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 …

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.”

Porter, tech-based on-demand logistics company has expanded its services to Kanpur, focusing on efficient and hassle-free goods movement. The company aims to serve Tier-II & Tier-III markets and leverage Kanpur’s strategic location for logistics connectivity. Kanpur’s proximity to major highways and railways, as well as upcoming industrial corridors, makes it an attractive transit point for goods. Porter’s entry into the city will enhance logistics connectivity and attract capital investment, considering Kanpur’s growing industrial hub status. Porter plans to onboard over 600 driver-partners to drive intracity logistics services in Kanpur, aiming to increase the number to more than 3,000 within the first year. The expansion is expected to generate employment for over 12,000 people, with a target of 20,000 customers in the first year.

BYD India has partnered with OHM e-Logistics to deliver 300 e6 ePVs across India As per the company, in the next six months, BYD India will deliver 300 BYD All-New e6 vehicles to OHM E Logistics. In the first phase of this project 50 state-of-the-art BYD e6 vehicles were flagged off in Hyderabad on Monday. BYD e6 boasts of a remarkable 71.7 kWh Blade Battery, delivering an impressive WLTC (Worldwide Light Vehicles Test Cycle) city range of 520kms and a combined range of 415kms on a single charge. BYD India, a subsidiary of the leading New Energy Vehicles (NEV) manufacturer, has partnered with OHM e-Logistics, an electric cab aggregator and cargo leasing App platform, tracking and fleet management business to deliver 300 e6 electric passenger vehicles across India in the next 6 months. As per the company, in the next six months, BYD India will deliver 300 BYD All-New e6 vehicles to OHM E Logistics. In the first phase of this project 50 state-of-the-art BYD e6 vehicles were flagged off in Hyderabad on Monday. This marks a significant milestone for both the companies, as they take a substantial step forward in providing cleaner and more efficient transportation options for the residents and businesses of cities such as Delhi, Mangalore , Goa , Tirupati and many more to operate as premium fleet services.

LogiNext announced it has helped businesses worldwide achieve 95% fleet management compliance requirements, reduced accidents by 30% and lowered insurance premiums by 50% with the help of their Vehicle Tracking System (VTS). Compliance has long been a challenging and overlooked aspect of fleet management for businesses across various industries. Only when compliance issues arise, do companies realize the critical need for a system to mitigate the disarray. LogiNext’s VTS is spearheading the charge to ensure business compliance by placing a strong emphasis on driver behavior and vehicle maintenance. This system empowers operations managers with the confidence to lead their operations efficiently and effectively. As the logistics industry grapples with the complexities of the supply chain, LogiNext addresses two pivotal areas of focus. First, the company strives to align driver behavior with safety standards to keep vehicles in optimal condition. Second, LogiNext ensures that drivers follow assigned routes, thereby avoiding unplanned downtime and rising operational costs. LogiNext’s Vehicle Tracking System has been instrumental in helping enterprises worldwide achieve compliance standards. By combining real-time tracking with intelligent analytics, the platform provides complete visibility into driver behavior—a feature that few delivery management platforms can offer. This visibility includes monitoring over speeding, abrupt braking, and route deviations, resulting in instant alerts and comprehensive reports. As a result, LogiNext has successfully reduced accident rates by 30%, slashed insurance premiums by over 50%, and enhanced overall road safety measures.

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.