Kishan Tiwari, Co-Founder and CEO, TSAW Drones says, “As a drone technology and drone development company a more inclusive environment needs to be created for prototyping, testing and making the product market ready. Since drones share similarities with the aerospace domain, testbeds are expensive and limited, and prototyping is costly and limited, and prototyping is costly affair. Government support in this field would give a great boost to the industry. As a drone logistics provider service, linked incentives will be a boost. And more clarity on beyond visual line of sight operation would promote investment in the industry. As a drone manufacturer, I believe PLI schemes should have a plan to indigenous technology. The incentives post a particular tenure should be given only if the manufacturer has indigenized the production to a particular level.”

Karan Shaha, CEO and Co-founder, Vahak shares his expectations from the upcomig budget, “The sector has made enormous strides under the National Logistics Policy’s CLAP, particularly with the recent creation of a network of Logistics Parks that have been mapped using the PM GatiShakti NMP. This will further bring focus on enhancing visibility, improving logistics efficiency, and ensuring optimum utilisation and connectivity. There is a critical need to map these with the requirements of commercial vehicle drivers at the core. Today, nearly 56% of dedicated freight corridors have been completed. We are hoping that the Union Budget will incentivise development to bring 100% closure of these freight corridors. We recommend these projects be given top priority to support a seamless and effective logistics model. We are also hopeful that this Union Budget will look into incentivisation of R&D for the latest alternative fuels – battery-electric, compressed natural gas (CNG), flex fuel, hydrogen fuel cell, fuel efficiency, among others, with relevant charging infra – and technologies like AI, ML, Big Data, GPS, safe driving. Targeted incentives can spur demand for commercial alternative fuel technologies and their adoption, as well as favorable financing for trucker communities, will encourage them to buy green commercial vehicles. We expect this budget to address issues with systemic changes that ensure reliable employment, and fair compensation with minimum wages in the range of Rs. 25,000 per month through the Motor Vehicle Act, and linking of license renewal with social security schemes such as ESI/ PF, life and medical insurance. Through collective efforts, the industry and the government can harmonise demand and supply and drive market scale in the upcoming year.” –

We are getting a second Airbus aircraft in the first quarter of this year. We are looking forward to receive two more freighters at the end of the year,” says Vipul Bhalla, Chief Business Officer, Pradhan Air Express. “We want to offer holistic services to our customers. We might start cross border e-commerce service looking at the traffic. We also hope to work with like-minded agencies to see how this aircraft can assist in relief operations and in other sorts of contingencies where you have to at that time incorporate aircraft from outside. Certainly, having a narrow body single aisle aircraft based in India with an Indian flag can help in that aspect.”

Air France Martinair, part of the KLM Group, has placed a firm order with Airbus for four new A350F freighter aircraft. Martinair is the operating carrier for KLM Cargo. The four A350Fs emit over 40% less CO2 and make 50% less noise than their predecessors. The new aircraft will replace the current Boeing 747 freighters from the second half of 2026. The A350F is the freighter version of the A350. It is fitted with an extra-large cargo deck. Lighter materials have been used wherever possible to keep take-off weight to a minimum. Last April saw Air France-KLM make the announcement that it will finalize its order with Airbus for four new generation A350F freighters, following the earlier commitment announced in December 2021. In combination with the efficient Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, this considerably improves performance in terms of CO2 emissions and noise pollution. This aircraft is suitable for carrying a range of cargo, including fresh produce, express shipments, pharmaceuticals, horses, and oversized cargo. The maximum payload of the chosen configuration is 108 tonnes.

IndoSpace has received an investment of US$205 million from Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments). The investment marks the first close for IndoSpace Logistics Parks IV (ILP IV), the company’s fourth development vehicle, targeting US$600 million of total equity commitments. This is the latest venture between CPP Investments and IndoSpace. The first joint venture, IndoSpace Core, was established in 2017 and now owns the largest portfolio of stabilized modern logistics assets in India. CPP Investments has also invested in ILP III. Following the investment in ILP IV, the partnership will exceed US$1 billion in assets. ILP IV will add an additional 25-30 million square feet to the IndoSpace portfolio, furthering IndoSpace’s leading position in the Indian market. ILP IV will focus on India’s largest logistics real estate markets: Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Pune. The establishment of ILP IV follows on from the first three development funds, which have a combined total of 56 million square feet of modern logistics real estate in India. Hari Krishna V, Managing Director, Head of Real Estate India, CPP Investments, said, “Over the past few years, we have made numerous investments in India’s industrial space, where we see strong demand as the manufacturing sector continues to grow and the e-commerce sector matures. We are pleased to be working with our longstanding partner IndoSpace to further capitalize on opportunities in this space and believe this investment will deliver strong risk adjusted returns for CPP contributors and beneficiaries.”

