Global air cargo chargeable weight flown in the first quarter of 2023 ended up -11 per cent compared to Q12022. “But a deep-dive into WorldACD’s data reveals that behind those figures there is a tremendous amount of variation globally, depending on factors such as origin point or region, product type, shipment weight, and whether cargo was flown via freighter or passenger belly capacity,” said release. The overall tonnage performance of the different main origin regions ranges from a +1 percent year-on-year (YoY) increase in volumes originating from Africa and from Central & South America (C&S America) to -18 percent from North America and -16 percent from Asia Pacific with Europe at -5 percent and Middle East & South Asia (MESA) closer to the average at -8 percent, the report said. Breaking down those origin figures further reveals that the 16 percent drop from Asia Pacific includes a 24 percent decline in intra-Asia traffic and a 21 percent fall in traffic to North America, and more-modest declines to Europe (-10 percent) and Africa (-9 percent) despite a capacity rise of +7 percent ex-Asia Pacific. The total also hides a 30 percent rise in traffic ex-Asia Pacific to C&S America and a nine percent rise to MESA.

Leasing of industrial and warehousing space rose 11 percent year-on-year (YoY) to 7.2 million square feet (msf) during the January-March period across five major cities, driven by higher demand from third-party logistics and e-commerce firms, according to Colliers India. The report stated that Delhi-NCR continued to lead in demand with a 29 percent share, followed by Mumbai. Third-party logistics (3PL) players accounted for 41 percent of the demand, followed by the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector at 12 percent. “The demand from the retail and FMCG sectors saw a three-fold rise YoY as they expanded their presence in larger markets such as Delhi-NCR and Mumbai. This increase in industrial warehousing space uptake aligns well with the growth in private consumption in the domestic economy,” the report added. Mumbai experienced a 37 percent YoY increase in leasing, primarily driven by 3PL operators who continued to expand in the city despite weaker economic and business sentiment.

Mangaluru International Airport (MIA), Bengaluru opened its Integrated Cargo Terminal (ICT) for public use on May 1. The ICT covers an area of 1,891 sq.m, with 1,200 sq.m allocated for international cargo and the remaining area for domestic cargo. The terminal is capable of handling 9,000 tonnes of international and domestic cargo per annum, said reports. The airport began operations at the ICT by managing domestic inbound and outbound cargo on the opening day, with international cargo expected to follow soon. The new ICT has ample parking space for all stakeholders and boasts several features to aid in effective handling of inbound and outbound cargo. Notably, the facility includes 10 truck bays, two dock levelers, and forklifts, the reports added. The ICT also includes separate office spaces for airlines and customs, and a centralized AC system. The facility has a strong room, cold storage, and dangerous goods storage area, which meet the norms prescribed by aviation cargo regulators. The entire facility is under CCTV surveillance, with separate space for training, documentation, conferences, and even a board room. A pass issuance and frisking booth are also available at the entrance gate, and the facility is under the watchful eyes of ASG personnel of CISF round the clock.

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is redeveloping its 19th Street Cargo facility to enhance its international e-commerce capabilities and increasing overall cargo capacity. Besides supporting the gateway’s ongoing growth in cargo operations, the 19th Street Cargo Redevelopment Project is intended to address labour shortages, airport congestion and sustainability while improving safety, efficiency and security – all through the application of state-of-the-art technology. It will add approximately 350,000 sq ft of new warehouse space and seven large cargo aircraft parking positions, with completion slated for late 2024. After searching for potential tenants that value innovation, automation and emerging technologies, DFW chose Menzies Aviation and dnata USA to create and operate new cargo warehouses at the redeveloped site, subject to final approval by the airport’s board of directors. DFW executive vice president, global strategy and development John Ackerman said: “We selected these tenants for their commitment to excellence in cargo handling and their long-term business strategy, which supports our business priorities in developing DFW as a transit hub in the global supply chain connecting Asia and Latin America. “This will also support our goal of being a hub for the fastest growing markets, including pharma and other perishables, as well as cross-border e-commerce.”

Northeast India’s second largest air cargo terminal at the Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport in Agartala was inaugurated recently by Tripura Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury. The largest such facility in the region exists at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati. The new building was constructed at a cost of Rs 17 crore and cargo handling facility at the airport was restored after being shut since December 4 last year due to the absence of security vetting by regulatory body, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). The suspension of services had caused inconvenience to traders as well as postal service. “The domestic air cargo terminal will play a pivotal role in flourishing the state’s economy. Tripura has witnessed massive growth in connectivity over the last few years. The airport has been upgraded keeping in view future needs,” the minister said.

