FIRST QUARTER 2016 – Edition 10 INTERNAL NEWS, EVENTS, BUSINESS, COMMUNITY & EDUCATION! CARGOchat Through thick and thin

The introduction of dedicated leased flights when volumes justify more Times are tight and margins are freighters to work BidAir Cargo capacity, or to plug a gap when under pressure – we feel it too. So we overnight express services has a competitor suspends flights. It know that shippers and agents look added a whole new dimension to must be borne in mind, however, for the best deal : cherry-picking can airport-to-airport line-haul for the that putting more aircraft into the be an attractive short-term decision. express freight industry. air incurs significant operating However, strategically, it makes As you know, daytime cargo is costs to be defrayed by revenue. good business sense for non-regular carried in passenger aircraft. These So we are reliant on promised cargo users to support our freighters. Then have to fly to a fixed schedule materialising as forecast. That means they have someone to turn to when anyway, regardless of cargo volumes. playing open cards with each other. they experience a cargo spike, the It’s a different picture with overnight We are immensely proud of those usual carrier can’t accommodate express. While we have our regular clients who support us regularly their cargo, or their trucks suffer patterns networking coastal airports and exclusively, thus guaranteeing downtime. and , we also have predictable volumes. At the same That’s why we believe short-term the capability of adding extra flights time we recognise the choice of considerations should give way to to cope with a surge in demand. It shippers to share their cargo with the partnership approach. Partners is this flexibility which came to the other airlines or even use their own support each other through thick rescue over the peak holiday season. trucks for inter-city line-haul from and thin. Give us a fair share of your We can schedule such additional time to time. business in the good times and we’ll

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First Quarter 2016 – BidAir Cargo Chat 1 NEWS Through thick and thin

Continued from page 1 be there for you when times are tough. That means when express freight capacity is at a premium because competitors can’t fly or are using alternative aircraft with lower capacity. It’s the solution during peak seasons when retail comes out of hibernation or perishables suddenly command the lion’s share of capacity. Moreover, getting to know each other better gives us “Strong, truly collaborative Industry both the relationship to match the express supply chain to the needs relationships hold the key to much of the of your cargo for special handling, hoped for future industry success as each reliability, security, cargo care, speed supply chain stakeholder needs to be open and personal service. The old “master and servant” and share to extract maximum mutual benefit paradigm worked well in the early and creation of value for the ultimate days when express freight was the system user. The traditional vertical exception more than the rule and procurement led relationships must give way it was difficult to forecast volumes. These days, given that most to horizontal business partner relationships to companies rely on express logistics fully realize this opportunity.” to sustain their day-to-day business, Glyn Hughes, Global Head of Cargo for IATA the partnership approach is preferable because it means cargo is and make 2016 a year of mutual expected and can be accommodated loyalty, open communication and without disappointment. fairness for the success of all our So let’s work more closely together businesses. Garry Marshall – Chief Executive Officer

ALLOTMENT AGREEMENTS

by Karl Davids, Chief Operations Officer confidently. Thus, we believe our The advantage is that when volumes regular, loyal supporters can benefit suddenly increase sharply – perhaps The modern express supply chain from requesting an allotment when a competitor cancels a flight for is an exercise in close collaboration agreement. technical or other reasons – and we by all parties to mutual benefit. To are suddenly swamped with ad-hoc our loyal customers who support Entering into an allotment bookings, your capacity is protected our overnight express service agreement means we and you can still give your customers consistently, we promise reciprocal contract the required cargo the service they depend on. support even at times when capacity capacity for a pre-designated We can also bring additional is under pressure. These days, with period or season. You resources into play, allocating most companies using express guarantee the cargo and we an additional aircraft to our route freight as a regular component guarantee the capacity. network as we did during the holiday of their supply chain, it is much peak – if we are confident in advance more feasible to forecast volumes that sufficient payload is guaranteed.

