The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released July 2021 data for global air cargo markets showing that demand continued its strong growth trend. As comparisons between 2021 and 2020 monthly results are distorted by the extraordinary impact of COVID-19, unless otherwise noted, all comparisons to follow are to June 2019 which followed a normal demand pattern. • Global demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs*), was up 8.6% compared to July 2019. Overall growth remains strong compared to the long-term average growth trend of around 4.7%. • The pace of growth slowed slightly compared to June which saw demand increase 9.2% (against pre-COVID-19 levels). • Capacity continues to recover but is still 10.3% down compared to July 2019. • Economic conditions continue to support air cargo growth: The July export orders component of the manufacturing Purchasing Managers Indices (PMIs) was 52.7%, indicating a short-term boost to demand if those orders are shipped by air. The inventory-to-sales ratio remains low ahead of the peak year-end retail season. “July was another solid month for global air cargo demand. Economic conditions indicate that the strong growth trend will continue into the peak year-end demand period. The Delta variant of COVID-19 could bring some risks. If supply chains and production lines are disrupted, there is potential for a knock-on effect for air cargo shipments,” said Wille Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

The inland container depot (ICD) project in Gazipur’s Dhirashram area is finally going to be implemented under the public-private partnership (PPP) model as the government is considering making Dubai-based terminal operator DP World a partner in the venture. Officials of the Public Private Partnership Authority Bangladesh said DP World has already agreed to work on the project. Now, discussion is going on to fix the terms and conditions of the final agreement. Dr Najmus Sayadat, director (investment promotion) of PPP Authority, said, “We are preparing a document for DP World, which may take six months. The investment of DP World will be finalised based on the document.” The ICD will be built on a 160-acre site near Dhirashram Railway Station in Joydevpur, Gazipur. According to Bangladesh Railway, the cost of the project could be up to $300 million. Once it is complete, the Kamalapur ICD will be relocated to Dhirashram. This is expected to help container transport by rail go up by as high as 30%.

The two largest container lines in the world, Maersk and MSC, have announced new rates to Australia and New Zealand destinations, which are expected to take effect in the next months. Firstly the Danish carrier will apply a rate increase of US$200 / 20′ ft equipment and US$400 / 40′ ft equipment from the United States and Canada to Australia and New Zealand with an effective date of 1 October. Earlier, on 11 September the 2M Alliance’s partner of Maersk, MSC will apply the following updated prices from the ports of Antwerp and La Spezia to Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland and Bluff.

Om Logistics Limited, has acquired Transafe Services Limited, a group company of Balmer, Lawrie & Co. Ltd., with interests in manufacturing, Logistics and leasing. TranSafe started its journey with the business of leasing of various types of containers for road and rail transportation of goods. Later, it forayed into the business of specialty container manufacturing and logistics services. The company manufactured various tank containers, like, oil/water/milk tanks, car-carrier capsules and other specialty containers for companies/ institutions, such as ONGC, ISRO, private rail operators and defense sector. Transafe is also into the manufacturing of bunk houses, to meet the increase in oil exploration activity. OM Group is a full-service transportation & logistics company with presence in 85 countries, over 1500 locations, 20 million square feet space and more than 5000 efficient employees. OM Logistics Limited enjoys an annual turnover of 1500 cr. and has an association with a significant number of world’s best-known brands.

Cargo handling services provider Alliance Ground International (AGI) has opened a new 76,000-square-foot off-airport air cargo facility five minutes from Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey, USA, to process import freight. Arriving import cargo will be trucked to the new off-airport facility by an AGI in-house shuttle service, which will connect cargo handling at the two facilities. The handler is also relocating from existing facilities at Newark (EWR) to a 24,000-square-foot facility on airport at EWR to handle outbound/export cargo and offer a Dual-Facility solution. The off-airport facility will feature 19 cargo bay doors, active Unit Load Device (ULD) charging stations, ULD storage and cold storage, pharma handling areas, increased security, and easy access to major highways.

