The World Trade Center Miami welcomes you to Air Cargo Americas News, offering you updates from the industry and useful information on the 20th year of the Air Cargo Americas Conference and Exhibition.

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NEWS IN THE AMERICAS
     • New Freight Facility Opens Next to Lima Airport
     • Centurion Weathers Tough Market Amid Fleet Upgrade
     • A Solid Start for Cathay Pacific’s New 747 Freighter Service
     • Obama Gives Top Priority to Panama Free Trade Deal
     • Nearly 500 Government Officials Back Oneworld Proposal
     • South America Tilts Toward State Ownership of Airlines
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Trade and Cargo Crisis Draws Leaders to Miami
With US ports laying off idle workers, hundreds of cargo ships at anchor empty and air cargo at it lowest point since World War II, the World Trade Center Miami, the Port of Miami and Miami International Airport have invited industry leaders and government policy makers-- including President Barak Obama and US Trade Representative Ron Kirk-- to a historic conference in Miami Nov. 4- 6.

The conference and exhibition was scheduled concurrently to address the crisis that is facing both the air and sea cargo industries. Just this week the Port of Long Beach confirmed it has ordered employees to take off five days of work without pay by the end of the port’s fiscal year on Sept. 30 to save money. (http://www.joc.com/node/411529) Like most US ports Long Beach has seen its container traffic fall 28.8 percent in the first four months of 2009, including a 28.9 percent drop in loaded imports and a 30.8 percent decline in loaded exported containers. Loaded container traffic fell 29.7 percent in April. That news came as The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released international traffic data for April showing a 3.1% decline in passenger demand and a 21.7% fall in cargo demand compared to April 2008, a decline greater than after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.

Intent on sharing ideas, building business and hearing the government’s solutions executives from the major air and sea cargo corporations serving the Western Hemisphere are lining up for the 10th Biennial Air Cargo Americas and the 4th SeaCargo Americas conference and exhibition sponsored by the Miami International Airport, the Port of Miami and the World Trade Center Miami. This is the first time the leaders of the two most high-value economic engines – air cargo and sea cargo – will be gathered in one hall to discuss major issues and opportunities.

The organizers of the conferences also expect that many top US government officials – some yet to be appointed -- will join dozens of leaders from Central America, South America, U.S. and the Caribbean to discuss trade, transport, security and logistics issues facing the industry. Charlotte Gallogly, President of the World Trade Center Miami said, “President Obama knows a good opportunity when he sees one. Miami in November will provide him the rare, historic chance to speak about his trade and security agenda to leaders of the hemisphere in trade and transport in one place at one time.” www.seacargoamericas.com www.aircargoamericas.com

The Miami International Airport will again host Air Cargo Americas. The airport, under the leadership of Jose Abreu, has supported the event since its inception.  Abreu believes that the event will increase two-way cargo growth for the Americas by providing a world class forum on international aviation, maritime and logistics issues and showcasing the latest maritime and security products, e commerce solutions, technologies and services.

New Freight Facility Opens Next to Lima Airport
Many of Peru's leading air cargo companies have congregated at a new freight facility near Jorge Chavez International Airport in the capital city of Lima. Tenants of the new facility, called Lima Cargo City, include 18 airlines and 15 cargo agencies, as well as trade promotion organizations and the Peruvian customs agency. 

News agency Mercopress also reported that the facility has 55,000 square meters of floor space and a 380-meter tunnel that connects with the airport's ramps. Compared with similar structures in Latin America, the new freight facility is considered one of the most modern. http://en.mercopress.com/2009/05/14/peru-inaugurates-largest-and-most-modern-air-cargo-hub

Centurion Weathers Tough Market amid Fleet Upgrade
Centurion Air Cargo carried more cargo than any other airline at Miami International Airport amid challenging business conditions. Traffic data from MIA show that first-ranked Centurion carried 14,690 tons of cargo in March. Centurion was fourth-ranked cargo carrier at MIA in February and ranked third in January.

Second-ranked Lan Airlines handled 13,740 tons of MIA freight in March, followed by United Parcel Service with 12,722 tons, Arrow Air with 12,637 tons, Tampa Cargo with 10,670 tons and American Airlines with 10,315 tons.

Total air freight volume in Miami fell in March to 136,329 short tons from 176,609 in the same month last year, a 22.8 percent decline.

