NOTICIAS MES DE OCTUBRE DE 2001 (NEWS)

 

31/10/01 ALIANCA/DOCENAVE ENHANCE MERCOSUR CABOTAGE SERVICE

Aliança Navegação & Logística Ltda. (Aliança) and Navegação Vale do Rio Doce S.A., (DOCENAVE) have announced the formation of a new joint service to cover the Mercosur and Cabotage trades linking Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. The combined service will deploy seven vessels in two slings on a weekly basis, starting October 29th.

• Five vessels with a 35-day rotation will call the ports of Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Rio Grande, São Francisco do Sul, Paranagua, Santos, Sepetiba, Salvador, Suape, Fortaleza, and Manaus, then return calling the ports of Itaqui/Fortaleza (alternating), Suape, Salvador, Sepetiba, Santos, São Francisco do Sul and Buenos Aires. Asunscion, Paraguay will be served via Buenos Aires.

• Two vessels with a 14-day rotation will call the ports of Rio Grande, São Francisco do Sul Santos, Suape, Maceio, then return calling the ports of Santos, and Rio Grande. Officials said the move to weekly sailings meets a long-standing demand of the cabotage marketplace. The joint service will also expand the space available to shippers and the range of port coverage which can now be provided. The establishment of a more frequent direct connection between Manaus and Argentina and Uruguay is also expected to help the Manaus Industrial district meet its export goals. Finally, they stated, the expanded reach and frequency of the service should now help make the concept of feeder service a reality for ports big and small along Brazil’s coastline.

26/10/01 Boeing Expands Presence In Asia-Pacific With New Hong Kong Office

In an effort to expand its operations in the Asia-Pacific region and to get closer to customers in Asian business centers, The Boeing Company has opened a new office in Hong Kong SAR.

"The Asia-Pacific region continues to be a bright spot in the global aerospace market, and we're confident that our customers will continue to find ways to grow and prosper," said Larry Dickenson, senior vice president of Sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We want to continue to be a valuable business partner with our regional customers, and this office will provide the opportunity to serve our customers more effectively."

Employees from The Boeing Company's Commercial Airplanes business unit, along with employees from Boeing Capital Corporation, Space & Communications and World Headquarters, will work at the Hong Kong office.

"Boeing has tremendous capabilities in a number of aerospace business areas, and we believe those resources make us the preferred aerospace provider in the region," Dickenson said. "Quite simply, Boeing is better-positioned than any other aerospace company to deliver products and services that meet customer requirements."

The Hong Kong office opening comes soon after the tragic events of Sept. 11, which dramatically changed the air travel market.

"The tragic events of Sept. 11 have profoundly changed the travel industry," Dickenson said. "We at Boeing want to see confidence and optimism reign, and we want to be in a position to help our customers weather the economic uncertainties we face. This office will allow us to be closer to our customers and to send the message that we remain confident about the long-term prospects of this tremendous industry."

Boeing is the world's largest manufacturer of commercial and military aircraft, and NASA's largest contractor. The company's capabilities include helicopters, defense systems, missiles, rocket engines, launch systems, satellites, advanced information and communication systems, aviation support products and services, financial services, a global-mobile communications system, and a space-based air traffic management system

24/10/01 Hamburg Süd expands services. As from next November will offer service between South America East Coast and the Far East.

Commencing with the first sailing of MV EVER GUEST on 8 November from Hong Kong, Hamburg Süd will be providing a weekly service from Asia via South Africa to the South American East Coast and vice versa within the context of a slot charter agreement with the Taiwanese shipping company Evergreen.

This new service is part of the effort to expand and complement Hamburg Süd's range of services from / to South America in the direction of the Far East and South Africa. In early 2001 Columbus Line, a member of the Hamburg Süd Group, introduced a service from South America West Coast via US West Coast to the Far East.

There are 10 container ships deployed in a weekly service with a 70-day round trip from Asia via South Africa to East Coast South America serving the following ports: Hong Kong, Kaohsiung, Singapore, Durban, Cape Town, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Santos, Cape Town, Durban, Singapore, Hong Kong, with transhipment opportunities to other ports in the area.

