Below is a quick overview of events around the world that may cause delays to the delivery of your international shipments.
Belgium - 23rd December 2011 (update)
Belgian air traffic controllers ended strike - TNT resumes normal operations
TNT Express resumed operations at Liège Airport yesterday night after the end of a 24-hour strike by air controllers.
TNT's air and ground operations will fully return to normal today. During the strike, TNT took steps to minimise delays for its customers. We temporarily operated flights to other airports and transported even more consignments by road within Europe.
TNT regrets the inconvenience caused and apologises to its customers for these disruptions caused by circumstances beyond its control.
Belgium - 21st December 2011
TNT Express takes contingency measures to overcome the restrictions of air traffic over Belgium between 21 and 22 December
Belgian unions have called for a general strike in the public sector between today 10pm (CET) and tomorrow 10pm (CET) to protest pension reforms. TNT Express is not taking part in this strike. Unfortunately, despite previous assurances from the Belgian air traffic authorities, TNT has just been informed that some essential services to operate flights to and from its European hub at Liege airport will not be available during the 24-hour strike.
TNT’s first priority is to service customers. We are therefore taking contingency measures across Europe to minimise the impact of a partial or total closure of the Belgian airspace. Our customers’ air consignments normally passing through Liege will be transported via other routes. TNT’s intercontinental flights will be diverted to neighbouring airports. TNT is lining up additional vehicles and workers to transport more volumes by road.
However, we are sorry to inform our customers that we will not be able to ensure a 24 hour delivery service in all cases, due to the late notification of the strike in air control services and to the impossibility to fully activate our business continuity plan.
While TNT Express respects the right to strike, the timing and short notice are particularly bad for businesses such as TNT at a critical time of the year.
We are in constant talks with all the relevant Belgian air traffic authorities and will update this statement if the situation develops.
United Kingdom - 11 August 2011
Civil Unrest within main UK cities
According to news reports, last night saw a return to calm around the country following four days of disorder. However, local Police Authorities are cautious and although there has been a welcome return to normality, are stating that, Officers will remain on the ground.
It is clearly too early to determine whether we have seen the last of the disorder or whether the increased risk to our employees, locations and customers’ goods has significantly reduced. Therefore, we will remain vigilant in monitoring the situation and will react accordingly and our contingency plans remain active.
Again, we would like to thank our customers for their understanding and support as well as our employees for their hard work during this challenging period.
To track and trace the status of your consignment click here.
For the latest information on the situation - www.bbc.co.uk/news
United Kingdom - 10 August 2011
Civil Unrest within Main UK Cities
The ongoing civil unrest continued over night, however, London was in the main much quieter due to an increased police presence. New outbreaks around Birmingham, the Midlands, Manchester and Liverpool areas were reported by police and the National Press.
Road closures early yesterday afternoon within the effected areas obviously impacted our collection and delivery operation however, these were much less than those experienced on Monday.
We are maintaining a close watch on the situation and at all times we will remain vigilant with our care of duty to our employees and that of our customers’ goods remaining of utmost importance in our contingency plans. So far, these plans have enabled us to minimise the impact of the disruption due to the civil unrest on our operation and therefore, the service to our customers.
We would like to thank all our customers for their understanding and continued support during these difficult circumstances. We will further update this statement should the situation change significantly over the course of the day.
To track and trace the status of your consignment click here.
For the latest information on the situation - www.bbc.co.uk/news
United Kingdom - 9 August 2011
Civil Unrest within Main UK Cities
As reported widely on both National TV and Press, a number of cities across the UK have experienced a considerable amount of civil unrest during the past 2-3 days.
Fortunately, to date, the effect on our operations has been very limited. However, we have taken action in order to ensure our service to our customers remains at the highest possible level whilst maintaining a safe and secure workforce.
At present, only a small number of our local depot operations have been affected by the civil unrest and subsequent disruption, these being Croydon, Enfield and London City. There is also a perceived risk of the following locations being adversely affected: London Heston, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester Bredbury, Manchester Trafford Park, Park Royal and Luton, although, with the very unpredictable nature of the unrest, other locations around the country cannot be discounted.
