UPS AIRLINES OFFERS GUARANTEED SERVICE FOR LARGE FREIGHT

UPS AIRLINES OFFERS GUARANTEED SERVICE FOR LARGE FREIGHT    United Parcel Service Inc.'s airline division said Monday it will begin offering freight forwarders a priority option for time sensitive, heavyweight shipments starting May 12.
   The premium service from UPS Airlines includes priority handling and booking of freight rather than processing it on a first-come, first-served basis. Forwarders can use the existing cargo product, to be called UPS Air Cargo Reserved, for shipments with more flexible delivery requirements.
   UPS officials at the annual CNS Partnership conference in Miami said the program includes a money-back guarantee if a shipment is late by more than a couple of hours. The refund would cover the difference between Priority and Reserved rates.
   UPS Airlines is the 11th-largest airline in the world, with 262 aircraft. Last year it flew more than 900 million pounds of heavyweight cargo, said Don Herbert, UPS Airlines vice president of cargo.
   'We have offered premium cargo services in the past but they haven't been branded as such,' Herbert said in an interview. He emphasized the service is only for forwarders, adding: 'It would impact our neutrality in the industry if it was offered directly to the shipper.'