Service Announcements: IAG Cargo, AirBridgeCargo, MOL and World Logistics Services, and SPARX

IAG Cargo transports white rhinos from South Africa to the U.S., AirBridgeCargo adds service to Vietnam, MOL and World Logistics Services establish joint sales and marketing unit, and SPARX opens LA office.    IAG Cargo has transported four white rhinos from O. R. Tambo International airport in Johannesburg, South Africa to Miami International in Miami, Fla. as part of a wildlife conservation project for the endangered species. 
   The rhinos will be integrated into the American Centre for Conservation’s Species’ Survival Program from their new home at the Centre for Conservation of Tropical Ungulates in Florida. IAG said in a statement the operation took several months to plan and was coordinated in concert with the Bester Birds & Animals Zoo Park, the rhinos’ former home in South Africa.
   The endangered white rhinos were transported via IAG Cargo’s specialist Live Animals product, which is fully compliant with both the IATA Live Animal Regulations and the Convention on International Trade.

   AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC) has extended airfreight services to Vietnam with the launch of twice-weekly flights from Hanoi, starting on April 1, 2015.
   The flights depart Hanoi every Wednesday and Saturday and travel to ABC’s hub at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow via Hong Kong. The airline said in a statement flights from Moscow will connect cargo to ABC destinations in Europe and the United States.
   “Development of point-to-point delivery with our hub model in Moscow will provide our customers with numerous delivery solutions to the major cities in Europe and the United States,” said ABC APAC Vice President Joanna Li. “Hanoi is our 8th online station in Asia and we aim to become a trustworthy partner that will benefit the Vietnamese airfreight industry for both exports and imports.”

   Ocean carrier Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) and World Logistics Services (USA), Inc. have established a new joint sales and marketing office in the United States, according to a statement form MOL. The new office will be responsible the companies’ westbound U.S. services – North America Pacific Service (NAPS), PNW and PSW – to China, South Korea, Japan, Australia and other Southeast Asian destinations. The combined team will provide roll-on/roll-off and PCTC services the U.S. to all destinations in Asia.
   Customers will be able to book through both MOL and WLS offices and will receive the same service support at origin and destination ports.

   Third party logistics provider SPARX Logistics opened its new corporate office in Los Angeles, Calif. on April 1, 2015.
   According to the 3PL, the new location will provide full-service operational support to customers based on the U.S. West Coast, as well as those in other regions with significant distribution interests in Southern California. SPARX will provide locally coordinated services including import/export air and ocean freight, local drayage and delivery, deconsolidation/cross-dock, and expedited trucking.