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President’s Letter – June, 2014.

Posted on | by Brian Bartolotta, President

Hello, everyone, and thanks for taking a moment to stop and read this letter.

As summer approaches and we look to warmer weather and more time outdoors, I'd like to take a moment to look back on May and look forward to what changes are coming to your Association this summer and into the fall.

IACAC Affinity Partners:  We're looking for some.

The board has discussed additional ways that we can deliver value to our members, and we are looking for partners to pioneer a vendor affinity program.  We've been fortunate to have the support of companies in the past, and we would really like to make a push for this over the summer months.

If you are a company who does business with air cargo companies and provides goods or services, we would love to talk.  We would create a custom URL to your company's site that is only accessible via the members-only section of our site, insuring that only our members can take advantage of those partnerships.

In exchange, we are willing to provide additional promotional consideration and opportunities through our social network channels, communication and on our site.

If you are interested reaching a growing and vibrant industry, please contact us at info@iacac.com for more information.

IACAC Luncheons: Past and future.

First, our thanks to the Chicago Department of Aviation and their Assistant Commissioner Frank Grimaldi, Jr., for coming and speaking to us in May. As anyone who has to drive around the airport for a living knows firsthand, it's a mess out there right now and we'd love to see the light at the end of the tunnel, even if we need to know that it's months or years off before we see it.  There's no question that Chicago is focused on growth, and it is an exciting time to be in the industry.

In June, we're doing our first networking luncheon in a long time.  Some have put the number five years in the air, and I will defer to those who have been around longer that the number is close to accurate.  Registration is open for the event, visit https://iacac.com/event-registration/?ee=22 to sign up.

Traditionally we take off the months of July and August.  There are no scheduled events for July, and August is when we have our annual golf outing on August 12th.  Registration is also open for that at https://iacac.com/event-registration/?ee=21.  We're looking for golfers and sponsors and both will have a great day at a tremendous course, Bridges of Poplar Creek in Hoffman Estates.  There will also be raffles with prizes for the winners and proceeds benefit the Dennis J. Speck Scholarship Fund.  Watch this space and our other communication because details and requirements will be announced over the summer.

When we get back to luncheons in the fall, we're planning a panel discussion in September (our tentative vision is a panel of Middle Eastern carriers since right now we have two carriers flying to ORD with a third beginning in August), Brandon Fried, Executive Director of the Airforwarders Association is slated to speak in October, November is our general business meeting and December is the holiday reception.  When you summarize the balance of a year in one sentence, it makes you realize just how quickly time passes.

Starting in September, as we announced last month and will keep reminding people, luncheon pricing will change.  It will be $25.00 for members who register in advance and $30.00 for non-members and those who show up without an RSVP (including members).  You can pay in advance by credit card, or by check or cash on the day of the luncheon at the announced price.  Paying by credit card the day of, however, will continue to require payment of a $2.00 surcharge to offset the card processing fees.

Chicago as a hub.

This week, Customs and Border Protection in Chicago held their Trade Day and I was talking with someone who had a long conversation with a CBP chief about Chicago's importance as a global hub.  I was reminded that from Chicago, carriers reach us in one flight from Asia, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.  Thinking about us in the context of a transshipment hub (when Chicago is really thought of us a destination that feeds the Midwest marketplace), completely changes the logic behind what Chicago means.  Imagine, sixteen hours from Hong Kong, change carriers and the next morning, you're in a South American market.  The possibilities are amazing.

Alaska Airlines Inaugurates Service Between Anchorage and Phoenix and Anchorage and Las Vegas

Posted on | by Scott Case

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Dec. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Airlines is inaugurating flights between Anchorage and Phoenix today and between Anchorage and Las Vegas on Dec. 19.

"We're pleased to introduce nonstop service to the exciting destinations of Las Vegas and Phoenix for our customers in the state of Alaska," said Marilyn Romano, the airline's regional vice president in Alaska. "Alaska is the only airline offering nonstop flights from Anchorage to Las Vegas."

