Category Archives: International

To meet the burgeoning global demand, the Emirates SkyCargo has wet-leased two additional Boeing 747 freighters, starting 2025 with a 15 per cent increase in critical main deck cargo capacity, compared to January 2024. The multi-year lease for the Boeing 747s was signed with the Compass Group. The Emirates SkyCargo active operating fleet now consists of 10 Boeing 777Fs and six wet-leased Boeing 747s, bringing the aircraft count to 16. Additionally, the airline also has 13 Boeing 777Fs on order, with expected delivery between 2025 and 2026. “Throughout 2024, we made significant investments in new and leased freighter aircraft to address the evolving supply chain and air cargo demands around the world to ensure we had a stable supply of capacity to best serve our global customers. This remains a key priority for Emirates SkyCargo, as we set our sights on the next era of growth. We anticipate that demand will continue to boom, reflecting Dubai’s prominence as a global logistics hub. Enhancing our cargo capabilities is essential to support Dubai’s Economic Agenda, enabling us to reach new destinations, bolster our current operations and elevate our specialist product portfolio”, Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo, said.

As per the reports, the air cargo capacity in 2024 reached double-digit growth (10 per cent) in 2024. The freighter capacity grew by 8 per cent in 2024, demonstrating the industry’s dependence on the dedicated freighters for carrying out bulk cargo. The air cargo capacity for Asia Pacific-North America trade lane surged 15%, whereas the Asia to Europe route saw an increase of 16 per cent in cargo capacity. The growth in these two lanes was mainly fuelled by the unprecedented demand of e-commerce in the year 2024. The air cargo capacity for Asia-Middle East and Middle East-Europe routes surged 17 per cent and 15 per cent respectively, mainly because of the modal shift from sea to air due to red sea crisis.

DP World has crossed 100 million TEUs of container handling capacity across its global portfolio since its establishment. The accomplishment is a result of more than $11 billion worth of investments in infrastructural developments over the past few years. In the last decade, DP World’s capacity has grown 33%, driven primarily by expansions and new greenfield developments as well as acquisitions. Its global gross container handling capacity rose by 5% in the last 12 months. The expansion cements DP World’s 9.2% share of the global container market, which speaks volumes of company’s commitment to invest in the markets it operates. “Crossing the 100 million TEU mark is a momentous milestone in our journey, which began 45 years ago. This achievement reflects our commitment to investing in world-class ports and logistics infrastructure to make trade flow. We are confident that the global container market will continue to grow in the years ahead and we will have the capacity to service it,” Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and Chief Executive of DP World, said.

ECS Group has signed a Total Cargo Management (TCM) contract with JetSMART Airlines across four countries in South America. The four-year contract will cover JetSmart Airlines cargo operations in Chile, Colombia, Peru and Argentina. This four-year partnership, commencing January 1, 2025, spans JetSMART Airlines’s operations across these four countries, marking the first-ever TCM contract in South America with a regional airline. JetSMART Airlines, a member of the Indigo Partners group, operates a modern fleet of A320 and A321 aircraft. CS Group will manage nearly 25,000 flights annually and significantly develop domestic markets for JetSMART Airlines’s four national AOCs. “This partnership is a landmark achievement for ECS Group. Being entrusted by JetSMART Airlines reinforces our reputation as a global leader in Total Cargo Management. It reflects our proven expertise, innovative digital solutions, and ability to deliver exceptional results across continents. We are proud to see airlines worldwide placing their confidence in our capabilities,” Adrien Thominet, Executive Chairman, ECS Group, said.  

The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) has reported a growth of 10.5 percent YoY in air cargo for November 2024. The growth in shipment volumes was driven by sustained e-commerce demand and the front-loading of export orders ahead of anticipated US tariff hikes. International air cargo demand, measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK), increased by 10.5% year-on-year, slightly outpacing a 10.0% rise in offered freight capacity. Consequently, the average international freight load factor edged up by 0.2 percentage points to 62.3% for the month. “Asia Pacific airlines have led growth in international travel markets this year, benefitting from strong demand for both business and leisure travel. Demand has now fully recovered to prepandemic levels. Overall, for the first eleven months of the year, the region’s carriers recorded a 31% increase in the number of international passengers carried to a combined total of 334 million,” Subhas Menon, AAPA Director General said. “Driven by increased demand going into the year-end holiday season, air cargo markets saw healthy growth in November, contributing to a strong 14% year-on-year increase for the first eleven months of the year. Persistent operational challenges in maritime shipping and anticipated US tariff hikes further bolstered demand”, he added.  