23/10/01 AirCrane transportation balloons for transport of oversized and heavy goods up to 160 metric tons. This "flying crane" developed by CargoLifter AG, based in Berlin, will be able to carry expensive heavy transports faster, more simply and more cost effectively without ever touching the ground.

Berlin/Brand - CargoLifter AG has entered a new chapter in the history of its "Lighter-than-Air" technology: the CL 75 AC has been taken out of the hangar for the first time. On the morning of October 12, 2001, at about 7:30, the 61-meter-diameter balloon - floating at a height of about 15 meters - was pulled by mobile cranes for one kilometer to the neighboring airfield where it was anchored.

Completion of the first "flying crane" scheduled for end of 2003 Berlin/Brand - CargoLifter AG has reached another milestone in the realization of its key technology. The finance minister of the State of Brandenburg, Dr. Wolfgang Fürniß officially kicked off production of the logistics company's unique "Lighter-than-Air" aircraft.

CargoLifter AG, based in Berlin, is developing a 260-meter-long, 65-meter-wide airship for the transport of oversized and heavy goods weighing up to 160 metric tons: the CargoLifter CL 160. This "flying crane" will be able to carry expensive heavy transports faster, more simply and more cost effectively without ever touching the ground while remaining almost entirely independent from the local infrastructure. In a second product-line, which will be ready before the CL 160, the CargoLifter CL 75 AirCrane transportation balloon with a diameter of 61 meters will be able to carry loads of up to 75 tons.

The CL 160 will be able to carry payloads with a volume of 3,200 Cbm (50m x 8m x8m) and weighing up to 160 metric tons, over a maximum distance of 10,000 kilometers. The key advantage of an airship in the CargoLifter transport system will be its ability to operate as a flying crane while floating in midair. The CL 160 won't have to land to load and unload freight, but will exchange its cargo from an altitude of about 100 meters. For the first time, the transportation of such large goods will be possible without a well-developed infrastructure on the ground.

There are three types of airship. First, there are rigid airships, of which the Zeppelin was the most famous example. Rigid airships are built around a rigid internal skeleton. The lifting gas is contained in a series of gas bags. This type of construction is well-suited for carrying payloads within the airship, but brings with it a relatively high structural weight.

Currently, the CargoLifter company employs 469 people, about 255 of which are working on airship development at the dock in Briesen-Brand, near Berlin in the state of Brandenburg. At the moment, Brand is the company's pivotal location. 107 meters high, 210 meters wide and 360 meters long, it is the world's largest free-standing hangar.

22/10/01 ALIANCA - DOCENAVE ENHANCE MERCOSUR CABOTAGE SERVICE

Aliança Navegação & Logística Ltda. (Aliança) and Navegação Vale do Rio Doce S.A., (DOCENAVE) have announced the formation of a new joint service to cover the Mercosur and Cabotage trades linking Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina.

The combined service will deploy seven vessels in two slings on a weekly basis, starting October 29th.

. Five vessels with a 35-day rotation will call the ports of Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Rio Grande, São Francisco do Sul, Paranagua, Santos, Sepetiba, Salvador, Suape, Fortaleza, and Manaus, then return calling the ports of Itaqui/Fortaleza (alternating), Suape, Salvador, Sepetiba, Santos, São Francisco do Sul and Buenos Aires. Asunscion, Paraguay will be served via Buenos Aires.

. Two vessels with a 14-day rotation will call the ports of Rio Grande, São Francisco do Sul Santos, Suape, Maceio, then return calling the ports of Santos, and Rio Grande.

The joint service will also expand the space available to shippers and the range of port coverage which can now be provided.

18/10/01 P&O Nedlloyd places record order for new reefer containers - The total order is for 14,500 containers

P&O Nedlloyd has placed a record order for reefer containers worth in excess of US$ 200 million. The new containers will replace old containers, older integral equipment and expiring leased containers.

