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Cosco: Shipping vs Ports - same parent, not quite siblings

Delve straight into the numbers. In a nutshell: Chinese state-owned container line Cosco Shipping Holdings; (CSH) profit rose a whopping 81% in the third quarter as port congestion and long reroutes tied up ships and lifted freight rates, while Cosco Shipping Ports, the terminal operator it controls, reported flat profit with its busiest Chinese terminals close to capacity. Why so? For one, Citi expects a seasonal easing into early 2027, but its own work on port bottlenecks, a Strait of Hormuz that remains largely ...

Dutch air cargo body remains critical of Schiphol slot decree

Industry body Air Cargo Netherlands (ACN) is critical of the Dutch cabinet's final Schiphol Airport Traffic Decree (LVB) for its lack of protection for cargo slots. The LVB has set a maximum of 478,000 aircraft movements per operating year, of which a maximum of 27,000 are allowed at night, which runs from 23:00 to 07:00. A strict limit for the total amount of noise that all take-off and landing aircraft combined may produce annually is also introduced. ACN said that it had submitted several inputs during the consultation period but said it was critical of the final decree. "Although the Cabinet explicitly acknowledges the significant strategic and economic importance of air cargo in the final explanatory memorandum, ACN remains critical of the lack of structural protection of cargo slots and the threatened reduction of night capacity," the group said. One of the key concerns highlighted by ACN was the reduction to 478,000 aircraft movements - from a previous limit of 500,000 - which it said poses a direct risk to the air cargo sector. "In the event of slot scarcity, full freighters lose out to passenger flights," ACN had argued. "Moreover, the volatile, demand-driven nature of the air cargo market makes it extremely difficult to retain or regain historical slot rights within the rigid European 80/20 slot regulations. "ACN therefore advocates for the protection of air cargo as a strategic segment and a rapid, predictable return towards 500,000 movements based on fleet renewal." In response, the cabinet said a special cargo pool of slots was not possible under European regulation but added that the new ad hoc slot system implemented over the summer should benefit the cargo market. The new system proactively anticipates slots that will be returned later in the season, which can then be re-allocated to freighter airlines. Previously, slots were only available once a flight had actually been cancelled. There had also been calls for a complete night closure at the airport, although in the end, the cabinet opted to allow 27,000 night flights per year with plans for a future partial night closure. ACN had highlighted that accessible capacity during the night and the fringes of the night is indispensable for time-critical shipments (such as medical goods, fresh produce, and express transport) and that no realistic alternatives exist for this. In the Memorandum of Reply, the ministry acknowledged that decisions regarding the night must take into account the economic and operational functions of the airport, and that a night closure must not lead to undesirable peaks at the edges of the night. "At the same time, the cabinet announces that, based on the new coalition agreement, a new balanced approach procedure is being initiated to reduce noise between 23:00 and 07:00 by 50% in 2030 compared to 2024, including a partial night closure (between 00:00 and 05:00)," ACN said.

Lufthansa Cargo completes acquistion of handler LUG

Lufthansa Cargo has completed its acquisition of Germany-based handler LUG aircargo handling to strengthen its infrastructure for future growth. The cargo business said the acquisition, which was announced in September but still needs to gain antitrust approval, will add capacity and flexibility for cargo handling in its home market. The handler was purchased from the Dettmer Group for an undisclosed sum. It will continue to operate in the market as a separate company under its own brand within Lufthansa Cargo. Existing customer contracts and relationships will remain in place and "business with other airlines will continue and remain an integral part of LUG's business model", Lufthansa said. "At the same time, becoming part of Lufthansa Cargo opens up additional growth opportunities for LUG," explained Lufthansa Cargo. "Building on its existing business, the company can further develop its strengths as an experienced handling partner and pursue new business opportunities." Frank Bauer, chief operations officer of Lufthansa Cargo, said: "Completing this acquisition lays an important foundation for further growth and greater flexibility in our home market. "This is about much more than additional space and capacity: LUG's employees bring extensive expertise and many years of experience in air cargo handling. "Their knowledge is highly valued by customers and essential to continued development. We warmly welcome our new colleagues and look forward to working together to seize the opportunities ahead for both companies. LUG will remain an independent partner for its existing and future customers." The acquisition will give Lufthansa Cargo access to approximately 50,000 sq m of covered warehouse space in Germany, as well as an additional 18,000 sq m of office and infrastructure space. LUG has a presence at Frankfurt, Munich and Hamburg airports. Lufthansa said the additional handling capacity will complement its existing infrastructure, including the LCCevo modernisation programme in Frankfurt, in which the company is investing around €600m.