Air cargo innovation earns global praise (hktdc.com)


	HACTL's latest award, Air Cargo Handling Agent of the Year 2007

	Anthony Wong, HACTL Managing Director, says Hong Kong's ability to add value gives it the edge as an air cargo hub

Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (HACTL) was recently awarded Air Cargo Handling Agent of the Year 2007 by the airfreight publication Air Cargo Week, reaffirming Hong Kong's logistics efficiency and service excellence in the international cargo industry.

HACTL, which handles more than 80 per cent of the territory's cargo and has over 80 airlines on its books, was given the honour at this year's Air Cargo Europe – Europe's leading air cargo conference – held in Munich, Germany. This comes hot on the heels of another accolade when HACTL was named for the third time as "Best Air Cargo Terminal – Asia” at the 2007 Asian Freight and Supply Chain Awards organised by logistics publication Cargonews Asia.

Anthony Wong, HACTL's Managing Director, said HACTL would continue to deliver efficient and reliable services and add value to the logistics chain through its multi modal services. "We must be more innovative and stay at the forefront of competition so that our customers would continue to use HACTL and fly to Hong Kong. Only then can we help to maintain Hong Kong's hub status,” said Mr Wong.

Since 1984, Hong Kong Air Cargo Industry Services Limited (HACIS), a wholly owned subsidiary of HACTL, has provided value-added support services to complement HACTL's services. The company has created an efficient link in the manufacturing heartland of the Pearl River Delta (PRD) and has increased its connectivity with six depots in the Chinese mainland in Dongguan, Humen, Xiamen, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Fuzhou.

Seamless transport

Lilian Chan, HACTL General Manager, Marketing and Customer Service, said this integrated logistics support solution covers both the import and export logistics chain in Hong Kong as well as between Hong Kong and southern China. The sophisticated IT system integrates on-airport handling with seamless transport links between Hong Kong and cargo handling and distribution hubs in southern China, forming an effective hub-and-spoke system. This facilitates a smooth flow between the manufacturing bases in southern China and Hong Kong International Airport.

"This two way multi modal system adds value and enhances the supply chain," added Ms Chan. In fact, HACIS won the Service & Technology Innovation Award at the Logistics Awards Hong Kong 2006 for ongoing efforts to integrate and enhance the way cargo is handled and delivered in the logistics process from factory and aircraft, and vice versa.

This year HACTL became a strategic partner to International Air Transport Association (IATA) to help promote best practices in cargo handling. "It is important for us to share our experiences with other cargo handlers and lead the task force in safety handling," said Mr Wong. "We are working with IATA to set up standards to help the global logistics industry.”

HACTL wins again -- as air cargo handler of the year