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Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Zoo animals, vaccines and more: Sats powers Paris air cargo hub at Charles de Gaulle
PARIS – Two lions and three golden monkeys passed through an air cargo facility at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris on their way to a zoo in central France earlier this year . Besides live animals, the facility also handles other types of specialised cargo, such as pharmaceuticals and perishables like meat and milk. The facility is owned by Sats, the Singapore-listed air cargo handling services provider, and operated by its subsidiary Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), which it acquired in 2023. Following the €1.3 billion (S$1.9 billion) acquisition, Sats became the world's largest air cargo handler. The combined Sats-WFS network operates over 215 stations across 27 countries, covering trade routes that account for more than half of global air cargo volume. Mr Laurent Bernard, vice-president of WFS in France, said on June 3 that the country handled 1.3 million tonnes of cargo in 2024, with 70 per cent coming from Charles de Gaulle Airport. On June 4, the media toured the Paris cargo facility for the first time. Mr Bernard said Sats' acquisition has helped WFS expand its network, giving it a long-term vision and ability to invest in its business. Previously, WFS was 'very Europe-centric', he said. The company also saw growth in the US, but it lacked a significant footprint in Asia . World Flight Services staff loading a cargo crate onto an aircraft at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris on May 4. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI With the acquisition, its reach is now truly global, strengthening its position to negotiate better deals with clients. 'When they are (negotiating) with us, they want a global deal. We can provide them the full package, and many stations (around the world), which is quite important,' Mr Bernard said. WFS was previously owned by a private equity firm whose focus was on 'making quick money in a short time', he said. Sats' acquisition has enabled the company to make investments in its business with a long-term perspective. For example, it is building a 20,000 sq m cargo facility in Lyon – about 460km south of Paris – that will include 7,000 sq m of temperature-controlled space. The building is expected to be ready by mid-2026. WFS has 120,000 sq m of warehouse space at Charles de Gaulle Airport , with roughly 20 per cent of this space dedicated to specialised cargo, Mr Bernard said. General cargo, which is still the company's main business, makes up the rest. Mr Laurent Bernard, vice-president of WFS in France, said Sats' acquisition has helped WFS expand its network, giving it a long-term vision and ability to invest in its business. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI Outside Paris, WFS operates at 11 provincial airports across France, including those in Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, and Strasbourg. The media toured warehouses dedicated to three types of specialised cargo: e-commerce cargo , pharmaceuticals and shipments managed through freight forwarding. The e-commerce cargo is housed in a 5,000 sq m warehouse located less than 100m from the airside. This allows for fast and efficient cargo transfer, meeting the quick turnaround demands of airlines and freight forwarders aiming to make timely deliveries. E-commerce cargo is housed in a 5,000 sq m warehouse located less than 100m from the airside. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI It takes about an hour to unload a full plane, and after checks on-site, the cargo is picked up as soon as two hours later. Most of the cargo arriving at the e-commerce warehouse is from China. The 2,400 sq m pharmaceutical warehouse is temperature-controlled, with one part of the site kept at 15 to 25 deg C and a smaller section at two to eight deg C. The warehouse handles vaccines, insulin and medical devices that have to be kept at a certain temperature. Workers loading pharmaceutical cargo onto a van at the World Flight Services cargo facility at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. The facility is temperature-controlled, and handles shipments of vaccines and other medicines that are temperature-sensitive. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI Another specialised cargo service is freight forwarding, or the coordination and organisation of the movement of shipments on behalf of a shipper. Freight forwarding companies that do not have their own warehouses – usually smaller players – rent space at the WFS facility to consolidate shipments before moving them to the final destinations. This is more economical than leasing their own spaces when cargo volume is low. The World Flight Services freight forwarding warehouse at Charles de Gaulle airport. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI Besides their warehouse operations at Charles de Gaulle airport, WFS also runs an academy there to train workers in handling specialised cargo. In 2025, the centre aims to train 16,000 people in areas such as the handling of live animals, pharmaceuticals, dangerous goods like flammable liquids or materials, and perishable goods like meat and milk. Mr Bernard said Paris has the capacity to continue accepting passengers, and that it is 'crucial to have cargo linked to the (passenger) routes'. Having cargo on board a passenger plane could contribute 30 per cent of a route's profitability, he added. 'It's quite important – in parallel with passenger development – to continue to grow from the cargo side.' Meanwhile, Sats announced on June 3 three new product offerings designed to strengthen global air logistics resilience, in partnership with global transport and logistics company Kuehne + Nagel. One of the services is the expedited delivery of aircraft parts to Changi Airport during Aircraft-on-Ground (AOG) emergencies, where planes are grounded due to technical or mechanical issues. Sats said the solution leverages technology to track the response during an AOG emergency. This allows ground teams to anticipate the arrival of the spare parts and to prepare for repairs, enabling a quicker return to service. 