C K Govil, CMD, Activair Airfreight says, “As global trade faces rising protectionism, logistics costs and supply chain volatility, India’s push to diversify its trade routes is both timely and strategic. The Eurasian Corridor — linking South Asia, Central Asia, and Europe offers an alternative to traditional maritime routes through the Suez Canal, cutting transit times to Europe by up to 40 per cent and expanding access to new markets. Through initiatives such as the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Chabahar Port project, India is deepening regional integration across sea, rail, and road networks. Air cargo and digital trade systems will be critical in bridging infrastructure gaps and ensuring reliability. Yet, geopolitical risks, regulatory inconsistencies, and limited experience among smaller exporters remain key challenges. Success will depend on coordinated policy, infrastructure investment, and industry collaboration. If executed well, the Eurasian Route could become a cornerstone of India’s trade resilience, complementing traditional sea and air corridors while positioning India at the center of a more connected Eurasian marketplace.

Central Airlines has strengthened its international cargo capabilities with the addition of a Boeing 777 Freighter. The China-based carrier, headquartered at Haikou Meilan International Airport in Hainan, received the leased aircraft this month as part of its ongoing fleet expansion strategy. With this latest addition, Central Airlines’ fleet now includes two Boeing 737-300 passenger-to-freighter (P2F) aircraft, four 737-800P2Fs, and six 777Fs. Tie Gong, Head of Network and Planning at Central Airlines, highlighted the aircraft’s significance in a recent LinkedIn post, “The Boeing 777F brings modern efficiency, extended range, and proven reliability — qualities that perfectly align with KTW’s role as a 24/7 cargo hub at the heart of Europe.” The move underscores Central Airlines’ commitment to expanding its long-haul cargo operations and strengthening its presence in the global air freight market.

Samir J Shah, President, ACAAI said, ” ACAAI is an old association with a wonderful legacy of serving its members, the airlines, and other stakeholders, while actively participating in policy discussions with the Government of India. There is so much happening in logistics—especially in air cargo—with new airports coming up, emerging challenges, and evolving regulations. ACAAI will strengthen its outreach with all stakeholders, particularly the government, airlines, and custodians. I am fortunate to have a wonderful team of Managing Committee members, a highly capable secretariat, and very experienced advisors to support me on this journey. We will increase our interaction with the Government and other stakeholders, as continual dialogue will benefit the entire industry. We also plan to release a few white papers on topics of current relevance and work towards setting up our own training institute to equip member personnel with necessary skills across all related areas, including DG regulations.”

Activair Airfreight India was honoured with the Excellence in Global Air Freight award at the recently concluded India Cargo Awards held in New Delhi. This recognition highlights the company’s consistent efforts in delivering reliable, efficient, and customer-focused air freight solutions across global markets. With a strong emphasis on innovation, timely delivery, and operational excellence, Activair Airfreight India continues to strengthen its position as a trusted logistics partner for international trade.  

Driven by surging demand in Delhi-NCR, India’s industrial and logistics leasing activity across the top eight cities has hit an all-time high — reaching 37 million sq ft during the January–September period of 2025. This marks a robust 28 per cent year-on-year increase, up from 28.8 million sq ft during the same period in 2024, according to the latest report from real estate consultancy CBRE. Among the eight major cities — Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad — the Delhi-NCR market emerged as the front-runner, accounting for the lion’s share of leasing activity at 11.7 million sq ft. Bengaluru followed with 5.7 million sq ft, while Hyderabad rounded out the top three with 4.6 million sq ft. Together, these three cities comprised a commanding 59% of the total leasing volume. Other notable performances came from Mumbai and Kolkata, with space take-ups of 4.2 million sq ft and 3.8 million sq ft, respectively, signaling sustained growth in tier-I logistics hubs, said CBRE.  

GMR Hyderabad International Airport (GHIAL) was presented the Fastest Growing Air Cargo Airport Award at the recent India Cargo Awards 2025 in New Delhi. It was recognised for its outstanding performance and rapid growth in the air cargo sector. The airport has consistently demonstrated excellence in cargo handling, operational efficiency, and customer service, making GHIAL a key hub for domestic and international freight. With strategic infrastructure, state-of-the-art facilities, and strong connectivity, the airport continues to support India’s ambition of becoming a global logistics and trade hub, setting benchmarks for efficiency and innovation in the industry.

Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP) and FedEx Logistics have reached a pact to collaborate on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) usage, marking a significant step toward greener air cargo operations. According to AFKLMP, the SAF participation agreement will enable FedEx Logistics to explore a book-and-claim programme, giving its freight forwarding customers access to the environmental benefits associated with the physical SAF used by AFKLMP. The partnership, recently celebrated with key teams in Hong Kong, demonstrates how industry collaboration can accelerate SAF adoption across the supply chain and help forwarders achieve their sustainability goals, reflecting the growing focus on decarbonisation in global logistics.

In response to growing demand between Asia-Pacific (APAC) region and Europe, FedEx has announced the addition of five extra weekly flights to its European hub at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. Three of these flights will operate from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, while the remaining two will connect from Singapore Changi Airport. All flights will be operated using Boeing 777Fs, enhancing the carrier’s capacity and reliability on this key trade lane. “This expansion boosts our average daily capacity between APAC region and Europe, enabling businesses to seize growth opportunities in high-demand sectors such as e-commerce, manufacturing, hi-tech, and retail,” the company statement read. The move underscores FedEx’s commitment to supporting global supply chains with increased flexibility and faster, more efficient cargo movement.

Chaitaly Mehta, Honorary Secretary, ACAAI, said, “ACAAI offers a platform to give back to the industry, whether through training, joining sub-committees to help the Trade or participating in various initiatives or programs. I would want to inspire members- old and new with next-gen to seize these opportunities. As the first woman to hold this role at ACAAI, I aim to build on its rich legacy, while bringing fresh energy and inclusivity. My focus is on teamwork, collaboration, and restoring ACAAI to its full glory — like polishing silver to reveal its brilliance. I am passionate about increasing women’s empowerment and participation across all levels, from Regional to the Board Level and encouraging more professionals, next gen and new entrepreneurs to actively contribute. I want to expand ACAAI’s presence through wherever possible new regional chapters and create greater awareness about work that ACAAI does for the trade. That is another key priority. My strategy is simple: collective effort, steady progress, and fostering a strong, collaborative team that works together to strengthen the air cargo industry.”

Emirates SkyCargo was felicitated with the Best International Cargo Airline Award at the recent India Cargo Awards 2025, recognising its outstanding performance, reliability, and customer-centric approach in global air freight operations. The award underscores Emirates SkyCargo’s continued commitment to excellence, innovation, and its strong contribution to facilitating trade and connectivity between India and key international markets, a press release stated.