Prestwick scoops top cargo award

Glasgow Prestwick Airport has won a top industry award for its cargo capability at a glittering ceremony in London.

The airport triumphed at the 25th annual Air Cargo News awards which took place in the Royal Lancaster Hotel on Saturday April 26.

More than 500 of the industry’s top executives from all over the world were in attendance to see Glasgow Prestwick named Best Cargo Airport (up to 100,000 tonnes per year).

Allan McQuarrie and Nico Le Roux (pictured to the left), who are in charge of Freight Development for Infratil Airports, received the award on behalf of the airport.

The award winners have to meet a number of criteria related to volume growth and marketing activity, before the views of industry experts are taken into account when deciding the final results.

Nico Le Roux, Group Manager Freight Development, said: “It is a fantastic achievement for us to win this as it is right up there with the industry’s top awards and shows just how highly Glasgow Prestwick is regarded by the people who matter.

“The last year has seen an improvement in volume after the market suffered a difficult couple of years.

“Cargo operators are attracted by the airport’s perfect geographical location, fast turnaround times and our team’s ability to easily handle large and unusual items.”

The recognition comes only days after Glasgow Prestwick announced a strong cargo performance for the year ending March 2008.

A strong emphasis on freight development has paid off for Glasgow Prestwick, which currently handles around 20 Boeing 747 freighters during an average week.

The March total of 3,260 tonnes marks a 5% improvement on March 2007 and a 34% increase on February’s total.

Freight has also increased year on year with the 31,735 tonnes handled between April 2007 and March 2008 representing a 4% increase on the previous 12 months.

Record-breaking boat checks in at Glasgow Prestwick

Record-breaking boat checks in at Glasgow Prestwick

A rowing boat which made nautical history this summer passed through Glasgow Prestwick Airport on its way home thanks to Cargolux.

The James Robert Hanssen travelled back to America the fast way this week after its canny crew of four spent nearly 70 days at sea, rowed almost 4,000 miles and set five new records.

Brad Vickers, Jordan Hanssen, Dylan LeValley and Greg Spooner set out to defeat three British teams in the Oceans Four 2006 race, which began at New York Harbour on June 10 and finally ended on August 20 in Falmouth, Cornwall, two days after they were the first team to cross the official finishing line.

The vessel arrived at Glasgow Prestwick by truck this week before boarding a Cargolux Boeing 747 aircraft bound for Seattle.

Cargolux, one of the world’s leading cargo airlines, operate seven scheduled air freight services through Glasgow Prestwick Airport every week and kindly offered to transport the James Robert Hanssen back to America free of charge.

Nico Le Roux, Group Manager Freight Development at Glasgow Prestwick Airport, was pleased that his team of freight handlers had the chance to showcase their skill in dealing quickly and efficiently with large and unusual items.

He said: “This boat has certainly had an interesting couple of months and we are delighted to play a part in getting it home. It’s a great gesture by Cargolux to fly it to America free of charge, and it’s a testament to the team here that they handled it without any problems as this boat is pretty big when you see it up close.”

Glasgow Prestwick and Panalpina make light work of massive load

Glasgow Prestwick Airport recently handled a piece of cargo so large it would normally travel by boat.

But an eight-tonne anchor, produced in Sheffield for a Glasgow-based company, was needed so urgently in New Orleans that sailing the high seas was not an option.

There is a massive need for infrastructure in and around the famous American port following the disastrous Hurricane Katrina last year, and forwarding agents Panalpina were under pressure to move the anchor, designed for an oil rig, to its destination quickly.

It would normally sail across the Atlantic due to its size and the high cost involved in moving it by air.

However Nico Le Roux, Group Manager Freight Development at Glasgow Prestwick Airport, was pleased that his team had the chance to showcase their skill in dealing quickly and efficiently with large and unusual items.

He said: “It’s a testament to the experienced and dedicated staff here that they are able to handle anything the forwarding agents can throw at them. This was undoubtedly one of the biggest pieces of equipment that has ever passed through Glasgow Prestwick, and it did so without any problems.”

Panalpina, who run three scheduled air freight services through Glasgow Prestwick Airport every week, worked closely with the airport to ensure that all was in order for this anchor to be loaded on board the aircraft to Luxembourg, where it would connect to New Orleans.

Panalpina Sales Executive Edel Mohan admitted: “Our company creates customised solutions, tailored to the unique demands of our client. With more than 500 facilities in over 80 countries, our global network is driven to deliver precisely the right transport and logistics solution for each assignment.

“This shipment was a fine example of our drive to constantly adapt to the needs of our customers. Our local team were able to provide a solution which was implemented quickly and efficiently. Panalpina’s success has proved yet again our excellent reputation to make the seemingly impossible become possible.”

She added: “Our passion for solutions has contributed to our customer’s continued success with future orders secured in the US.”

Ends

May 17 2006

GPA Handles GP7200 Aircraft Engine

Glasgow Prestwick Airport recently became the first in the UK to take delivery of the powerful new GP7200 aircraft engine - the type used by the new Airbus A380, the world’s largest passenger carrier.

The massive $8m device was unloaded in two parts – the fan and the engine itself - from an Air France Cargo plane which had flown in from Chicago.

The workers responsible for unloading the engine demonstrated the airport’s ability to quickly and efficiently deal with bulky, outsized items. Following customs clearance it was quickly aboard a truck transporting it to Cardiff.

Nico Le Roux, Glasgow Prestwick Airport’s Group Manager Freight Development, said: “We are delighted to have played a part in bringing the first engine of this kind to the UK. The staff involved in the operation showed they are experts in handling this type of item.”

Terry McIntosh, Manager Aviation at Geologistics – the forwarding agent responsible for transporting the GP7200 to Cardiff – revealed it was so large it required an escort.

In Cardiff its destination was the GE Aircraft Engine Services facility, part of a global network of service centres which will service the GP7200 for the Airbus A380 fleet.

The GP7200 was developed by the Engine Alliance, a partnership between General Electric and Pratt & Whitney.