Scanning the Horizon: 22-26 Feb
Cargo load factors remain strong despite Chinese New Year
Source: Air Cargo News
CLIVE Data Services reported that air cargo load factor was higher over the Chinese New Year period compared to previous years, when typically Chinese factories close for a two-week period during which the nation celebrates the most important holiday of the year. The new trend can be explained by the fact that many people could not travel back to see their families in China's provinces due to government restrictions related to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and were willing to continue working over the holiday period.
This year, thus, the factories continued working and Europe-bound air cargo volumes remained high, load factor dropping only 1% (from 94% to 93%).
The first COVAX vaccines have been delivered to Africa. Here's why it matters
Source: Reuters via WEF
The first 600K vaccines against COVID-19, organized under the COVAX initiative have reached Africa. The Astra Zeneca/Oxford vaccines produced by the Serum Institute of India will be administered as of 2 March in Ghana. Although the COVAX Facility plans to deliver nealry 2B vaccines this year worldwide (1.8 billion to poorer countries), there is a lot more work that needs to be done to guarantee vaccine equity, as so far from 210 million doses of vaccines administered, half we injected in only two countries and over 200 countries have not administered a single dose yet:
Vietjet eyes expansion in cargo business for 2021
Source: Payload Asia
Yet another passenger airline to strengthen its cargo operations is Vietnam's largest budget airline VietJet, which introduced new cargo services to meet the growing demand and optimize its fleet. The airline has also invested in a local tech-based delivery platform Swift247 targeting express delivery market and partnered with a global shipping and logistics company to set up a transcontinental transportation network.
VietJet achieved a striking 75% growth in cargo revenue last year and was one of the very few airlines to report a positive consolidated financial statement.
DHL Express gets creative with new aviation partnerships
Source: Freight Waves
The express delivery branch of the postal and logistics company Deutsche Post DHL Group joined forces with the German charter carrier for tourists the Condor and a start-up cargo division of the Latvian carrier SmartLynx to transport cargo in its European air network.
This is yet another example of small passenger airlines diversifying their business strongly affected by the crushed travel demand due to the global pandemic related restrictions. And the DHL Express has been contracting carriers to transport the ever-growing e-commerce shipments.
F-drones raises seed round funding with major shipping companies
Source: The STAT Trade Times
F-drones, the first company in the world to provide 24/7 commecial BVLOS drone deliveries to maritime ships has suceeded in raising its seed capital. It is developing a fully electric and autonomous drone which will be able to deliver 100kg payloads over 100km. The Singapore based campany has a strong ambition to transform the maritime operations and contribute to making this industry more sustainable and modern. The government support, namely, the Maritime and Port Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore certainy add to the credibility and the fast-paced growth of this start-up.
2 in 3 adults think race, ethnicity or national origin affects job opportunities
Source: World Economic Forum
The latest report from the World Economic Forum highlights that an average of 65% adult respondents believe someone's country, race, ethnicity or national origin impacts employment opportunities. When considering their own experience, over 1/3 agreed these factors impacted their personal employment opportunities:
Source: Ipsos-WEF
Last year's social unrest highlighted the issue worldwide and businesses are increasingly keen to address racial injustice - about 1/3 of Fortune 1000 companies made a public commitment to racial equity in 2020.