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The Gearing up for St Helena International Airport opening Scene

IATA reports that African airlines Freight Tonne Kilometres – FTKs - (ie. revenue-generating cargo flown) declined by 8.4% in December though for 2015 as a whole the region grew by 1.2%, compared to the global average of 2.2%. This in turn was a slower pace of global growth than the 5.0% recorded in 2014. The Freight Load Factor Left to Right: Marlene Brown Supervisor, Julie Cranford, Karen Ellick, Nadia Henry, Brenda Stevens (percentage of available capacity flights from Johannes- learn that they acquired knowledge taken up by the market) in 2015 burg to the new airport at St Helena, and experience quickly. was 29.7%, the lowest of any operated by , are expected to The ladies undertook 10 days training region. The under-performance start in May. They replace the 2000 in all aspects of the processes and of the Nigerian and South African km sea voyage which takes five days. controls essential for efficient cargo economies was a challenge Cargo capacity is expected to be in operation, from correct packaging, throughout the year. the region of four tonnes each way. acceptance, cargo care to hand-out, The industry’s key challenges The remote island is import depend- with the accompanying documentation will be discussed in detail at the ent, with food and beverages, animal and use of information systems. “This World Cargo Symposium (WCS) feed, fuel oils, building materials, mo- was the equivalent of the practical side in Berlin, 15-17 March. tor vehicles, machinery and parts the of Cargo 1 and 2 training,” says Joe. main commodities. “But there was more to come. The BidAir Cargo has played host to the team then embarked on the five day St Helena team who will be responsible Category 6 Dangerous Goods course for running the new airport’s cargo which, despite its being intimidating, operations as cargo handling agents. they passed first time.” They returned “As the island is so remote and home with reference materials to this is the first entry of aviation, ensure that their learning remains the ladies encountered a degree of fresh and they are ready when the first ‘future shock’”, reports Joe Fyfer, wheels touch down. Operations Manager of BidAir Cargo, The St Helena team and their who oversaw their familiarisation, BidAir Cargo counterparts got on well education and training. “Yet such was together and are looking forward to a their enthusiasm and willingness to long and productive relationship.

View of Potsdamer platz - financial district of Berlin, Germany

First Quarter 2016 – BidAir Cargo Chat 3 NEWS

TRANSPORTING LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES

Some clients are concerned about of security compliance and have or contained in equipment. It is reports in the press to the effect the necessary permission to move aimed at shipments which comprise that The International Civil Aviation cell phones, tablets, laptops etc. batteries-only. Such shipments Organisation (ICAO) Council has when shipments are compliant with – if you have them - may still be prohibited the shipment of lithium- UN3481 packing instructions,” says transported on cargo aircraft such as ion batteries as cargo on passenger Roy Solomons, Chief Commercial our overnight dedicated freighters. aircraft from 1 April 2016. This Officer. “Please consult BidAir Cargo The ban is mandatory for ICAO article should put your mind at rest. if you are in any doubt as to what member states and thus applies “Your shipments which BidAir steps you must take to ensure such to . It will remain in Cargo moves on Comair’s British cargo can be accepted.” force until the new fire-resistant Airways and kulula flights are not The ICAO prohibition does not apply packaging standard is designed, affected as we are at the forefront to lithium-ion batteries packed with expected by 2018.

Top Award for BidAir Cargo,

Dube Cargo Terminal has presented its award for the highest annual domestic tonnage for the year 2015 to BidAir Cargo, Durban. “We are honoured to collect this prestigious award on behalf of our clients who entrusted us with their cargo, “ says Manager, Lenishia Naicker, who received the award. “It is their loyalty, support and partnership that enabled us to generate the volumes.” Lenishia also paid tribute to the staff of BidAir Cargo, who sustain superior standards of client Lenishia Naicker, Manager of BidAir Cargo Durban and Hamish Erskine, the property executive at Dube TradePort. service.

