Together with ABDA Aviation Sdn Bhd  leisure cargois going to show flag at the 24th International Air Cargo Forum and Exhibition. A well planned and perfectly designed stand in an outstanding location in the exhibition hall is going to provide ideal conditions for “networking” and competent information. Management members of both partner-companies are going to be present during most of the time on 4th, 5th and  6th of November, 2008 in the Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Air Cargo Forum was created as a bi-annual summit of the entire airfreight industry by the American Association of Automotive Engineers in 1960. After TIACA – The International Air Cargo Association – was established as the real mouthpiece of all concerned along the transportation chain – “cargo by air” – and the organization took the forum over. One of the rules created early already is that the venue rotates around the world hopping from continent to continent. High calibre actors in our industry are speaking during the conference, expert workshops are held with panel discussions and also among the attendees are always numerous top executives of airlines, logistics providers, airports and handling companies. Of course do government institutions participate as well as the aircraft and IT industry. IATA will come up with news; security will be a major subject as will the fuel hype and e-freight. No doubt; the Forum is the summit of the airfreight-industry.

We will talk to customers like global freight forwarders who regularly delegate their head office management to the event. But we will also see top-executives of the established and start-up carriers. Since this time the forum is taking place in KUL where one of our strongest partners and associates has its home office – it is an outstanding opportunity to close ranks and present the unique “virtual airline” to demonstrate strength as well as success and to seek ways jointly to master the endless number of problems the airfreight industry is confronted with these days.
We look forward to welcoming you at the leisure cargo – ABDA booth number   312 in the Exhibition hall 1 & 2; be it just for a cup of coffee or to discuss one or the other matter of mutual interest. See you then !

Guenter F. Mosler

A warm welcome in the leisure cargo family to a young dynamic airline based in Monterey, northern Mexico. Aladia Aviacion is the flying wing of a major travel organization offering budget flights throughout Mexico itself and some international routes into the US. The start-up carrier is positioned in the low cost segment of the Mexican tourist market and its fleet presently consists of three Boeing B 757 200 with a cargo capacity of three to five tons – depending on pax-load factor and weather conditions.

Our Managing Director, Ralf-Rainer Auslaender and the Regional Director Erik Fraenkel based in San José/Costa Rica finalized negotiations with ALADIA CEO Andres Engels earlier this year; meanwhile the operation is in full swing.

Air cargo connections between “the world” so to say and the north of Mexico greatly depended on US-hubs and Mexico City – but with the economical development and increased demand the volume grew steeply and led to congestions and delays.

Again – like in several other markets – leisure cargo created a practical system, combining domestic with long haul European flights – plus a refined road feeder network inside the country remarkably improving cargo service levels for the mentioned region. Key intercontinental airport is Cancun on the Caribbean peninsula of Yucatan where air berlin and several other leisure cargo carriers offer high frequency transatlantic connections.

Eric Ginebra, President of Caribe Cargo - our GSA in Mexico and the Dominican Republic was the driving force in the innovative trade lane. He is proud that in close cooperation with Aladia, with the executives of OMA – the airport organization running 13 north central airports, a selected handful of truckers and the airfreight agents the system is very useful to shippers and consignees. And that the capacities offered are in high demand and close to 100 % utilization already.

Guenter F. Mosler

One of the three B 577s presently operating under the new logo in our colorful kaleidoscope – ALADIA based in Monterey/Mexico. The fleet operates between several of the Mexican economic clusters and the United States. ALADIA-leisure cargo key connecting point is Cancun.

These two gentlemen fixed the agreement to the benefit of both parties – and the foreign trade community in major parts of Mexico; Andres Engels CEO of ALADIA, right and our Managing Director Ralf-Rainer Auslaender. Best possible mutual understanding through personal meetings. This scenery is high above Monterey.

The simple fact that the recent press conference in Monterey was so well visited documents how important international air cargo connections are for the Mexican trade and industry – not only in the capital. The picture shows the three teams offering the innovative “airlift”; OMA, the port authority, leisure cargo and Caribe Cargo of Mexico.

“Showing Flag in Izmir” – leisure cargo invited Agents

Turkey is changing its priorities since a number of years already. Several different industries have developed faster than in other countries in Europe and around the Mediterranean. The nations economy and foreign trade are booming. Roads, railroad-routes, ports and airports are busy and even congested once in a while; it is perfect timing now to show flag and speak-up for leisure cargo. Area-Sales Manager Zeki Gueler and his crew carefully planned and organized an agents promotion recently and all 32 airfreight agencies around attended the function – either the owners themselves or the respective aircargo product management.

The program was well composed and the location ideally selected – the prestigious Izmir Moevenpick Hotel. A professionally composed power point presentation of an acceptable half an hour length followed a welcome cocktail. After a question and answer session the guests stayed for an international several courses dinner in an outstanding ambience and with tasteful decor in a separate room on the banquet floor of the hotel.

