Celebi Aviation has announced its renewed partnership with Lufthansa Cargo as their ground handling partner at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD). Lufthansa Cargo operates a weekly freighter service on the Frankfurt-Mumbai-Hyderabad-Frankfurt route, strengthening cargo connectivity between Europe and India. “We are delighted to welcome back Lufthansa Cargo and partner with them to provide seamless and sustainable ground handling services at GMR Hyderabad International Airport. We are confident that our association will enable Lufthansa Cargo to further capitalise on the burgeoning Indian market and strengthen its position as a key player in the global air cargo industry,” Tauseef Khan, CEO, Celebi Ground Handling said.

To facilitate greater and faster market access in eCommerce segment, ECU Worldwide, Allcargo logistics’ subsidiary, has strengthened its integrated Direct2FC (Direct to Fulfilment Centre) service delivery capabilities in US market. As a part of the Direct2FC service delivery model, ECU Worldwide has collaborated with hundreds of fulfilment centers across US such as ShipBob, Stord, Boxzooka, Nimble, etc. to help customers smoothly replenish their inventory. ECU Worldwide offers inland cargo movement (trucking services) from ports to various fulfilment centres across USA. In addition, the company offers Xlerate, its premium express service for urgent shipments primarily for e-commerce businesses looking to move goods with speed. “Our enhanced Direct2FC service is designed to empower manufacturers and e-commerce companies of all sizes, providing them with efficient access to fulfilment canters and transportation services. By leveraging our extensive local and global expertise, we aim to simplify logistics processes and optimize supply chains. We are dedicated to fostering innovation and collaboration, ensuring our clients can seize new opportunities and succeed in an ever-evolving market,” Adarsh Hegde, Managing Director, ECU Worldwide said.

Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has secured the AAA rating (Stable Outlook) by ICRA Ltd, India Ratings and Research Pvt Ltd and Crisil Ratings Ltd. The AAA ratings indicate the highest degree of safety regarding timely servicing of financial obligations and lower credit risk. “We are honored to receive the AAA rating from ICRA, India Ratings and Research, and Crisil. This recognition reflects our robust business model and our commitment to sustainable growth. With regulated aeronautical revenues and our strategic investments in expanding capacity, we are well-positioned for continued success. Our focus remains on delivering long-term value to all stakeholders while maintaining a solid financial foundation,” Bhaskar Anand Rao, CFO, BIAL said.    

To scale up its logistics operations, Ultratech Cement has announced the deployment of 100 more Electric Vehicles (EV trucks) in its fleet. The company has signed a pact for the transportation of 75,000 MT of clinker per month from its integrated cement manufacturing unit Dhar Cement Works, located in Madhya Pradesh, to its grinding unit Dhule Cement Works, located in Maharashtra, which is about 400 kms distance for a roundtrip. UltraTech is the first cement company in India to deploy electric trucks at this scale for such a long lead distance. The transportation of clinker using these electric trucks in place of fossil-fuel based trucks is estimated to help reduce transport emissions by 17,000 MT of CO2 annually. “UltraTech is fully committed to realising its Net Zero goal by 2050. We have taken a holistic approach to integrating sustainability in our business conduct. The scale up of EV trucks in our logistics operations underscores our commitment to drive the implementation of sustainable practices in the industry,” K C Jhanwar, Managing Director, UltraTech Cement Limited, said.

The Container Corporation of India’s (CONCOR) MMLP at Khatuwas, Rajasthan gets LNG station to promote environment-friendly logistics solutions in the country. CONCOR has commissioned in-house LNG station at MMLP Khatuwas, in collaboration with IOCL, to ensure un-interrupted supply of LNG to be used primarily for first and last mile services to customers on CONCOR-owned LNG-powered road trailers. The inauguration was done by Ravinder Goyal-Member Operations & Business Development, Railway Board, Govt of India.  

Sajith D, Assistant General Manager – Cargo shares, “Our development plan at Cochin International Airport includes building a new export cargo terminal with modern handling facilities and establishing a logistics cargo park on a ten-acre area, alongside a mini cargo station. We’re also expanding cold storage, increasing warehouse capacity, and implementing automated handling systems to enhance efficiency. The expansion is expected to be completed by 2029. This comprehensive approach will elevate Cochin Airport’s cargo operations to global standards, combining sustainability with advanced technology. The logistics cargo park and new export terminal will attract more exporters from South India, strengthening our role as a key export hub. We also plan to integrate digital and AI-based systems to accelerate cargo handling and improve operational transparency.”

To explore the latest innovations in warehousing, material handling, automation, storage solutions, refrigeration, and cold chain logistics, RX India has announced the commencement of the 11th edition of the India Warehousing & Logistics Show (IWLS) and the India Cold Chain Show (ICCS) from November 21-23, 2024, at the Bombay Exhibition Centre Mumbai. IWLS and ICCS will offer a unique combined value proposition, serving as an integrated platform for the entire supply chain and cold storage ecosystem. The exhibitors and visitors will have an opportunity to explore the latest innovations in warehousing, material handling, automation, storage solutions, refrigeration, and cold chain logistics. This year, the exhibitions are set to bring together 150+ exhibitors, from India and around the world, featuring the likes of Gandhi, Indian Enterprises, Daifuku, Armstrong, Avians Delmon, Metaflex, Craftsman, Godrej Koerber, and several others.  

Aircargonet International has announced a strategic alliance with CargoAi, which will ensure seamless real-time rates and capacity booking for its associated airlines, including Amerijet International and Royal Jordanian. The integration streamlines the booking process through CargoAi’s advanced platform, offering users a comprehensive and user-friendly experience. The real-time rates and cargo capacity information will empower users to make informed decisions and optimize their airfreight operations. “At CargoAi, we are proud to announce this transformative partnership that elevates airfreight logistics to new heights. By providing real-time rates and capacity for Aircargonet International GmbH’s represented airlines, we empower our users with the tools needed to navigate the dynamic airfreight landscape seamlessly,” Matthieu Petot, CEO, CargoAi said.

Yashpal Sharma, Skyways Group, Managing Director, says ” If I talk from the government side, more on the transshipment policy of the government, it has seen a certain improvement, where we see that the domestic-to-domestic transshipment has slightly improved, but there’s still a long way to go, because globally transshipment is the major commodity or a major product for any aviation industry. Also, if you look at all the major airports of the world, there is a sizable part of that business that is transshipment business. However, in India, that process needs improvement. Currently, that process takes up to two days, and we need to bring it down to a couple of hours. In some of the developed economies, you can do a tail-to-tail transfer between two aircrafts, which you cannot do in India, because of the current process, which is set. And I hope the domestic-to-domestic transshipment as a first step improves. Then, we see the same in the domestic to international, international to the domestic and international to international, all four of them need to go up.”

Kamal Jain, Director, Cargomen Logistics says, “India’s customs clearance has seen remarkable advancements over the last 20 years, largely due to digitalisation. Processes are now faster, with reduced dependency on physical documents and presence, thanks to e-governance systems like EDI / E-Office. However, further improvements—such as seamless integration with participating government agencies (PGA) , simplified documentation, faster dispute resolution of interpretation of notification and HSN, and better transparency—can drive even greater efficiency and predictability.”