Saudia Cargo tonnage grows 20%

Saudia Cargo reported that its cargo tonnage in the first quarter of 2024 grew 20% year over year. The carrier reported a 19% YoY increase in total specialized product tonnage in Q1 2024, according to a May 17 release from Saudia Cargo . It reported: Fashion tonnage grew 85% YoY; Express tonnage grew 9% YoY; and E-commerce tonnage grew 34% YoY. Saudia Cargo saw a significant rise — 38% YoY — in cargo operations on passenger aircraft operated by parent company Saudia , according to the release. Saudia, formerly Saudi Arabian Airlines, ranked 34th on Air Cargo Next ’s Freight 50 list of top cargo airlines, flying 2 billion cargo tonne kilometers in 2022. Collaboration boosts March figures The carrier this year posted its highest March tonnage since 2017, according to the release. Chief Executive Teddy Zebitz attributed this in large part to the carrier’s recent collaboration with Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) and Cainiao . “Our strategic partnerships with Worldwide Flight Services and Cainiao Group have transformed cross-border e-commerce logistics, amplifying customer service and industry innovation,” Zebitz said in the release. “This launch of our collaboration [meets] the surging demand for top-tier organization in cross-border e-commerce across the Middle East and European markets, while also facilitating seamless logistics solutions and solidifying our position as a vital bridge between East and West trade.” [caption id="attachment_57143220" align="alignright" width="300"] Saudia Cargo, Cainiao and Worldwide Flight Services leaders gather at Cainiao's eHub at Liege Airport on March 1 to launch their collaboration. (Courtesy/Saudia Cargo)[/caption] Saudia Cargo, WFS and Cainiao have been collaborating at Cainiao’s e-commerce hub at Liege Airport (LGG) in Belgium to optimize logistics processes by streamlining operations and adopting innovation, according to a March 1 release. Key service-level agreements include: Three-hour transit for e-commerce from the ramp to the parcel sorting center; BUP release within three hours from actual time of arrival; and Truck handling in less than 90 minutes. A BUP, or Bulk Unitization Program, is a unit load device (ULD) built by a forwarder or shipper and sent as a ready-to-ship unit to the airline. To support cross-border e-commerce across the Middle East and European markets, the collaboration includes freighter flights from Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) to Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (RUH) and LGG, according to the March release. HKG-LGG service is five times per week, while HKG-RUH is a daily service, a Saudia Cargo spokesperson told Air Cargo Next . HKG and LGG ranked first and 27th respectively on Air Cargo Next ’s top 50 cargo airports list. HKG had a throughput of 4.2 million tonnes in 2022 and LGG had a throughput of 1.1 million tonnes. Innovation at LGG hub The collaboration has also bolstered the logistics capacity of the LGG hub, according to the March release, with three temperature-controlled facilities: A 205-square-meter space, with temperatures between 2 C and 8 C; A 140-square-meter space, between 2 C and 8 C, specifically for BUPs; and A 400-square-meter space, between 15 C and 25 C. The hub also has border control post certification, enabling the transport of fresh goods and pharmaceuticals, the release stated. The companies are using Internet of Things (IoT) technology to integrate automated guided vehicles (AGV), advanced personal digital assistants (PDA), digital dashboards and live tracking into a single system at the hub. “The AGVs are deployed in the high-density storage zone in the air cargo station to automate the pickup and drop-off of trucking pallets with algorithms developed by Cainiao,” the spokesperson said. “Warehouse employees use the Cainiao LEMO PDA, a lightweight, handheld operation terminal independently designed and developed by Cainiao to digitalize the flow of goods. “IOT technologies are already deployed in the warehouse to enhance traceability and efficiency,” the spokesperson said. “For example, the warehouse is equipped with radio frequency identification detectors so the cargo will be identified automatically when going into the warehouse, to further digitalize the flow of goods.” Air Cargo Next has launched a business directory listing cargo carriers, service providers and technology companies. Each category has sub-categories, allowing users to find the right business to meet their needs. Users can also add their businesses to the directory and claim existing entries. Visit the Air Cargo Next Directory here.

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