Category Archives: Aviation

Carrying eight tonnes of cargo, SpiceXpress has launched a freighter flight connecting Mumbai and Delhi in India with Bangkok in Thailand. The airline’s Boeing 737-800F aircraft will be used on twice weekly flights to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. The flight will carry cargo including automotive parts, electronics and perishables. Sanjiv Gupta, Chief Executive, SpiceXpress, comments, “We have been operating cargo flights to Bangkok for a long time and I am delighted that we have commenced scheduled freighter operations to Thailand today. Bangkok is one of the biggest centers of trade, commerce and tourism in Southeast Asia and launching scheduled cargo services between the two countries will help in seamless import and export of essential commodities in these very challenging times.”

In an expansion of its support for global healthcare and pharmaceutical customers, CEVA Logistics has announced a new sub-brand, FORPATIENTS, to support better patient outcomes through the company’s broad range of healthcare logistics services. CEVA FORPATIENTS offers healthcare and pharmaceutical companies end-to-end logistics solutions that place the patient at the center of the supply chain. As part of the suite of solutions, the company is also introducing a new temperature-sensitive logistics product that will begin service in the second quarter of 2021. The CEVA FORPATIENTS suite of healthcare logistics now encompasses temperature-sensitive solutions, pharma and biopharma, medical devices, consumer health, hospital and home care as well as diagnostic and laboratory services. Centralising its global healthcare offerings under the FORPATIENTS umbrella gives greater visibility of CEVA Logistics’ range of services to its customers and assures them of the central position of the patient. The company is also launching an advertising and social media campaign to show how logistics solutions support common medical procedures and healthcare needs. The new CEVA Logistics’ solution requires investment in temperature-controlled facilities around the world. With the support of its parent company, the CMA CGM Group, a world leader in shipping and logistics, CEVA has committed to operating a network of more than 40 such airfreight stations by the end of 2021. Some of the stations will also offer other services, such as contract logistics support. In all, the stations will allow CEVA to not only service major healthcare gateways in regional markets, but also to supply more than 1,450 healthcare trade lanes globally. Through the global network, CEVA will welcome a broad range of customer shipments in conjunction with its temperature-sensitive packaging solutions, including active and …

The Cargo Agency Conference (CAC) has decided to give freight forwarders a stronger voice in the development of CAC resolutions. This is the result of a newly adopted resolution of the CAC that will require consultation with Regional Joint Councils before any future resolutions (or amendments to resolutions) are proposed to and considered by the CAC. The CAC is composed only of airlines. The Regional Joint Councils are composed of local freight forwarder associations affiliated with the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), as well as individual freight forwarders and airlines. Obtaining Regional Joint Council views in advance of adopting resolutions will strengthen the Air Cargo Program by ensuring the efficient global implementation of resolutions. “This is a major improvement for all concerned. The air cargo program works to improve the safety, security, and efficiency of cargo distribution. Considering the views of all interested parties at the beginning of the decision-making process is a win-win. The freight forwarders and their associations will have a stronger voice to influence the process. The CAC will be able to make better decisions with broader input to the decision-making process. And once decisions are made, they can be implemented universally with stronger support from all parties,” said Muhammad Albakri, Senior Vice President for Customer, Financial and Digital Services, IATA. The new streamlined consultation process will help to run the Air Cargo Program more efficiently, reduce costs, and improve and enhance cargo distribution performance throughout the industry. This is particularly crucial during these times of a global pandemic and economic crisis. IATA is the secretariat for the CAC.

The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has called for action to address five critical challenges being faced by the air cargo industry, which are digitalisation, sustainability, security, liberalisation and collaboration. The organisation has completed a year-long transformation program which has created a forward-looking association well positioned to unite and represent all sectors of the supply chain, reflecting its broad membership composition. “The industry has demonstrated over the last 12 months, how effective it can be when all the supply chain partners unite around a common objective, supporting the global community through the Covid pandemic. Our industry came together initially by transporting PPE and other life essentials and then mobilized to provide the only effective transport mode to support global vaccine distribution” stated Glyn Hughes, Director General, TIACA. TIACA has identified key industry priorities that will need to be embraced by the entire supply chain in order to modernize and continue to provide enhanced solutions addressing shipper and other customer demands. “TIACA is committed to working with its members, the broader industry, association partners and government agencies to ensure we have a united and successful air cargo industry. We have demonstrated considerable success over the past months but as we go forward new challenges will materialize. We will need be more innovative, agile and focused as an industry to overcome them.” states, TIACA, Chair

