United Airlines has set a goal to save 85 million gallons of fuel in 2013. The airline says this savings will equal 828,750 metric tons of CO2 or about $275m at current fuel prices.
When it comes to high demand volatility and difficulty in forecasting, few industries match the world of consumer electronics. And Monster Products, the maker of high-quality cables and other accessories for computer, video and sound systems, faces a challenge that's especially daunting. For much of its product line, the company depends on the ever-changing nature of big-ticket items like PCs and flatscreen televisions, not to mention the fickle tastes of consumers. Now add thousands of SKUs to that mix, and you have a forecasting effort that can be brutally complex. In this interview, conducted at eyefortransport's Hi-Tech & Electronics Supply Chain Summit in San Francisco, director of materials Jennifer Hochstatter spoke with managing editor Robert J. Bowman about how Monster Products approaches the problem of prioritizing supply for its extensive product line, and ensuring forecast accuracy for the most critical customers.
The International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have announced that the Multilateral Electronic Air Waybill (e-AWB) standard has been approved, removing the need for bilateral e-AWB agreements between airlines and freight forwarders and thus simplifying the air freight supply chain process.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on airlines and their partners in the air cargo supply chain to work together to make the mode more competitive and address the challenges of safety, security and sustainability.
The EU has recently announced the official launch of negotiations for a free trade agreement with Japan. The agreement would cover goods, services and investment, and would eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers, and cover other trade-related issues, such as sustainable development, regulatory issues, competition and public procurement.
February data shows that air cargo maintained the modest improvement in demand that began in the fourth quarter of 2012, according to the International Air Transport Association.
Nobody knows what the future holds for air cargo, but the mode is an important part of the economy, said Andrew Herdman, director general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines.
Lufthansa Cargo is reorganizing its charter business. As of April 1, the carrier's charter activities, previously overseen by the Lufthansa Cargo Charter Agency subsidiary, will be integrated into the line organization of Lufthansa Cargo.
