‘Complex’ freight carrier CAL adds IAH to service route
Bush Intercontinental Airport, which moved a record 500,000 tons of cargo last year, is continuing its growth with new service from CAL Cargo Airlines.
CAL, a unit of Israelbased Challenge Group, began service to Houston last week, citing the region’s focus on oil and gas, auto parts and medical equipment.
“The addition of CAL Cargo Airlines new scheduled service is yet another step fostering future growth in cargo operations at Bush Airport,” Houston Airport System Director Mario Diaz said in a news release. “Houston Airports remains committed to developing and improving connectivity, and new scheduled service offerings such as CAL Cargo Airlines’ help expand available options to diverse regions.”
Challenge Group, which operates four Boeing 747-400 freighters and specializes in unique and complex shipments, including time and temperature sensitive cargo such as pharmaceutical and health care products, live animals, dangerous goods and perishables.
Challenge Group services include global scheduled routes as well as ad hoc and charter missions. Viridian Energy, in February. Vistra also agreed to assume Crius Energy’s debt of $108 million.
Vistra had to boost its offer by $50 million after an unidentified third party made an unsolicited bid for Crius.
Curt Morgan, Vistra’s chief executive officer, said the acquisition will accelerate the company’s retail growth plans in the Midwest and Northeast and expand its footprint to 19 states and 3.7 million customers.
Female-focused VC firm makes first investment
Houston-based Artemis Fund, a Seed and Series A venture capital firm for female-led startups, made its first investment by placing $500,000 into a college savings app.
Artemis, investing alongside Draper Dragon Fund, Band of Angels and Pasadena Angels, led a $2 million investment into California-based U-Nest, whose app helps families create 529 college savings plans in less than five minutes and with as little as $25, according to a news release from the company.
U-Nest is led by Ksenia Yudena, who has more than 10 years of experience in financial services.
Artemis Fund was created to help womenled startups receive venture capital financing.
These entrepreneurs receive just 2 percent of venture capital, and women make up just 9 percent of decision makers at venture capital firms, according to the news release.
Air France-KLM to test facial recognition at IAH
Air France-KLM will test a program at Bush Intercontinental Airport that uses facial recognition technology to verify a traveler’s identity.
Before stepping onto an Air France flight, passengers will have their face scanned as an alternative to showing documents. If the scan matches the photo on file with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, travelers can board immediately.
“We are excited to embrace an innovation that has the potential to make the travel experience less stressful and more secure for our passengers,” Stephane Ormand, vice president and general manager of Air France-KLM USA, said in a news release. “Our aim is to implement biometric boarding at 93 percent of all U.S. airports by the year’s end, and 100 percent by 2020.”
This facial recognition technology is being used on flights departing from Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Dulles, San Francisco and Seattle.
Passengers uncomfortable using the technology can opt out and have a boarding agent manually process them.