IATA has released the data for global air cargo markets for November 2024. Asia-Pacific airlines saw a demand growth of 13.2 per cent YoY (measured in cargo tonne-kilometers), the strongest growth among all regions. The capacity increased by 9.4 per cent YoY during the same period. The Asia-North America trade lane saw a 13th consecutive month of growth (13 per cent YoY) whereas the Europe-Asia trade lane saw a consecutive 21 months of growth (12.9 per cent) during the same period. The global air cargo demand growth for November 2024 rose to 8.2 per cent YoY, which resulted in 16 consecutive months of consecutive growth. “It was a good November for air cargo with 8.2 per cent demand growth nearly doubling the 4.6 per cent growth in cargo capacity. Fuel costs tracked at 22 per cent below previous-year levels and tight market conditions supported yield growth at 7.8 per cent. All things considered we are looking to close out 2024 air cargo performance on a profitable note. While this strong performance is very likely to extend into 2025, there are some downside risks that must be carefully watched. These include inflation, geopolitical uncertainties and trade tensions,” Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, said.  

  FedEx has further expanded the reach of FedEx® International Connect Plus (FICP) in India, now connecting users to a wide range of destinations across the Asia, Americas and Europe. This international shipping solution is designed to deliver cross-border e-commerce shipments within 3-4 business days. FICP will empower online sellers with cost-efficient, flexible, and speedy international delivery to fuel global growth. The solution simplifies cross-border logistics and enhances user satisfaction with flexible delivery options. It will ensure seamless E-commerce integration, enhanced user control and visibility, especially benefitting the SMSEs in India. “E-commerce is accelerating cross-border trade, and businesses need smart, cost-effective solutions that expand reach without compromising speed and flexibility. Our focus is on creating efficient, agile supply chain solutions for India’s evolving e-commerce landscape. By combining our advanced physical and digital networks, we aim to better serve our customers—especially the small- and mid-sized businesses that drive growth in today’s competitive economy,” Nitin Navneet Tatiwala, Vice President, Marketing and Air Network, MEISA, FedEx, said.

Logistics Park, India has announced the launch of its Grade-A warehousing facility in Nagpur. The facility spans around 2 lakh sq. ft, and will prominently serve industries like pharmaceuticals, automotive, FMCG and FMCD. This new facility has enhanced the total footprint of Logistics Park, India to 2.5 million sq. ft. The Grade-A warehousing facility features state-of-the art infrastructure including ridge ventilation, LED lighting & vertical skylights and FM2 flooring. For enhanced operational efficiency, the facility will feature top-notch material handling equipment, dedicated parking areas and driver lounges, 15 ft canopy-covered docks for efficiency, and 200 KVA DG Set for uninterrupted power supply. The facility boasts of highly advanced security measures along with sustainable practices to reduce carbon footprint.  

Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR Airport) witnessed a robust growth of 17 per cent Year-on-Year in air cargo tonnage in 2024, with a growth of 23 per cent (313,981 MT) in international cargo tonnage and a 9 per cent YoY (182,246 MT) increase in domestic cargo volumes. The BLR airport reported its highest-ever annual cargo tonnage of 496,227 MT, reflecting strong performance in both international and domestic segments. The growth in cargo tonnage was mainly driven by increased demand for perishables, spare parts, engineering goods, and e-commerce shipments. The Airport’s highest single-day cargo volume was recorded on July 11, 2024, with 1,884 MT processed. The key commodities driving cargo growth included agri-perishables, ready-made garments, pharmaceuticals, machinery parts, accessories, and spare parts. BLR Airport’s cargo network now includes 12 freighter airlines operating on both domestic and international routes. The Key export routes included Singapore (SIN), London (LHR), Frankfurt (FRA), Chicago (ORD), and Muscat (MCT), while top import routes included Shenzhen (SZX), Singapore (SIN), Shanghai (PVG), Hong Kong (HKG), and Frankfurt (FRA). BLR Airport retains its pole position as the country’s No. 1 airport for Perishable Exports for the fourth consecutive year. Processed 63,188 MT in FY 2023-24, an 18% growth over PY, handling 28% of the country’s and 44% of South India’s total perishable Air cargo.  

As part of its commitment to workforce development, Ecom Express has unveiled ‘E-Pathshaala’, a transformative learning management system. E-Pathshaala will serve as a platform for upskilling the workforce in the logistics sector. It is part of company’s initiative to drive operational excellence and foster a culture of learning and growth among its workforces. E-Pathshaala addresses unique learning needs of delivery personnel, providing access to a rich repository of regional language motion graphic video courses. The key features of the platform include regional language content for maximum inclusivity, certification for learning achievements to enhance professional credentials, comprehensive tracking to monitor progress and identify areas for improvement, and mobile-friendly access for learning. “E-Pathshaala is not just a testament to our unwavering commitment to the personal and professional growth of our workforce but also a gateway for aspiring individuals to build meaningful careers in logistics. By equipping them with the right knowledge and skills, we enhance individual performance and reinforce our mission to deliver operational excellence and user satisfaction,” Swati Mor, Chief Human Resources Officer, Ecom Express, said.