PORT ELIZABETH PETLOUNGE

Our furry and feathered friends travelling to and from the Eastern Cape are excited to learn that the new PetLounge is fully furnished and ready for launch shortly. The facility has been custom-designed to international standards for the comfort and safety of pets and another animals in transit. “By keeping the PetLounge apart from other airline operations, we provide a quiet, stress-free haven for the animals and peace-of-mind for their owners,” says Ridwaan Lagardien, Regional Manager. Left to Right: Megan Van Vuuren Branch The last stage of the development, access and parking Administrator, Godfrey Taylor for visitors, is under way and the new PetLounge is Operations Manager, Ridwaan planned for a fanfare opening in the second quarter. Lagardien Regional Manager

4 BidAir Cargo Chat – First Quarter 2016 NEWS Farewell to Irene

“We are proud of Irene as a committed, hard-working, sensitive person who remained a learning environment with encourages and looks after her fellow workers and also shows great compassion people encouraged and assisted to to the less fortunate. She espouses Bidvest values.” undergo training and education to Wayne Davids, Western Cape Regional Manager, BidAir Cargo add value to their lives and work. In the process, she picked up several Of all the tough business decisions something that was new in the South qualifications and diplomas herself, Irene Butterworth has made at BidAir African marketplace.” culminating in a B Comm Accounting. Cargo over the years, her hardest This mutually beneficial arrangement As a “people person” Irene is was to retire. “There is still so much proved robust and is the business devoted to her husband, two to be done,” says Irene wistfully, “yet model at the heart of BidAir Cargo daughters and a son and three fortunately we have a first class team today, where we offer a range of cargo grandchildren. Though work took to take the company forward.” marketing and management services pride of pace, her devotion to family Our chief financial officer is now to domestic, regional and international made her conscious of the social stepping down at the end of a long carriers, equipping them to serve the situation of the local community – association stretching back to the late express parcel industry. especially children - from which many nineties. Irene already had extensive As the service proved a success in BidAir Cargo personnel are drawn. experience in the transport industry the domestic market, customers urged Over a decade ago, Irene and her when she joined François Wolmarans BidAir Cargo to spread our wings into team formed the “Soup Kitchen” at Express Air Services, the company neighbouring countries with , initiative, supported by the company, which became BidAir Cargo in 2003. , , , and which gives local children and several After being an operating company with following in short order. older people a square meal every responsibility for all aspects of aircraft The challenges were numerous, Irene Friday lunchtime and a bumper year- management, fuel procurement, recalls. Every time we signed a contract end party at Bonteheuwel swimming payment of all fees and taking care of with another airline we had to find a baths. They work closely with Sister the pilots, the company devised a new way of managing the relationship that Ann Fortune and her husband business model. took account of a different culture and Kenneth of the “We Care Feeding “We started working with on operational procedures at all levels. Scheme”. Irene will continue to be the basis that operations were their Supportive management and teamwork involved. “The little mouths are not business while ours was marketing were the essential ingredients.” going to be any less hungry just and managing their cargo capacity, Irene also made sure the company because I’ve retired.”

First Quarter 2016 – BidAir Cargo Chat 5 NEWS IMPROVING THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF YOUR CARGO

Identification and Verification System (IVS) by Roy Solomons, Chief Commercial Officer