“We have not only presented our product line, as well as the people being active in several hubs of leisure cargo; I am convinced that we were able to also create a new kind of personal and friendly level of understanding and confidence between the customers and our own people. And last but not least we could feel that the cargo-family of Izmir was enjoying the event also as a forum to exchange business and private opinion – as can be seen on the pictures.” – resumes Zeki Gueler. “We will do it again; maybe also in other parts of our extensive market.”

leisure cargo – management was represented by Operations Director, Christian Weidener, who had several opportunities to comment new details of ownership of our virtual airline and the scope of mandate carriers under the umbrella - in private conversations with some of the prominent guests.

Guenter F. Mosler

leisure cargo extending scope of services

After thorough research and feasibility studies a cooperation agreement has been signed these days to add an “express – service” to the leisure cargo product line. The partner is “time:matters” a subsidiary of Lufthansa Cargo AG with headoffice in Neu Isenburg near the airport in Frankfurt.

Air-Berlin flights and a number of key airports have been selected for the starting period; the service will gradually be extended to the entire network of the Air-Berlin family – so to say – to finally cover the world of leisure cargo.

Time:matters is undoubtly “high end” in the express market offering same day, emergency deliveries – always ready to take the fire-brigade part in cases when a certain supply chain had a weak or slow link. The customers of time:matters are shippers and consignees in high valued or otherwise extremely time-conscious fields of global trade, manufacturing or scientific research for example. Airlines are regular clients with their aircraft on ground shipments, freight forwarders – and other courier- and express labels.

time:matters is top in every respect – and the partnership with leisure cargo is confirming the high quality standards the “virtual airline” is offering the market – on one hand and the 19 airlines being managed under the umbrella.

The global trade press has positively reported about the recently commenced cooperation and the fact - one more time - that leisure cargo is widely considered respectfully as a dedicated cargo carrier – although doing the job without an own fleet.

Both partners have begun to coordinate the respective IT-solutions to even improve speed and reliability of the service. Christian Weidener Director Operations in leisure cargo is confident that this prime cooperation product is

going to soon be an integrated part of the groups´ scheme of dedicated – “ sharp on time” services.

Guenter F. Mosler


time:matters packages are typically of small size and weight – they are mostly bulk-loaded because of the critical time-frame and they do require continuous special attention throughout their life time and under custody of leisure cargo.

In general most of the airfreight moved by leisure cargo is time critical anyway because the 19 airlines – either in the low cost or holiday segment of the business – are extremely conscious about the ground- and turnaround time of the operating fleet. Most of the short- and medium haul routes are bulk-loaded like this Skyeurope flight in Amsterdam.

Last minute action in an aircraft to aircraft ramp operation typical for Air-Berlin. Service quality check on the tarmac. Here – Christian Weidener, center, looking after certain procedure details together with local handling management.
Time is money indeed.

Aviapartner

It is commonly known that Frankfurt is a key station in the leisure cargo network when it comes to the handling of perishables. This includes tons of luxury gourmet commodities to many destinations in Europe as well as in Asia, imports of flowers as well as fruits and vegetables. But probably the most urgent export cargo from this key airport is a variety of newspaper, magazines and journals to serve German speaking vacationers somewhere in the sun. Who wants to read outdated newspapers - ?

This alone demands an extremely accurate ground handling job – and there are many more commodities coming in or going out to or from the big ten or so among the global logistics providers as well as numerous top agencies - smaller but not easy going at all. This is an extremely competitive market with far over a hundred carriers right in the middle of the European air cargo cake.

leisure cargo with its 19 airlines and a total tonnage of 45.000 tons last year is not among the high weight airlines of the world – so an ideal partner for the ground handling at a place like Frankfurt must not be the biggest one either.

But the best one.

After thorough studies, evaluations and negotiations Aviapartner Cargo was selected by leisure cargo, the respective long term contract was signed in late 2007 by Christian Weidener, Director Operations, starting January 01, 2008.

At the same time Ralf Riksen and the sales- and service team moved from the old promises in a building of the former giant handling company Fraport Cargo Services into the smaller Aviapartner office complex adjacent to the warehouse.

“Short distances, quick communication, personal touch; an outstanding set-up helping to provide an even better overall service quality to our clients. This is exactly what we consider our marketing strategy – and rest assured – we even try harder in the future” – stated Ralf Riksen in his informal table speech.

leisure cargo does not make quick from-the-hip decisions; this one was well planned and it proves the right one economically and service-wise.

Here are a couple of shots of the opening party attended by about 150 agents, interline partners and other business friends. Outstanding barbecue, salads and sweets – but a beer of course as well and nicely served soft drinks. An event one likes to remember.

The successful FRA-sales & service team – from left to right: Michael Barthel, Alexander Schmidt, Patricia Reuter, Sarah Scheibe, Wolf-Ruediger Johl, in charge for the ground operation and Ralf Riksen, Sales Manager for the region.

Not really getting married – but the two partners trust each other and enjoy the combination of leisure cargo and Aviapartner in Frankfurt. Ralf Riksen presenting a bouquet of flowers to Oliver Riedel, Manager Frankfurt, center and Andreas Haeder, his Assistant in running the operational side. Appreciation and the will to jointly do an excellent job marks the momentum during the house warming party.		Keith Purdom, Cargo Manager Central and Southern Europe for Aviapartner welcoming the new partner under his roof. Right, seated, is Ralf-Rainer Auslaender, Managing Director leisure cargo based in Duesseldorf.
Ready to go and even try harder.