Category Archives: Aviation

Kale Info Solutions Inc’s recent study on the impact of digitisation at Atlanta Airport, Georgia, USA showed that by using digital tools the Atlanta Airport Community, which is powered by Kale’s digital solutions, had saved nine tonnes of CO2 from being processed since the beginning of 2021: the equivalent of planting more than 400 trees. The study demonstrated CO2 and fuel savings, as well as reduced labour costs, and close to 2,000 man-hours saved. They looked at 1,839 shipments, 389 trucks, and 680 tonnes of cargo going through Atlanta Airport for the first seven months of 2021. In total, more than 5,650 litres of fuel, USD 69,000 of labour costs, and 1,945 man-hours were saved by using Kale’s slot management tool to organise and facilitate the arrival and loading of trucks at the airport. Kale’s Single Window System used for airport and maritime community systems enables electronic communications between multiple supply chain stakeholders. “We want to add momentum to the global sustainability drive and be a major influencer for airports, ports, and supply chains across the world to go paperless, improve digital connectivity, and reduce carbon emissions,” said Amar More, President and Chief Executive Officer, Kale Info Solutions, USA.

CEVA Logistics continues supporting Indonesia with the fight against the COVID-19 virus. It announces the transport of oxygen concentrators from the U.S. to Indonesia via Singapore. As part of the broader Singapore Changi Airport community, CEVA is participating in the aid project organized by the Changi Airport Group. The project’s first shipment of oxygen concentrators from Los Angeles weighed more than 14,000 kilograms and was delivered directly to the CEVA Logistics warehouse located within the Airport Logistics Park of Singapore. With many Southeast Asian and Pacific countries affected by the highly transmissible Delta variant, CEVA Logistics is using its global network to connect the right medical supplies with those that need them. In total, 1,380 machines are being donated by the Changi Foundation together with more than 30 other airport partners, as well as individual airport employees.

GMR Hyderabad Air Cargo (GHAC), a division of GMR Air Cargo and Aerospace Engineering Limited today announced that it had become the first cargo terminal in India & South Asia region to handle a shipment using the next generation Envirotainer Releye® RLP air cargo containers. Envirotainer active heating and cooling containers are one of the preferred options for movement of highly temperature-sensitive air cargo shipments globally. Pharmaceuticals and vaccines need to be protected from the vagaries of temperature excursions at all times throughout the supply chain providing an unbroken cold chain, irrespective of location, time of day or mode of handling, this is the preferred choice. Envirotainer has introduced the RLP size for the first time in an active container in the industry. Releye® RLP is the next generation temperature-controlled air cargo container introduced by Envirotainer, offering superior performance, up to 50% higher space efficiency, advanced live monitoring, and control features with an unparalleled ability to maintain the temperature of shipment for up to 170 hours, the highest in the world today.

The advisory group on air cargo met the Minister for Civil Aviation, Jyotirditya Scindia to discuss key issues related to Air cargo that will help boost the Air cargo in India. The Minister took keen interest complementing the deliberations and very pro-active action items were discussed at length. In a message by Cyrus Katgara, President Air Cargo forum of India he said that the meeting was quiet a success. The meeting chaired by the Honorable Minister with the advisory group on air cargo to get an overview of the major policy and infrastructure-related issues facing the sector and developing a robust air cargo ecosystem in India.

Etihad Engineering, the largest commercial aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services provider in the Middle East, has signed a strategic partnership with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), to provide Passenger to Freighter (P2F) conversions on Boeing 777-300ER’s. In 2019, IAI and GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) announced the launch of the Boeing 777-300ERSF, a programme which established a P2F conversion dubbed ‘The Big Twin’ denoting its status as the largest ever twin-engine freighter. While the Covid-19 pandemic has taken its toll on the aviation sector, cargo operations are offsetting operators’ losses, as it continues to play a critical role in facilitating international trade. As a result, industry forecasts show an increase in demand for wide-body freighter aircraft with long-haul capacity. Etihad Engineering will capitalise on their expertise and extensive capabilities for the specialised Boeing 777-300ERSF conversion. In the initial stage of the partnership, Etihad Engineering will facilitate towards two conversion lines accommodating multiple aircraft conversions per year.

