PANALPINA REJOINS CARGO 2000

PANALPINA REJOINS CARGO 2000    Panalpina Group, Europe's largest air forwarder, has rejoined Cargo 2000, the organization of airlines and freight forwarders, after withdrawing from the group nearly one year ago, citing lack of progress.
   The goal of the organization, formed in 1997 within the International Air Transport Association, has been to identify a common procedure and communications protocol for the traditional air freight industry.
   Cargo 2000 early last year began implementing its Master Operating Plan, or MOP, which is designed to enable air forwarders and carriers to offer worldwide time-definite delivery services to shippers.
   Robert Frei, Panalpina's chief operating office, said “the processes defined as part of the Master Operating Plan are to be certified upon request by auditors who have a vested interest in seeing the MOP implemented efficiently.”
   Panalpina credited Cargo 2000's management with having “defined a clear, process-oriented strategy and enforced a visible distinction between processes and transactions.” In addition, the company noted that transactions are now evaluated by five providers in parallel and each member of the group may determine which partner with which to cooperate.
   The forwarder upon its departure last year had also criticized Cargo 2000's intention to open the group to new members. The move, however, “did not, as Panalpina had feared, lead to stagnation, because the entry criteria were set at a high level,” Frei acknowledged. “We have full confidence in the management of Cargo 2000 and now believe that both parties have much to gain from Panalpina's re-entry into the group.”
   Frei added that the forwarder would “continue to contribute constructive criticism to Cargo 2000, while pursuing our objectives with selected partners within the proven key account and business partnership programs.”
   Ron Cesana, project director of Cargo 2000, said “Panalpina's decision reflected the progress being made by our airline and forwarding members and, most importantly, sends out a strong signal to shippers of the group's commitment to implement a new quality management system for the air cargo industry.”