ECS Group has signed a Total Cargo Management (TCM) contract with JetSMART Airlines across four countries in South America. The four-year contract will cover JetSmart Airlines cargo operations in Chile, Colombia, Peru and Argentina. This four-year partnership, commencing January 1, 2025, spans JetSMART Airlines’s operations across these four countries, marking the first-ever TCM contract in South America with a regional airline. JetSMART Airlines, a member of the Indigo Partners group, operates a modern fleet of A320 and A321 aircraft. CS Group will manage nearly 25,000 flights annually and significantly develop domestic markets for JetSMART Airlines’s four national AOCs. “This partnership is a landmark achievement for ECS Group. Being entrusted by JetSMART Airlines reinforces our reputation as a global leader in Total Cargo Management. It reflects our proven expertise, innovative digital solutions, and ability to deliver exceptional results across continents. We are proud to see airlines worldwide placing their confidence in our capabilities,” Adrien Thominet, Executive Chairman, ECS Group, said.  

The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) has reported a growth of 10.5 percent YoY in air cargo for November 2024. The growth in shipment volumes was driven by sustained e-commerce demand and the front-loading of export orders ahead of anticipated US tariff hikes. International air cargo demand, measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK), increased by 10.5% year-on-year, slightly outpacing a 10.0% rise in offered freight capacity. Consequently, the average international freight load factor edged up by 0.2 percentage points to 62.3% for the month. “Asia Pacific airlines have led growth in international travel markets this year, benefitting from strong demand for both business and leisure travel. Demand has now fully recovered to prepandemic levels. Overall, for the first eleven months of the year, the region’s carriers recorded a 31% increase in the number of international passengers carried to a combined total of 334 million,” Subhas Menon, AAPA Director General said. “Driven by increased demand going into the year-end holiday season, air cargo markets saw healthy growth in November, contributing to a strong 14% year-on-year increase for the first eleven months of the year. Persistent operational challenges in maritime shipping and anticipated US tariff hikes further bolstered demand”, he added.  

Suneet Gupta, Senior Vice President & Global Head- Cargo Community Systems, Kale Logistics Solutions, says – “Quality infrastructure standards is a key metric for various reasons such as turnaround time, efficiency, and even safety. If the roads are not quality prone, moving cargo from the source to the airport cargo complex becomes a challenge. Moreover, lack of infrastructure is directly proportional to lack of efficiency in the overall supply chain and lack of security leads to lack of trust among stakeholders. All these impact on the ease of doing business of the nation. Hence, if asked to rate standards of infrastructure, then it must be rated on the top spot. Governments should continuously oversee the infrastructural capabilities and keep expanding them so that the handling capacity of the airport grows time to time. Investments in terms of freight stations, freight corridors, and most importantly, next-gen emerging business areas are essential to stay ahead of competing countries. Most importantly, investment on technology and digitalisation is highly essential as it would eliminate siloed working structures and push for transparency in operations significantly. Industry players on the other hand should be ready to collaborate with each other and be ready to adapt as and when required.”

Jeena & Company has marked a monumental milestone by celebrating 125 years of excellence, innovation, and leadership in the logistics sector. On this occasion, the company has introduced a commemorative emblem with a tagline ‘Generations of Trust’. This emblem underscores Jeena’s legacy of reliability and unwavering commitment to delivering excellence, an official release said. Prediman Koul, CEO, Jeena & Company said – “Celebrating 125 years of Jeena & Company is a tribute to our rich heritage, the trust of our stakeholders, and the dedication of our team. The milestone reflects not just our legacy but also our forward-thinking spirit, driven by the vibrant energy and innovation of the fifth generation, ensuring we remain dynamic and future ready.”

As per IATA, approx. 1.25 million shipments of dangerous goods are transported by air, and this could see a rise of about 5% year-on-year, said Ramesh Mamidala, Head of Cargo, Air India. He added, “The shipping community must leverage this business opportunity by ensuring compliance through training so that air carriage of dangerous goods remains safe and the preferred mode of transport.” He shared valuable insights on the current and future challenges and opportunities for airfreight to be used as a medium for transportation of dangerous goods at the inaugural Dangerous Goods Symposium organised by Air India’s flight safety department recently. He also encouraged the freight forwarding community to take advantage of the newly opened Air India training academy in Gurgaon who have the distinction of being awarded the first centre in the country to be certified by DGCA with the IATA CBTA training standards.