UK – WORLDWIDE – Cancellations, postponements and adjustments due to the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak continue with news this week that the IRX/eDX show in Birmingham scheduled at the NEC for 1 - 2 April has been put off until further notice. IRX/eDX covers internet retailing and as such is of interest to a variety of logistics interests. Another big NEC show now on the back burner is the ever popular Multimodal Exhibition. Registrations have been automatically reallocated to the new revised dates of 4-6 November 2020.

BELGIUM – Following the news on 10 March that the World Health Organisation revised its classification of Covid-19 to global pandemic status, and that the Belgian Government consequently recommended all indoor events (over 1,000 people) should be prohibited, the April 2020 edition of the break bulk event, Antwerp XL is cancelled. A new autumn edition of Antwerp XL will now run at Antwerp Expo, 15-17 September.

SCANDINAVIA – Due to the current situation and concerns about the Covid-19 coronavirus, Viking Line will suspend service on Mariella and Gabriella between Helsinki and Stockholm from March 18 to April 13, 2020. (Mariella will make her last voyage from Stockholm to Helsinki on March 17; Gabriella will make her last voyage from Stockholm to Helsinki on March 18.) Viking Line is following the instructions of Finnish authorities, who have closed the country’s borders, during the state of emergency in effect in Finland.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) World Cargo Symposium (WCS) which was due to be held between March 10-12 has been rescheduled for 9-11 March 2021, hosted by Turkish Cargo Airlines in Istanbul. Plans are already afoot for Cathay Pacific to host the 2022 event in Hong Kong.

In the UK Redwigwam, which has over 110,000 workers on its database, and supplies many to transport and logistics organisations, is scrapping fees until further notice. It means that companies can use the company’s online platform to find workers to carry out short-term and ad hoc jobs and only have to pay the workers for the jobs they hire them for.

Luxembourg, Singapore, Hong Kong and Greek offices will operate in a similar way, albeit some offices will remain open but at all times colleagues are contactable through email and mobiles. This will extend to the Club’s emergency claims service which remains functional 24 hours a day. Contact details HERE.

As a result by next week around 75% of the company’s planes will be grounded, obviously having a knock on effect for belly hold cargo, the London Heathrow -Newark route for example will be permanently terminated with immediate effect. The company has also made a range of offers and conditions to staff including voluntary severance, sabbaticals up to a year, reduced employer pension contributions, deferred pay increases and an amended sick pay policy.

The Boeing 777-300 has 14 cargo positions for large pallets and can carry more than 100,000 pounds. The four scheduled flights this weekend are expected to be booked to capacity and transport medical supplies, mail for active US military, telecommunications equipment and electronics that will support people working from home, and e-commerce packages. The flights provide much-needed cargo capacity for many of the airline’s regular cargo customers, allowing them to continue operating in this challenging environment.

Source:handyshippingguide

The opinions expressed herein are the author's and not necessarily those of The OLO News.