Category Archives: Aviation

Hermes Logistics Technologies (HLT) and Awery Aviation Software have announced a partnership agreement and launched a new joint software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution for airlines. The new SaaS product is called h2A. Powered by Awery and Hermes, this cloud-based, end-to-end solution is designed to enable airlines to manage, monitor and automate all aviation business processes and cargo operations on an integrated IT platform. h2A is said by the partners to be “the only comprehensive platform to manage all processes across the entire lifecycle of [a] shipment, from warehousing to flight management and commercial activities, as well as all HR [human resources] and business processes behind the scenes”. It digitises key processes across flight scheduling, fleet management, track and trace, imports and exports, ULD control, and invoicing and accounts, whilst also offering flexibility to suit the specific needs of its users. “This partnership responds to an industry need to synchronise numerous, disparate workflow processes, something that can only be achieved through true integration and digitalisation,” said Vitaly Smilianets, Awery’s chief executive. “This will enable greater process control and simplify operations for airlines, who can find everything they need in one place.” By combining Awery’s knowledge of creating scalable aviation software platforms and HLT’s experience as a leading provider of cargo management systems, the pair have – they said – created a first-of-its-kind product that offers airlines twice the technical expertise in a single solution. “At HLT we believe that collaboration between tech partners offering best-of-breed solutions is key to truly optimising air cargo management, and our joint venture with Awery marks a significant step in our strategy to help digitalise the industry,” remarked Yuval Baruch, HLT’s chief executive. “h2A brings the best of …

Mahindra Logistics Ltd. (MLL) announced commencement of Cargo Charter operations in the Middle East, headquartered in Dubai. With this launch, the company will augment freight forwarding with cargo charter operations partnering with customers in Electronics, Consumer Durables, Pharma and Engineering. The choice of Dubai, UAE as the hub for its global charter operations bears strategic importance. Over the past few decades, UAE has emerged as India’s third largest trading partner in the year 2021-22. Dubai has also emerged as a global and regional trading hub. Mahindra Logistics will service the large Middle East region from its Dubai operations. As a neutral player entering the global air cargo charter business, the company will offer dedicated aircrafts, enhanced transit time, and the expertise in end market solution development, integration with other logistics services and a strong technology interface. Rampraveen Swaminathan, Managing Director & CEO, Mahindra Logistics, said, “In line with our vision of enhancing our services, we are pleased to launch our Cargo Charter operations, based in Dubai UAE. This also marks the first international foray for Mahindra Logistics. With increasing complexity in global supply chains, cross border supply chain services have become critical to supply chain resilience. The business expands our cross-border logistics business, in addition to our current freight forwarding business, providing our customers enhanced service options. The UAE, and Dubai, provide us a great launchpad to develop the business”. Saurav Chakraborty, Head – Global Cross Border Solutions at Mahindra Logistics Limited commented, “We have chosen Dubai as the location for our air charter brokering business due to the unparalleled access and connectivity it provides. The charter business will be an independent division serving customers and partners across multiple vertical …

Tushar Jani, Group Chairman, Cargo Service Center said, “I believe 70 – 75 percentage of generic drugs today are exported to the Europe and US from India. I think that’s very critical. Our pharma manufacturing industry has been doing a fantastic job and getting regular FDA approvals from the US Drug administrators, during inspection. Today you go to any pharmacy abroad you will find many Indian generic drugs. The important factor is if this development enables us to build cross border pharma e-commerce capabilities out of India. As a company, our vision now is to develop pharma e-commerce capabilities and increase our world share. Around 31 % of depression drug is in fact transported from India to US. If we develop the capability of giving pharma e-commerce services, the world would recognize us and that’s what’s needed. Domestic pharma industry would also benefit greatly from this vision. We have to develop our skills for product delivery to Europe and US in a most controlled manner. We need to immediately take action on temperature excursions at any point in supply chain and also need to have infrastructure controlled by us on the destination. In my company our workers are being trained about variety of drugs being loaded/ off loaded. We need to have a robust supply from starting point to the destination. That’s where investment is needed from the Indian service providers to give good reliable pharma to the world.”

The global air cargo market may have to ‘hang on until October’ for signs of recovery after a flood of summer bellyhold capacity on major lanes and a -4% drop in demand in April indicated a challenging 4-5 months ahead, according to new weekly analysis from CLIVE Data Services, part of Xeneta. Airfreight spots rates dropped -41% versus April 2022 as a 7% rise in cargo capacity resulted in lower load factors and a fourteenth consecutive month of falling volumes year-over-year. CLIVE’s ‘dynamic load factor, measuring global volume and weight perspectives of cargo flown and capacity available, dropped -5% pts versus 2022 to 57% in April, continuing a more than year-long decline. Summer capacity had its traditionally profound impact on the air cargo market from Europe to North America, with capacity up 26% in comparison to March 2023. Data showed a 10% pts decrease in load factor across the North Atlantic to 57% last month, compared to the 67% level recorded to major North American airports in March. This pushed the general airfreight spot rate on this westbound lane down to USD 2.29 for April. While air cargo market performance in April recorded a level of seasonality expected for the time of year, volumes were also impacted by the Easter, Eid, Pesach, and Ramadan public holidays all coming together so closely – but, this didn’t disguise the dwindling market conditions, says Niall van de Wouw, Chief Airfreight Officer at Xeneta. “This is a market that will test companies. If you look at Europe-North America, what other industries see supply increase from one month to the next by 26%, very much outside of their control. This is a tremendous jump in …