With an aim to support the transportation of Covid-19 vaccines alongside essential medicines, medical devices and other critical supplies to fight the pandemic, Saudia Cargo has joined the Humanitarian Airfreight Initiative launched by UNICEF. “Saudia Cargo is ready and on full power to operate for UNICEF Humanitarian Airfreight Initiative and take part in this global vaccines delivery effort through Saudia Cargo’s wide range of destinations and connection points. We fully understand our role and will work hand in hand with UNICEF and ensure the maximum global reach for the vaccines. Safe, timely and efficient transportation of these supplies is paramount and we are sure our air freighters will expertly get the job done,” said Omar Hariri, CEO, Saudia Cargo. “Delivery of these life-saving vaccines is a monumental and complex undertaking, considering the sheer volumes that need to be transported, the cold chain requirements, the number of expected deliveries and the diversity of routes,” said Etleva Kadilli, Director of UNICEF Supply Division. “We are grateful to these airlines for joining forces with the UNICEF Humanitarian Airfreight Initiative to support the roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines.” The members of the initiative are 10 leading airlines which together cover routes to over 100 countries with one goal in mind, to support the COVAX facility – the global effort to ensure equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines regardless of any country’s income level. COVAX facility’s first round distribution plan provides doses to 145 countries starting the first half of 2021. The initiative commits airlines to prioritize the shipment of all life-saving supplies, add freight capacity to routes whenever necessary, and take the important measures of temperature control and security.

Qatar Airways Cargo has crossed a milestone transport of over 1.5 million COVID19 vaccine doses into the State of Qatar, with its largest batch of more than 530,000 Pfizer and Moderna vaccines arriving on April 4 from Amsterdam. The airline has played a significant role throughout the pandemic and is committed to helping people and giving back to communities, in alignment with its sustainability programme WeQare, based on the core pillars of sustainability – environment, society, economy and culture. Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo, said, “We remain committed and resilient in the fight against the pandemic and together with our partners, are ensuring the safe, timely and efficient transportation of these life-saving supplies. I am glad that all our teams have worked so hard to coordinate this milestone transport into the State of Qatar, supporting the country with its COVID19 immunization campaign in the fight against the pandemic.” Since December 2020, Qatar Airways Cargo has transported COVID-19 vaccines to several countries around the world including the State of Qatar, providing large populations access to these vital vaccines, thanks to the dedication and coordinated efforts of its global teams and ground handling partners. Globally, the cargo carrier has surpassed a milestone with close to 20 million COVID-19 vaccines transported into 24 different countries, including COVID-19 vaccines for UNICEF as part of the five-year MoU to support UNICEF’s Humanitarian Airfreight Initiative. Through its QR Pharma product, Qatar Airways Cargo offers controlled cool chain and dedicated monitoring, intervention and servicing as well as proactive re-icing at its Doha hub. With significant investments and enhancments to the QR Pharma product and its state-of-the-art hub in Doha, the cargo carrier confirms its strategy and commitment …

According to the recently released ‘economics chart of the week’ by IATA, cargo traffic has been proven to be quite resilient serving commerce and industries reliant on the deliveries of critical supplies, since the outbreak of Covid-19 while airline passenger traffic has plummeted. Due to the massive drop of cargo belly hold capacity of passenger operations, overall cargo capacity has become a constraint, and cargo yields have been rising accordingly. In a response to these cargo capacity constraints, a substantial number of airlines have been able to make use of the otherwise spare capacity of passenger aircraft, using them for cargo-only operations, also referred to as ‘preighters’. The majority of preighters have operated with cargo in the belly hold, where the passenger cabin has remained empty, but several airlines even have used the passenger cabin for additional cargo capacity.” While the largest share of cargo traffic is indeed carried by freighters, which traffic has grown significantly albeit constraint due to lack of additional aircraft, one can observe the welcome additional capacity that the preighters have provided.

