Two-hub combination for better worldwide delivery
As part of its ongoing improvements, Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals (Hactl) will streamline its activities in three areas over the coming months, an executive says.
Hactl director of marketing and customer service Mark Ashall said the first initiative would involve extending its super link airport direct service to other agents. It currently provides to Hong Kong's top 20 agents only.
Under this service, when cargo arrives at the Hong Kong International Airport, agents could either request for consignments to be delivered directly to customers in Hong Kong or to their warehouse.
'We have had increasingly good response to this service,' he said.
Some customers enjoying this service include Expeditors International and Danzas AEI.
The second initiative will involve enhancement of the SuperLink China Direct, a new integrated air cargo service that uses a high-speed sealed trucking service to transfer air cargo between Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and Guangzhou's Baiyun airport.
Hactl, which provides this service thrice weekly between Hong Kong and Guangzhou to 13 airlines, is in discussions with customs in China to start a return service.
Mr Ashall said the return leg of the service could start from Baiyun airport to Chek Lap Kok in the second quarter of this year.
The service is operated by Hong Kong Air Cargo Industry Services (Hacis), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hactl. SuperLink China Direct provides cargo handling services including warehouse storage, physical handling services, documentation, customs clearance and on-time delivery.
Mr Ashall, who is also managing director of Hacis, said the third service enhancement would increase the frequency of the service from three to five times.
While admitting that the present volume of cargo is still small, Mr Ashall said it would take time for users of services to change from their existing processes to the Superlink China Direct service, which is gradually becoming an important part of the business.
The service is being provided jointly with Sinotrans Guangzhou Company.
The expedited service via a sealed truck to Guangzhou Baiyun Airport where Chinese cus toms clearance procedures take place were much faster than actually completing the customs formalities at the border and then transporting it to Guangzhou, Mr Ashall said.
The simplified customs clearance was a breakthrough for cargo that passed through Shenzhen by road, said Chen Hai Ping, general manager of Sinotrans Guangzhou Company.
He said the new initiative could enhance southern China's logistics services development and its important role as a domestic air cargo hub.
'The initiative will greatly speed up the transfer of cargo through the Pearl River Delta and increase the value of HKIA as the region's most effective international trans-shipment hub,' said Mr Ashall.
He said he was confident that the service would exploit the combined strengths of Chek Lap Kok and Baiyun to encourage more airlines to use this two-hub combination to move goods between China and the world.
Hactl is presently using 50-60 per cent of its capacity at the terminal of Hong Kong International Airport.
Hactl is looking for opportunities in China, especially where it can add value to existing services and offer its experience and expertise.
Asked about Hong Kong's competitiveness, Mr Ashall said this meant improvement on price and service.
He did not think services could become dramatically much cheaper in Hong Kong.
He said Hong Kong had to improve its competitive advantages by enhancing its efficiencies.