To protect your precious consignments, BidAir Cargo is shortly to introduce the Identification and Verification System (IVS) at O R Tambo International Airport. It will be used for access control at the ORTIA cargo precinct, for drawing cargo and for authorisation/Identification of your staff drawing cargo. The IVS system is the Industry standard currently used this will immediately be changed on • It gives you live track-and-trace by over 500 companies in the Courier the system and access will be refused. information on your staff & Freight Forwarding Community, so you are probably familiar with it. Over Benefits of the IVS system Changing to the IVS system the past few years it has been in use • IVS is a much more secure method • If you are not currently using IVS, we at BidAir Cargo branches as it brings of controlling and facilitating secure recommend you contact Antoinette cargo protection to another level. access to the Cargo Complex at at IVS on +27 11 453 8337 or ORTIA [email protected] to The high risk of conventional ID • IVS screens all staff before issuing implement the system in advance of The continued use of driver’s license them with an IVS card the switch on date. or green RSA ID book/new ID card • It confirms the authorisation of your • After that date BidAir Cargo will is not advisable. While such ID may staff for drawing or lodging cargo as require company staff/drivers confirm who the person is, it does not well as their identity to confirm their identity and confirm that he is authorised to collect • As Airports Company of South Africa authorisation from your company the current shipment!. (ACSA) uses this system to permit before they may draw cargo. This That’s why for those presenting ID entry to the cargo precinct it speeds requires an authorisation letter on Book, ID card or driver’s license we up entry provided your driver and your company letterhead stating insist every time on a covering letter passengers are carrying their IVS Drawer/Lodger full names and ID on company letterhead. But nothing is card. number and your employee will have easier to forge than a company letter or • It allows you to make tactical changes, to produce a driver’s licence, green even an ID. And even when such ID is deciding which drivers are better SA ID book/Card. The ID will be genuine, it remains valid for many years suited to collecting certain cargo or scanned into our system and a copy – during which time the bearer could be dealing with specific customers affixed to the POD. discharged from your employ.

IVS – added protection The IVS system gives your cargo Notification added protection. It works in real BidAir Cargo will write to all time so that when an IVS card is clients and other parties when presented it identifies the employee the effective date is confirmed. and confirms that he is authorised to be there, on the spot. Should you disqualify or discharge an employee,

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CAPE TOWN CYCLE TOUR The world’s largest timed cycle Airways operated by Comair and race took place on the first Sunday joined forces with BidAir in March, a week earlier than usual Cargo to transport entrants’ cycles to avoid a clash with other events. down to with the This year the race reverted to the full maximum safety and the minimum 109 km after last year’s event was fuss. shortened to due to raging fires. Clint Hendricks took first place As usual Kulula.com, British with a time of 2:35:31

First Quarter 2016 – BidAir Cargo Chat 7 NEWS NEWS YOUTH WORK READINESS PROGRAMME

Learners gaining skills and experience at BidAir Cargo

In implementing its ambitious youth policy, the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) approached employers to participate in twelve- month learnership and skills programmes. The objective is to take young people and prepare them for gainful employment by helping them develop into well-rounded and employable young citizens. BidAir Cargo bought into the concept enthusiastically and is now in the third year of its youth work readiness programme. “We are proud to report that we have been able to accommodate 15 learners in 2016,” says Sibongile Gatite, Skills Development Manager. “In our first year all six learners found employment in the company, and in year two seven were employed with two opting for further development.” Sibongile liaises closely with Colin Ramogale, her counterpart at EMM. The programme has two safety, communications, systems to know where everyone fits into the dimensions. In terms of the business, and documentation and customer organisation and why all jobs are learners undertake familiarisation service. As well as learning the important,” Sibongile explains. Their with every aspect of company intricacies of the express freight progress is recorded on a training operations. This starts from the business, learners perform physical passport where stamps confirm the moment a client approaches BidAir work including tidying and cleaning learner went through each module. Cargo and continues through the work area. This demonstrates how On a personal level, learners parcel acceptance, operations and everyone in the company contributes are given a grounding in life skills, handling including airside, 3rd party to its overall effectiveness. “One day including how to conduct themselves liaison, cargo care, security and when you’re a Manager, you need in a business environment, etiquette,

Sibongile Gatite was a Customer Service/ Frontline Supervisor in Bid- “The BidAir Cargo team has been very patient in Air Cargo’s customer service teaching us, giving us time to understand and learn at department when management our own pace. I really enjoy working here” noted her talent for helping - Tracy others develop and appointed her as Skills Development Manager.