A full contingency plan has been brought into effect to minimise the disruption to our operation and to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our employees and our customers’ goods. Our teams across the country are empowered to carry out dynamic risk assessment as the circumstances demand.
To track and trace the status of your consignment click here.
For the latest information on the situation - www.bbc.co.uk/news
Australia - Volcanic Ash Update
21 June 2011
TNT wishes to advise our customers that Australian airspace is once again being disrupted by the Mt Puyehue Cordon Caulle volcanic ash cloud, with a number of domestic and international flights being cancelled and/or re-directed.
Major airports currently impacted include Sydney, Adelaide, Hobart, Launceston and Canberra, with further disruption to Melbourne and Brisbane terminals forecasted in the coming hours.
Where possible, TNT is utilising our road freight network to minimise disruption to our customers. However, we anticipate some delays to our Domestic (Australia), International and Priority services as a result of these events.
Customers are advised to refer to our online Track and Trace system for the most up to date information in relation to specific consignments.
TNT will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as necessary. We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused by these disruptions and thank customers for their patience.
Grimsvötn Volcanic Ash Update
25 May 2011 - 12:00 CET
The Iceland volcano Grimsvötn has stopped erupting. The European air safety organisation Eurocontrol today said the ash cloud could affect Berlin and also parts of Poland today. However, airports in Germany south of Bremen are not expected to be affected. There are no restrictions on flights in any other part of Europe. According to the Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) in London, the ash cloud coverage will dissipate during the day.
As expected yesterday, the ash cloud impacted parts of Iceland, Scotland, Sweden, Latvia and northern Germany. Last night and this morning, TNT Express, like other airlines, could not operate flights to Edinburgh (Scotland), Stavanger (Norway) and Gothenburg (Sweden).
In coordination with its customers, TNT Express has rolled out contingency plans to re-route Edinburgh-bound flights to East-Midlands and Gothenburg-bound flights to Oslo. TNT Express completes the linehaul legs by road. TNT’s service to and from the US is expected to return to a normal schedule shortly.
The actual impact of the eruption on TNT Express’ operations has been limited. The company’s air hub in Liege is fully operational. Although we do not expect any major disruption to our service during the next days, we are keeping a close eye on the situation together with the aviation authorities.
Grimsvötn Volcanic Ash Update
25 May 2011 – 10:15 AM CET
The Iceland volcano Grimsvötn is still erupting but to lower levels than during the weekend. As expected yesterday, the ash cloud impacted parts of Iceland, Scotland, Sweden, Latvia and northern Germany. Last night and this morning, TNT Express, like other airlines, could not operate flights to Edinburgh (Scotland), Stavanger (Norway) and Gothenburg (Sweden). The UK's Meteorological office has predicted that the volcanic ash will clear northern areas of the country by early today.
In coordination with its customers, TNT Express has rolled out contingency plans to re-route Edinburgh-bound flights to East-Midlands and Gothenburg-bound flights to Oslo. TNT Express completes the linehaul legs by road. Consignments from Gothenburg and Stavanger to the rest of Europe could suffer a delay of up to 24 hours. TNT’s flights to and from the US will also be delayed due to the closure of the Icelandic air space.
The actual impact of the eruption on TNT Express’ operations has been limited so far. The company’s air hub in Liege is fully operational. Although we do not expect any major disruption to our service during the next days, we are keeping a close eye on the situation together with the aviation authorities.
Update on nuclear energy plant event and on operations in Japan
Update on Japan nuclear energy plant event - 30 March 2011
TNT Express is monitoring the situation daily, as Japanese authorities try to contain radiation leakages from the damaged Fukushima plant, located 240 km north of Tokyo.
TNT’s main concerns are the safety of its employees and the integrity of its customers’ consignments. At this stage, radiation levels in and South of Tokyo, where TNT Japan operates the bulk of its activities, are considered safe according to official government figures. TNT Express is following the recommendations of Japanese officials, the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and undertakes all necessary measures to ensure security.
