Newsletter – December 21, 2021

AIR FREIGHT UPDATES

Relief as Bangladesh air cargo handling monopoly looks set to end

theloadstar.com
Bangladesh is preparing to allow private and foreign investment in air cargo handling, breaking the monopoly of state-owned Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
The policy, drafted recently, aims to enable competitive tariffs for air cargo handling for the exporters and importers fed up with the “poor” service offered by the state handler. Read more here (login required).

Disruption In Belgium: Strikes Halve Brussels Airlines Flights

simpleflying.com
Brussels Airlines has saw its departures cut by half on Monday after a 24-hour crew member strike went into force. The industrial action ended at 05:00 AM today, allowing flights to resume normally. The carrier offered refunds or alternate flights to around 25% of its ticketed passengers on Monday due to the disruption.  Read more here.

Korean Air develops drone swarm technology to inspect aircraft

freightwaves.com
One of the latest applications for drones is inspecting aircraft for damage and wear. Korean Air is taking the concept to the next level by using multiple robot aircraft to make the work faster and easier.  Read more here.

OCEAN FREIGHT UPDATES

Flash flooding wreaks havoc at Port Klang, adding to berthing delays

theloadstar.com
Flash flooding has caused berthing delays at Malaysia’s Port Klang, costing millions in damaged cargo.
“Unprecedented” rainfall hit Selangor for 36 hours across Friday and Saturday, submerging roads across Malaysia’s industrial heartland and home to the world’s 12th-busiest container port and major South-east Asian transhipment hub. Read more here (login required).

Port of LA threatens penalties for empty boxes left at clogged-up

terminals

theloadstar.com
To nobody’s surprise, the spectre of late dwell charges on containers at the prime US port complex receded yet another week yesterday, as the port authorities of Los Angeles and Long Beach deferred a decision until 27 December.
However, the port of LA raised the spectre of charges for empty boxes clogging up terminals. Read more here (login required).

Maersk hatches ‘winter plan’ to counter record transatlantic storm season

theloadstar.com
A record-breaking Atlantic hurricane season has severely disrupted transatlantic liner services, adding to capacity shortage issues on the route.
Moreover, an acceleration in modal shift from severely congested US west coast ports to east and Gulf coast terminals has resulted in more berthing delays and last-minute call omissions. Read more here (login required).