Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) and BLR marked the triumph of its first year of operations at Bengaluru airport (BLR) on 24 May 2024, with a celebration involving all stakeholders including airline partners, the local air cargo trade community, and representatives from local regulatory authorities. Over the past year, WFS BLR has made remarkable achievements, built strong relationships, and grown beyond expectations. WFS BLR is a JV partner with BIAL at Bengaluru and is part of the SATS’ network of more than 215 stations in 27 countries, offering customers global network connectivity and the support of dedicated teams with extensive experience in the aviation sector. To mark this milestone, the two air cargo terminals at BLR were beautifully illuminated in WFS colours and a special all-hands celebration for team members was arranged with a cake cutting ceremony, followed by a special anniversary feast. The day concluded with musical entertainment and a cocktail dinner for partners and guests. WFS BLR has now firmly established its presence at BLR, and the celebration was a gesture of gratitude to all team members and stakeholders who have been part of the journey so far.

DP World has launched a new Air Tracking feature to its SeaRates platform, in its latest innovative solution to provide cargo owners with unparalleled real-time visibility of across the entire supply chain. Designed to meet the ever-evolving demands of the logistics industry, the Air Tracking feature seamlessly integrates with the online SeaRates platform offering users a comprehensive solution to monitor their shipments across land, sea and now air. From factory floor to the customer’s door, SeaRates is committed to streamlining global logistics and enhancing customer satisfaction. The Air Tracking feature is a natural extension of SeaRates’ existing suite of tools, which includes freight tracking, Logistics Community Systems (LCS), and ship scheduling. This holistic approach ensures that customers have access to all the necessary tools to optimize their supply chain operations efficiently. Mike Bhaskaran, DP World’s Group Chief Operating Officer, Digital Technology, said: “Our customers’ evolving needs are always at the forefront of how we think about the industry. With the increasing reliance on air freight solutions to overcome disruptions and challenges in global logistics, SeaRates’ Air Tracking feature is a testament to our commitment to providing end-to-end solutions that fit the dynamics of the market.” Enrico Rinolfi, Founder & CEO, CADERIZE highlighted the benefits of the feature, “This addition to the SeaRates platform completes our tracking requirements across land, sea and air. We’re impressed with SeaRates constantly innovating and taking onboard the requirements of freight forwarders, helping us to grow our business and provide additional services to our own customers.” Syed Aminul Kabir, CEO & MD, May International Trade Services Limited said, “We are extremely happy with the quintessential progress DP World is making and quite sure that the organization …

JSW Infrastructure and A.P. Moller Capital, have signed a non-binding MOU to explore and evaluate the possibility of collaborating and cooperating with each other to inter alia pursue value accretive organic and inorganic opportunities in the port and related infrastructure sector. The endeavour is to work together to form a platform in the form of an incorporated joint-venture (referred to as “Platform”) and employ the joint expertise and resources inter alia to acquire, develop, finance, and operate a portfolio of assets in the ports and logistics infrastructure related sectors in India. The intent is for each party to invest significantly in the Platform subject to mutually agreeing terms in the future. [The Platform will be held 51% by the Company and 49% by APMC. Any opportunity identified and agreed by the Parties, (“Project”) will be subject to a feasibility study to ascertain and establish the commercial and operational viability of each Project].

Reliance Industries will soon begin construction of India’s first Multimodal Logistics Park at Mappedu near Chennai. Located 52 km from the Chennai Port, 80 km from Ennore Port and 87 km from Kattupalli Port, the MMLP will be a focal point of logistics in the southern region. It is estimated to cater to around 7.17 million tonnes (mt) of cargo over 45 years, the construction will begin in June says multiple reports. The project was said to have been conceptualised 12 years ago, when in 2022, the company won the bid from Adani Group for the Rs 1,424 crore project on 184.27 acres of land in Tiruvallur district. According to reports, the project aims to facilitate efficient, cost-effective and value-added logistics services such as cargo aggregation and disaggregation, distribution, intermodal transfer, sorting, packing, and repacking. However, it did not take off due to the poor response from the private sector on issues like connectivity.

Ecom Express and Skye Air, specializing in drone technology, announced a strategic partnership aimed at disrupting last-mile delivery solutions. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in the logistics industry, combining Ecom Express’ network and automation expertise with Skye Air’s cutting-edge drone delivery technology. Driven by a shared commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, both companies are embarking on a mission to enhance delivery speed, improve efficiency, and reduce carbon emissions. Studies suggest that transitioning to drone-based deliveries could reduce carbon emissions by 93% as compared to parcel deliveries by road, substantially contributing to environmental sustainability. Through this partnership, they seek to address the interconnected challenges of traffic congestion and environmental sustainability. Vishwachetan Nadamani, COO, Ecom Express, said, “By leveraging Skye Air’s expertise in drone technology, we are excited to explore new opportunities to enhance our delivery services. This collaboration will not only amplify our efforts in reducing delivery times for e-commerce parcels but also enable sustainability efforts beyond electrification of last-mile vehicles.” This partnership will commence with drone delivery trials in select locations in Gurugram, with plans to cover additional pin codes in sparse locations and tougher terrains across India in subsequent stages.