Many countries have taken safety measures to test and restrict Japanese food imports. These tests occasionally extend to other kinds of goods. Where this may occur, TNT is and will be working with the relevant airport and security authorities. As soon as consignments have passed through these extended security checks, TNT will arrange their immediate delivery.
Low amounts of radiation believed to be from the Fukushima plant have been detected in other countries, including China, the Philippines, Thailand, the US and the UK. Those amounts were far below what the World Health Organisation considers a health risk, said national health authorities.
Update on operations in Japan - 30 March 2011
TNT Express has suspended service within Japan’s radiation zone around the Fukushima power plant but operates normally outside the exclusion zone. This includes all air export and import services, clinical express services, and ground deliveries in areas not impacted by the earthquake. Fuel supplies have returned to normal. The international gateways of Tokyo Narita, Tokyo Haneda and Osaka/Kansai are operational.
TNT’s gratitude goes to its employees in Japan who have worked miracles to keep operations running despite health worries, repeated aftershocks, and disruptions in power and public transport. In addition, they have been instrumental in delivering 70,000 blankets to the Red Cross and displaced people in the worst-hit areas of Japan on behalf of the World Food Programme.
"We really appreciate the opportunity to help our country during this disaster! We are filled with pride that we are doing this, both as ambassadors of TNT as well as citizens of Japan," said Tadashi Kodaira, Country General Manager of TNT Japan.
TNT Express closely monitoring the situation in Japan
Fri 25 March 2011: TNT Express has suspended service within the 19 miles (30 km) exclusion zone around the Fukushima nuclear power plant located about 160 miles northeast of greater Tokyo. TNT’s primary concern is the safety of its employees, most of whom work in the areas of Tokyo and Osaka. TNT Express is closely monitoring the evolving situation and is following the recommendations of Japanese and international authorities.
TNT Express operates normally in areas outside the exclusion zone. This includes all air export and import services, clinical express services, and ground deliveries in areas not impacted by the earthquake. Nearly 100 percent of TNT’s Japanese staff have continued to go to work despite exceptionally long travelling times. Fuel supplies have returned to normal. The international gateways of Tokyo Narita, Tokyo Haneda and Osaka/Kansai are operational.
Some countries have taken effective security and safety measures for cargo arriving from Japan. Where this may occur, TNT is and will be working with the relevant airport and security authorities. As soon as consignments have passed through these extended security checks, TNT will arrange their immediate delivery.
TNT Express closely monitors the nuclear emergency in Japan
Tue 15 March 2011: TNT Express is closely monitoring the situation in Japan following accidents at two nuclear power plants located about 160 miles northeast of greater Tokyo. TNT’s primary concern is the safety of its employees, most of whom work in the areas of Tokyo and Osaka. We will follow the advice of Japanese and international health authorities and will advise our Japanese employees accordingly.
Service update
TNT Express has resumed operations in Japan, including all air export and import services, clinical express services, and ground deliveries in the area of Tokyo and Osaka. Nearly 100 percent of TNT’s Japanese staff are at work today. Almost all of TNT’s pickup and delivery vehicles are operational. The international gateways of Tokyo Narita, Tokyo Haneda and Osaka/Kansai are open.
However, power outages, queues at gas stations, and long travelling times do not allow TNT Japan to function at full capacity. TNT is doing its utmost to ensure packages reach their final destinations as rapidly as possible. However, service in Northern, Eastern and parts of Central Japan has been suspended because of infrastructure damage.
Japan Earthquake: No TNT employees injured
TNT Express has resumed all operations
Mon 14 March 2011: A massive earthquake occurred in Japan at 14:46 local time (05:46 GMT) on the 11th of March. We would like to send our heartfelt sympathy out to all who have been affected by such a horrific disaster. TNT's thoughts go out to its Japanese employees, their relatives and friends during these very difficult times.
Most of TNT Express employees in Japan work in Tokyo and Osaka. As of today, we are thankful to announce none of them were injured and TNT is gathering information about the possible damage to employees' homes to see what can be done to help.