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“The programme has helped us in preparing and teaching us how to stand out in big corporates and be able to be great team players” - Judas

Assisting clients at hand out

Off loading cargo “Being granted this opportunity has made me realise that there is more to the cargo industry than what we just see. I’m highly grateful and looking forward to learning more” - Michel

telephone manners - “mobile madness”, the importance of attitude and getting along with others, personal hygiene and grooming and how to manage money. They also set their own personal goals. Entry into the programme requires preliminary screening by telephone, presentation of a written cv and thereafter a formal interview.

First Quarter 2016 – BidAir Cargo Chat 9 NEWS FLYING HIGH Cargo Chat talks to Justin Dell, Airside Operations Manager of our partner airline, Comair.

Tell us about the nature of the relationship and how it works on a day-to-day basis Justin : We have a number of relationships with various partners in order to provide an enhanced customer experience, whilst ensuring we operate a commercially sustainable operation. One of these partners is BidAir Cargo, with whom we work daily and continuously look at how we can further grow this partnership. Our partnership with BidAir Cargo comprises of us transporting cargo on their behalf on our daily flights within South Africa as well as across the borders to our Regional stations which includes Victoria Falls, , Livingstone and . To ensure a smooth operation, our teams are in talks daily to discuss How have the new animal travel BidAir Cargo, to ensure they are fit BidAir cargo’s requirements for each arrangements settled down to travel. day, which includes discussions Justin : We have been working • Transporting pets via BidAir Cargo, regarding the consignment weights, together with BidAir Cargo AVI Experts provides us with a more reliable timings and the destinations that the over the past couple of years, to tracking system, as the animals are consignments need to be sent to. ensure we provide the best service for recorded on the cargo manifest. From a Comair point-of-view, we then our customers as well as their pets, • At destination, customers no longer endeavour to get these consignments in line with the regulations we have to have to wait at the baggage carousel/ on our aircraft, within the specified, adhere to. On 04 May 2015, Comair, counter for their pets to be brought agreed time frames. amended our pet policy by which all through – a scary experience for As with any partnership, pets are now transported via BidAir pets. They simply collect their bags communication is vital and we Cargo. From a customer point-of-view, and go straight to BidAir Cargo or therefore have numerous weekly and this new policy/ procedure provides monthly meetings with the various numerous benefits which include: teams, where we look at ways to • Pets are kept in the BidAir Pet improve our partnership as well as Lounges/ Holding Areas which address any concerns that may arise, provide a safe, secure and and have found these meeting very comfortable environment, as productive. opposed to being held in the From my side, I am responsible basement and transported to the for overseeing the smooth running aircraft with the other checked bags. of the Airside operations for all the • Pets are transported to the aircraft in Airports where we operate to, which an air conditioned vehicle (currently is made possible with the assistance only available at ORTIA and CPT), and support of the dedicated Ramp fitted with the necessary equipment Managers and Ramp Controllers to safely transport the animals. Pets based at the various airports. are checked by trained personnel at

10 BidAir Cargo Chat – First Quarter 2016 NEWS EXPRESS AROUND AFRICA by Vincent Banda, Chief Operations Office, Africa the Pet Lounge to fetch their pets in an environment that is less busy and disturbing to the animals. • Owing to this new policy/ procedure, we continue to see an increase in the number of pets we and BidAir Cargo carry month-on-month, and have received numerous compliments from customers.