The total order is for 14,500 containers consisting of 6000 x 20´ reefer and 8500 x 40´high cube reefer containers. The containers have been ordered from China International Marine Containers Group (CIMC) Hong Kong. All containers will be built in their Shanghai and Qingdao factories and will be delivered to P&O Nedlloyd between December this year and November 2002.

The reefer containers will be fitted with the latest Carrier ThinLine NT model refrigeration system manufactured at Carrier Transicold plants in Singapore and Syracuse, USA. This represents the single largest order in the history of the container refrigeration industry.

Commenting on the new contracts, Arjen Uytendaal, P&O Nedlloyd's Director of International Container Management, said: "This investment shows again our continued commitment to our customers. As a result, the age profile of our 40' high-cube reefer containers will reduce to around two years of age. The combination of the reliable Carrier machine, the high quality box from CIMC and dedicated and skilled staff both onshore and on board our vessels will ensure optimum care for the cargo and ensure we meet the needs of our customers both operationally and technically."

17/10/01 COSCO, HANJIN (also representing SENATOR), "K" Line and YANG MING management reaches an agreement to strengthen the cooperation among the lines towards the future with a New Alliance.

The management of COSCO Container Lines Ltd., Hanjin Shipping Co.,Ltd. (also representing Senator Lines GmbH), Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha - "K Line" , Ltd. and Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp., met together in Shanghai in order to provide best services to their customers, the five Lines reviewed their present cooperation pattern in the field of international sea container transport and expansion of further cooperation looking forward for an agreement to form a new global alliance.

It was jointly agreed among the Lines that cooperation among the Lines in the industry was irreversible, reaching the conclusion that the only way to provide best service to their customers in the container shipping industry is to strengthen the cooperation tie among the lines by means of optimization of each carriers' assets, rationalization of their services on a global basis, creating a competitive and high quality service, which including, but not limited to, competitive transit time, convenient frequency and comprehensive port coverage optimizing each carrier's assets on a global basis.

Therefore, the Lines have decided to study any feasible measure and accelerate the process of cooperation with an ultimate goal of establishing an alliance comprising COSCO Container Lines Ltd., Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd., Yang Ming Marine Transport Cooperation, and Hanjin Shipping Co., Ltd. (also representing Senator Lines GmbH) based on their worldwide network.

16/10/01 SAFMARINE INCREASES CAPACITY ON SOUTHERN AFRICA - NORTH AMERICA ROUTE

Increased export (northbound) volumes experienced. Multi-trade carrier Safmarine is pleased to announce that, effective last week October 2001, In line with it's plans to expand its reach and grow its coverage, the 2063 teu capacity containership Safmarine Tugela will replace the smaller Safmarine Nolizwe(1400 teu) in the America Express Container Services between Southern Africa and the United States and Canada.

A second ship Safmarine Infanta will also be replaced with a larger vessel during December 2001 and a further announcement in this regard will be made in due course.

Safmarine offers its customers a named day, weekly express container service for general purpose and reefer cargo on the route. Ports served are Durban - Port Elizabeth - Cape Town - New York (with relay to Halifax, Montreal and Toronto) - Baltimore - Newport News (with relay to Oakland, Long Beach and Portland) - Charleston (with relay to Savannah) - Freeport (with relay to Miami, Houston. New Orleans, Vera Cruz and Altamira).

Safmarine's Trade Manager Duncan Mackintosh commented :-

" The new vessel represents a substantial increase in capacity for both general purpose and integral reefer containers. Safmarine is leading the way in responding to demand for increased export capacity from Southern Africa and we greatly appreciate the confidence expressed by our customers in Safmarine's unique way of doing business. "

Safmarine's America Express Container Services also operate weekly between Australasia and North America as well as between the Indian Ocean Islands and North America.

