FTA: call for a Brexit transition period ‘huge relief’ to logistics industry
The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has welcomed the call from UK PM Teresa May for a transition period to be a key priority for the talks and says “finally” the logistics message on Brexit is being heard. UK and European Union negotiators met for the latest round of talks in Brussels last week after May […]
Strong exports driving performance at Global Airline Services
Global Airline Services commercial director, Bob Matharoo says 2017 has been a record year and it has exceeded its carriers’ expectations. “The reasons are due to the current strong exports figures, simply having an experienced, dynamic sales force, understand our markets and cultures and have local robust relationships,” he explains. The GSSA sells cargo for Turkish […]
2017 turning into a stellar year for Air Logistics
Air Logistics Group’s director in the UK, Chris O’Donnell (pictured below) says in 2017 it has seen a surge in business like many others in the cargo field and it has been an “exceptional” year to date. He feels this is partly due to the confirmation of Brexit and the appointment of Donald Trump as […]
Freight forwarders want more detail on Customs proposals
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) says it is no surprise the UK government paper is all about possible trade and customs arrangements post-Brexit but has called for more detail on Customs plans. The UK will leave the European Union (EU) in March 2019 after triggering Article 50 in March this year and yesterday the government published […]
FTA says post-Brexit plans a “step in the right direction”
The UK government’s paper on trade and customs arrangements post-Brexit which has been published today is a “step in the right direction”, according to the Freight Transport Association (FTA). However, the FTA has warned the ambitions laid out in the document are far from guaranteed, and will require some careful negotiation in order to ensure that […]
ACI: stronger global economy drives May growth of 11.1%
The strengthening global economy fuelled growth of 11.1 per cent in airfreight in May, according to the Airports Council International (ACI). ACI says after a period of economic uncertainty regarding US trade policy and risks related to the UK’s vote to withdraw from the European Union, global commerce is “no longer sidelined”. The association says […]
FTA says Brexit talks must make rapid progress to prevent disaster
As the second round of Brexit talks got underway today – the Freight Transport Association (FTA) says negotiations must move ahead with speed to compensate for delays caused by the general election. Reports claim EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier will stray from the official agenda this week to discuss import quotas. FTA says negotiators on […]
Customs plans not fit for Brexit purposes, says FTA
The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has raised serious concerns about the National Audit Office (NAO)’s report on the progress of the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) programme. The FTA also says suitability to handle the anticipated levels of Customs declarations at British ports post-Brexit and has grave doubts that the new system, currently in development by HMRC, will be […]
Europe’s airports call on UK to set detailed Brexit position
The European airport industry today once again warned about Brexit and its potential impact on European air transport, connectivity and the wider economy during a public hearing in the European Parliament in Brussels. The Airport Council International (ACI) Europe says more than a year on from the UK’s vote to leave the European Union (EU), the uncertainty as to what will happen when the UK will […]
President Trump arrival set to have a positive and negative effect
US freight forwarders’ biggest concern is the overload of regulations at home and abroad, according to Airforwarders Association (AfA) executive director, Brandon Fried (pictured below). On a positive note, Fried says the new US administration under President Donald Trump is promising to reduce the number of regulations and the AfA’s primary concern is dealing with […]
UK logistics could grind to a halt without EU workers, FTA warns
The UK freight and logistics sector could grind to a halt without workers from the European Union (EU), the Freight Transport Association (FTA) warns. It says EU workers account for 13 per cent of HGV drivers and 26 per cent of warehouse operatives, and with 2.54 million people working in the UK logistics sector, removing […]
Queen’s Speech disappoints BIFA director general
The British International Freight Association’s (BIFA) director general, Robert Keen says it is “very disappointing” the pre-election pledge to invest £40 billion in UK transport infrastructure and expand aviation capacity was overlooked in today’s Queen’s Speech. UK Prime Minister Theresa May put forward a heavily watered-down speech today after she failed to gain a mandate through a majority […]
Call for trade and logistics to be priorities as Brexit talks start
The UK and the European Union (EU) are set to start negotiating the former’s exit from the EU today and the Freight Transport Association (FTA) has repeated its calls for logistics and trade to be priorities. The association wants the Government to keep an open mind in the talks to ensure freight can continue to move […]
BIFA urges for Brexit uncertainty not to delay key logistics decisions
British International Freight Association (BIFA) director general, Robert Keen has urged the UK Government not to let Brexit uncertainties delay key logistics infrastructure decisions. The association was commenting ahead of news about whether there will be a Queen’s Speech and the planned start of Brexit negotiations on Monday with the European Union. Keen says: “The goalposts […]
FTA urges government not to leave EU Customs Union