Nisschal Jaain, Co-founder and CEO, Shypmax shares his expectations from the upcoming budget, “With the upcoming budget, the Indian e-commerce logistics sector is expecting some clarity on the de-minimis (threshold) value. Currently the de minimis value for India, for e-commerce import is 0 which means that all orders into India, regardless of value, will often incur GST on their shipments. Items imported into the United States are subject to duty when the value is over USD 800. In Australia, duty and taxes kick-in after the first USD 1,000. In Canada, it’s USD 20; in some other countries, it’s USD 5. It is evident that individuals will buy more if duties are exempted or reduced. In the 2022-23 Budget, implementation of a simplified regulatory framework to facilitate export of jewellery through e-commerce was introduced however it was limited only through ECCS (Express Cargo Clearance System) at ICT Mumbai, ICT Delhi and ICT Jaipur, according to Central board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) SoPs. Stakeholder are awaiting more details on the same from the upcoming budget. Additionally, the limit of Rs. 5 lacs worth of exports via courier under CSB-V, which affects the fine jewellery’s export, is counterproductive and confusing for the e-logistics players as well as the exporters

Air France-KLM ordered three Airbus SE A350-900 passenger aircraft for Air France and four A350F full freighter aircraft to be operated by Martinair on behalf of KLM Cargo as the Franco-Dutch airline group pushes to modernize its fleet and reduce carbon emission. The group said that the A350-900 passenger aircraft would be based at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, bringing Air France’s A350-900 fleet to 41. Deliveries for the A350s, which will replace previous-generation aircraft, are slated for 2024. The A350F full freighter aircraft will be based at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, with deliveries to Martinair expected as of the second half of 2026. Financial details weren’t disclosed.

US cargo airline Ameriflight has placed an order for 20 Natilus Kona autonomous feeder cargo aircraft valued at $134m. Ameriflight has become the first regional US carrier to sign an Aircraft Purchase Agreement with Natilus. The agreement brings total commitments for Natilus aircraft to $6.8bn – for delivery of 460+ aircraft. Other orders are from companies including Volatus Aerospace, Astral Aviation, Aurora, Dymond and Flexport. Ameriflight is the largest Part 135 cargo airline in the US, serving 200 destinations throughout the US, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and South America. The airline’s primary business is moving high-priority airfreight to and from remote areas for overnight express carriers. UPS is its largest customer. “Through this strategic partnership, we are positioning Ameriflight to build the roadmap for the future in cargo operations and be the first regional operator for Natilus in the United States,” said Alan Rusinowitz, president and chief operating officer of Ameriflight. “Our goal is to grow our product and transform the way we do business through innovation and collaboration, and now through this new partnership with Natilus, Ameriflight will connect the world safely within a sustainable business model.”

Vipin Vohra, Chairman, Continental Carriers shares his expectations from the upcoming budget. He says, “With the launch of National Logistics Policy in 2022 under PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, Logistics industry has high expectations from Budget 2023, which aims at reduction of Logistics cost from 14% of GDP to 8% -10% of the GDP. It is expected that the Budget 2023 will continue with its thrust on infrastructure development both at Airport and off-Airport locations in the form of Air Freight Stations in accordance with AFS Policy inviting healthy competition among the Cargo handling players making Air Cargo affordable so as to improve the global competitiveness of the Indian industry in the world market. Budget-2023 should propose Warehousing and Logistics policy at centre level including PLI and other incentive(s)/subsidies with an option for the states to further liberalise it considering the local scenario.”

Air India SATS Airport Services (AISATS), has been selected by Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) to Design, Build, Finance, Operate & Maintain a Greenfield Logistics Park at the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR Airport / KIAB) for a period of 15 years. The upcoming Logistics Park to be developed on 8.2 acres will be a world-class warehousing facility comprising of a General Warehouse, Bonded Warehouse, Consolidation Centre, Cold-Storage Facility, Office Spaces and other amenities such as Bank / ATM Facility, Business Centre, Cafeteria etc. AISATS will also provide value-added services including manpower and equipment rentals on an hourly or pay-per-use basis for Loading/Offloading, Labelling, Packaging, Bulk-Breaking etc.