Specifications : Safmarine Tugela

Built : 1995

Length overall :188,03 metres

Beam : 30,32 metres

DWT : 30.743 tonnes

Draft : 11,5 metres

GRT : 23,691 tonnes

NRT : 10,430 tonnes

Class : GL + 100 A 5 E

Nominal teu capacity : 2063

Reefer plugs : 271

Speed : 21.5 knots

Note to editors

Safmarine, which is a separately-managed member of the Danish A.P. Moller Group, markets its liner shipping services separately from those of sister-company Maersk Sealand.

12/10/01 ShipServ merges with Seavantage - Providers of e-business solutions to the global maritime shipping industry, both companies together create US$250m ship supply market - Strategic combination has 250,000 purchase order potential

ShipServ and Seavantage have joined forces to create a new company that will keep the ShipServ name. Combining the two companies will further strengthen ShipServ TradeNet's position as the largest and fastest growing multi-buyer, multi-supplier trading platform in the ship supply management (SSM) sector.

ShipServ is strong in Scandinavia and the UK, while Seavantage has a substantial customer base in Benelux and Germany as well as the UK. Both companies are also starting to build business in Greece and Cyprus. Bringing them together creates a powerful new force in the European SSM market, with virtually no overlap in either buyer or supplier customers.

The new business will be a powerful attraction to suppliers with its contracted base of high quality shipowners, who make over 100,000 purchases a year with an estimated worth of $250m. The companies are in advanced discussions with new shipowner / manager customers which, if concluded, could further double the number of purchases made using TradeNet. Seavantage's customers will be transferred to ShipServ's established TradeNet platform. The transition for these customers has been carefully planned and is expected to be a straightforward process.

Claire Milonas from Ionian Management in New York, one of ShipServ's leading investors, added: "This underlines our faith in the sector and the ability of ShipServ's management to deliver what the shipping industry wants. The consolidation of both Seavantage's and ShipServ's deep shipping and management expertise should make it easier for companies in the maritime sector to adopt SSM solutions enabling them to provide ever more cost effective services in these challenging times."

ShipServ will continue to provide a neutral trading forum for buyers and suppliers. Known for its even-handed approach to both sides of the ship supply business, ShipServ is also working with the software vendors who support the industry to integrate their products into ShipServ TradeNet. ShipServ expects that its expertise in integrating these vendors' products through MTML will be of use to many Seavantage customers. MTML (Marine Trading Mark-up Language) is the shipping e-commerce standard, which ShipServ developed with the International Maritime Purchasing Association (IMPA).

Selected Ship Owner / Manager Customers

Alnwick Harmstorf - Carsten Rehder - Denholm Shipmanagement - Hanseatic - Höegh Fleet Services - IUMJ Lauritzen

Selected Supplier Customers

ABB Industrial Systems - Alfa Laval - Deutz - Dolphin Fenders - Hempel - International Paint - Kelvin Hughes - MacGREGOR - MAN B&W - Radio Holland Marine - Sigma Coatings - Sol Shipchandlers - Van West Holland - Wärtsilä

http://www.shipserv.com

10/10/01 Important developments in North America railways after September 11 attacks - US railroad company Norfolk Southern Railway Company has launched new joint services in partnership with Union Pacific Railroad and Canadian Pacific Railway Co.

Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Railway Company announced they will launch a new double-stack intermodal container service between Los Angeles and Atlanta, with a guaranteed on-time delivery option, beginning Oct. 1.

"Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific have teamed up to offer an unprecedented service commitment that is price-competitive with trucks," said Michael R. McClellan, Norfolk Southern vice president Intermodal Marketing. "We are confident in our ability to provide on-time delivery that will meet the expectations of over-the-road shippers." Union Pacific Railroad, is the largest railroad in North America, covering 23 states across the western two-thirds of the United States, they has competitive long-haul routes between all West Coast ports and eastern gateways and is the only railroad to serve all six major gateways to Mexico.

Norfolk Southern Railway Company, is a freight railroad which operates approximately 21,800 route miles in 22 states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario. Norfolk Southern serves all major ports in the eastern United States, and has superior access to western rail carriers.

