Three-year drug smuggling scheme at Oakland International

A group of Southwest baggage handlers at Oakland International airport was reportedly involved in a drug smuggling conspiracy that has been going on for more than three years. The employees abused their positions of authority, using their security badges to enter secure areas of the airport carrying bags containing marijuana. After smuggling the bags past security checkpoints they were then given to waiting accomplices in the airport who had successfully cleared security. These mules then transported the drugs in carry-on bags to other cities around the country.

The handlers were amongst some 14 accused that have been charged for participating in the illicit scheme. The accused employees are no longer permitted access to the airport and are now under internal investigation.

Delta to load carry-on in advance of passenger boarding

As of the summer travel season, Delta intends to preload passenger carry-on bags into overhead bins on some flights in the hope that it will speed up the boarding process.

Airlines have long been searching for a more efficient boarding method: most simply let first-class and other elite customers board first and following this will either fill the remaining seats working from the rear rows forward or by filling window seats first and working towards the aisle. Some use a combination of the two. Other methods, like letting passengers board early if they do not have carry-on bags, have also been tried.

Passengers are well aware that boarding late means there might not be any room left in the overhead bin for their hand luggage, which leaves them anxious, and airlines, too, know that slow boarding creates delays, which can lead to missed connections, unhappy customers and incurred costs.

It has been calculated by researchers from Northern Illinois University that every extra minute an aircraft stands idle at the gate adds US$30 in costs. About one in four US flights runs at least 15 minutes behind schedule, which, multiplied by thousands of flights each day, quickly mounts up.

Delta is taking a proactive approach by launching its Early Valet service, which involves airline employees taking carry-on bags from passengers at the gate and putting them in the bins above the seats assigned to those passengers. The aim is to see if its airline workers can load the bins faster than passengers. The service, already in action, is expected to increase slowly throughout the month of June, according to Delta spokeswoman, Morgan Durrant.

Air Canada recruits Mercator to provide new software

Air Canada has signed on software provider Mercator and will implement the RAPID Cargo solution in the hope of enhancing its revenue accounting system for cargo operations.

The carrier has said that it was looking for an integrated, modern revenue accounting solution that would interface with its existing cargo system and this new application offers to tend to these concerns, helping align its processes to “industry leading practices, standards and quality”.

Air Canada wants to improve the efficiency of accounts, reduce manual processing and intervention, and enable the generation of real-time reports.

The RAPID Cargo application works by transforming the data on cargo air waybills into a flow of financial and strategic information. Bernard Donoghue, Chief Commercial Officer at Mercator, added: “Air Canada joins a growing community of more than 60 air carriers worldwide that use RAPID to manage their revenue accounting as they seek innovative ways to streamline their businesses and reduce costs in challenging economic times.”

Chris Isford, Vice President and Controller at Air Canada, said: “We reviewed and evaluated several cargo revenue accounting solutions on the market, and ultimately chose Mercator for its track record in rapidly responding to the changing financial needs of airlines by using the latest industry-tested technologies.

“We sought a modern, reliable and robust framework to handle our revenue accounting processes, and RAPID Cargo enables us to handle the most complex revenue accounting demands with speed, accuracy and profitability.”