Category Archives: Aviation

On the airports front, the government is in the process of developing a concept paper to promote hub airports in India. This initiative aims to position India as a hub for both passenger and cargo traffic, further enhancing its role in international trade and logistics, says Pradeep Panicker, CEO, GMR Hyderabad International Airport (GHIAL). He adds, “The airport is geographically well positioned in India to be a transshipment hub. Increased transhipment activities will enhance connectivity, which will improve the delivery times for Indian EXIM cargo as well. With the majority of key locations in India located within a two hours flying distance and the ability to connect to the Middle East and South East Asia within 5-6 hours, Hyderabad is well equipped to facilitate both intra-India (I2I) regional connectivity and international transshipment connections from destination to India ( D2I) and from India to destination (I2D). While there is a strong push for “Make in India” and “Make for the world”, South-East Asia, including China still forms a substantial manufacturing base for the world. Consequently, there is a robust flow of goods from ASEAN countries to the Middle East, Europe and the US. India’s geographical position places it in the middle of this route, providing opportunities to leverage this dynamic. Airlines can achieve scale economies by consolidating cargo from Eastern countries along with the finished goods from India and transporting them to the Middle East and West at more competitive rates. The sectors like textiles, electronics, pharma, perishables, aerospace & defence offer significant opportunities for growth. Such an approach will not only boost transhipment cargo, but also impact the export and import cargo positively, as freight rates may decrease due to …

Çelebi India announces partnership with Uganda Airlines to support ground handling services for the airlines at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai. The inauguration took place with the direct flight from Entebbe to Mumbai on 7 October. Çelebi India leads the sustainability movement within the Indian ground handling industry, and aims to help the Indian aviation industry attain carbon neutrality. Tauseef Khan, CEO, Çelebi Ground Handling India, said, “We are delighted to bring our ground handling expertise to Uganda Airlines in Mumbai. We anticipate a long-term partnership as Uganda Airlines expands its footprint in India. Our commitment remains steadfast in providing seamless services and contributing to the growth of aviation in India.”

CJ Darcl Logistics signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tata Motors to strengthen and enhance CJ Darcl’s fleet of vehicles and explore options of logistics services. The MoU was signed on 11th October 2023, in the presence of Krishan Kumar Agarwal, Managing Director of CJ Darcl Logistics Limited; Kang Sin Ho, CEO of CJ Logistics Corporation; Girish Wagh, Executive Director of Tata Motors Limited and Rajesh Kaul, Vice President & Business Head – Trucks, Tata Motors. Post the MoU, the companies would deliberate on possibilities to enhance CJ Darcl’s fleet and make their operations greener. The engagement also intends to make CJ Darcl’s operations more efficient with comprehensive annual maintenance contracts, dedicated service team and streamlined after-sales processes. With Tata Motors advanced trucks and expertise in fleet management through value-additions, telematics systems and service network, CJ Darcl aims to set new benchmarks in the Indian logistics industry. Kang Sin Ho, CEO of CJ Logistics Corporation said, “India has been a dynamic market for logistics and is anticipated to remain a growth outperformer. According to CRISIL MI&A, India’s GDP is expected to grow at an average of 6.1% between fiscal 2025 and 2027, compared with 3.1% globally as estimated by International Monetary Fund. In this direction, the Indian government introduced the Gati Shakti Scheme, National Logistics Policy, Bharatmala Pariyojana, and Sagarmala which became the key enablers of logistics in India. Further to bolster our efforts to provide logistics solutions, we have collaborated with Tata Motors Limited. This is aimed at bringing operational efficiency to the forefront. The engagement will focus on evaluating cost-effective vehicle deployment to strengthen CJ Darcl’s fleet, whilst providing on-ground support.”

Air India SATS Airport Services Private Limited (AISATS) celebrated their 100th Robotic Aircraft Exterior Cleaning, ‘AeroWash’ for Vistara at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), New Delhi. AISATS launched AeroWash for Vistara in June 2023, and is the only ground handler with this innovative and sustainable aircraft cleaning solution. Sanjay Gupta, CEO, AISATS said, “AISATS is proud to undertake its 100th robotic aircraft exterior cleaning for Vistara. This technology represents a paradigm shift in the aviation industry’s approach to maintaining aircraft cleanliness and appearance and sets new benchmarks for aircraft washing standards. AISATS remains steadfast in its commitment to sustainability, consistently striving to provide advanced, eco-friendly solutions to the aviation sector and introducing AeroWash to our industry is a testament in this direction.”

Global air cargo volumes up by 6% in September as shippers and forwarders opt for long term contracts, according to the latest weekly performance data from CLIVE Data Services, part of Xeneta. Increasing shipper and freight forwarder confidence in a more stable global air cargo market led to a higher commitment to longer-term freight contracts in September as a drop in capacity and traditional month-over-month seasonality pushed volumes up +6%, The number of shippers committing to airfreight contracts of 6+ months in Q3 2023 rose to 34% from 28% in the previous three months, Xeneta says, as the industry comes to terms with a new baseline for the general air cargo market. “This is not a peak season, it is a sign that airlines, freight forwarders, and shippers are finding more common ground to enter longer-term agreements. We previously referenced no macro and market currents to support an expectation of a peak season, and this is still the case. We also said if there was to be an uptick in rates, we would expect this to be mainly driven by the supply side than the demand side, and this also still holds true. The general air cargo market is entering a new phase where parties are not expecting the market to go much higher or much lower. It is finding its feet again. We see more longer-term contracts being signed and this only happens when people feel more comfortable about the now and the foreseeable future. It is easier to make a commitment now than when the market is on a sharp downward or upward trajectory. There is a firmer floor in place,” said Niall van de Wouw, Chief Airfreight …

Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP) has added a new service level to sit between its express and general cargo options. The Franco-Dutch group’s new PLUS service will give customers priority when booking shipments and preferential treatment during loading and unloading. PLUS will bridge the gap between express, which is targetted at shipments requiring late delivery, early pick up or shorter connection times, and general cargo. “The PLUS service level perfectly completes our product portfolio, offering an intermediate option between our general cargo and express products. This extra option has long been on our customers’ wish list,” said Mathieu Fleisch, vice president products and verticals at AFKLMP. GertJan Roelands, senior vice president commercial, added: “The introduction of our new PLUS service level is a new step in our commercial transformation, which is intended to deliver a best-in-class customer experience. “Last month, we achieved a record 78% online bookings. This new service offers an extra alternative and enhances our online customer journey, making it even easier for customers to do business with us.”

FedEx Express is enhancing the online shipping experience for its customers with new automated e-commerce capability in FedEx Ship Manager™ (FSM) which supports small businesses and e-commerce merchants in India, helping them efficiently manage their shipments online. In addition to India, this service is available across 44 countries and territories in Middle East, Indian subcontinent and Africa This enhancement to FSM allows businesses to create shipments and paperwork from their online orders in a few simple steps, saving considerable time compared to manually entering information to create shipping labels. Customers will now be able to synchronise their Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and PrestaShop store with FSM at fedex.com. More e-commerce platforms and marketplaces will be added over time.

Airfreight rates finally showed signs of improvement in September and the increase in rates have been recorded in the first week of October. The latest figures from the Baltic Exchange Airfreight Index (BAI) show that average rates – spot and contract – paid by forwarders from Hong Kong to Europe and North America increased last month for the second month in a row. From Hong Kong to North America rates in September increased to $4.90 per kg from $4.85 per kg a month earlier, with improvements picking up as the month progressed. From Hong Kong to Europe, prices improved to $3.72 per kg from $3.65 per kg in August. Rate increases at this time of year aren’t too much of a surprise as the industry enters the busier peak season. Perhaps more notably, the gap on last year’s performance continued to narrow last month. In August rates from Hong Kong to North America were down 41.8% year on year but this narrowed to 38.3% in September – the first time since March that the difference has been below 40%. To Europe, the difference narrowed to 38.9% in September from 42.4% in August, which is the first time since April the gap has been below 40%. In recent weeks, market reports have suggested a rise in demand and a tightening of capacity. E-commerce demand out of Hong Kong had been particularly strong, the reports said. Meanwhile, it appears rates are continuing to increase in October.

Modern Logistics has taken delivery of its first 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF). The 737-800BCF, leased through Babcock & Brown Aircraft Management (BBAM), is the first of two freighters to be added to Modern Logistics’ fleet over the next few months. São Paulo-based Modern Logistics said the acquisition also marks the “first ever 737-800 within Brazil’s logistics industry”. The newly acquired freighter is currently undergoing certification by PCA Airworthiness in advance of final approval by ANAC, Brazil’s aviation regulator. Modern Logistics’ chief executive Cristiano Koga said: “I am very pleased with the collaboration and expertise of BBAM and PCA and anxiously look forward to the addition of the new aircraft. “The additional capacity and efficiency of the new aircraft will assure the future success of the company by better responding to the needs and requirements of our clients.” Modern Logistics said it currently has three classic 737s in its fleet – two 737-300Fs, and one 737-400F. The introduction of the new 737-800s is part of a fleet renewal plan to enhance operational efficiency.

Qatar Airways Cargo has re-launched its Mail productwhich offers a comprehensive suite of customisable services designed for both traditional and hybrid postal modes – Express Mail, Priority Mail, Standard Mail and Empty Mail Receptacles. The Mail product meets the stringent regulatory standards set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU). One of the enhancements for the product includes 100% EDI (electronic data interchange) that is rolled out at over 110 stations, with all stations equipped with handheld android scanners. Traditionally serving one customer per origin based on their unique post office identification (IMPC) code, the carrier’s Mail product can now cater to the requirements of targeted agents across the network. This allows Qatar Airways Cargo to accept mail shipments from multiple customers from the same origin, regardless of the IMPC code used. The award-winning cargo carrier also has specialised support teams in place with experience in mail allocations, pricing policies, sales and account management who ensure privacy, efficiency, safety, and security of all mail shipments. The carrier’s customers are also able to perform real-time tracking of their consignments right from the start until the end. Miguel Rodriguez Moreno, Head of Cargo Products at Qatar Airways said, “Our unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence in airfreight services is at the heart of this new Mail product. With our extensive global network spanning over 160 destinations including more than 70 freighter destinations, our aim is to provide a comprehensive solution. We are also fully prepared to facilitate paper-free initiatives for Postal Authorities when electronic CN/CP documents are available. Combined with hassle-free billing and reconciliation through IATA PASS and PARIS, as well as swift ramp transfers in …