive partnerships and longer-term contractual models.

"Our new global frame agreement with Swissport International is a landmark development for us in many respects," said Oliver Evans, Executive Vice President Chief Cargo Officer of Swiss International Air Lines. "With the standardized products and quality levels and the simplified workflows and interfaces it will provide, the new partnership will help us offer our customers the best possible cargo service product at highly competitive rates."

SkyTeam Cargo chose Air Cargo Europe to launch that alliance's new Variation Pharma product, which offers a range of products