Kale Logistics Solutions in its latest study on airport sustainability titled Kale Shaping Sustainability at Airports stated that technology can save $9 billion for the industry with approximately 16,000 gallons of carbon emissions being cut per airport. Cargo Community platforms have the potential to save 2000-3000 gallons of fuel being saved with lower truck wait times annually at an airport and a hector of forest saved every year with paperless operations. The report was launched at the Air Cargo Europe (Transport Logistic) 2023 event in Munich, Germany. This is the first study by the organization which is committed to drive a sustainable future for the logistics industry. Kale conducted an industry-wide study to understand the impact of technology on airports and its allied community sustainability outcomes. The global study measured improvements at airport level on operational efficiency, visibility, truck congestion, carbon emissions and physical paper utility. Amar More, CEO and Co-Founder of Kale Logistics Solutions said, “Sustainability matters more than ever, our technology enabled strategy is helping power the logistics industry to march forward on the path of sustainability.” “The study’s promising outcome gives us hope that the industry is moving in the right direction. Some exciting facts mentioned in this report will surprise industry patrons and stakeholders.”

Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics division of UAE flag-carrier Etihad Airways, has opted to use logistics software system specialist Descartes’s Bluetooth Low Energy container monitoring system to offer greater visibility of conditions of air cargo during the shipping process as well as insight into ULD handling processes. Descartes’ Internet of Things (IoT)-based Bluetooth Low Energy solution, integrated with Jettainer’s unit load device (ULD) management services, are expected to enable Etihad Cargo’s ability to see where ground and ULD handling processes might be improved while also gaining data concerning the ambient conditions of airfreight in transit. The Bluetooth tags are fixed to containers or pallets, mobile applications and mesh networks to automate the end-to-end tracking of these assets, said release. Such tags fixed to ULDs prior to loading onto an aircraft enable easy access to real-time location data and information on the cargo’s condition within, offering data on conditions such as temperature, light, humidity and movement. They also offer ‘chain of custody’ detail that indicates in whose custody assets are at any given time. Tags can also be added to any ground service equipment (GSE), like dollies, for visibility of a freight carrier’s handling equipment.

Air cargo charter broker CharterSync is all set to offer a fully integrated digital end-to-end booking process and management system for freight forwarders. CharterSync has launched its updated booking system at the ongoing air cargo Europe 2023 exhibition in Munich. According to company officials, it’s time-saving features are build for driving change in the air cargo charter industry using digital disruption and innovation”. The system is expected to be rolled out to customers in June. Fully integrated into CharterSync’s pre-existing web and mobile booking platform, the new process captures and consolidates all the data and documentation associated with a charter booking, aggregating it into a central ‘hub’ which can be accessed in real time by all involved. Accessible by “an intuitive booking dashboard”, the system offers access to key documentation such as air waybills (AWBs), permits, air cargo manifests, customs declarations, load plans, technical drawings, and emails and other correspondence conducted off-platform as required.

Kenya Airways Cargo has been awarded IATA’s CEIV Pharma certification for its KQ Pharma Facility as it targets the healthcare market. The certification means that Kenya Airways’ pharma facility complies with IATA Temperature Control Regulations and adheres to international standards and best practices in cold chain and pharmaceutical movements, said release. Allan Kilavuka, Kenya Airways Group chief executive said, “We will continue to improve our premium product verticals, offering long-standing standards of temperature-controlled and time-sensitive cargo transport. With this certification, we join a select group of international operators in reaffirming our diligence in transporting temperature-controlled and time-sensitive products via our pharma network.” Dick Murianki, director of cargo, Kenya Airways also added, “Pharmaceutical shipments are extremely challenging and necessitate maximum dependability from airlines. It is critical to maintain the required temperature so that medication can be used as planned after shipping. Being one of the first African airlines to receive IATA’s international certificate is the result of the work we’ve done over the last few years to strengthen our product.” The facility covers approximately 600 sq m and is dedicated to handling temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals. The facility is segregated into three temperature levels: 2-8 degrees Celsius, 15-25 degrees Celsius and a freeze room.

Global Crossing Airlines (GlobalX) is all set to receive another Airbus A321 Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) conversion aircraft shortly. “Our next A321 freighter- N411 GX- the “Spirit of Liberty” has now received all required FAA modification approvals, and is in final prep before test flights this week and then delivery to Miami,” said GlobalX in an official Linkedin post. The Miami-based airline said the aircraft is due to become operational at the end of May. “We expect to place this aircraft into revenue service at the end of May,” added post. GlobalX’s received its first A321P2F in December last year after conversion by ST Engineering. In May 2021, GlobalX signed a letter of intent (LOI) to lease five A321P2F aircraft with ST Engineering’s Aviation Asset Management unit. These aircraft are being converted and leased to GlobalX progressively.

To allow customers reduce the carbon emissions associated with air cargo shipments by efficiently using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), DHL Aviation, the in-house airline of DHL Express, is planning to launch a new GoGreen Plus service. From June, DHL air cargo customers can choose the GoGreen Plus service for their shipments, with customers being given the chance to tailor the CO2e reduction and the amount of SAF they use. Travis Cobb, executive vice president, global network operations & aviation, DHL Express, said, “Our greatest goal is achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Using SAF is currently key to reducing carbon emissions in aviation and our GoGreen Plus service is made possible following our collaborations with bp and Neste to supply SAF to DHL Express hubs around the world.” Ingrid Raj, senior vice president, global head aviation Commercial, DHL Express also added, “Insetting through GoGreen Plus allows customers to bring down their Scope 3 emissions, the indirect greenhouse gas emissions that occur in a company’s value chain, including downstream transportation and distribution. With the introduction of GoGreen Plus, we empower our air cargo customers to make more sustainable choices and embolden their contribution to reducing carbon emissions.”