According to a recent survey titled xChange Industry Pulse Survey released by the Container xChange, a marketplace and technology infrastructure provider for container logistics companies, 51 per cent of freight forwarders, traders and shippers expect chaos in the coming peak season in summer as compared to that in 2021. The survey found that this year’s summer peak season cargo surge will be worse, exceeding the disruptions caused in the peak season of 2021. Twenty-six per cent predicted this year’s peak season would be less chaotic than in 2021, while 22 per cent expected the level of chaos to be the same, stated the survey.

To reserve a stake in Italian airline, ITA Airways, Lufthansa Cargo has submitted a joint bid with Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC). “The MSC Group aims to create a partnership with the Italian Government and Lufthansa as the project’s industrial partner. Lufthansa has already expressed its interest in taking part in the initiative. MSC Group’s interest derives from the possibility of activating positive synergies for both companies in the cargo and passenger sectors where the MSC Group is a global leader,” said a statement. According to media reports, Lufthansa is looking forward to take a 20 per cent stake in ITA while MSC will hold a 60 per cent stake under the joint offer and the remaining 20 per cent would be held by the Italian state. Though nothing has officially been confirmed as of now.

Ethiopian Airlines announced expansion plans of its freighter fleet by ordering five Boeing 777 Freighters. Mesfin Tasew, CEO, Ethiopian Airlines Group said in an official statement, “The addition of these five 777 Freighters into our cargo fleet will enable us to meet the growing demand in our cargo operation. While cementing our partnership with Boeing with new orders, the growth of our freighter fleet takes the capacity and efficiency of our shipment service to the next level. We strive to serve our customers with the latest technology aircraft the industry could offer. Our cargo terminal is Africa’s largest, coupled with fuel-efficient freighters and well-trained cargo handling professionals will enable customers get the best quality shipment service. The customers can rely on Ethiopian Airlines for wide-ranging cargo services across five continents.”

Allcargo Logistics Ltd reported consolidated revenue of ₹ 20,072 crore for the year and EBITDA stood at ₹ 1,516 crore. The company profit before tax stood at ₹ 1,186 crores, including ₹ 81 crore share of profit from associates and JVs. The Board of Directors approved the audited financial results for the financial year ended March 31, 2022 at a meeting held recently. Shashi Kiran Shetty, Chairman, Allcargo Logistics, ECU Worldwide and Gati Limited in a statement, said, “The company’s performance is an outcome of sustained strategic initiatives over last few years. Our sharp focus on technology has benefitted us in many ways, be it using data science and automation to drive optimization, or digital platforms to serve customers better.”

In line with the objective of Port-led industrialization, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) organized ‘JNPA SEZ Investor Conclave 2022’ in association with the CII in Mumbai on 27 May 2022, to propose ample opportunities to investors to invest in the India’s growth story and be a part of country’s growing port-led economy. This multi-product SEZ project is being developed on 277.38 hectares of freehold land by JN port, incorporating the Land Use Plan of the Port. This industrial hub is India’s first port-based multi-product operational SEZ. Sanjay Sethi, chairman, JNPA, said, “JNPA is set to strengthen its growth aspects in the port-led business with this SEZ project that offers varied facilities from single-window clearances to multi-modal connectivity and state of the art infrastructure, making it an ideal choice to establish businesses and boost export-oriented industries in India.”

With an aim to have a pan-India presence by the end of FY 2025c, cargo-partner announced plans to expand its network to 10 more Indian cities. Rajiv Singh, MD, India, cargo-partner said, “The firm will be creating many job opportunities in these cities during FY2022-25. They will be serving B2B enterprises operating in the automotive and spare parts, fashion, lifestyle, foodstuffs, perishables, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare. The increase in demand from tier 2 and 3 cities has also led to this expansion in services by cargo-partner.” Singh shared plans to expand in the warehousing and pharmaceutical sectors. “We are aiming to grow from Rs 530 crore to Rs 1,500 crore in the next three years. We are ready to invest as much capital as will be required to bring these people with us,” Singh said.

To help Spanish companies grow their supply chains amidst the e-commerce boom, Correos Cargo, Spanish postal group, has launched a twice-weekly Madrid-Hong Kong air cargo service. The Milana Bonita Airbus A330 has a cargo capacity of 50 tonnes and offers air transport for all types of materials and sectors. It will operate on Mondays and Fridays. “With this new service, the company wants to help and favour the internationalisation of Spanish companies as well as export their products in the Eastern markets,” said Correos Cargo in an official statement. The Spanish postal group is also planning to expand its network by adding three new aircraft by the end of 2024.

Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), operator of Kempegowda International Airport, was conferred with Green Airport Recognition 2022 Platinum Award, by the Airport Council International (ACI). BIAL has won the award in the 15-50 million passengers per annum category for its achievements in carbon emission management, an official statement stated. In addition, BIAL also won the Golden Peacock Award for Sustainability 2021 for its efforts to minimise carbon emissions and improve the sustainability of its daily operations. The airport’s green initiatives such as Energy Neutrality, Water Positivity, outlawing single-use plastics at all retail food and beverage outlets, and its Sustainability Vision and Road Map 2030, were well received at the event, the statement added.

InterGlobe Enterprises and UPS announced a joint logistics venture, MOVIN, on Thursday to serve the growing demands of the Indian logistics market. “MOVIN will offer seamless integration across air and ground networks. To B2B customers, enabling an uninterrupted flow of goods that is backed by consistent and responsive operations. We are certain our foray into logistics with MOVIN will contribute to the rapid development and growth of businesses in India. We look forward to enabling and facilitating trade, commerce, and employment through this venture,” said J B Singh, Director, InterGlobe Enterprises in an official announcement in New Delhi. Ufku Akaltan, UPS President, Indian Subcontinent, Middle East, and Africa stated, “With a strategy of customer first, people led, innovation driven, UPS further expands its global network, including healthcare solutions, through a unique partnership that creates a suite of services to service B2B customers’ needs to grow.”

As a part of the PM Gati Shakti National Masterplan, the foundation stone for multimodal logistics park in Chennai was laid by Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister at JLN Indoor Stadium on Thursday. The MMLP is being developed near Chennai, in Mappedu, over an area of 184.27 acres, is expected to be a cutting-edge facility with smart technologies that will address the long-standing last-mile delivery difficulty. “The facility will offer warehouses, cold storage, cargo terminals, custom facilities, truck terminals, accommodation and boarding facilities for truckers, commercial facilities, and the ability to handle diverse commodities,” said an official statement. Consulting firm, CBRE has been appointed as the advisor for the development of MMLP in Chennai. Anshuman Magazine, Chairman & CEO, India, South-East Asia, Middle East & Africa, CBRE said, “Chennai is a vital site for supply chain and logistics in the south, serving as a gateway for local and international trade. We are honoured to have been chosen to collaborate with the government on its nation-building vision and goal.”