Flights will operate on each route three times a week. Anchorage-Las Vegas service will be offered year-round while Anchorage-Phoenix flights will operate seasonally through April 19, 2014.

"It's always a pleasure to welcome new service to McCarran and Las Vegas," said Rosemary Vassiliadis, director of aviation at McCarran International Airport. "And during this time of year, those taking advantage of nonstop flights from Anchorage will enjoy not only our city's great dining and entertainment, but warmer temperatures as well."

Summary of new service:

Start date City pair Departs Arrives Frequency
Dec. 18 Anchorage-Phoenix 8:25 a.m. 4:15 p.m. Mon, Wed, Sat
Dec. 18 Phoenix-Anchorage 5:15 p.m. 9:20 p.m. Mon, Wed, Sat
Dec. 19 Anchorage-Las Vegas 10:20 a.m. 4:35 p.m. Thu, Fri, Sun
Dec. 19 Las Vegas-Anchorage 5:35 p.m. 10:10 p.m. Thu, Fri, Sun
All times based on local time zones

To book and for complete fare rules, visit www.alaskaair.com or call 1-800-ALASKAAIR (800-252-7522 or TTY/TDD line 800-392-0228).

Alaska Airlines, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group (NYSE:   ALK), together with its partner regional airlines, serves nearly 100 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. Alaska Airlines has ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Network Carriers" in the J.D. Power and Associates North America Airline Satisfaction StudySM for six consecutive years from 2008 to 2013. For reservations, visit www.alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines Newsroom at www.alaskaair.com/newsroom.

 

SOURCE  Alaska Airlines

RELATED LINKS http://www.alaskaair.com

Delta Air Lines on Cell Phone use in Flights

Posted on | by Scott Case

ATLANTA, Dec. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE:   DAL) today issued the following memo from CEO Richard Anderson to its 80,000 employees worldwide.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090202/DELTALOGO )

To:

 

 Delta Colleagues Worldwide

 
From:

 

 Richard Anderson

 
Subject: Voice Calls in Flight

Last week the U.S. Federal Communications Commission voted to seek public comment in consideration of lifting its ban on in-flight cell phone use. Delta will not allow cellular calls or internet-based voice communications onboard Delta or Delta Connection flights.

Our customer research and direct feedback tell us that our frequent flyers believe voice calls in the cabin would be a disruption to the travel experience. In fact, a clear majority of customers who responded to a 2012 survey said they felt the ability to make voice calls onboard would detract from – not enhance – their experience. Delta employees, particularly our in-flight crews, have told us definitively that they are not in favor of voice calls onboard.

Delta has moved quickly when technological and regulatory breakthroughs provide opportunities to make flying better for our customers. That is why we were the first to file our plan with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to allow customers to use portable electronic devices below 10,000 feet. Similarly, if the FCC lifts its ban on cellular use in flight, Delta will move quickly to enable customers to use text, email and other silent data transmission services gate to gate.

Even as technology advances and as regulations are changed, we will not only consider what we can do, but as importantly we will also consider what is right for our customers and our employees. This is yet another example of how we continue to have your back and how we also rely on your professionalism and experience to guide our actions and decisions.

Thanks for all you do every day for our customers, our colleagues and our business.

About Delta Air Lines Delta Air Lines serves more than 160 million customers each year. Delta was named by Fortune magazine as the most admired airline worldwide in its 2013 World's Most Admired Companies airline industry list, topping the list for the second time in three years. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 315 destinations in 58 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs nearly 80,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 700 aircraft. The airline is a founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance and participates in the industry's leading trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 15,000 daily flights, with hubs in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita. Delta is investing more than $3 billion in airport facilities and global products, services and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Additional information is available on delta.com, Twitter @Delta, Google.com/+Delta, Facebook.com/delta and Delta's blog takingoff.delta.com.