Ethiopian Airlines Group has teamed up with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to launch a B767-300ER freighter conversion line in Ethiopia. Ethiopian Airlines Group chief executive Tewolde GebreMariam, said: “In line with our Diversified Aviation Business Model of Vision 2025, we have been increasing our cargo capacity in fleet, ground service infrastructure and cargo connectivity network. Accordingly, we are partnering with IAI, one of the global technology leaders in the Aerospace industry, in building a cargo conversion center in our MRO facilities in Addis Ababa Airport. The Cargo conversion center will commence its first business with three Ethiopian Airlines owned B-767-300 aircraft.” Yossi Melamed, IAI’s executive vice president and general manager of Aviation Group, said, “the partnership comes as the company witnesses a “sharp rise in demand for cargo aircraft” on the back of an acceleration in e-commerce demand due to the Covid-19 outbreak.”

Vietnam Airlines and Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) sign a multi-year contract as the airlines new cargo handling partner at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. The contract will see WFS providing full cargo handling services for the airline’s twice-weekly Airbus A350-900 passenger freighter aircraft flights directly connecting freight forwarders, importers and exporters in Amsterdam and Vietnam’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Stephane Scholving, managing director of WFS in the Netherlands, stated, “Winning this new contract is a tribute to the responsiveness of our team in Amsterdam and the quality of our cargo handling operations. Vietnam Airlines initially asked for our assistance to handle an urgent flight and their positive experience of working with WFS has ultimately led to this long-term agreement. We now look forward to supporting the airline’s customers and flight operations in Amsterdam and contributing to Vietnam Airline’s growth in the Netherlands.”

United Cargo has launched a new customer facing website as it continues its digital development. The carrier said that new features include improved shipment tracking, simplified navigation and a mobile friendly design. “The new website launch will pave the way for a streamlined, enhanced and industry-leading digital experience for our customers around the world,” the carrier said. The carrier added that the new website is the first of several steps in United Cargo’s “digital transformation”, with more features and expanded functionality coming later this year.

Budget airline SpiceJet today announced that it was transferring its cargo and logistics services with all the related assets and liabilities, including, know-how, trademark, licenses, franchises, customer contracts, distribution network etc on a slump sale basis to its subsidiary SpiceXpress and Logistics Private Limited. As per the last quarterly segment reporting by the company ended June 30, 2021, the logistics arm reported a net profit of INR 30 crore. The revenue increased by 285 per cent to INR 473 crore for the reported quarter as compared to INR 166 crore in the same quarter last year. “The proposed transfer of business to SpiceXpress will allow the new company to rapidly grow its innovative logistics platform and its unique fulfilment as a service business model.” said Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet SpiceXpress will also be able to raise capital independent of SpiceJet to fund this growth, he mentioned. Singh said he was confident that the performance of SpiceXpress as an independent entity will leverage and unlock significant value for SpiceJet and all its shareholders.

John Menzies plc (“Menzies”), the global aviation services business announces the expansion in Central America with the acquisition of Interexpresso and additional contract wins in the Oceania region. Menzies has agreed to acquire 51 percent of Interexpresso Costa Rica Corporación ILC, S.A. (“Interexpresso”) which will see Menzies’ footprint expand in Central America. Philipp Joeinig, chairman and CEO, said: “I am pleased to announce our expansion in the Central American region. We have found a knowledgeable partner in Interexpresso and, working together, we will be able to open doors in new, attractive, higher margin and emerging markets in the region.” Interexpresso is an aviation service provider operating in Central America and headquartered in Costa Rica. Interexpresso’s core business relates to cargo handling and aviation security services, primarily consisting of cargo document handling, cargo security screening and aircraft access control.