Transport and communication are progressively recovering away from Japan's main disaster zone. Flights resumed at Tokyo's Narita and Haneda airports. The Kansai International Airport in Osaka is operational. However, Tokyo is experiencing power and public transportation disruptions, which affects daily business lives.
The depots and head office of TNT Express in Japan all resumed operations over the weekend, albeit not in full capacity. Right now, TNT Japan is clearing the backlog of imports in Tokyo and Osaka. TNT Express is hoping to resume full exports to Japan as of today.
On Monday 14th March, TNT Express expects to be able to operate most pick-up and delivery (PUD) services in Tokyo and Osaka, but cannot guarantee on time deliveries. PUD operations in northern Japan will continue wherever possible. Consignments to areas that are not accessible will be held at TNT's depots.
Russia - Moscow Domodedovo Airport Bombing
TNT Service Update - 25 January 2011 15.00 hours
Air traffic to Russia is subject to disruption and potential delays in the wake of Monday's bomb blast at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport. Heightened security alerts at Domodedovo - the Russian capital's busiest airport - and other airports across the country, will inevitably impact on flights to and from Russia in the coming days.
TNT Express Services is working to try and ensure deliveries to and from Russia continue as normal but, in light of the disruption, are advising customers that some service delays may be experienced in the transportation of their goods to and from Russia.
Extreme weather conditions in Europe
TNT’s road network resumed normal operation as of 26 December
It is expected that TNT is resuming its normal operation from its air hub in Liège as of 30 December
Wed 29 December 2010: Europe has been dealing with the most extreme weather conditions since the last 24 years. Liège airport, TNT’s central air hub in Belgium, as well as other European airports, was severely disrupted due to extremely bad conditions and heavy snow showers. In the past week and days this has been causing delays for shipments that travel by air in Europe. Currently the continued difficult operation conditions due to an accumulation of snow and ice are almost resolved and it is expected that TNT is resuming its normal air operation as of Thursday 30 December 2010.
TNT has activated its business continuity plan and were possible has re-routed the affected shipments onto its European Road Network, although the roads were also impacted by the bad weather conditions. TNT will do its utmost to keep customers informed about the status of their shipments and managed to resume normal operations through its European Road Network as of Sunday 26 December 2010.
Statement on suspicious package investigation
Wed 3 November 2010: TNT on 2 November detected the presence of a suspicious package onboard one of its cargo planes, operating between Athens and Liege, Belgium. TNT Airways instructed the crew to divert to Bologna, Italy, and warned security officials. The plane landed and was unloaded safely. TNT is fully cooperating with the authorities as they investigate the case. We cannot comment on the investigation or on TNT's security procedures. TNT applies strict security measures to protect its employees, network and customers' consignments. With respect to security, we actively engage with transportation officials, industry peers and customers.
Statement regarding air cargo security and the screening of packages from embargoed countries
Mon 1 November 2010: TNT has put an embargo on all shipments from Yemen since 29 October, as requested by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and fully cooperates with any required examination of shipments.
TNT’s global security department checked if parcels originating from Yemen had entered TNT’s network in the same time frame and did not find any.
The few shipments originating from Yemen always pass through Dubai, where they are screened and x-rayed. TNT does not operate dedicated flights to/from Yemen and uses third-party capacity between the country and Dubai.
TNT is monitoring regulatory initiatives on cargo security from national and international administrations. TNT already applies strict security measures in cooperation with transportation security officials. In the coming days, TNT will review its own aviation security management system to see if it can be further improved.
Eyjafjallajökull Volcanic Ash Update
TNT Fully Operational
29th April 2010: TNT returned to a full flight schedule to, from and within Europe earlier this week, as the disruptions caused by volcanic ash clouds over Europe abated. TNT’s extensive road service and the implementation of contingency plans allowed it to minimise delivery delays in Europe. Economy Express shipments within Europe continued to move through TNT’s normal road network routes in 39 countries and were not affected. All operations are now back to normal and we thank our customers for their patience during the disruption.