BIFA Awards
BIFAlink
www.bifa.org
Among the aircraft that Kerry used to keep goods moving during the pandemic was the Antonov AN-124
AIR CARGO SERVICES AWARD SPONSOR
capacity all the more important. “Another success was that our sea-air service was probably as effective as waiting for conventional airfreight space,” Mallinson said. “We stole a march there – before things got really difficult at Jebel Ali, for instance, we had smooth ocean departures and 24- or 48-hour turnarounds at our facilities in Dubai and into the UK. We had to find what would be off-the-wall solutions under normal circumstances – and fortunately we are nimble and have an exceptional network.” Nothing was off the table, Mallinson said, highlighting the value of a flexible approach. Kerry had that mindset and found service partners with the same strategy. Fantastic service For instance, recalled Mallinson: “When London Heathrow was really struggling with queue times and handling issues, we were able to use some of the UK’s strong regional locations besides airports like Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. We had fantastic service at Glasgow Prestwick and Doncaster.” He expects that the industry is due for more of the same uncertainties and challenges in 2022. “Globally, as of 31 January there were still 36% less revenue flights than in 2020. That is quite a drop, considering 80% of global air freight moves on passenger flights,” he pointed out. “I still think there are more questions than answers in 2022. Of course we all crave normality – but there is nothing that perturbs us here at Kerry too much at the moment. “From our operatives’ point of view, they are looking to the future with more confidence and belief since the pandemic. They execute their tasks with more assurance that there are people in the business that they can lean on for advice, which increases their confidence in their decision-making process; they can think outside the box safe in the knowledge that nothing is unprecedented anymore.” This is the 33rd year that IAG Cargo, the single business combining the strengths of British Airways, Iberia, Vueling, Aer Lingus and LEVEL, has sponsored the BIFA Awards. The success of the UK Freight Forwarding sector remains as important as ever to Britain’s place in international trade. Our sponsorship of these awards underlines our commitment to not only promote the sector, but to continue working closely with the freight forwarding community to deliver more connections and opportunities for global growth.
How Kerry found radical solutions in the pandemic
Kerry Logistics Network won the BIFA Air Cargo Services Award for its performance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kerry
transported over 1 million tonnes of cargo from Asia to the UK and launched a new transpacific airfreight service and an air-sea service via South Korea to help keep freight moving
David Mallinson, director of airfreight at Kerry Logistics (UK), said: “How we, as a company, have managed to navigate the pandemic so far has been extraordinary. I am very proud to say that it has been a collective effort.” Kerry moved shipments of hand sanitiser as well as a great deal of distressed ocean freight, including industrial spares, automotive parts, air- conditioning units – anything and everything, according to Mallinson. “We were also still moving perishables to China and Hong Kong in record volumes,” he added. The company was already historically aligned with industries like fast-moving consumer goods and e-commerce, and it was fortunate too that the pandemic played out as it did in the Far East – its home market. And Kerry’s strong experience base was a big factor in its success. “In our air freight departments we have people from an airline background who know how airlines work, and people from the charter market who understand how to get the best out of different aircraft in terms of loadability,” Mallinson said.
David Mallinson with the BIFA Air Cargo Services trophy
“For instance, with a passenger-to-freighter configuration, the initial cost was higher but we realised that by bringing inventory and volumes forward we could give a better performance at a lower cost than other options. You have to understand how a particular product will get the best value out of a particular aircraft.” It has been difficult to source aircraft during the pandemic, of course, making an understanding of how to make the most of any
April 2022
11
Made with FlippingBook Annual report maker