Air India has been operating charter flights  between USA and India to repatriate its citizens who have been held up getting back home by travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has also been selling tickets to the public.

USA Department of Transportation (DOT) says the Indian government and regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have not allowed US airlines to operate same kind of  flights to India, creating what DOT termed “a competitive disadvantage for US carriers”.

Right now when it comes to ULDs the modern day boxcars, we stay in touch with Bob Rogers a person that has thought about these things for most of his life examining all possibilities as the spirit and guiding force of ULD Cares.

As he speaks you can imagine if Bob had his way, he might even live in a can and listen to the patter of rain on the tin roof as he thinks his next big thoughts.

The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) recognized Jill Maschmeier who serves as the National Carriers, Inc. Director of Safety/Compliance, with the  “TCA Safety Professional of the Year 2020 Clare C. Casey Award “.

Italy was sitting in the middle of the biggest pandemic in 100 years, when we spoke to Antonella Straulino , Francesco Parisi, Massimo Roccasecca and Jean-Claude Delen about the events happening around us on 11th of March. It was just before the “Ides of March” 2020 and COVID19 was already ravaging the country and the continent, but the shocking numbers that were gradually becoming apparent had not reached the levels that scared us later on. Italy had just entered the harshest lockdown in its recent history and the rest of Europe was about to follow suit. We shall not dwell too long on the concept: we believe all countries are aware of the consequences by now, the escalating numbers having obliged to open up even the most skeptical eyes.. But things in Italy are opening up now, as the story continues in this  exclusive report from Turin .

While most of the conversation lately has centered on what the world of airlines,forwarders and other players in air cargo will look like moving ahead here  are some thoughts from Dan Muscatello an expert in airport  Cargo and Logistics strategy and planning. Dan brings an impressive portfolio of more than 40 years of experience, in both the public and private sectors. He has been a development strategist for both the business and physical facility planning of air cargo complexes, and the integration of ancillary and supporting logistics services that make them operationally and financially feasible.

CNS Partnership Stands Supreme

Here is a simple fact. All of the air cargo industry conferences are toast for 2020. And despite the noble effort of TIACA  and others including their new and mighty German partners to try and salvage Air Cargo Forum slated for Miami later this year, it looks like the next best chance to gather to meet, greet, network and do some serious business will be CNS Partnership Conference slated for April 20-21 2021 in Miami at The Marriott Turnbury.

Qatar Beats The Bullies

Anybody that remembers the children’s book, “The Little Engine That Could” might recall a rhythmic verse in that lovely tome as the “little engine” at work pulled an overpowering load of toys up and over a hill and puffing out a chant,

“I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!”

Word June 4, that Qatar Airways from Doha, Qatar has stepped up and now is the largest carrier of passengers and air cargo flying anywhere in the world, raises the question, is there any challenge that this inventive, determined airline cannot overcome, or at least figure out a way to pilot itself through?

With all of the difficulties people are facing in our industry these days , here is some great and hopeful news.

Jessica Tyler, will assume the role as President of American Airlines Cargo.

The announcement expected in a few days will see Rick Elieson current AA Cargo President capping a three- year tour of dramatic change for cargo at the carrier moving on to work his magic for AAs frequent flier program.

Jessica Tyler it should be mentioned will be the first woman President in the 76-year history of AA Cargo, and also FT learned she will additionally have expanded responsibilities over American's passenger operations.

A great & inspiring story!

How about we extend a quarantine forever on the slew of meaningless air cargo award events?

We have been thinking  about awards as the air cargo award party bonanza threatens to begin anew post pandemic after this global COVID-19 lockup ends.

Face it, the day for those under value bow-tie dinners that basically fill the coffers of sponsoring publications and organizations is over.

As the world celebrates air cargo, moving all manner of PPE and other consignments aboard otherwise grounded passenger aircraft we share some recollections from the person that covered the first great air cargo movement in history and turned the world on to the possibilities of "Flying Boxcars" as an alternative way to ship freight. Here from our files is the late Richard Malkin at 105 years of age recalling his coverage of the 1948 Berlin Airlift.

Who sends messages by Morse Code and speaks to contacts overseas by Short-Wave Radio?  In 1938, no one but Speed Gibson, boy hero who is always ready to climb aboard a Pan Am Clipper flying boat on the way to another journey to adventure!

“The COVID-19 Pandemic has challenged us at this point on a sustained level as no time in history, but in our line of work we have remained flexible and kept our team on point to be both inventive and to be in close touch with our airline partners.

“The best surprise is no surprise so our top priority is transparency every step of the way before, during and after the lockdown.

“I am very impressed with the flexibility of our team to work remotely and also the support of our service partners in seeking alternative methods to keep the supply chains open.

“Now as we move forward we redouble our effort to be there for our partners every step of the way.”

ATC Aviation President Ingo Zimmer could barely have imagined (as could any of us) the uproar to business and our very lives during this global pandemic of 2020.

Here for the COVID-19 world during Mid May 2020 , we offer the opinion of where we are as an air cargo industry and where we are likely to land from some people who are thankfully involved in one way or another and still have it going on as thought leaders.

While everybody is masking up to go outside, elsewhere others are attempting to unmask just what our transportation world might look like in the future. One determined freight forwarder, EMO Trans Chairman Joachim “Jo” Frigger, insists that “keeping it simple is how logistics works best.”

In our transportation business Bill Boesch has done it all as President of Cargo at American Airlines , and before that at Pan Am Clipper Cargo and Seaboard World. 

Ram Menen is the person most responsible for delivering Emirates Sky Cargo as world power before retiring five years ago. All three of our participants here are active today either leading, teaching or advising logistics professionals around the world.

In the case of Jo Frigger ,  the hands on leader of EMO Trans Global Logistics exhibits a solid plan, as that privately held company continues to  weather the pandemic , serving the global market while planning to move ahead briskly as the world reopens. 

Here in a freewheeling delivery of observations and thoughts these doers and dreamers, plus a cameo appearance from the great Issa Baluch, move the marble, but leave the outcome to us.

When you think about it, the Coronavirus has advanced our imagination more in the past few weeks than in several generations since the Berlin Airlift of 1948 first advanced the notion of what air cargo might accomplish.

As example, Airbus said last week that it is looking at a system for removal of passenger seats and loading of cargo directly onto main deck cabin floors.

Given the prospect of a slow return of the passenger business, can cargo and passengers co-inhabiting the same deck be far behind?

Into The Glyn IATA Looks Ahead

Glyn Hughes, IATA Global Head of Cargo for nearly the past six years has stabilized that position by being likeable, knowledgeable and someone you can talk to on a wide variety of subjects and come away impressed that here is someone who is a straight shooter.

That is no small feat as IATA Cargo, with a big diverse and at times divided membership, has gone through several years of change at the top.

Dixie Chicks On Truckers Menu

Today when a random act of kindness and caring can often make the difference, Donna Mullins is leading a brave band of ladies that venture out with face masks, rubber gloves and proper social distancing at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport (HIJA) in Atlanta, where they have been delivering food to truckers who had nowhere else to go.

There is another trait that Italy and India have in common: a sort of fatalism in life, mingled with fortitude, pride, hyperbole and endurance. This is the recipe of so many Italian operas, including one that has never been written. Those who read the New York Times may have heard of the royal family of Oudh

Virgin To Tel Aviv/ Qatar Down Under / Pasi to Finnair 

Remembering Jack Zembeck