Air Cargo CTOs Update
The CTOs continue to deal with significantly increased volumes. In some cases record volumes.
Qantas CTO Sydney – Delays Earlier in the Week, Caught Up
Qantas Regional Terminal Manager, NSW, Tony English advised as follows for Qantas CTO, Sydney this week:-
There were some delays with import cargo check in earlier in the week due to an influx of export cattle charters on Monday night, which diverted loading resources.
Another 3rd Party labour provider has been added to the pool of resources and a further 5 staff have been added to nightshift for import cargo check-in.
Alpha and Nobby ETVs hours of operations have been extended between 4am to 11pm.
As at Wednesday evening, the backlog has been cleared and the terminal is operating with no cargo check-in delay.
Further initiatives are being introduced to improve the terminal performance and service outcomes, which will be advised in due course.
Qantas CTO Melbourne – Exports – Friday Night Delays, Imports – Zero Backlog
Clive Callaway, Regional Terminal Manager, VIC, SA & Tas advises the situation has been stable at Qantas CTO Melbourne this week.
Qantas CTO is handling record volumes of international and domestic cargo at the terminal.
There were some delays experienced on Friday night with a surge of export deliveries and volumes. Qantas has contacted several forwarders to requesting them to refrain from delivering Sunday exports to the terminal on Friday night, to minimise congestion and delays to drivers unloading trucks on Friday night.
Qantas CTO has some live cattle charters over this weekend.
The measures outlined in last week’s AFIF Weekly News – warehouse operating 24 hours and a full complement of employees including additional full time labour hired and casuals added to the rosters, is having the desired effect in handling the additional volumes.
Menzies Aviation CTO Melbourne – Delays but Almost Caught Up
Melbourne have experienced long delays with cargo check-in and delivery at Menzies Aviation CTO Melbourne.
However, Clayton Williams, Terminal Manager, Fadvises the news is more positive and delays are almost caught up.
- Currently less than 1 day behind in cargo check-in and expect to be caught up to date by tonight
- Terminal has been operating 24/7 on import check-in to catch up the backlog
- Perishable, Medical and Express cargo is being prioritised from flights for release.
- 7 experienced staff were seconded from Menzies Sydney and Brisbane have again been working in the terminal all week and will return home tomorrow
- 10 additional staff have been hired and commence on Monday
- There have been a number of events this week which have assisted to ease some volume handling pressure.
- There loss of Etihad Airways to dnata (see below) from Tuesday 28 November (2 flights daily)
- Garuda flight cancellations to/from Bali due to Mt Agung volcano ash cloud
- Thai Airways flights affected by Bangkok Airport blockade
Menzies Aviation are confident that once the backlog has been removed the ongoing cargo handling at the terminal will be normalised and business as usual.
Menzies Aviation CTO Sydney – Operating Normally
Menzies Aviation CTO Sydney Terminal Manager, Beau Paine, confirmed that there are no backlogs or delays at Menzies Aviation CTO Sydney.
dnata CTO Sydney & Melbourne – Operating Normally with Etihad Airways Handling Commenced
Lyndsay Sharp, dnata Cargo Manager, NSW and Ian Gillon, Operations Manager, Melbourne have advised the Sydney and Melbourne terminals are operating normally and without delays.
The commencement of Etihad Airways handling from Tuesday 28 November has been reasonably trouble free, although it is still early days. Dnata CTO prepared well for the changeover with extra equipment and staff to accommodate the additional flights and volumes.
Some ULD equipment caught up in Menzies CTO Melbourne backlog are being released to dnata CTO, as soon as possible.
The CTOs are criticised for creating service delivery delays due to a lack of resources and “nothing ever changes”.
Air cargo handling is not an exact science, flights do not always run to schedule, particularly freighters, which impacts shifts and staffing.
The CTOs are endeavouring to add resources and change the terminal work structure, processes and flows to better accommodate the variables in their business and improve service delivery outcomes.
Airport Security starts at the CTO door – so additional labour resources have to go through ASIC checks, RACA Security Awareness and Dangerous Goods Awareness training, before they can be applied effectively and timely.