The new status of the freight operators ZIA CARGO makes it easier to enter the European market
ZIA CARGO JSC, freight and mail operator at the Zhukovsky International Airport, developed with the support of State Corporation Rostec, has completed the process of authorization the RA-3 certificate (Regulated Agents Third country), which is a prerequisite for simplified organization of air cargo transportation to the European Union. Zhukovsky CARGO has became the second airport in Russia that fully possesses this competence.
The RA-3 agent status is a fairly new form of aviation security standards of the European Civil Aviation Authority. Starting from July 2014, all cargo intended for or traveling through the EU must be transported along a verified and approved supply chain, which is achieved by obtaining the status of ACC3 (Air Cargo Carrier third country). In most cases, the airlines themselves are responsible for issuing this certificate with reference to a specific airport. Taking into account the long duration and complexity of this process, this significantly narrows the range of possible airports of departure.
The presence of the RA-3 status of a cargo operator completely changes the picture: from now on all air carriers will be able to use the right to transport cargo to EU countries, which allows any (including European) airline to freely conduct operations through the Zhukovsky CARGO.
This certificate confirms that all the required inspection methods have been professionally applied to the shipments serviced by ZIA CARGO JSC, ensuring compliance with the EU security procedures for any type of cargo. This is already enough for organizing charter cargo transportation. The work with busiest regular lines (including passenger) is also extremely simplified: relying on ZIA CARGO as an acting RA-3 agent, the airline can obtain permanent ACC3 status as soon as possible, without carrying out a complex audit.
The work of the expert committee under the leadership of the senior vice president of Strategic Aviation Solutions International, Lilian Tan Keller, was carried out in Zhukovsky in August 2020. Despite the conditions complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic it ended successfully: the information collected as a result of the audit was checked in Germany, which traditionally makes the highest demands to the results.
“It is extremely important that we were able to go through this procedure at the first try, in short time from the opening of the cargo terminal. From a practical point of view, this will allow us to significantly expand the international transit potential of Zhukovsky CARGO. We hope to become more attractive partners not only for Russian, but also for foreign carriers. This will be important not only for freight airlines, but also to such aviation partners as Ural Airlines. After the current restrictions will be lifted, the airport’s route network will be able to provide significant cargo capacities to the European direction, and the additional loading of passenger aircraft with commercial cargo will increase profitability. It will become an effective way out of the current crisis, ”said Evgeny Solodilin, General Director of ZIA CARGO JSC.
A new cargo terminal opened in Zhukovsky on July 9, 2020. Nowadays, ZIA CARGO JSC operates 24 hours 7 days a week, providing a full range of services for handling all categories of cargo, including oversized and heavy, valuable, perishable, dangerous, express cargo and live animals. The services provided include ground handling and storage in the warehouse of ordinary and special cargo, provision of transfer of goods traveling through Zhukovsky airport, provision of expedited acceptance and delivery of goods, information support of clients.
Since June, the airport’s basic cargo carrier, Sky Gates, has operated 60 flights on the Frankfurt Hann – Zhukovsky and Zhukovsky – Zhengzhou routes. In addition to the usual regular and charter cargo flights, in the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Zhukovsky has become one of the logistics centers for the domestic and international circulation of medical goods. Aircraft of the Russian Post, Aviastar-TU and Sky Gates delivered 265 tons of mail to the cities of Russia. In June – September, 70 flights of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and 1,650 tons of equipment were serviced to deal with the consequences of an emergency related to an oil spill in the Norilsk region.
According to the results of the first year of operation, the total volume of cargo handled by the logistics complex may reach 12,000 tons. In addition to the RA-3 agent status, this will be facilitated by a special offer valid for all shippers and consignees until the end of 2020. As part of the development of partnerships with a customs broker – JSC Express Solutions – customs clearance of goods will be carried out at a record low price – 1 ruble per 1 customs declaration, which will significantly reduce the average cost of receiving / sending goods in Zhukovsky.
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