The air cargo industry in Chicago, around the United States and around the world are generating headlines for our industry and for the wider public looking at air travel and air cargo. Here, we summarize and share links to the ones that we're finding the most interesting and we feel you should know about for conversation and to maybe do a bit more of your own research.
Welcome Air Canada freighters!
This month, Air Canada Cargo commenced freighter service between Chicago and Toronto, deploying their 767's thrice weekly. Air Canada has been a mainstay for their reliable truck service between ORD and a number of Canadian airports, and this welcome additional will accelerate cargo moving from Chicago through their network to their global destinations. [Image credit: AGI LinkedIn feed]
Maersk Going To Rockford.
As published in FreightWaves this week by veteran industry reporter Eric Kulisch, Maersk Air Cargo has changed the deployment of one of their 767 freighters this month, pulling it from a route serving South Carolina and instead will focus on customer demand between China and the Midwest. The flights will operate thrice weekly between Zhengzhou and Rockford Airport with a refueling stop in Anchorage. [Image Credit: Maersk Air Cargo]
Will you be in Toronto?
Ground Handling International's 8th Annual Americas conference will be held June 25 - 27 at the Sheraton Centre. Focused more handlers and the companies who support their efforts, it is nonetheless an important event with a robust panel of sessions and exhibitors that warrant a look. A delegate fee that includes everything over three days, including the ability to schedule one-to-one meetings, is $2600.00, but there are exhibitor and day passes available. Check out their site for more information.
De Minimis Draws CBP Interest
CBP announced they had suspended the privileges of "multiple" customs brokers who were filing entries as part of the agency's Entry Type 86 Test pilot because they believed there was violative and prohibited merchandise entering America via these channels. A number of well-known e-Commerce platforms have been in the news for their alleged roles in facilitating these imports, as well as allowing goods made from forced labor to enter the country as well. One company, Chicago-based Seko Logistics, pushed back against the agency at the Court of International Trade.
This is, undoubtedly, been one of the most significant drivers of air cargo growth this year. As such, any additional scrutiny by US or other global regulators would present a headwind for the continued growth of the sector. Companies who are involved in this type of cargo should strive to ensure that depending upon their role, they are working to set and meet the highest reasonable compliance goals should CBP or another agency come calling.
