Ethiopian Airlines Group has signed a contract with Dar Al-Handasah Consultants to build a ‘Mega Airport City’ at Abusera in Bishoftu City that will include over 100,000sq m of cargo and support facilities. The site, 40 km from the existing Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, lies about 20 km south east of the city centre on the main A1 road to the south. According to Ethiopian Airlines, the Mega Airport City will have a capacity of 110m passengers each year, four times the current capacity of the existing gateway.

FedEx Express has launched an intelligent solution for monitoring and intervention of time-sensitive shipments that offers customers enhanced control and visibility. FedEx Surround uses advanced sensor technology including SenseAware ID with near real-time data analytics to provide continuous monitoring and proactive interventions, says release. The system is based on a lightweight, compact sensor that transmits the precise package location every two seconds via Bluetooth Low Energy to WiFi access points or gateway devices throughout the network. FedEx said that packages can be tracked hundreds of times compared with only a few dozen of times with traditional package scanning equipment and that the system provides unprecedented levels of real-time shipment location data. The carrier adds that artificial intelligence and machine learning can predict potential disruption, allowing it and its customers to swiftly make informed decisions.  

  Prediman Koul, CEO, Jeena and Company shares, “Navigating complex regulatory landscape, dealing with port overcrowding, and addressing skilled workforce shortages are major challenges for the industry. These issues can slow down operations and increase costs, despite ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure and efficiency. Additionally, unforeseen disruptions often arise, underscoring the need for robust risk management strategies to absorb and mitigate potential impacts. These challenges highlight the importance of being prepared for unexpected scenarios and the value of resilience in the face of uncertainty.”

The Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI) announces theme ‘Wings of Innovation: Charting New Paths in Logistics’ for its 48th Annual Convention, to be held in Baku from 5th December till 8th December, 2024. The country‘s biggest air cargo convention is expected to have air cargo and logistics industry stakeholders from across the world.

  DP World announced that its International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) at Cochin delivered a record-breaking performance by handling over 72,000 TEUs for three consecutive months. ICTT handled 73,636 TEUs in July 2024, delivering 25% volume growth fromMay – July period of FY2024-2025. This strong performance comes on the back of a robust June 2024 volume of 79,044 TEUs. In the current CY alone, DP World Cochin has facilitated about 40 additional vessel calls to support growth of trade in the region during which the terminal has successfully handled ULCV (Ultra Large Container Vessels) such as MSC Aurora, MSC Darlene, and MSC Mariagrazia, all of which are over 365 meters in length. Further, ICTT has also recorded the highest growth at 22% in the Apr-July period of FY24-25. The terminal has consistently recorded higher volumes this FY, with the highest at 79,044 TEUs in June 2024. In the financial year 2023-24, DP World Cochin achieved its highest-ever combined volume of 754,237 TEUs, solidifying its position as South India’s preferred gateway for trade through consistently enhanced performance. Speaking about DP World Cochin’s record-breaking performance and growth, Praveen Thomas Joseph, CEO, DP World Ports & Terminals, Cochin, said, “DP World Cochin has consistently provided exceptional efficiency to our customers, reaffirming our dedication to supporting the state’s infrastructure and driving economic growth. In Q1 2024, we introduced new STS cranes, e-RTGs, and expanded yard space, boosting our total capacity to approximately 1.4 million TEUs per annum, solidifying DP World Cochin as one of the largest terminals in South India.” DP World’s ICTT provides mother vessel (mainline) connectivity to the Far East, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Europe/Mediterranean, and Singapore. This allows 50% of the cargo …

Welspun One in partnership with JLL announced the successful acquisition of a prime 22-acre site along the Bilaspur-Tauru Road in the Gurgaon/NH-08 corridor. This transactionfacilitated by JLL, represents a significant milestone in Welspun One’s strategy to expand its logistics park footprint in India. The acquired land, situated in India’s most active logistics sub-market, is recognized for its strategic importance. According to JLL, the Gurgaon/NH-08 corridor boasts a total supply of 64 million square feet for Grade A & B spaces as of H1 2024, positioning it as the largest logistics sub-market in India, followed by Bhiwandi in Mumbai. Gurgaon/NH-08 sub-market witnessed a gross absorption of 3.7 million square feet in H1 2024, almost doubling the absorption recorded during the same period in the previous year (H1 2023). This significant increase in absorption underscores the robust warehousing demand in the region. “This land transaction is unique in the sense that it’s a long lease of aggregated land from multiple private landlords – an emerging transaction typology in the country i.e. lease over outright,” said Yogesh Shevade, Head – Logistics & Industrial, India, JLL The site is ideally positioned near existing major logistics parks, enhancing its appeal to tenants. Welspun One’s proposed development will complement the surrounding infrastructure, which includes notable tenants like leading 3rd party logistics players, e-commerce giants and retail players. Mr. Anshul Singhal, Managing Director, Welspun One, stated, “This acquisition marks a significant step in expanding our footprint in one of India’s vital logistics corridors. By leveraging this prime location, we aim to create a cutting-edge logistics hub that will not only support our tenants’ operational efficiencies but also contribute to India’s broader economic growth. We are committed to …

