Cathay Cargo said it had enhanced its integrated mail platform with Cathay Mail, a refined digital solution that re-envisages the mail-shipment process, generating greater transparency for post offices and providing the track-and-trace visibility their customers expect.

In a statement, Cathay Cargo said with Cathay Mail, it would be able to better cater to the requirements of post offices for shipment visibility, reliability and speed.

 Source: Cathay Cargo

"Cathay Mail highlights how we have adapted technology and digitalisation to offer real benefits to our customers. By fully integrating mail-handling functions with our cargo operations and expertise, our innovative new mail solution provides a sophisticated suite of tools and facilities to support our postal partners," said Tom Owen, director of cargo.

Cathay Cargo noted that its refreshed "mail as cargo" solution integrates mail-handling data with air cargo systems using the PAWB – the postal air waybill.

The use of electronic data interchange (EDI) technology removes much of the previous shipment paperwork and gives both origin and destination post offices and designated operators more visibility of shipments down to the mailbag (receptacle) level, allowing them to offer package-level track-and-trace visibility to e-commerce shippers.

The information also enables Cathay Cargo to manage capacity against actual volumes of mail on flights, so it can make allowances for surges in ad hoc demand or make unused space available for other cargo.

"There is an additional benefit for mail heading to Europe where, by making the information available in advance, mail shipments will be compliant with the European Union's new ICS2 customs requirements, which are being introduced this year," Cathay Cargo said of the refreshed Cathay Mail service.

"Thanks to the digital data available from the PAWB, it is now easier not only to reconcile shipments for billing but also to measure performance," it added.

Cathay Cargo noted that it would be adding KPIs to its mail performance monitoring suite, which is accessible on the EzyPost platform.

Indices such as on-time delivery and visibility performance will be accessible and updated from live data.

Cathay Cargo said it would aim to "outperform the 95% industry 'visibility performance' standard" and will set its own stretch targets to ensure it exceeds contractual standards.

The EzyPost platform will also produce monthly reports that will be available to post office customers. This accessible and more accurate data will simplify the measurement of contractual performance.

Hong Kong: A global mail hub

Cathay Mail also enables efficient operational recovery should an aircraft be grounded at an intermediate stop.

Cathay said staff would be able to identify and segregate express mail shipments for priority uplift, and this will be visible in the system.

"This new investment in our mail-handling capability increases the attractiveness of Hong Kong as a global mail hub, giving post offices the confidence to move mail more seamlessly to, from and through Hong Kong," Owen said.

One of these post offices is Hongkong Post, which participated in earlier "mail as cargo" trials.

Steve Lau, business director (external affairs) at Hongkong Post, said Cathay Cargo had been a "trusted, long-term partner of Hongkong Post."

"While the pandemic had a tremendous impact on the aviation industry, we worked hand in hand with Cathay Cargo and overcame the challenges. Looking forward, and as the home carrier in Hong Kong, Cathay Cargo will continue to be our close partner to support the growth of e-commerce businesses and position Hong Kong as a major hub in the region," Lau added.

The new technology in the mail solution offers a firm foundation for that ambition.

Owen noted that Cathay Mail would improve on Cathay Cargo's existing mail service levels by offering high-visibility performance and improved-on time-delivery performance.

"This updated solution expands and optimises the use of EDI that, with the PAWB, delivers an enhanced level of customer performance and real tangible benefits to our post office customers and our own operational performance," the Cathay director of cargo added.