Dronamics has become the first cargo drone airline to be officially assigned both IATA and ICAO designator codes. The drone firm has been assigned the IATA designator code “OY,” along with the accounting prefix “651.” The ICAO call sign “Black Swan” and the 3-letter airline designator “DXE” have also been assigned to Dronamics. Dronamics said the codes would enable it to be officially recognised as an airline entity, supporting commercial interline agreements with other IATA carriers, facilitating connections with freight forwarders, and enabling the publication of flight schedules. The IATA two-letter Airline Designator code “OY” will be used to establish flight numbers. The Airline Accounting Prefix “651” grants Dronamics the ability to issue air waybills (AWBs). The ICAO codes are used by pilots and air traffic controllers for flight planning, communication with air traffic control, and the dissemination of vital information through NOTAMs (Notice to Air Missions). Svilen Rangelov, co-founder and chief executive of Dronamics, said, “Becoming the first cargo drone airline with both IATA and ICAO designator codes is a testament to Dronamics’ pioneering spirit and our vision for faster, cheaper and green air cargo for everyone, everywhere. This recognition by the leading aviation community reinforces our position on the international aviation map.”

Get ready to listen to insightful discussion on ‘How India can increase generic drugs global market share from 20% to 40%?’ on July 21st, 11am-12pm. Pharma Digital Conclave powered by Cargo Talk in collaboration with Cargo Service Center (CSC) is all set to provide you the great insights on the topic with exerts joining us like Mr. Tushar Jani, Group Chairman, Cargo service Center, Mr. Murali Krishna, Director, Pharmexcil, Mr. Devang Vyas, Global Logistics Head, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals and Mr. Bharat Bhushan Rathi, Head Distribution and Logistics, Mankind Pharma on the panel. The session will be moderated by Mr Sanjeet, CEO, DDP Group.

India Cargo Awards 2023 is back with a bag to recognise the hard work of the ‘Heroes’ of the Indian Air Cargo and Logistics fraternity. Known as the “Oscars of the Cargo Industry,” the India Cargo Awards 2023 is all set to be held on 24 July 2023, 7 pm at Hyatt Regency, New Delhi. The annual awards hosted by Cargo Talk (DDP Group Publication) serves as an all-India platform created with a vision to recognise excellence in the Cargo-Freight-Logistics Industry across various domains, including Rail, Road, Air, Sea, Allied Services, Warehousing, Technology, 3rd Party Logistics, and more. Our world-class awards ceremonies are known for their formal Black-Tie affair, filled with glitz and glamour, attended by the most influential personalities in the Cargo Industry.

Get ready to be part of very interesting and insightful third Pharma Digital Conclave being organised by Cargo Talk in collaboration with Cargo Service Center (CSC) on July 21st, 2023 at 11am to 12 Noon. The digital conclave on ‘How India can increase generic drugs global market share from 20% to 40%?’ Will have Mr. Tushar Jani, Group Chairman, Cargo service Center, Mr. Murali Krishna, Director, Pharmexcil, Mr. Devang Vyas, Global Logistics Head, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals and Mr. Bharat Bhushan Rathi, Head Distribution and Logistics, Mankind Pharma on the panel. The session will be moderated by Mr Sanjeet, CEO, DDP Group.

All-cargo carrier Air Incheon has continued its expansion with the addition of freighter flights to Kuala Lumpur. The new five-times-per-week flights were launched on July 11 and utilise a Boeing 737-800 freighter. The airline said that the flights leave Incheon International at 11:00pm and arrive at Sepang International at 7:45am the following day. “As a Result, time -sensitive cargo, including e-commerce, express freight, perishable goods, and intermediate goods for global manufacturing companies, can be loaded at Incheon International Airport during the night and delivered to the destination immediately after customs clearance upon arrival in Kuala Lumpur the next morning,” the airline said. Air Incheon said the service would also target dangerous goods that cannot be carried in the bellies of passenger aircraft. “This new cargo route by Air Incheon greatly contributes to the increased export of fresh Korean agricultural products, including popular items like strawberries, which are in high demand in Southeast Asia,” the airline added. The carrier will also utilise road feeder services to transport goods to industrial areas such as Penang to cater for demand from the manufacturing industry for electronic components, factory supplies, and other industrial goods.

