Safexpress has unveiled its groundbreaking logistics park in Patna, Bihar. As the largest logistics park in Bihar, this state-of-the-art facility is set to revolutionize the logistics industry, driving seamless trade operations and unlocking immense business potential in the region. Spanning across an expansive area of 5.25 lakh square feet, the logistics park offers unparalleled infrastructure and capabilities. Its key highlights include 130 feet wide cross-dock facility, strategically located on the Patna-Bakhtiyarpur National Highway 30, Fatuha, and just 40 km away from the Jay Prakash Narayan International (JPNI) airport. This prime location ensures convenient access and efficient transportation for businesses operating in and out of Bihar. Designed to withstand all weather conditions, the park features a 16 feet wide cantilever shed, guaranteeing 100% operational reliability. Additionally, an 80 feet concrete truck docking road has been constructed to facilitate smooth truck movement within the premises. With dedicated docking facilities for 135 trucks, the park ensures swift loading and unloading operations, streamlining logistics processes. This significant investment by Safexpress signifies a major milestone for trade and commerce in Bihar. The region, known for its agricultural prowess and status as an important business center, is poised to experience exponential growth in logistics operations. Safexpress’ largest logistics park in Patna will serve as a catalyst, facilitating the seamless transportation of packaged goods and fostering increased trade opportunities for businesses across Bihar.

Japanese carrier ANA Cargo (the freight arm of All Nippon Airways) has begun offering its new PRIO FRESH service for international perishable airfreight transport on flights from Haneda, Narita, Kansai, Fukuoka, Nagoya and Chitose airports. PRIO FRESH is part of the airline’s PRIO portfolio of value-added services for international cargo. Customers could already opt for thermal blankets to protect cargo (excluding shipments travelling on Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 flights) from high ambient temperatures such as those that occur on a sunny ramp. Now, ANA customers can also book temperature-controlled trucks on domestic road feeder services. In addition, the option of traceability during transit on some routes (Haneda–Hong Kong and Singapore) is now available under the new PRIO FRESH banner, through the provision of timestamp information for each handover point on the route. In July this year, ANA became the first Japanese airline to receive IATA CEIV Fresh certification. The airline was awarded CEIV Pharma certification in 2017.

Continental Carriers Pvt Ltd (CCPL) observed the Aviation Security Culture week (31st July to 5th August 2023), in compliance with the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) guidelines. The event was organized at Continental Air Freight Station, newly established at Kapashera, Delhi, near IGI Airport, on 3rd August 2023. CCPL organized various activities to raise awareness among its officials about the security procedures concerning cargo and personnel movement, as well as the access control process. During the event, the CCPL staff had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the security equipment used at the Continental Air Freight Station. This awareness program aimed to enhance the employees’ understanding of the critical role security plays in the aviation and logistics industry. The event commenced with an inauguration by Shri Vaibhav Vohra, Managing Director – Continental Carriers Pvt Ltd. A solemn pledge-taking ceremony followed, affirming the commitment of all participants to prioritize and uphold aviation security. In his address, Shri Vaibhav Vohra emphasized the paramount importance of security in the current scenario, emphasizing its significance for both the Civil Aviation and Logistics sectors. By celebrating the Aviation Security Culture week, Continental Carriers Pvt Ltd demonstrated its unwavering dedication in maintaining the highest standards of security and safety in its operations, ensuring a trustworthy and reliable service for its clientele, thereby reinforcing its position as a responsible and reliable logistics company.

NICDC Logistics Data Services (NLDS) was honored with ‘Best Digital Initiative Logistics – ULIP’ award at the recently held India Cargo Awards in New Delhi. Piyush Srivastava, IES, Senior Economic Advisor, MOCA presented the award. Known as the “Oscars of the Cargo Industry,” the India Cargo Awards 2023 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.

Lucknow is emerging as a key industrial and logistics hub in North India after Delhi-NCR as the warehousing sector is estimated to generate 70,000 direct employment opportunities over the next five years, according to property consultant CBRE. In a statement, CBRE South Asia said that Lucknow region has witnessed about Rs 400 crore of investment by leading players like Amazon, Mondelez and Flipkart in the last five years, and an additional Rs 70 crore investment is expected in the development of warehouses in the city. The demand for quality warehousing space has consistently grown in Lucknow over the past five years and attained record levels in FY23, the consultant said. The total leasing of warehousing space in Lucknow region in 2022-23 stood at 0.18 million square feet from 0.11 million square feet in the previous year. Currently, the Lucknow region has a total of 5.2 million square feet of warehouse stock with about 1.4 million square feet of Grade A supply in the pipeline on the Lucknow-Kanpur highway cluster. “The capital city of Uttar Pradesh is one of the most important consumption markets in the state and is strategically located with seamless access to East, West, and Central India, emerging as one of the largest logistics hubs of Northern India,” CBRE said.