Etihad Cargo is planning to increase its belly network with the integration of additional aircraft, the new-generation Airbus 350 freighter in the second half of 2026, shares Stanislas Brun, Vice President Cargo, Etihad Cargo. Etihad Cargo’s current fleet comprises four Airbus A380s with a maximum capacity of 15,000 kilogrammes each, five Airbus A350s with a maximum capacity of 24,000 kilogrammes each, 22 Airbus A320s, 9 Boeing 777s with a maximum capacity of 24,000 kilogrammes each, and 43 Boeing 787s with a maximum capacity of 22,000 kilogrammes each. “We also operate five of the latest generation of Boeing 777 freighters, each with a capacity of 102,800 kilogrammes, which we use to add capacity to our network to fill up the aircraft, achieving a throughput load factor on the belly of above 90%. 60% of the cargo Etihad Cargo flies is through the belly of aircraft, with belly capacity allowing us to generate multiple frequencies per destination, giving our customers trust in our product and on-time performance,” he adds.

BlueBox Systems, an innovative provider of logistics visibility solutions, announced the launch of BlueBoxCargo, an advanced tracking solution that combines the best features of BlueBoxAir and BlueBoxOcean. This comprehensive platform is designed to provide unparalleled real-time tracking capabilities for air and ocean freight, giving companies the ultimate supply chain optimization tool. BlueBoxCargo builds on the success of BlueBoxAir and BlueBoxOcean and represents a significant advance in logistics technology. This innovative solution integrates the robust functionalities of its predecessors and provides a unified platform that simplifies air and ocean freight management. “BlueBoxCargo is the next logical and, above all, long-planned development stage for us,” emphasizes BlueBox Systems’ CEO Martin Schulze. “After developing BlueBoxAir, a solution specifically for the complex air freight industry, and launching BlueBoxOcean at the beginning of this year, we are now systematically merging the two solutions.”

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) flagship Mundra Port has welcomed the largest container ship to call at an Indian port. The vessel, MSC Anna, docked on May 26 at Mundra Port. MSC Anna is a huge vessel with an overall length of 399.98 m (roughly the length of four football fields) and a staggering capacity of 19,200 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), which makes it the largest container ship by capacity to ever visit an Indian port, APSEZ said in a statement. Its arrival draft is 16.3 m, which can be accommodated only at Adani Ports, Mundra, as no other port in India is capable of berthing a deep-draft vessel, it added. In July 2023, Adani Ports, Mundra created a record by berthing MV MSC Hamburg, one of the longest container ships in the world, with overall length of 399 m and capacity of 16,652 TEUS. Further, the statement said its container terminal CT-3 reached a significant milestone by becoming the first in India to manage 3 milion TEUS in a year. The terminal also achieved a monthly handling record of over 3,00,000 TEUS in November, the highest ever by any terminal in India. Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), a part of the globally diversified Adani Group.

Antwerp-headquartered logistics services provider, Aprojects, has continued its expansion with the recent acquisition of Super Freight, said reports. The acquisition of the Indian logistics service provider is in line with Aprojects’ strategy to facilitate its customers better from geographically favourable positions. The expansion in India follows the recent opening of its offices in Madrid and Istanbul. “We notice that the Indian market is in full expansion and that our presence on the ground, forward-looking, can offer enormous added value” said statement. Super Freight, which has been active in the sector for more than 20 years, is an end-to-end logistics service provider offering specialized solutions for handling over-dimensional sized cargo. With its strong local reputation and branches in Mumbai, Nhavasheva, Delhi and Chennai, they are at the heart of the entire Indian supply chain. Zinnia Mandrekar, CEO of Super Freight, also said, “With the acquisition of our company, we can not only increase our joint global footprint but also combine our competencies and know-how. Let it be just that that can drive our growth and lead to fantastic synergies.”

Qatar Airways Cargo has once again assisted Animal Defenders International, this time by transporting six young lions from the illegal wildlife trade to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in Johannesburg. Known as the “Kuwait 6”, the males Muheeb, Saham, Shujaa, Saif, and females Dhubiya and Aziza were either seized or captured after being abandoned and cared for at Kuwait Zoo. Animal Defenders International (ADI) was contacted by Kuwait government officials to help the lions, so ADI offered them a home at their 455-acre sanctuary in South Africa. Mark Drusch, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo said: “We are proud to once again be supporting ADI, this time in bringing these six beautiful lions home to Africa. Our WeQare Rewild the Planet initiative is our commitment to returning wildlife and endangered species back to their natural habitat, free of charge. “It takes a lot of effort and logistics for our team to organise moving such large animals; from the logistics at the airports, loading and unloading the animals from the aircraft, to ensuring the correct cages and wellbeing of the animals are in place, but it is something we are all collectively very proud and passionate to be a part of.” Jan Creamer, President, Animals Defenders International added: “The Kuwait 6 lions have their whole lives ahead of them and will have acres of space at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. We are thankful to Qatar Airways Cargo and their WeQare program in once again supporting us by covering the cost of the air transport back to Africa. We are also very thankful to the ADI supporters who are helping to fund their care.”