Norfolk Southern Corporation announced they will launch joint intermodal service with Canadian Pacific Railway between the Port of New York/New Jersey and Eastern Canada that slices one-third off the standard rail transit time. The service begins Oct. 1.

"For the first time, import-export shippers will have an expedited rail service option that is competitive with truck transit times between the Port and Montreal and Toronto," said Lawre Allen, Vice-President of Intermodal and Automotive, CPR.

Container traffic through the port, measured in 20-foot equivalent units, climbed more than 8 per cent during the first half of 2001, compared to the same period of 2000.

Canadian Pacific Railway is North America's first transcontinental railway. It's 14,000-mile network serves the principal centers of Canada, from Montreal to Vancouver, as well as the U.S. Midwest and Northeast regions.

David R. Goode from Norfolk Southern Railway Company announced their group is trying to measure the impact the September 11 attacks will have on the railway business. Mr. Goode declares: "At this point, it is still too early to be definitive. The economy was soft even before September 11, and clearly the attacks have hurt the economy and our traffic levels. How deep and how sustained this will be is not yet known. We are supporting public policies that will encourage the economic recovery. But as always, our best response is what we can do ourselves: - Luring new traffic with new services, such as those announced recently with UP and CP. - Aggressive conversion of truck movements to rail. - Improving service and reducing costs by implementing our Thoroughbred Operating Plan - Continuing restructuring activities".

05/10/01 Swissair resumes flight operations

Swissair resumed its flight operations today, October 4, 2001. It is estimated that approximately half of the flights scheduled to depart on Thursday will be operated.

The decision to immediately resume flight operations was taken after the Swiss government made a credit available to Swissair in the amount of maximum CHF 450 million. It is to be expected that only 50 percent of the scheduled flights can be operated on the first day.

Subsequently, the number of flights operated shall be increased. It is Swissair's goal to offer their passengers as complete a flight schedule as possible.

04/10/01 WALLENIUS WILHELMSEN and NYK started marketing their South America car carrier service separately - NYKNOS brand name will be discontinued

As from last monday October 1, 2001, Wallenius Wilhelmsen and NYK Line will begin marketing their joint NYKNOS South America service separately, using instead their well-established individual brand names.

Although the NYKNOS brand name will be discontinued, Wallenius Wilhelmsen and NYK Line will continue to cooperate in the operations management of the service. The scope and profile of the service will remain unchanged. The two organizations will still continue to support one another's vessels as they do today. The vessels deployed in the service have capacity for approximately 5,000 automobiles and call the major ports on both coasts of South America with regular frequency.

In a joint statement, Wallenius Wilhelmsen and NYK Line have said, "The decision to discontinue the NYKNOS brand name and market the service separately under the recognized brand names of Wallenius Wilhelmsen and NYK Line makes good sense for our customers. It simplifies the marketplace by reducing the number of brand identities. Furthermore, the space-sharing agreement will allow for simpler and more efficient operating procedures, which will translate into better service for our customers."

Established in 1994, NYKNOS operated as a joint service between Wallenius Wilhelmsen and NYK Line to and from North and South America for cars, Ro-Ro, and non-container cargo such as project cargo and machinery. NYK Line and NOSAC (Norwegian Specialized Auto Carriers) made up the original alliance. NOSAC was acquired by Wilhelmsen Lines in 1996 and in 1999 the operating activities of Wilhelmsen Lines and Wallenius Lines merged to form Wallenius Wilhelmsen.

03/10/01 Swissair and Sabena - Total booking and acceptance embargo - Most other Airlines are imposing risk surcharges to cover cost increases, higher insurance premiums, additional security measures.

Due to the fact that SWISSAIR and SABENA currently cannot guarantee further operations according to schedule, they have annonced a complete booking and acceptance embargo for all cargo on all Swissair and Sabena flights effective immediately and valid until further notice. Swisscargo decided to announce this embargo because, in the currently difficult transition phase of the Swissair Group, we as a quality airfreight company cannot guarantee a proper in-time delivery of the cargo and the service quality we are known for.

