Çelebi India announced its collaboration with British Airways to provide top-notch ground handling services at Chennai International Airport. This partnership marks a significant milestone for Çelebi as it expands its presence in the country with exceptional services in the aviation industry. British Airways, renowned for its exceptional service and unwavering commitment to safety standards, has chosen Çelebi India as its ground handling service provider in Chennai. This strategic alliance signifies the trust and confidence British Airways places in Çelebi’s expertise from 65 years of providing ground handling services to some of the world’s biggest airlines. Tauseef Khan, CEO, Çelebi Ground Handling – India, said, “We are thrilled to announce our partnership with British Airways as the chosen ground handling service provider at Chennai Airport. This collaboration is a significant milestone, underscoring Çelebi’s commitment to delivering top-tier services and contributing to the growth of India’s aviation industry. As we extend our support to British Airways, we remain dedicated to providing seamless and sustainable ground handling solutions, further solidifying our position as a trusted partner in the aviation landscape.” This collaboration with British Airways is part of Çelebi India’s expansion strategy, adding to its operations at major airports, including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Goa, Hyderabad, Cochin, Ahmedabad, and Kannur.

Authored by Harshit Shrivasttava, CEO & Co-founder of Intugine The Indian logistics industry is experiencing a digital transformation that has the potential to reshape our understanding of supply chain management. With ongoing challenges to the industry’s adaptability and resilience, a push towards heightened efficiency and reduced costs has become increasingly urgent. As the backbone of the nation’s economic landscape, the logistics sector is poised for growth, contributing 14.4% to India’s GDP and employing over 20 million people. This article explores the potential evolution of digitalization in the Indian logistics ecosystem outlook and its impact on the industry’s future. The year 2023 heralds the arrival of the National Logistics Policy, a model of India’s relentless resolve to optimize operational facets and wholeheartedly embrace the wave of technology-driven solutions. This strategic blueprint is poised to strengthen the nation’s economic terrain, catalyzing amplified connectivity and facilitating frictionless trade in domestic and international markets. It is a testament to India’s commitment to not merely adapt to the evolving outlook but to lead the charge in supply chain transformation. Once considered a fleeting trend, digitalization has become an indispensable cornerstone of the Indian logistics sector. The industry is grappling with a plethora of complexities, ranging from the vast and diverse geography of the nation to complex regulatory demands and varying infrastructure standards. These challenges underscore the imperative for a profound digital revolution. Leveraging robust technologies such as automation, integration with the Internet of Things (IoT), and harnessing the power of data analytics, logistics companies stand to elevate their operational capabilities significantly. The merits of this transformation are manifold. Automation is central to eliminating manual errors, guaranteeing seamless operations in a geography where customer expectations have …

Geodis will continue to offer its own-controlled freighter capacity until the end of the year. The freight forwarder’s leased Airbus A330-300P2F, operated by London Stansted-headquartered Titan Airways, is currently performing three rotations per week between the UK and China, carrying e-commerce goods. Titan is operating a round-trip cargo route from Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport in southwestern China to London Stansted Airport in the UK three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The aircraft will continue to be operated “at minimum until the end of 2024,” said Eric Martin-Neuville, vice president of freight forwarding, Geodis,” says reports. The aircraft was leased during the height of the pandemic, but the tough market conditions last year resulted in a lot of doubt about how the return of capacity and lower rates would affect those in the industry that had invested in own capacity, especially on long-term contracts.

Public-private partnerships are being encouraged to drive investments in cargo infrastructure, technology, and logistics solutions, says M Afzal Malbarwala, MD, Galaxy Freight. “This collaborative approach is pushing for innovation, bringing in expertise, and ensuring that the industry is well-equipped to meet the increasing demand for air cargo services,” he adds. “India’s ambition of achieving 10 million metric tons of cargo throughput by 2030 is not just about quantity; it also underscores a commitment to sustainable practices. Green initiatives, such as the adoption of cleaner fuels, energy-efficient technologies, and waste reduction measures, are integral to the country’s vision. By prioritizing sustainability, India aims to balance economic growth with environmental responsibility in its maritime activities.”

