European's Open Skyway policy lags behind while Singapore's spring ahead
The sense of urgency one would have expected to implement a single sky for airline operations in Europe seems to have faded like Icelandic volcano ash.
According to Giovanni Bisignani, IATA's Director General and CEO, Europe needs to develop a system in line with international practices on dealing with volcanic ash. He indicated that Europe must also review its compensation regulations for flight cancellation and delays, which were applied in a way never intended by the original legislation.
Europe's overreaction to the Icelandic volcano cost their economy an estimated EUR 5 billion. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Association of European Airlines (AEA) remain frustrated by the inability of EU transport ministers to implement a single European sky for airline operations.
AEA secretary Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus noted that the least they expected from the minister's council was clarification on how claims and reimbursements can be made but they have received no clarification, no decision and no leadership, he concluded.
Following the 2007 open skies deal, the United States and Europe have signed a second stage civil aviation agreement that allows unlimited flights between the two areas. This new accord provides not only greater safety and security measures, but increased protection for US carriers from arbitrary restrictions on night flights at European airports. It also opens the door for further discussion about noise regulation and foreign investment in airlines.
Source: Air Cargo World
On the other hand, a CargoNews Asia article has confirmed that Singapore has now finalized open skies agreements (OSAs) with Barbados, Brazil, Jamaica and Rwanda at the International Civil Aviation Organization Air Service Negotiation conference 2010 (ICAN 2010) in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Singapore has already concluded an OSA with Peru in 2009.
Rwanda is Singapore's second agreement with an African country after its agreement with Zambia was concluded in 2008. This brings the total of OSA's for Singapore to 40.
Yap Ong Heng, Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, welcomes the recent developments. He has said, "Airlines operate in a challenging environment with dynamic markets and it is thus critical for countries to proactively put in place air service frameworks that enable airlines the commercial freedom to respond to market opportunities."
The OSA's increase not only tourism, but trade as well. Without restrictions on capacity, frequency or routings, OSA's allow carriers the full flexibility to introduce services when market opportunities arise. They also benefit on traffic to and from third countries to improve the commercial viability of their operations.
Revised Incoterms - Trade Terms
In 1936, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) first introduced a set of trade terms accepted by governments, legal authorities and the logistics industry called incoterms. Since their inception, these terms have been periodically revised in response to changes in global business practice and usage.
The ICC will introduce its modified incoterms on January 1, 2011. Beginning in September, the United States Council for International Business (USCIB) is slated to host a series of seminars to explain the changes. USCIB members include professional service firms and leading US-based global companies.
According to Peter Robinson, President and CEO of the USCIB, the revisions consider the post 9/11 cargo security regulations and new Institute Cargo Insurance Clauses. He says it is critically important that longtime users get up-to-speed on the revisions and it is even more important that those just getting started in international trade understand how to use these crucial rules to avoid disputes and unnecessary costs.
The increasing use of incoterms rules in domestic US commerce is another important development, especially since the elimination of shipment and delivery terms from the Uniform Commercial Code in 2004.
Further seminar information is available at the following link: http://www.iccincoterms2010.org/
Source: AirCargoWorld
Jordan lions find new home
Aramex, AIT's overseas partner in the Middle East, recently shipped two lions and three hyenas from Amman, Jordan to the Lionsrock Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa.
This marked the company's second lion delivery to Lionsrock this year and was organized on behalf of the Princess Alia Foundation. The 2,720-acre Lionsrock sanctuary in Bethlehem, South Africa is a former game lodge where rare white lions were bred for hunting.
Acknowledging the logistics support, the foundation said, "Our gratitude goes to Aramex who helped to
arrange the transfer and sponsored the flight of these animals from Jordan to South Africa. Without their generosity, support and heart we would not have seen this happy ending."
Aramex has also become the first company in the Middle East to implement solar solutions with the installation of solar-powered lights at its facilities in Jebel Ali, Dubai. The project is expected to save an equivalent of three million watts of power and reduce carbon emissions by 26 tons annually. Raji Hattar, Aramex's chief sustainability compliance officer, said: "We have partnered with PTL Solar in this project as we were particularly seeking solar lighting solutions that are completely integrated, self-contained, waterproof and compact."
Source: Air Cargo World
PREPARING FOR TAKEOFF: A THOUGHT TO PONDER
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