MSC has acquired a majority stake in Milan-based airfreight carrier AlisCargo Airlines. The acquisition follows MSC’s confirmation last month that it was in talks with the cargo airline, as it continues to develop its air cargo operations. This deal initiates a 100% takeover set to take place at the beginning of 2024, when AlisCargo will restart operations with the delivery of a Boeing 777 freighter, says release. The carrier is the only Italian airline dedicated entirely to the intercontinental transport of goods; it received its AOC in July 2021 and its first commercial flight took place between Milan Malpensa and Jinan on August 18, utilising a B777-200 in a preighter configuration. Aliscargo took delivery of three further B777-200 preighter aircraft with the aim of expanding its operations – but preighter operations became less and less viable after the pandemic, and the airline’s operating licence was suspended earlier this year.

Vietnam Logistics Business Association delegation, currently on a four-day visit to India, has expressed interest in investing in the Multimodal Logistics Hub (MMLH) and Multimodal Transport Hub (MMTH) at IITGNL at Greater Noida in western Uttar Pradesh, said reports. The Integrated Industrial Township Project has a development area of 747.5 acres that has been envisaged to be sustainable, smart and safe. Encompassing a flagship project of Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), the township has been designed with world-class standards and envisioned as a sustainable and smart community. The Integrated Industrial Township Project Greater Noida Limited (IITGNL) is the special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the project, reports further added.

Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (also known as KIAB/BLR Airport), has witnessed growth in the export of perishable cargo, handling a record tonnage of 53,751 metric tonnes (MT) in financial year 2022-2023 (FY23). This represents a 3% increase compared to the previous year (FY22) when the Airport handled 52,366MT of perishable cargo. BLR Airport has maintained its dominant position in the export of perishable goods, with 27% share in total cargo volumes across the Indian air cargo market and 41% share within airports in southern India. Among perishable goods, BLR Airport led in the export of poultry and floriculture/flowers in India with a 9% increase compared to the previous year and a notable export of 39,865MT and 1,877MT respectively. Additionally, fresh vegetables and fresh fruits were among the top commodities exported by BLR Cargo. Fresh mangoes, during the same period, witnessed a 10% surge in export volume. Oman, Qatar, Singapore, Maldives, UAE, Kuwait, and the UK emerged as the top destinations for international exports, in FY23. The volume of perishable goods transported to Maldives and Kuwait rebounded to pre-COVID levels in FY23 and experienced a 50% growth compared to the previous year. The export of perishable goods to the United States has also tripled compared to FY22. Last year, the perishable cargo from BLR Airport was connected to more than 60 international destinations. Currently, BLR Cargo operates to 25 international destinations and 75 destinations in India, with a total of 13 cargo freighters. Satyaki Raghunath, Chief Strategy and Development Officer at Bangalore International Airport Ltd said, “BLR Airport has played a pivotal role as one of India’s leading air cargo EXIM contributors, through its exceptional volume shares across both Indian and …

Mumbai Cargo Service Center Cold Chain Solutions (MCSCCCSPL) was felicitated with ‘Best Air Cargo Terminal Operator Cold Chain’ award at the recently held India Cargo Awards 2023 in New Delhi. Piyush Srivastava, IES, Senior Economic Advisor graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. MCSCCCSPL being the largest pharma air cargo handling company in India has a state-of-the-art facility in the Mumbai Air Cargo Complex. The Pharma Excellence Center is spread over 4000 sq.mt Which has regular temperature mapping across the terminal. The facility has different temperature zones mainly +15 to +25 and +2 to +8 degrees Celsius. There’s a separate zone for dangerous goods which electronically monitors the hot and cold spots in our 4000Sq.ft warehouse.

Skyports Drone Services has introduced Speedbird Aero as a new aircraft partner for the Orkney I-Port operation, a drone delivery initiative launched in collaboration with Royal Mail, Orkney Islands Council Harbour Authority, and Loganair. The Brazilian drone manufacturer will provide its DLV-2 aircraft for Skyports Drone Services’ global delivery and logistics projects, starting with three months of inter-island delivery flights for Royal Mail for the Orkney I-Port project. The electric multirotor DLV-2 drone, which has a payload capacity of six kilogrammes and a range of up to 16 kilometers, was selected as vehicle of choice for the Orkney I-Port project due to its large payload volume, which makes it well suited to carrying cargo such as Royal Mail parcels. First deliveries were completed in July this year and will continue until October. The aircraft is also equipped with a parachute.