CARGOLUX decides to implement a risk surcharge effective 08 October 2001. A surcharge of EUR 0.15/kg (or equivalent in local currency where applicable) on actual weight will apply worldwide in line with the countries' regulations. Unpredictable commercial and operational risk as well as additional costs due to increased safety measures are the main reasons for implementing this surcharge.

KLM CARGO has decided to impose a surcharge of 15 euro cents per kilogram on all shipments effective October 15, 2001, in the wake of the recent tragic events in the U.S. This surcharge covers various cost increases, including higher insurance premiums for the airline, additional network-wide security measures, and decreased schedule and route efficiency resulting from tighter security measures.The surcharge will apply for all shipments and customers worldwide.

LUFTHANSA CARGO imposes security surcharge from 8 October 2001 - Surcharge required to cover additional costs in the wake of terrorist attacks In the wake of these tragic events Lufthansa Cargo has incurred considerable additional costs, making it impossible for the company to operate profitably. The logistics company in the Lufthansa Group has therefore been compelled to impose a security surcharge of 0.15 per kilogramme of actual weight from 8 October. The move follows the withdrawal of Lufthansa Cargos war-risk insurance cover by the insurance companies in the immediate aftermath of the terror attacks.

MARTINAIR CATGO imposes a Security Surcharge of Euro 0.15 per kg in Europe and US$ 0.12 per kg in the rest of the world, will be introduced as per 15 October 2001. The surcharge will be based on the chargeable weight and applies to all shipments and for all customers worldwide. Martinair Cargo is confronted with a number of immediate increases of costs related to additional security measures. These costs are due, amongst others, to increased insurance premiums for the airline, additional security measures taken and decreased efficiency in schedules and routes for security reasons.

02/10/01 Swissair ceases flight operations with immediate effect

Zurich , October 2, 2001 - Swissair has been forced to cease all flight operations today with immediate effect. Despite intensive efforts throughout the day, the company has been unable to obtain the liquidity needed to secure daily business and safe operations. It is uncertain at this time when flight operations will resume.

All Swissair flights had to be suspended from 12:30 CET (10:30 UTC) today. The decision that no further aircraft would be allowed to depart from Switzerland was taken at 15:45 CET (13:45 UTC). The aircraft currently abroad will be flown back to Switzerland as soon as possible.

Swissair regrets this measure, which has a drastic impact, especially for its passengers and staff. The action is being taken in what has traditionally been the strongest month of the year in revenue terms, and affects not only thousands of passengers but also thousands of jobs in and outside Switzerland. Far more jobs are now at risk than the 2650 announced yesterday.

Press Release from Swissair

02/10/01 Zürich, October 2nd, 2001 - Swissair flight operations suspended - next decision at 14:00

Swissair's flight operations were suspended at 12:30 CET. All aircraft that are currently airborne en route will continue their flights to their destination as scheduled.

Swissair is engaged in intensive negotiations with the banks to ensure the continuation of its flight operations. A final decision is due at 14:00.

Application for a moratorium of debt enforcement for part of the SAirGroup - Crossair to take over large amount of Swissair operations.

Yesterday the SAirGroup has applied with the responsible court for a moratorium of debt enforcement for the SAirGroup, SAirLines and Flightlease companies. The SAirGroup will also sell its 70-per-cent stake in Crossair to UBS and the Credit Suisse Group. Crossair will assume responsibility for parts of Swissair's flight operations no later than the beginning of the winter schedules on October 28, 2001.

The events taking place in the USA on September 11 have had a strongly negative influence on the results of the SAirGroup as well as on the outlook for future results. At the same time, efforts to improve the Group's liquidity and equity basis by selling off non-strategic business activities and by refinancing the Group's aircraft fleets, were substantially hampered. The SAirGroup estimates that by the end of 2002 the negative influence on the cash flow and equity basis will amount to approximately CHF 3.1 to 3.8 billion.

02/10/01 Port of Santos boosts fees - SANTOS, Brazil

Shippers already rate Santos as one of the most expensive ports in the region, if not the whole world. As of October 1st., they'll have to pay almost 40% more at Brazil's largest port.

