Newsletter – August 31, 2020

AIR FREIGHT UPDATES

United Airlines Is Eliminating Change Fees For Good

simpleflying.com

United Airlines has announced today that it is getting rid of change fees for all standard economy and premium cabin tickets for travel in the US effective immediately. The carrier is also rolling out an extensive and generous policy to allow more flexible travel. Read more here.

OCEAN FREIGHT UPDATES

Port of Montreal Update

ciffa.com

A week after the announcement of the August 20 truce agreement between the longshore workers’ union CUPE Local 375 and the Maritime Employers Association (MEA), the MPA expects backlog from the work stoppage to be cleared within three to four weeks.

While the MEA and CUPE Local 375 will make the most of the truce period to reach an agreement, note that the MEA and the Port of Montreal Checkers’ Union successfully achieved an agreement in principle, which was ratified on August 24 by union members.

Shippers’ Ocean Freight Budgets ‘About to Explode’ as Rates Hit New Highs

ciffa.com

Ocean freight budgets for shipments from Asia to the U.S. and Europe are going through the roof as carriers prepare yet another round of freight rate increases.

Friday’s Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) recorded further gains for the transpacific and Asia-Europe tradelanes, taking its combined reading up another 7% for the week, to 1,263.26, which is 54% higher than a year ago.

Several regions experience air cargo lull ahead of peak season

lloydsloadinglist.com

Container markets will likely continue to bounce back through the third and fourth quarters of this year and return to 2019 levels next year as the recovery from Covid-19 lockdowns continues, according to Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd. Read more here.

ZIM branches out with new cyber security offering

splash247.com

Israeli carrier ZIM is branching out with a new revenue stream, debuting today ZKCyberStar, a cyber security consulting company created in partnership with Tel Aviv-based Konfidas.

The new company will provide bespoke cyber security solutions, guidance, methodology and training to the maritime industry and marks another milestone in the broadening of ZIM’s tech offerings to the shipping industry. Read more here.

GROUNDAND RAILFREIGHT UPDATES

Unifor Calls for Review of Container Trucking Black Market

insidelogistics.ca

Lack of proper monitoring and enforcement of “off-dock” trucking shipments threatens the livelihoods of all law-abiding Port Metro Vancouver container truckers and demands action, says Unifor. Read more here.

CANADA BUSINESS – GOVERNMENT UPDATES

Canada Extends International Travel Restrictions Until October

simpleflying.com

In the same week that Air Canada announced measures to encourage the reopening of Canadian borders, the Canadian government has extended restrictions. Currently, Canada is only accessible by air for Canadian citizens and a few exemptions. The restrictions were due to lift at the end of August but, after this week’s announcement, the borders will remain closed until the end of September. Read more here.