Apollo LogiSolutions has collaborated with leading players across technology, cold chain warehousing, pharmaceutical, healthcare, airline and airport sectors for its new ‘integrated vaccine delivery platform’. To enhance the current Covid-19 vaccine distribution model in India with its new solution, Apollo LogiSolutions has already on-boarded UNICEF backed blockchain technology firm StaTwig for technology capabilities; Coldman, Kool Solutions and other major companies for effective cold chain warehousing of 70,000+ pallet capacity at 10 locations in India and GMR-Hyderabad airport and Indigo airlines for air transportation. By collaborating with IndiGo, the company plans to bolster its initiative of contributing towards world’s largest vaccination drive. Apollo LogiSolutions’ ‘integrated vaccine platform solution’ is designed to address the end-to-end supply-chain related challenges and bring more transparency and effective tracking for effective Covid-19 vaccine distribution in the country. Announcing the new solution, Raaja Kanwar, Vice chairman and Managing Director, Apollo LogiSolutions, said, “It’s a proud moment for everyone at Apollo LogiSolutions to have been able to build a solution that will help India in its mission to immunize its people against Covid-19. We have already partnered with some of the most trusted names in the industry and will continue to add more to make the platform more robust as part of our commitment in creating an effective end-to-end distribution platform for the Covid-19 vaccine.” He added, “As India grows, the logistics segment will need to scale, adapt and transform itself to the needs of businesses and consumers. Apollo LogiSolutions is aggressively working towards introducing innovative technologies, tools and operational excellence to streamline the fragmented sector, make it future ready and drive better efficiency.” Sid Chakravarthy, Founder, StaTwig mentioned that “India manufacturers 60 per cent of global vaccines …

DB Schenker and Lufthansa Cargo launched the first regular carbon neutral cargo flight connection in history. With the take-off of a Boeing 777F, the companies kicked off weekly flights between Frankfurt am Main and Shanghai Pudong, where the fuel requirements are covered entirely by Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). This will save around 174 metric tons of conventional kerosene each week. Jochen Thewes, CEO, DB Schenker, says, “As of now, carbon neutral supply chains are also feasible with airfreight. Our weekly flights between Frankfurt and Shanghai are the kick-off of a new era. We are proud to have already convinced so many customers of this future-orientated product. Next, business and politics have to take charge to create more capacity for regenerative fuels and clean aviation.” Dorothea von Boxberg, CEO, Lufthansa Cargo, adds, “With the world’s first sustainable cargo flight with DB Schenker at the end of 2020, we demonstrated that flying without fossil emissions is already possible. We have jointly launched the world’s first regular sustainable cargo flight connection. This paves the way for many more connections of this kind. We are counting on the determination of our industry and the dedication of consumers to get this off the ground together.” Sustainable Aviation Fuel is produced mainly from biomass waste, such as used vegetable and cooking oils. Thus, when burned in the engine, the same amount of carbon dioxide is released which was previously removed from the atmosphere during the original growth of the plants. In addition, greenhouse gases produced during the manufacture and transport of the fuel are fully offset by sustainable compensation projects. This ensures that flights are completely greenhouse gas neutral. The weekly volume of SAF procured by …

Emirates SkyCargo has become the first airline cargo carrier in the world to have transported more than 50 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines on its flights. The carrier has also transported more than 100 tonnes of syringes across the world to support the delivery of vaccines. Since the start of international distribution late last year, Emirates SkyCargo has transported over 220 tonnes of COVID-19 vaccines, equivalent to more than 50 million doses, on more than 150 flights from manufacturing locations to 50 destinations on its network through Dubai. Overall, the carrier has transported six different kinds of COVD-19 vaccines. Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo, said, “As a socially responsible global air cargo carrier, our actions over the last year have always been directed at helping communities across the world, and especially those in developing nations, recover from the devastating impact of the pandemic. We have been leading the global air cargo industry’s efforts and working with our partner organisations in Dubai to rapidly distribute COVID-19 vaccines through Dubai to the rest of the world.” Emirates SkyCargo has remained agile and dynamic throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, responding quickly to maintain international connectivity for essential goods across the world. The carrier was one of the first in the world to deploy passenger aircraft for cargo only flights in order to transport PPE, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals and food. Over one year, Emirates SkyCargo had operated more than 27,800 flights and transported over 100,000 tonnes of essential commodities.