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HACTL is the largest independent
cargo handler at the world’s largest
cargo hub, Chep Lap Kok, with
the biggest single facility in air
cargo globally. With 3000 staff and
around 100 airline customers, for
whom airfreight is not their core
business, the company also has lots
of dedicated air cargo clients. Being
based at a hub with plenty of carriers
is a major bonus to HACTL. 75% of
the cargo tonnage handled by them is
carried on dedicated freighters.
The company has been in business
for 40 years and has just 4 main
shareholders now. It no longer has
a monopoly in Hong Kong, now
that Cathay Pacific (formerly 1 of the
shareholders) is competing with HACTL
for terminal cargo handling. DHL also
have good presence at the airport.
HACTL’s Super Terminal 1 cargo
distribution centre is on 6 levels, and
its container storage system has 3500
pallet positions.
HACIS is the added-value subsidiary and
Lau’s mission is to re-position HACIS.
“We want to make is more customer-
facing and create new services,” she told
me. “We’re investing in technology and
people to now track cargo from nearby
Guangzhou, for example. Since 2000
HACIS has been operating its ‘Superlink
China Direct’ road feeder services to
mainland China.”
The company has greater regional
competition than before, from Chinese
airports such as Shanghai, which is third
in the world now for air cargo. China’s
silk road policy and the free trade zones
are also having an influence on freight
corridors. Lau told me that they are less
overwhelmingly export-focused now
that Chinese growth is more domestic
and import-orientated. “We’re a
transhipment hub,” she added, with no
night-flying restrictions.”
HACIS are gaining business from
ecommerce and postal trends in China.
It offers secure screening services and
has invested in more x-ray machinery.
Perishable freight can be trucked by
temperature-controlled lorries. “We’re
helping customers become more
competitive. Pharmaceutical is another
growth industry. We have the World
Health Organization accreditation for
good distribution practice. Our thermal
dollies enable temperature-controlled
transportation on the ramp, for airline
pallets loaded with pharmaceuticals.
They are used for unloading and towing
to the temperature-controlled zones
within the cargo terminal.”
Fly freighting
At Munich Transport Logistic
David Priestman
met with Vivien
Lau, Executive Director of Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminal
(HACTL) and Managing Director of Hong Kong Air Cargo
Industry Services (HACIS).
Airfreight competition requires cargo
handling to become a seamless part
of the supply chain, especially as far
as data transmission is concerned.
Shorter turnarounds and servicing are
demanding. IATA’s ‘Efreight’ initiative
and electronic airway bills are helping
to streamline processes, both for
environmental reasons and to avert lost
paperwork. Lau assured me that HACTL
is a major facilitator in these steps.
HACTL received the Air Cargo Handling
Agent of the Year award at the 2015
Air Cargo Week World Air Cargo
Awards. The award was presented
to Chief Executive Mark Whitehead
in front of an audience of over 500
senior representatives of the air cargo
industry, by David Kerr, Vice President
of Etihad Cargo.
Whitehead said: “This was a very
pleasant surprise. As HACTL is only
based at one location it is very difficult
to compete successfully for such an
award against the other major handlers,
all of which have global station
networks and much larger customer
bases. Winning this award is clear
evidence of the loyalty and appreciation
of our customers and users, both in
Hong Kong and elsewhere. We are
extremely grateful to everyone who
voted for us, and also to the 2400 staff
whose daily dedication is the foundation
of our reputation for quality service.”
20
Logistics Business Magazine | September 2015
AIR CARGO