The port board, which is a collegial organ composed of politicians, port officials and the private sector, voted in favor of a 44% hike Sept. 27, but will offer a transition discount of 5-6% for the next six months.

The full fee will be applicable after such a transition period as long as critical maintenance work, such as dredging of the access channel, is completed in the meantime.

The port management authority Companhia Docas do Estado de Sao Paulo (Codesp) has tried to defuse criticism, saying that fees had actually been cut drastically since 1995. Codesp argues that eventual cost increase for exporters and importers will only be marginal.

In the cabotage trade between Brazil and Argentina for instance, port fees account for less than 2% of overall shipping costs, according to Fernando Vianna, president of Codesp.

Additional revenue is destined to dig Codesp out of its financial hole. The heavily indebted company is currently under the control of the federal government, but plans are underway to transfer management control to local authorities. However, the debt, estimated at about $200 million, has to be reduced before any reform can be implemented.

During the first half of 2001, Santos handled 339,000 TEUs, (TEUs), an increase of 9.9% compared to the same period last year, according to official figures. The port also handled 22.4 million tons of cargo during that time, a 16.6% increase over 2000. Around a quarter of Brazil's foreign trade goes through Santos.

For more details on the new fees may be found at

http://www.portodesantos.com.br/authority/tarifa1.html

Source: Journal Of Commerce - Thierry Ogier

01/10/01 Lufthansa Cargo, SAS Cargo and Singapore Airlines Cargo will be offering their customers an extended network and harmonised Express products operating under the brand name "WOW".

From 1 October 2001 the alliance partners Lufthansa Cargo, SAS Cargo and Singapore Airlines Cargo will be offering their customers harmonised Express products. The announcement was made by Dr. Andreas Otto, member of the Executive Board of Lufthansa Cargo AG, Hwang Teng Aun, President of Singapore Airlines Cargo, and Peter Grnlund, President & CEO of the SAS Cargo Group.

The three partners laid the foundation stone for their alliance on 26 April 2000. Until now it has been known as New Global Cargo. Lufthansa Cargo is the largest freight carrier in the world and Singapore Airlines Cargo the third-largest. Both airlines have global networks. SAS Cargo has a strong presence in Scandinavia. Together, the alliance opens up new markets particularly in Asia, Scandinavia, Australia, North America and Northern Europe to its customers. The three partners operate a network of 493 destinations worldwide in 103 countries on five continents. The alliance has access to a total of 31 all-freighter aircraft and the belly capacities of 612 passenger aircraft, many of which are wide-body aircraft.

From October, the three airlines premium Express services - td.Flash from Lufthansa Cargo, SAS Priority from SAS Cargo and Swiftrider from Singapore Airlines Cargo - can be booked to and from the partner airlines Express stations. The partners have harmonised their premium Express products and agreed on the relevant IT support as well as common standards and handling processes.

From 1 October customers of the alliance can book their Express shipments through the reservations centre of the first partner, even if it involves carriage on flights operated by all three partners.

Customers can expect Seamless, Safety and Control as though their shipment were being handled by just one carrier. Time and Time of Availability. With this move the carriers are further integrating their products into modern supply chain management processes. For the convenience of customers, all Express shipments up to 100 kg will be automatically confirmed, with the performance guaranteed for each product across the alliance network.

As a strong team with a total of over 7,000 employees, Lufthansa Cargo, SAS Cargo and Singapore Airlines Cargo aim to press ahead with expanding their alliance and optimising their services for the benefit of customers. Harmonising their Express products is the first step on the way to harmonising their respective product portfolios.

It was originally planned that WOW, the new brand name of the alliance, would be announced along with the start of the Express Product. In view of the tragic attacks in the United States and the uncertainty of the further course of events, the alliance partners have decided to defer the announcement campaign for the alliance brand to a later date. Advertisements announcing the brand name, however, will still be seen in media publications that were already in print at the time this decision was made.