ThaiLion Mentari Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Lion Group, is expanding its operations in India. The airline has started operating flights from Chennai and Kolkata, with four frequencies from each station. This expansion follows the launch of operations in Mumbai, Amritsar, Bangalore, Kochi, and Ahmedabad. Thai Lion Airlines to Offer Cargo Movement Options from India. Thai Lion will now offer cargo movement options from India to Thailand and further connectivity to Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Nepal. The airline has started operating flights from Chennai and Kolkata, with four frequencies from each station. This expansion follows the launch of operations in Mumbai, Amritsar, Bangalore, Kochi, and Ahmedabad. The new cargo services will provide businesses and individuals with more options for transporting goods between India and Thailand, as well as to other countries in the region. Thai Lion Mentari Co Ltd is committed to providing affordable and reliable cargo services to its customers. Key Benefits of Thai Lion Airlines Cargo Services: Competitive rates Fast and efficient transit times Experienced and professional staff Reliable and secure handling of cargo Real-time tracking of shipments

FedEx has introduced the ‘FedEx One Stop Shop’, a digital platform that provides access to both shipping and freight forwarding services, simplifying global shipping for businesses. The solution brings order management, booking, and track & trace into a single system, providing businesses with comprehensive visibility and control over shipments. The platform enables streamlined operations through a single point of contact at FedEx, eliminating the complexities of managing multiple freight forwarders. Additionally, it allows businesses to maintain a repository of their past shipments, ensuring a more efficient and transparent logistics process. “FedEx One Stop Shop is a significant step in our transformation into a digitally driven business, powered by our extensive transportation network. Developed in India, it is already creating efficiencies for customers who participated in the pilot by enabling them to book and manage shipments across FedEx shipping and logistics services. We’re excited to scale this platform to other regions, helping businesses simplify and improve their logistics operations,” Nitin Navneet Tatiwala, Vice President of Marketing and Air Network, FedEx, Middle East India Subcontinent and Africa (MEISA) said.

DSV has released its regular market outlook and forecasted that the air cargo volumes and capacity might stay flat in 2025. It has also mentioned that the global air cargo trade is likely to be stable, following massive growth of e-commerce volumes and Red Sea shipping crisis. The growth opportunities may further be restricted in global air cargo sector in 2025, the report stated. Also, the stricter customs and compliance standards will add complexity and cost which will also hamper the growth in air cargo volumes. The capacity is likely to remain flat as the next generation freighters aren’t likely to feature in the market before 2026. “With capacity expected to remain flat and possibly decline as older aircraft are retired due to age restrictions, any increase in demand will put additional stress on the market,” the market outlook stated.

dnata has broken ground on a new 57,000 sq. m warehousing facility in Dubai South, the largest single-urban master development focusing on aviation, logistics and real estate. Strategically located near Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), the expansion represents an investment of AED 100 million (US$ 27 million). The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by HE Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South, and Steve Allen, CEO of dnata, in the presence of senior executives from both entities. Construction of the warehouse is underway, with completion scheduled for November 2025. Including its newest facility, dnata Logistics will offer world-class services from 11 locations in the UAE. “We are thrilled to break ground on this new, advanced facility, which represents a pivotal investment in our future growth. As we expand our product offerings and reach new markets, this warehouse will allow us to provide even better services to our customers, while staying at the forefront of operational innovation. Our commitment to sustainability is central to this project. From energy efficiency to waste reduction, every aspect of the warehouse has been designed with environmental efficiency in mind. The facility’s innovative features will help us grow responsibly, making a positive impact on the communities we serve,” Sean Bradley, Managing Director of dnata Logistics, said.          

Blue Dart has announced the launch of its latest innovation Blue Dart Affiliate Programme (BDAP) for its technology partners and ecosystem enablers. This innovative program is designed to foster collaboration with top technological enablers in the industry, offering seamless integration of Blue Dart’s advanced logistics solutions while creating new revenue opportunities for affiliates. A dedicated support team will ensure smooth collaboration, allowing affiliates to focus on building their solutions while Blue Dart handles all logistics needs. “At Blue Dart, innovation is at the core of everything we do. The launch of our Affiliate Program strengthens our commitment to collaborating with technology providers and offering world-class express logistics solutions. This program represents a unique opportunity for technology partners to expand their service offerings, increase revenue, and deliver best-in-class logistics capabilities to their customers,” Dipanjan Banerjee, Chief Commercial Officer, Blue Dart said.