Focusing on the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh and its impact on trade of garments, Delhi International Airport spokesperson said, “The ongoing crisis in Bangladesh has certainly impacted the Garments exports out of Bangladesh. Around 1000 manufacturing units, which were manufacturing clothes for leading brands like H&M and Zara were shut down. The supply chain is impacted for the time being. But, we are hopeful the situation will soon improve with production restarting and export cargo start moving. Bangladesh is the country where ~ 85% exports are Ready Made Garments(RMG). As of now, there have been some supply chain disruptions due to which many production houses are closed and many trucks carrying the finished goods are stuck inside Bangladesh. We are in touch with our partners and are hopeful the situation will be better soon and trucks will be able to come to DEL.”

  Turkish Cargo has received IATA’s Smart Facility Operational Capacity (SFOC) Certification for its SMARTIST facility at Istanbul Airport. This certification confirms that Turkish Cargo’s operational procedures comply with IATA regulations (IATA Cargo Handling Manual, Dangerous Goods Regulations, ULD Regulations, Temperature Control Regulations, Live Animals Regulations and Perishable Cargo Regulations). The certification demonstrates the compliance of handling and storage processes, from the acceptance of all special and general cargo to their loading onto the aircraft, with global standards. At SMARTIST, cargo is stored and transferred using a computer-controlled automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS). This eliminates the need for an operator or forklift, said Turkish Cargo.

KSH Infra announced its plans to invest around Rs 450 crores for the development of its first Industrial & Logistics (I&L) Park in southern India. This major project, located in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, strategically near the Karnataka border and Bangalore market, will cover approximately 50 acres and offer a development potential of 1.25 million square feet, setting a new benchmark in the region’s industrial infrastructure. Situated on the Hosur-Rayakottai Road, near the new Tata Electronics facility, the Hosur I&L Park is poised to become a landmark in the region’s industrial landscape. The project is expected to generate employment for over 1800 people and will attract substantial interest from industrial and warehousing clients seeking state-of-the-art infrastructure over the next 3-4 years. The Hosur project signifies KSH INFRA’s strategic expansion beyond its home base. The company has established a strong track record, having delivered approximately 4 million square feet of Grade A Industrial & Logistics (I&L) Parks in Pune. This achievement was supported by an investment of over INR 1,200 Crores in developing four Industrial & Logistics (I&L) Parks in Talegaon and Chakan (Maharashtra). “Logistics parks have become a crucial part of India’s real estateinfrastructure, providing businesses with cost savings and improved service quality. This project demonstrates KSH INFRA’s commitment to sustainable development, vision for growth and innovation in the Industrial & Logistics real estate sector,” said Rohit Hegde, Managing Director of KSH INFRA.  He further added, “Our strong financial position enables us to pursue new opportunities in Chennai, Bangalore, and Mumbai while leveraging our established presence in Pune. The advanced stage deals we are pursuing in these markets reflect our dedication to strategic growth and long-term success.” KSH INFRA’s journey is part …

Ahead of the expected annual peak season in air transport, DB Schenker has chosen cargo.one to digitally connect with dozens more airlines from across the globe. The collaboration enhances the global logistics service provider’s portfolio of live capacity access from nine originally to over 50 airlines in total. From now on, DB Schenker can better identify suitable capacities and fitting rates for ad-hoc shipments of its customers. Thorsten Meincke, Global Board Member for Air & Ocean Freight, DB Schenker: “We continue to digitalize transportation by establishing solutions that are highly demanded on the market. By boosting our access to available airline capacities, we save time for our customers and make processes faster, smoother, and more efficient for them. cargo.one is the perfect fit for this endeavor as they bring profound expertise in managing the massive amount of real-time data to the game.” Christa Koenen, Global Board Member for Information Technology and Digitalization (CIO/CDO), DB Schenker: “Every day we strive to lead the digitalization of the freight forwarding industry. With more than 150 years of business expertise, we aim to choose the ideal external providers to build up new options based on innovation and technology. Efficiency gains accomplished through IT help to make the entire logistics industry more resource efficient. The more carriers DB Schenker connects to digitally, and thus automates and optimizes processes, the better the final choice for our customers will be. The concept is comparable with automated last-minute deals from airlines or travel agents.”