Centurion’s tonnage at MIA fell by a less severe 15.4 percent in March, compared with the same month last year. Offsetting the impact on its cargo load factors, Centurion had 15.8 percent fewer flight operations at MIA. The cargo airline recorded 212 aircraft takeoffs and landings in March, compared with 252 operations in March 2008, down 15.8 percent.

Centurion plans to gradually reduce its reliance on wet-leased DC-10 freighters by acquiring MD-11 freighters.

“Basically, the plan is to replace the DC-10s with the MD-11s,” said Tony DaSilva, senior vice president of Centurion in a recent interview. “For our market, it (the MD-11) is an excellent aircraft.”

DaSilva said Centurion expects to be operating three MD-11 freighters by the end of this year, up from one in the first quarter, mainly between Miami and cities in Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Chile and Argentina.

He said Centurion also has considered expanding its MD-11 service beyond South America to destinations in Europe. http://www.miami-airport.com/pdfdoc/finance/Mar09_Monthly_Freight.pdf

A Solid Start for Cathay Pacific’s New 747 Freighter Service
The newest Asian cargo carrier at Miami International Airport had a solid takeoff, airport traffic data show. Cathay Pacific operated the first-ever cargo flight from Hong Kong to Miami on March 6 to launch a schedule of three weekly flights. 

Cathay Pacific ranked 29th in March cargo volume among the airport’s 60 active cargo carriers and probably would have ranked higher if its Hong Kong-Miami service had been in operation for the full month.

From March 6 to March 30, Cathay Pacific flights brought 397 short tons of imports to MIA and carried 166 short tons of exports on departures from the airport. The airline operates a Boeing 747-400 Extended Range Freighter aircraft over a multi-segment routing with stops in Anchorage, Miami and to Houston before the return to Hong Kong. One of the world’s largest cargo carriers, Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific was named Best Asian Pacific Cargo Airline by trade publication Air Cargo News in 2008.

Obama Gives Top Priority to Panama Free Trade Deal
President Obama wants Congress to approve a U.S. free trade agreement with Panama by July 1, the Los Angeles Times reported. The bilateral trade agreement is one of three that the Bush administration signed but Congress never ratified. The newspaper reported that Obama wants the other two trade deals, with Colombia and South Korea, ratified before the end of the year, and that the president assigned higher priority to approval of the Panama agreement because it appeared more likely than the other two trade deals to win Congressional approval. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-panama-trade21-2009may21,0,6727251.story

Nearly 500 Government Officials Back Oneworld Proposal
Nearly 500 elected and public officials have filed letters in support of proposed antitrust immunity for the passenger and cargo operations of the oneworld alliance of five air carriers: American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia Airlines, Finnair and Royal Jordanian.

Supporters of the proposal include 28 members of the U.S. Senate, 133 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, and 43 governors. In addition, 129 airports representing more than half of all departures in the U.S. have filed letters in support of the alliance's proposal.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is expected to decide by Oct. 31, 2009, whether to approve the five oneworld carriers’ pending application for global antitrust immunity. The oneworld carriers contend that the proposed immunity would help their airline alliance compete more effectively against others. http://sev.prnewswire.com/travel/20090519/LA1920819052009-1.html

South America Tilts Toward State Ownership of Airlines
Parts of South America have tilted toward state ownership of airlines, following an earlier trend toward private ownership, Airline Business Magazine reported. The magazine cited the launch of Bolivia’s new state-owned airline Boliviana de Aviación, the Uruguayan government’s recapitalization of Pluna, and plans to nationalize Venezuela’s Aeropostal. Some privately owned airlines in South America are protesting, and wondering how much government-backed competition they ultimately will face. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/05/19/326664/state-owned-trend-for-latin-carriers.html

Air Cargo Americas provides an outstanding opportunity for you company to showcase its products and services to a targeted group of potential new customers. Sponsorship range from directional banners ($1,000), welcome banners ($2,500), luncheons ($10,000), coffee breaks ($3,000 -$6,000), Air Cargo Americas conference brief cases ($10,000) and receptions ($10,000 - $20,000).

To receive further information, please call Charlotte Gallogly at 305-871-7910 or email: info@worldtrade.org. Visit: www.aircargoamericas.com