Virgin Atlantic Cargo has recently announced a Sustainable Aviation Fuel Certificate (SAFc) programme, designed to help freight forwarders and shippers manage their carbon emissions whilst demonstrating a joint commitment to scaling the SAF industry. Customers participating in the scheme will contribute to the airline’s purchase of SAF, receiving a SAF certificate for the associated scope 3 emissions reductions. Customers will also benefit from detailed insight into their Scope 3 air freight emissions via Virgin Atlantic Cargo’s own air freight carbon calculator. Developed in-house and independently certified, the calculator uses an industry-recognized methodology, and Virgin Atlantic’s actual flight emissions data to provide powerful insights to participating customers, enabling them to take action on their carbon footprint. DB Schenker is the first to participate in the scheme with the purchase of over several thousand tonnes of scope 3 emissions reductions. The global logistics service provider is continuously expanding its SAF-based air freight solutions.

Qatar Aviation Services (QAS) Cargo has received IATA’s Smart Facility Operational Capacity (SFOC) certification for its cargo facility at Hamad International Airport in Doha. QAS Cargo, Qatar Airways Cargo’s ground handling agent, is the first cargo ground handing agent in the Middle East and Africa region to attain the SFOC certification. The audit that was conducted in April included assessing the cargo handling infrastructure, equipment and implementation of procedures at the Cargo Terminal Complex. The IATA audit team validated the operational procedures of QAS Cargo in compliance with a number of IATA Regulations – IATA Cargo Handling Manual, Dangerous Goods Regulations, Unit Load Device Regulations, Temperature Control Regulations, Live Animals Regulations and Perishable Cargo Regulations. Guillaume Halleux, chief officer Cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo, said: “Our growth to becoming the world’s leading air cargo carrier today has been no easy achievement. Our teams have one goal in mind – customer experience. “It is this goal combined with our Next Generation and VISION 2027 strategy through which we have implemented quality procedures in every area of our business. The certification of our hub in Doha reflects the high standards in place to ensure all types of cargo are handled seamlessly and securely, in compliance to all the IATA regulations.”

ESR Group is making significant progress in constructing its Urban Distribution Centre in Delhi. The project consists of two buildings, and construction is underway for both. Building 1 is approximately 30% complete, with the first-floor slab currently being laid out. Scaffolding work is in progress for building 2, which is currently 20% complete. ESR aims to complete the construction of this multilevel distribution centre by the end of 2023. Situated in Alipur, northwest Delhi, the site will enable just-in-time delivery to 2 million customers in Rohini, Shalimar Bagh, Pitampura, Ashok Vihar, and Model Town, all reachable within 20 minutes. The location offers excellent connectivity throughout the city via the Outer Ring Road, just a 5-minute drive from the site, and the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (KMP). It also provides access to the neighbouring states of Haryana and Punjab via NH44. The upcoming UER 2 starts from NH 44 at Alipur, close to ESR’s Urban Distribution Centre, will connect Rohini, Mundka, Najafgarh, and Dwarka and end at Delhi–Gurgaon Expressway on National Highway 48 and make IGI airport accessible from this location within 40 minutes.

AI The Game Changer: Embracing the Intelligent Future, is the theme chosen for upcoming 47th Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI) convention, which is all set to be held in in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia from November 23 to November 26, 2023. The Three-day convention will witness participation from air cargo industry experts including airports, airlines, freight forwarders, custom house agents, associations and end users. M Afzal Malbarwala, President had confirmed, “This year’s Annual Convention will happen in Kuala Lumpur.”

India now has the highest number of market authorisations granted by the US Food and Drug Authority (USFDA) so far along with a steady increase in the registration of manufacturing sites registered with the US regulator. Market authorisations are approvals given to Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs) that allow companies to launch a product in the US market. As per the latest industry data of the USFDA, market authorisations granted to Indian formulations companies with USFDA approvals stood at 6,316, which is highest in comparison to any other country as of April 2023. This includes authorisations granted to India subsidiaries situated overseas. There were 107 market authorisations granted by the US agency for First Time Generics out of which Indian origin companies bagged 41 which shows the `primacy’ of the Indian drug industry, according to R Uday Bhaskar, Director-General. Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council (Pharmexcil).