The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has urged the new government to review the decision to leave the European Union (EU) Customs Union following the 8 June General Election. The association says 44 per cent of the UK’s exports in goods and services were transported to the EU in 2016, valued at £240 billion ($310 million), […]
BIFA calls for ‘big decisions’ as UK goes to the polls
The British International Freight Association’s (BIFA) director general, Robert Keen says ahead of the results of today’s UK General Eelection that it is time for the UK Government to make some big decisions. Keen says: “In the year since the Brexit vote, the UK has been in a period of great uncertainty on the political […]
BIFA names policy and compliance officer as Brexit nears
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has appointed Pawel Jarza as policy and compliance advisor with responsibility for issues concerning Customs. This role will involve working with the trade, HMRC and other bodies to ensure customs processes and policies represent the best solutions for both trade and regulators particularly as new routines and solutions emerge during […]
Multimodal 2017: BIFA says Brexit implications for trade still unknown
Nobody really knows what the Brexit implications are for trade, the British International Freight Association’s (BIFA) director general, Robert Keen told delegates at the Brexit Briefing at Multimodal 2017 in Birmingham. He event brought along a crystal ball to emphasise the point, explaining” “We, like most people, have heard all sorts of ‘facts’ and figures, […]
ACI Europe urges Brexit negotiators to prioritise aviation
The Airports Council International (ACI) Europe has urged Brexit negotiators to prioritise aviation – as the UK gets set to notify of its intention to leave the European Union (EU) in the coming days. ACI Europe says it has concerns about the prospects of ongoing uncertainty over the rules that will come to govern aviation […]
IATA WCS 2017: demand rising but headwinds set to impact air cargo
The economic outlook is bright for air cargo as demand is rising, but there are various headwinds set to impact air cargo, delegates at IATA’s World Cargo Symposium heard today. IATA’s senior economist, George Anjaparidze told delegates growth in air cargo in 2017 is set to be about the same as in 2016 when freight […]
Freight none the wiser about Brexit impact warns BIFA
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) says freight forwarders are none the wiser about how Brexit will impact freight following Prime Minister Theresa May’s speech on the UK’s plans to leave the European Union. The association’s director general, Robert Keen says though the speech has delivered some clarity on plans to leave the single market […]
Air battling with sea for increased market share
Getting food to a customer’s plate as fresh, tasty and nutritious as possible has been the mantra of retailers and growers for hundreds of years. Where in the past this may have involved a quick cart ride from farm to village market, today’s globalised world means making the best use of freight options either by […]
Heathrow plans 25,000 more flights a year as revenue increases
Heathrow Airport is planning an extra 25,000 flights per year from 2021 on its existing runways to give the UK a ‘Brexit Boost’ as nine month revenues rise. Revenue rose by 1.2 per cent to just under £2.1 billion ($2.6 billion) with adjusted profit before tax rising 11 per cent to £202 million. Heathrow made […]
Heathrow third runway essential following Brexit vote
Following the UK’s vote to leave the European Union (EU), Heathrow Airport head of cargo, Nick Platts insists trading links to growing markets are now more essential than ever, further strengthening the case for a third runway, writes James Muir. Platts says the result of the EU referendum has not had a noticeable impact on […]
Heathrow cargo soars in the wake of Brexit vote
Heathrow Airport’s cargo volumes soared by just under six per cent in September on the back of growth to East Asia and Latin America. The hub says freight traffic to was Brazil was up 18per cent, to China by 13 per cent and to Mexico by seven per cent. Heathrow handled 126,109 tonnes in September a 5.9 […]
Heathrow pushing for gold medal in cargo
Heathrow Airport is hoping to replicate Team GB’s Olympic medal success by pushing cargo volumes and services to standards worthy of a gold medal. In August volumes rose by 0.3 per cent to 122,909 tonnes though fast growing markets were very strong, with Latin America up 12 per cent, the Middle East by 5.7 per […]
Impact of Brexit on GSAs still not known
The UK’s exit from the European Union (EU) – the so-called Brexit – is odds on to have an impact on general sales agents (GSA), although which way it goes its still unknown. Airbridge International Agencies (AIA) general manager for Europe, Mark Andrew (pictured) says there will be an effect “for sure” but says until […]
Weak cargo revenue hits All Nippon Airways profits
All Nippon Airways (ANA) has seen profits fall by 20.7 per cent in the first quarter of the 2016 financial year, due to a number of factors including international cargo. Profits in the quarter were down to 6.6 billion yen ($65 million) and revenue dipped by 2.3 per cent to 404.4 billion yen. Domestic cargo […]
IATA: Sluggish trade, Brexit and weak demand all risks to air cargo
Airfreight’s momentum is at risk from a sluggish trade outlook, the aftermath of Brexit and weak demand, though strong consumer confidence and low oil prices could reenergise growth, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) says. In its Q2 2016 Cargo Chartbook, IATA says air cargo continues to outperform the global merchandised trade but growth remains […]
POP sees post-Brexit cargo opportunities
POP says the UK’s decision to leave the European Union offers potential new opportunities for cargo as it plans services to Amritsar and Ahmedabad. POP, which stands for ‘People Over Profit’, intends to start flying in 2017 to Ahmedabad in Gujarat and Amritsar in Punjab, aims to open new trading links between the UK and […]
