Category Archives: Aviation

LATAM Group welcomed a new Boeing 767 BCF, the third of the four conversions that they will receive by the end of the year. Additionally, the group announced the incorporation of another Boeing 767F in September of 2022, said an official statement. “LATAM’s cargo subsidiaries are planning to finish the year with 16 freighters. To this fleet will be added six Boeing 767 BCFs, which they will receive during 2023. Together LATAM’s dedicated cargo fleet will be between 19 and 22 cargo aircraft by 2023,” the statement added. The new Boeing 767BCF received this weekend, will be used to transport flowers from Colombia and Ecuador, and strengthen and expand the network’s destinations in the United States and Europe.

With focus on improving domestic supply chain resilience and reducing dependence on the international supply chains for EXIM trade, Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, said, “Procure locally wherever there is an opportunity so that domestic supply chains are strengthened and become more resilient and dependence on international supply chains is curbed, despite the Covid-19 constraints, which caused massive supply chain disruptions.” He was addressing the ‘Breakfast Session Discussion on Trade 4.0’ in Davos, Switzerland. The minister added that during the pandemic, Indian businesses had displayed resilience, overshooting export targets and achieving USD 421.8 billion worth of exports. Goyal said, “India had responded to every crisis in a timely manner. This responsiveness is a manifestation of the resilience that Indian businesses have to offer and the resilience and confidence of political leadership.”

Aircraft leasing company, World Star Aviation has officially announced the purchase of 30 Boeing 737-400F aircraft with leases attached. World Star Aviation manages, buys, sells, and leases commercial aircraft for the international aviation industry. According to the statement, “The aircraft portfolio is spread across 10 lessees in 12 countries worldwide. This new acquisition reinforces the continued strategy of diversifying and expanding our global freighter franchise in partnership with Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. We at World Star Aviation are excited to work with and support our new lessees going forward.”

Integrated Service Solutions Global Forwarding (ISSGF) India was conferred with the Best Ocean Freight Forwarding Company Award at the recently held India Cargo Awards, the country’s topmost supply chain awards, which helps create a platform to recognise those behind the success of the cargo and logistics industry. Amrit Lal Meena, Special Secretary (Logistics), Union Department of Commerce and Piyush Srivastava, Senior Economic Advisor, Union Ministry of Civil Aviation presented the award. ISSGF is a globally recognised supply chain solutions provider, headquartered in Dubai, UAE. The company offers best-in-class services in all areas of the supply chain and logistics industry.

To continue with the company’s efforts to reduce environmental impact, Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has launched a sustainability programme titled ‘Our Sustainable Flight Path.’ This initiative is an integral part of the company’s Environmental, Social and Government (ESG) strategy and comprises targets, actions, and milestones to be achieved by 2030-end, including achieving 75 per cent electric ground support equipment, signing the UN Global Compact and full adoption of biodegradable plastics, said a press release. Craig Smyth, Chief Executive, WFS said, ‘Our Sustainable Flight Path’ provides us with a social and governance strategy which looks after our people, customers, and planet, and is true to our WFS core values.”

The Port of Gangavaram is planning to set up its first container terminal to accelerate the growth of cargo business in Andhra Pradesh and surrounding industrial hubs. The terminal is expected to be completed by 2023. According to an official statement, the new terminal aims to increase supply chain efficiency and resiliency, reduce logistics costs, and turnaround time. The port also aims to offer substantial advantages to the industries in the hinterland – which include seafood, metal and minerals, agriculture, pharma, chemical, and refractory amongst others. “As part of the project, the port has already received three Ship to Shore (STS) container cranes and nine e-Rubber-Tyred Gantries (RTGs). Our new container terminal at Gangavaram Port will help us diversify into container cargo business as part of our strategic roadmap to achieve better cargo handling capacities in India. The upcoming terminal at Gangavaram Port shall also offer integrated logistics solutions to trade and industries far across the country,” the statement added.

A large size Beluga Airbus cargo plane landed at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) Airport in Ahmedabad for the first time. The impressive aircraft landed for fuel filling and took off later. Beluga aircraft is a version of the standard A300-600 wide-body airliner is modified to carry aircraft parts and outsized cargo. The Beluga which has received the sobriquet of ‘The Super Tranporter’ is because it resembles a giant whale.

To boost drone usage in the logistics industry, Aster DM Healthcare has partnered with drone delivery tech firm, Skye Air Mobility to deliver diagnostic samples and pharmaceuticals in Bengaluru. According to the official press statement, the project has been taken up on pilot basis for seven days, to ferry pharmaceuticals, and lab samples from Aster RV in JP Nagar to Aster clinics located within Bengaluru city. “In first four days of trials, the firm caried out 40 flights and is looking forward to finish 80 test flights by the end of the seven-day trial. Skye Air Mobility also recently partnered with Swiggy, the online food delivery set-up. The company is operating in seven cities with a fleet of six drones and is planning to have 100 drones in the next nine months,” said the release.

Softlink Global was conferred with Best Technology Service Provider-Cargo & Logistics Industry Award at the recently held India Cargo Awards, the country’s topmost supply chain awards, which helps create a platform to recognise those behind the success of the cargo and logistics industry. Amrit Lal Meena, Special Secretary (Logistics), Union Department of Commerce and Piyush Srivastava, Senior Economic Advisor, Union Ministry of Civil Aviation presented the award. Softlink Global is one of the leading software providers for Freight Forwarding, Logistics, and Supply Chain industry. The company’s portfolio includes superior technology solutions for the strategic and operational aspects of the logistics and freight forwarding business.

Tap Air Cargo has chosen Airbridge International Agencies (AIA) as its new GSSA, with services starting yesterday. In the new partnership, TAP Air Cargo will offer 93 weekly flights from London Gatwick, Heathrow, Manchester, and Dublin, with weekly air capacity at 160,000kg. Additionally, 30 countries will be served with high weekly capacity per week. “The AIA team is dedicated to serve their airline partners with a dedicated focus on their unique brands and strengths,” said an official release. “We are delighted to welcome TAP Air Cargo further into the AIA family,” said Mark Andrew, CEO, Airbridge International Agencies group. “Having worked with TAP recently in South America we are delighted to have the chance to prove ourselves within the UK and Ireland. TAP Cargo offers our forwarding clients important gateways via its Lisbon hub into Africa, North and South America plus strategic European hubs,” added Andrew.