'These disruptions can result in significant operational and financial impacts, making quick access to spare parts a high priority for the aviation industry,' said Sats and Kuehne + Nagel. The two partners also launched sea-air freight services at Sats' Los Angeles and Singapore hubs. This allows customers to transfer sea cargo onto air transport in the last leg of the journey, which could mitigate disruptions to customers' supply chains. To improve trucking and warehouse efficiency at Frankfurt Airport, the two partners have accelerated import cargo clearance there. This streamlining has reduced delays, allowing faster cargo pick-up and delivery by truck. Vanessa Paige Chelvan is a correspondent at The Straits Times. She writes about all things transport and pens the occasional commentary. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Hamilton Spectator
14-05-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Face to face with Pope Leo XIV
He's not Father Bob anymore. That's what Eskasoni's Father Antolin Neo Asor has been calling his friend, former Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, for the past 20 years or so. But now, Asor will have to get used to calling 'Bob' 'His Holiness Leo XIV.' And he doesn't seem to mind it one bit. 'Of course we've met face to face,' the Eskasoni priest said while standing in Holy Family Church on the Eskasoni First Nation where he has served for over four years. 'We've eaten together and joked around just like anybody would.' Worked together As members of the Order of Saint Augustine, Asor and Pope Leo XIV met in person at least three times. In fact, they've worked together many times in Asor's various roles with the Augustinians. Asor said he thinks the announcement of his friend's papacy was a surprise even to the Pope. He explains that the Conclave that chose a successor to Pope Francis, who died on Easter weekend, is made up of 133 people – and every one of them is in the running for the position. Even before the death of Francis, high-profile names were being bandied about as his successor – but few spoke the name of American Cardinal Prevost. Asor said usually the Conclave has a more Europe-centric focus or looks to Asia or South America. 'I'm confident it was the right decision. Leo XIV is shy, quiet, a good listener and he really looks at you and listens. Then, he takes the time to summarize what has been said in the fullness of his wisdom. 'He's very approachable and welcoming.' New Pope 'global' In Sydney, Father Bill Burke of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Parish said he too was surprised not only at the choice, but the speed with which a new pope was announced. Burke has been through eight popes in his lifetime and couldn't be more grateful for the latest to be chosen. 'The first day the Pope was chosen, I had 30 calls from people asking who he was and 'Is he a nice guy,' said Burke. 'I knew of this man before because I used to be an Augustinian. I kept friendships in the community and know people who know him. I know of this man and of the qualities he has. 'One hundred and thirty-three people making a decision. I thought it would take longer and I never expected an American. It tells me that they certainly knew what they wanted. They don't want a carbon copy of Francis, but want someone who can fulfil his agenda.' Although born in the United States, both Burke and Asor refer to the new Pope as 'global.' He speaks English, Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese and reads German and Latin. The two Cape Breton priests explain that for 12 years Leo XIV headed the Augustinian Order and would have had to visit 50 countries around the world in his work. 'He's Augustinian to the core,' said Burke. 'They live by: 'We all beat with the same heart.' Burke said as an Augustinian, Leo XIV would be steeped in the spirituality of 'common good for all.' The new Pope has worked among the poor of Peru for the last 20 years. 'He's walked the walk. He knows the poor,' said Burke. 'Theologically he's a bit of a conservative, but he views the church as a big tent where all are welcome.' In Eskasoni, Asor said his parish is very happy with the successor to Francis. They hope he continues taking the church in the same direction. And Asor has told his parish members about another reason they should look for hope, comfort and strength from the new Leo XIV, whom he describes as 'experienced, in-tune with culture and a very smart person.' 'He has had a lot of experience with aboriginal Peruvians. He integrated himself into the lifestyle and understands poverty and the beautiful culture of a faithful people.' Augustinians, said Asor, take a vow of poverty, chastity and obedience to God. They cling to and love the simplicity of life. 'Their mission is to live out what they have promised to God all for the sake of the kingdom.' Unions sacred In Sydney, Burke has a different reason why he thinks his parish will relate to and be hopeful in Leo XIV. He's most interested in why Leo chose his name. Leo XIII was head of the Catholic Church from 1878 until his death in July 1903. Burke said he is credited with bringing the church into the modern era at the turn of the last century. It was a time (in the 1890s) when capitalism was unbridled and the great divide between the rich and the poor exploded. 'Human dignity was not prioritized,' said Burke. 'We were all just cogs in a wheel.' Leo XIII spent his entire papacy fighting for the working person and their dignity, even going as far as insisting that labour unions were sacred. With Cape Breton's history of labour and unions that improved the quality of life for so many, Burke believes Leo XIV will resonate with Cape Breton's largely Catholic population, should he be using Leo XIII as a model. 'The new Pope Leo XIV gave everyone a message through the choice of his name,' said Burke. 'I am so grateful he was chosen. I am very optimistic.'