Block your date for the India’s biggest virtual meet on the Need for world-class cold chain infrastructure to store and transport Pharma in India, with top industry veterans participating as panelists focusing on various crucial aspects such as Current Infrastructure for cold chain shipments handling and multimodal transportation, recent advancements, innovations and investments in improving cold chain infra, crucial Pain points and lot more. The panelists include Satish Lakkaraju, Senior VP, Global Head-Air Freight and Pharma, WIZ Freight, Radar Ventures, Tushar Jani, Group Chairman, Cargo Service Center, Rashmi Karnad Gurung, Manager Climate Control Product, Qatar Airways. The session will be moderated by Mr. SanJeet, CEO, DDP Group. Be ready to be a part of the virtual meet on 5th May, 2023 at 11.00 a.m. being organised by CargoTalk Digital Conclave in association with Cargo Service Center (CSC). Recently, CargoTalk has collaborated with Cargo Service Center for Pharma Talkathon – A series of knowledge-sharing sessions on everything about pharma. Register now! https://lnkd.in/dwHm_Cui

Merck Lifescience signed a strategic contract with LP Logiscience, the warehousing and contract logistic arm of the legendary Liladhar Passo group to avail the use the EV’s for distribution of finished goods from their Rasayani factory, to Merck Lifescience customers, across Mumbai. The contract is a part of Merck and LP Logiscience’s commitment to achieve the mutual sustainability goals, and to move towards carbon-neutral distribution services. With a range of up to 150 km per charge and a payload capacity of 700 kg per trip, the launch of the EV makes LP Logiscience, one of the leading Indian players to adopt green initiatives and innovative tech-enabled operations with a focus on building carbon-neutral/ sustainable warehouses in India.

Transport Corporation of India Ltd. (TCI Group), in collaboration with Indian Institute of Management Bangalore has launched new sustainability lab at IIMB campus with a focus on supply chain management. This will be a one-of-its-kind centre of excellence in sustainable supply chain practices, dissemination, and advocacy. TCI-IIMB Supply Chain Sustainability Lab plans to conduct research in areas such as decarbonization, circular economy and sustainable procurement, and publish white papers on sustainable supply chain management topics. It will also offer consulting services on carbon-related mapping, measurement, mitigation and management. Moreover, it targets to provide certification and assessment services, such as supplier sustainability assessment. It has already initiated research projects, white papers and case studies, and is partnering with other organizations such as WRI India, Herbal Life, etc. Vineet Agarwal, MD – TCI said, “We are pleased to announce our partnership with Indian Institute of Management at Bangalore for creation of one-of-its-kind Supply Chain Sustainability Lab. As a group that believes in knowledge-sharing and uplifting the industry, this is yet another addition to our initiatives that facilitates a culture of collaborative growth and thought leadership. With a continued commitment towards delivering excellence, we believe that this lab will build a community of solvers, by combining research with industry expertise.”

DHL Global Forwarding will leverage SMARTIST, Turkish Cargo’s mega cargo facility at Istanbul Airport, as one of its global hubs. The two companies signed an MoU at the World Cargo Symposium to strengthen their cooperation, which will increase significantly the air cargo traffic handled via Istanbul, enhancing the airport’s potential to become a leading global logistics hub. Thomas Mack, Global Head of Air Freight, DHL Global Forwarding said, “Spanning the European and Asian continents, Türkiye is geographically well-positioned to act as a logistics hub for Europe, Asia as well as the MEA region and the US. We are happy to intensify our long-lasting partnership with Turkish Cargo, that not only provides us with reliable air cargo capacity, but also state-of-the-art logistics infrastructure to handling air freight.” Turkish Airlines Chief Cargo Officer Turhan Özen said, “Integration of SMARTIST, our mega cargo hub, with the global network of DHL Global Forwarding will enhance our service quality and strengthen the hub position of Istanbul further. This cooperation will also enable us to offer more effective, productive and uninterrupted air cargo service to our customers and add value to the industry upon the establishment of a powerful partnership by and between Turkish Cargo and DHL. We hereby wish that this MoU, which stands out as a great source of pride and excitement to us, be beneficial to both parties thereto.”

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) highlighted three priorities – Sustainability, Digitalization, and Safety to enable the air cargo industry to maintain momentum against the backdrop of a challenging operating environment. The priorities were outlined at the 16th World Cargo Symposium (WCS). Brendan Sullivan, IATA’s Global Head of Cargo said, “Air cargo is a different industry than the one that entered the pandemic. Revenues are greater than they were pre-pandemic. Yields are higher. The world learned how critical supply chains are. And the contribution of air cargo to the bottom line of airlines is more evident than ever. Yet, we are still linked to the business cycle and global events. So, the war in Ukraine, uncertainty over where critical economic factors like interest rates, exchange rates and jobs growth are concerns that are real to the industry today. As we navigate the current situation, air cargo’s priorities have not changed, we need to continue to focus on sustainability, digitalization, and safety.”