SpiceXpress keeps up to its tradition of creating unique propositions in the Indian Logistics field by inaugurating the first of its kind Airport Based Free Trade Zone Warehouse in GMR Hyderabad international Airport, Telengana. At a time when India and the state of Telengana in specific is looking forward to promote the export and import of goods and help the manufacturers and traders boost their business we at SpiceXpress have taken the initiative of creating the Free Trade Zone at GMR Hyderabad International Airport, which is the right solution. A free-trade zone (FTZ) is a class of special economic zone. It is a geographic area where goods may be imported, stored, handled, manufactured, or reconfigured and re-exported under specific customs regulation and generally not subject to customs duty. Most of our free trade zones are on the sea port side helping the manufacturers and traders who use the sea mode. Manufacturers and traders using Air mode, specifically Pharma, E Commerce, Aero Space, Perishables, etc had logistical challenges using these free trade zones. We at SpiceXpress are the first ones to set up a Free Trade Zone (FTZ) Warehouse on the Airport Side. We thank Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Principal Secretary to Government of Telengana, I&C and ITE&C Department for gracing the occasion and inaugurating the facility and opening it for all the manufacturers and traders to use.

GECAS announces to lease two 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCF) to M Jets International’s start-up, Kargo Xpress. The BCF’s are expected to be delivered in October and December 2021. These two 738BCFs are said to increase capacity for Malaysia’s newest freight carrier. Kargo Xpress began scheduled flights in June with one 737-400F and this added capacity will enable the operator to provide fast, timely and efficient delivery of goods as they expand their footprint to include Northern China and Western India and serve some thinner, underserved routes. Gunasekar Mariappan, managing director, M Jets International, said, “Kargo Xpress appreciates the close working relationship with GECAS to induct our initial two 737-800 BCF. We are focused on developing a robust, reliable, cost effective network within Asia, centered around a fleet of 737 freighters. Our goal is to be the provider of choice for express e-commerce shipments, as well as point-to-point delivery, trans-shipment and flight-truck services for our time-to-market sensitive customers within Asia.”

Air Charter Service recently chartered a Boeing B787-9 to transport 20 tonnes of humanitarian aid donated by the British government for those affected by the earthquake in Haiti. James Cristofoli, London Cargo Director at Air Charter Service, commented, “It was just over a week ago that the 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office then contacted us to arrange the shipment – the cargo includes shelter kits and solar powered lanterns for up to 1,300 families, and we expect to see more such support to follow over the next week or so. Our US offices have already arranged several additional charters with relief in support of the operation.” “It is tragic that the country has been struck again after the devastating earthquake in 2010. Following that tragedy, we arranged more than 100 flights as part of the humanitarian effort and a number of our staff spent time on the ground during the operation, which makes our work particularly poignant.”

All Nippon Airways (ANA) has partnered with the global transport and logistics provider Scan Global Logistics for the international transportation of COVID-19 vaccines manufactured in Japan to Cambodia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Laos, East Timor, Fiji, and Maldives through the Japanese government’s cooperation with the COVAX facility. The COVAX Facility is a logistical hub designed to maximize resource mobilization and supply coordination led by Gavi, the global vaccine alliance leading COVAX efforts. The initiative aims to secure equitable access to vaccines worldwide regardless of income levels and increasing availability in developing nations throughout Southeast Asia is key to this strategy. The transportation of vaccines present a number of logistical hurdles, requiring ANA to leverage its full range of expertise and experience gained at the forefront of cargo transportation.

Kale Info Solutions Inc’s recent study on the impact of digitisation at Atlanta Airport, Georgia, USA showed that by using digital tools the Atlanta Airport Community, which is powered by Kale’s digital solutions, had saved nine tonnes of CO2 from being processed since the beginning of 2021: the equivalent of planting more than 400 trees. The study demonstrated CO2 and fuel savings, as well as reduced labour costs, and close to 2,000 man-hours saved. They looked at 1,839 shipments, 389 trucks, and 680 tonnes of cargo going through Atlanta Airport for the first seven months of 2021. In total, more than 5,650 litres of fuel, USD 69,000 of labour costs, and 1,945 man-hours were saved by using Kale’s slot management tool to organise and facilitate the arrival and loading of trucks at the airport. Kale’s Single Window System used for airport and maritime community systems enables electronic communications between multiple supply chain stakeholders. “We want to add momentum to the global sustainability drive and be a major influencer for airports, ports, and supply chains across the world to go paperless, improve digital connectivity, and reduce carbon emissions,” said Amar More, President and Chief Executive Officer, Kale Info Solutions, USA.