What are the advantages of a joint approach to special events - such as the Cape Town Cycle Tour • Over the years, BidAir Cargo have assisted us at Comair in the smooth transportation of customers’ bicycles to and from the various stations for the Cape Town Cycle Tour, ensuring that customers receive their bicycles on Good news for East Africa time and without any damage. (See article on Page 7) The boom in East African economies continues, averaging a whopping 6.6% GDP growth per annum for How exciting is the new St Helena service? over a decade. At the heart of express cargo is to Justin : We at Comair are delighted and honoured to have whom BidAir Cargo provides a range of cargo marketing been selected as the airline to provide a scheduled service and management services. This is a growing partner in a to St Helena. The flight schedule will comprise one flight growing market. With every destination and flight added, a week, which will depart from O.R. Tambo International its network grows in reach and importance. Airport every Saturday at 08h30 (GMT +2) and will arrive has taken delivery of another Airbus A in Saint Helena at approximately 11h30 (GMT). The return 319, bringing its total to five. The airline is setting its sights flight will depart from Saint Helena on the same day of on further expansion in Southern and East African markets arrival, at approximately 12h00 (GMT) and will arrive at O.R this year. Tambo International Airport at approximately 18h30 (GMT In just over three years the carrier has built a domestic +2), ensuring seamless connections onto international network embracing Dar-es-Salaam, , Mbeya destinations. We are still awaiting confirmation on the Kiliminjaro and as well as serving international commencement date. destinations Johannesburg, Harare, , and BidAir Cargo is working with a cargo service provider in St Entebbe. It is accordingly attracting a great deal of interline Helena, and Comair will then endeavour to work with BidAir interest from international carriers to feed and de-feed into Cargo to assist with cargo that needs to be transported their global networks. to and from St Helena on our weekly flight. (See article on Page 3) More Harare flights fastjet has stepped up its service between Johannesburg and Harare which is good news for clients moving the growing volumes of cargo between these busy centres.

The timetable is : Dep HRE 06.15 Dep HRE 18.50 (*) Arr JNB 07.55 Arr JNB 20.30 Dep JNB 08.40 Dep JNB 21.15 (*) Arr HRE 10.15 Arr HRE 22.50 (*) Not Saturdays

The additional evening flights, coming just a month after the inaugural service. Are being phased in with the Mon, Wed, Fri and Sunday service starting in February and the Tue and Thu flights starting from 28 March 2016.

First Quarter 2016 – BidAir Cargo Chat 11 NEWS AVOIDING DAMAGE TO ULDS

“The annual damage and the cost it represents for the industry is $330 million” Glyn Hughes, IATA Global Head of Cargo at the Air Cargo Handling Conference, Bangkok.

In the interests of cargo care and people working on cargo handling against a comprehensive check-list security, BidAir Cargo has invested in are not properly trained, qualified and before leaving, BidAir Cargo premises 33 new Unit Load Devices (ULDs) of equipped. and when returning as a BUP for AYY type to transport client cargo. We “Ideally ULDs should always be shipment. “We encourage clients to need to keep these assets damage- moved on a slave pallet and never take great care of these assets as it is free so they can do their job. be dragged along nor put on a forklift also in their interests to sustain cost “Keeping ULDs airworthy and truck. It is also essential that the roller efficient usage and long life.” It should extending their life span is essential in systems, on the ULD trailers, or any be note that upon receiving ULDs from the interests of safety, efficiency and other vehicle used to transport ULDs BidAir Cargo, the responsibility for economy,” says Vernon Muller. “That’s are maintained as an impaired system handling, inspecting and controlling why we have a rolling maintenance results in damage to the ULD and the ULDs air worthiness and plan to ensure they enjoy at least a delays the loading and off-loading acceptability on an aircraft remains decade of service.” processes” says Muller. that of the accepting party until it is Maintenance is only part of the picture, ULDs are scrupulously inspected handed back to BidAir Cargo. however. The fact is that, as the quote above shows, ULDs are subject to costly Ideally ULDs damage through inappropriate handling should procedures. BidAir Cargo has invested always be in roller-bed systems at its facilities in moved on a Cape Town and Johannesburg as these slave pallet are the ideal system for manoeuvring full and never or empty ULDs. be dragged The industry experience has been along nor put that damage comes largely from the on a forklift use of incompatible equipment – truck. the wrong choice for the job. It may occur off-airport especially if the

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