 

SOURCE  Delta Air Lines

DHL Contributes $35 Million in State-of-the Art Chicago Facility

Posted on | by Scott Case

DHL Global Forwarding preps for new Chicago-based facility

By Jeff Berman, Group News Editor
December 13, 2013

Earlier this month, DHL Global Forwarding, a subsidiary of global express delivery and logistics services provider DHL, held a groundbreaking ceremony for a $35 million, Chicago-based facility at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

The new facility, which is DHL Global Forwarding’s largest building in the U.S., is comprised of 53,000 square-feet of office space and 423,030 square-feet of warehouse space for the unit’s 500-plus employees.

DHL officials said that this facility will serve as a Container Freight Station designated by carriers to receive cargo to be loaded into containers, and a Foreign Trade zone, which acts as a secure area under the supervision of U.S. Customs and Border Protection that is considered outside the Customs territory of the U.S. for the purpose of duty payment.

And DHL added the facility is expected to be Technology Asset Protection Association (TAP-A) certified, with the expectation that it will be globally recognized as a leader in cargo theft protection. DHL Global Forwarding will work with its registrar to have the facility ready for TAP-A certification at the time of the facility’s opening in November 2014.

DHL Global Forwarding Vice President U.S. Central Region Rob Betzer said in an interview that there were various drivers for DHL to roll out this new facility.

“An effective supply change solution demands maximum efficiency across import and export processing of both air and ocean cargo,” he said. “This new facility allows DHL Global Forwarding to create the optimal flow coupled with Free Trade Zone options and a state-of-the-art certified cold chain center of excellence. The decision to launch this new facility was based on our long term growth and sustainability,” noting that the new facility has been a strategic initiative for DHL Global Forwarding for roughly two years.

In terms of specific services this facility will provide for shippers, Betzer said it will offer all aspects of international air and ocean freight, including consolidation services, as well as continuing to offer a premium, time definite heavy weight U.S. domestic product and best in class U.S. Customs clearance/compliance, Free Trade Zone options, small scale warehousing and distribution, and a state-of- the-art certified cold chain center of excellence.

“As a part of a network of U.S. air freight gateways, this new facility will offer our customers more cost efficient alternatives to shipping their cargo,” he explained. “We carefully listen to the voice of our customers and as a result, we will provide services in this facility to support our strong partnerships with our customers.”

This facility will also serve as a Life Science Cold Chain Certified Competency Center for shipping pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical devices that require a temperature-controlled environment. DHL also noted that the facility will be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified.

“I am excited by the economic promise that this new cargo center holds for the City of Chicago,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel in a statement. “O’Hare is one of our City’s key economic engines and with this strong commitment by DHL Global Forwarding we will vastly increase O’Hare’s cargo operation capabilities, and will continue to move Chicago forward as a global transportation leader. This is just one of several recent private commercial investments that are generating opportunities for the people of Chicago.”

New DHS Secretary

Posted on | by Scott Case

Airforwarders Welcome Confirmation of New DHS Secretary

(WASHINGTON) - The Airforwarders Association (AfA) today congratulated Jeh Johnson on his confirmation as Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security.

"With his top-level policy experience in addressing security threats to our nation, we know that Secretary Johnson will work to craft innovative approaches to keeping our nation  safe amid many threats and challenges," said Brandon Fried, the AfA's Executive Director.  "We look forward to working with him and his team on the critical task of ensuring the security of air freight while also providing for the smooth and efficient operation of the air cargo network, which is critical to America's economic performance."

About the Airforwarders Association

The Airforwarders Association (AfA) represents nearly 400 member companies dedicated to moving cargo throughout the supply chain.  The association's members range from small businesses with fewer than 20 employees to large companies employing more than 1,000 people and business models varying from domestic to worldwide freight forwarding operations.  In short, they are the travel agents for freight shipments, moving cargo in the timeliest and most cost efficient manner whether it is carried on aircraft, truck, rail or ship.  For more information, visit the association's website at airforwarders.org.