DP World has signed multiple MoUs worth INR 25,000 crores (INR 250 billion) with the Government of Gujarat, covering the development of new ports, terminals, and economic zones, strengthening its commitment to supporting trade in a growing Indian state. Signed at Gandhinagar, during Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024, the MoUs highlight Gujarat’s prowess as a role model of development and the Growth Engine of the nation while leveraging its logistics and maritime infrastructure. DP World Group Chairman and CEO, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem exchanged MoUs around potential investments in Gujarat with M K Das, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat in the august presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of UAE, and Shri Narendra Modi, Honourable Prime Minister of India, as part of the summit in Gandhinagar. The MoUs underscore DP World’s commitment to facilitating trade in Gujarat by developing: • Multi-purpose deep-draft ports in South Gujarat and around the western coast of Gujarat towards Kutch, • Special Economic Zones in Jamnagar and Kutch, • Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals (GCT) and Private Freight Stations at Dahej, Vadodara, Rajkot, Bedi and Morbi DP World has also signed an MoU with Gujarat Maritime Board to jointly identify opportunities to develop additional ports along the coast of Gujarat. Commenting on the signing of the MoUs, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, DP World Group Chairman and CEO, said, “We are very committed to India, where we have been operating for nearly 20 years. In that time, we invested almost $2.5 billion and we are going to invest more in the next 3 years in these projects. The policies of the government and our experience here is what gives us the …

Group Concorde has announced its recent partnership with Air Canada Cargo. The collaboration began on January 1, 2024. Starting the new year on a high note, Group Concorde will assume the pivotal role of the Indian sales representative for one the largest North American carriers with operations from India. Prithviraj Chug, CEO of Group Concorde, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration, saying, “Air Canada Cargo is renowned for its expansive fleet, vast network, and class-apart service. We are excited about the opportunities this partnership brings, as we look forward to extending our services. This collaboration will not only strengthen our position in the market but also enrich the logistical experience of our valued customers.” Group Concorde, Air Canada Cargo will continue to move freight on their flights from India as well as from Interline Partner network.

Block your calendar for Air Cargo India 2024 which is set to be held in Jio World Convention Center, Mumbai, from 14th till 16 February 2024. Organised by Messe Muenchen India, the show will leverage the platform’s inherent strengths of enabling networking, collaborations, knowledge exchange, sharing, and celebrating successes, this edition will once again unlock opportunities for the global air cargo community. Currently, the air cargo business in India is one of the most competitive and fastest-growing segments. Research & Markets estimates that by 2028 India’s air freight market will reach $17.22 billion, growing at a CAGR of 5.65%. Bolstered by a strategic focus on infrastructure development of airports, logistics parks, and road connectivity projects across the country, combined with the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme covering 15 manufacturing sectors, India will witness surging volumes of air cargo operations across the country.

Customs Brokers were encouraged to provide end-to-end solutions to the importers and exporters by providing the trade facilitation measures introduced by the customs department. Stress was also laid on sustainability at Brihanmumbai Custom Brokers Association’s (BCBA) 87th Founders’ Day. Surjit Bhujabal, Member Customs, CBIC New Delhi highlighted BCBA as a strong link between the members, Customs and other stakeholders. He appreciated the BCBA’s critical role in supporting in implementing CBLMS as well as imparting training and skill development. Principal Chief Commissioner of Customs, Mumbai Zone I, P.K. Agrawal also complimented the Custom Brokers who have served the trade through decades and encouraged the next Gen to continue with the same zeal. He stressed the importance of sustainability as a responsibility towards the environment and future generations. Unmesh Wagh, Deputy Chairman, JNPA, gave an impactful speech pointing out to the Customs Brokers about their increasing importance in the future. He appreciated BCBA’s active involvement in imparting training and skill development and orientation for the upcoming Vadhvan Port and valued the partnership in facilitating trade friendly environment. Rajesh Pandey, Chief Commissioner of Customs, Mum Zone II acknowledged the vital role played by BCBA in advocating Compliance and spreading awareness about the best trade practices amongst its’ members. He congratulated BCBA on this momentous day and requested the continued co-operation in actively highlighting the issues so it can be addressed to benefit all.

The leading Indian carrier, IndiGo has started scheduled freighter operations with two weekly flights on Tuesdays and Fridays at GMR Hyderabad International Airport (GHIAL) from 9 January onwards, said Linkedin Post. The flight route, DEL-HYD-BOM-SHJ-DEL-HYD, will be served by A321 Freighters, with a cargo capacity of 24 metric tons. This will further boost the exports of perishables to UAE and augment the Pharma shipments to the Middle East and beyond. GHIAL continues to stand out as a strong player in both domestic and international cargo markets, while being a leader in the Pharma shipments.

Tushar Jani, Group Chairman, Cargo Service Center shares, “In 2023 India has shown marginal growth, in the increase of air cargo throughput of 6.5 MMT, however, the growth has not been significant due to the recession in Europe and a slowdown in the United States. India’s major trade partners are the European Union and the United States. Indian imports from China have reduced by about 18%. India’s exports to Africa have reduced slightly. Overall, this has impacted the growth of air cargo throughput. The distribution between belly and freighter has now stabilized at 70% belly and 30 % freighter. The current trouble in the Red Sea will increase some air cargo volume however if the airline increases freight rate, then it will become counterproductive. The industry must work towards keeping a reasonable rate to achieve good growth and allow the supply chain to remain more productive and stable with air cargo compared to increased sea freight cost, provided air cargo remains affordable.”