Newsletter – March 30, 2020

AIR FREIGHT UPDATES

The World Has A New Busiest Airline Route

simpleflying.com

Here at Simple Flying, we’ve often reported on the rise of commercial aviation in Vietnam. That rise continues. The sector between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh is now the busiest airline route in the world. For the week ending 23 March, 212,699 passengers flew between the two Vietnamese cities. That was enough to make the route the world’s busiest. Read more here.

IATA welcomes Brussels guidance on air cargo during coronavirus

aircargonews.net

IATA has welcomed the European Commission’s (EC) Guidelines on Facilitating Air Cargo Operations During the Covid-19 Outbreak.

IATA said that the EC has understood the industry’s challenges and provided comprehensive and practical guidance to ensure that permissions to operate are quickly granted and that air crew are able to operate efficiently with exemptions from quarantine measures. Read more here.

OCEAN FREIGHT UPDATES

Port of Montreal Operating After Employee Contracts COVID-19, Terminals Disinfected

ciffa.com

On Saturday morning, a disinfection procedure was carried out at the Port of Montreal after it received confirmation that an MEA employee tested positive for COVID-19. All terminals were operating by mid-afternoon.

Disinfection measures that the Port and terminal operators are deploying can cause slowdowns, but the Port is responding quickly to incidents and its processing times remain close to normal. Port of Montreal COVID-19 updates

Ocean Insights gives a clearer picture of blanked sailings, and it’s free

theloadstar.com

As ocean carriers scramble to match vessel supply with rapidly reduced demand for shipments, container shipping freight data aggregator Ocean Insights has offered its dynamic database of blank sailings free to shippers and forwarders. Read more here.

Shippers shocked by scale and speed of blanked sailing announcements

splash247.com

Carriers are rushing through blanked sailing announcements on a scale and speed never seen before, giving shippers very little chance to make alternative plans.

Last week, the carriers had blanked two sailings due to the pandemic spread. As of Sunday, this had increased to 45 blank sailings, according to data carried in the latest report from Copenhagen-based Sea-Intelligence Consulting. Read more here.

CANADA BUSINESS – GOVERNMENT UPDATES

CIFFA Letter Requesting Extension in Payment of Duties and Taxes to Government of Canada Contributes to Successful Outcome

ciffa.com

On Friday, CIFFA sent a letter to the Canada Revenue Agency and the Canada Border Services Agency, requesting consideration of an extension in the payment of duties and taxes to the Government of Canada this month and in the months moving forward.

The letter noted that “flexibility in the area of payment of duties and taxes could very well be a lifeline for many Canadian businesses and is necessary now.”

CBSA later issued Customs Notice 20-11 regarding the extension of time frames for the payment of customs duties and the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The time frame for all payments due to the Agency is extended to June 30, 2020.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS – GOVERNMENT UPDATES

Forwarders set to hit reverse gear as demand falls and cargo starts to pile up

theloadstar.com

Forwarders are predicting “mega-congestion” in the next couple of months, as they attempt to do the opposite of their normal job, and slow the flow of freight.

As shop, factory and plant closures continue around the world, the name of the game now is to keep inventory where it is – increasingly difficult as terminals, yards and warehouses become congested. Read more here.

Bangladesh in lockdown as virus halts business and threatens the economy

theloadstar.com

Bangladesh’s key seaport, Chittagong, is facing heavy congestion in its yard as a government-decreed national holiday restricts the flow of goods.

The government has declared a 10-day general holiday between 26 March and 4 April, barred people from going outside from home and halted all types of commercial activities except emergency services. Read more here.