To operate its first cargo handling operation in India at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR Airport), Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has entered into a partnership with BIAL. WFS has been awarded a 15-year license. From May 2023, WFS will be responsible for the development, operation, management and maintenance of one of the cargo terminals at BIAL. WFS will also operate and invest in the expansion of the airport’s dedicated Cold Chain Facility. The cargo terminal awarded to WFS at BLR Airport, has the capacity to handle 210,000 Metric Tonnes (MT) of cargo a year. The cargo terminal will be used exclusively by WFS to handle international cargo. WFS will use its design, build, finance, process reengineering and development experience to reorganise and refurbish the facility to increase its throughput capacity potential to serve cargo volumes in excess of 250,000 MT annually. As operators of the dedicated Cold Chain Facility at the Airport, WFS and BIAL will begin a two-phase expansion of the dedicated operation, initially doubling its capacity to 80,000 MT per annum before increasing to a throughput capacity in excess of 150,000 MT per annum, post completion of phase 2. These investments are timed to support the next stage of India’s economic growth.

RightShip announced a new tie-up for its recently launched Maritime Emissions Portal (MEP) with port data-sharing platform, NxtPort International (NxtPort Int’l), a marketplace for port communities, that originated in the Port of Antwerp, and deploys to 3000+ public and private entities, says an official release. With the new arrangement, port communities around the world will be introduced to RightShip’s MEP. It’s the first in a suite of products designed to support ports and terminals to better understand and manage ship-based emissions within set zones around their local geography. Gurpreet Singh, CCO for RightShip, said in a statement, “Nxtport Int’l brings wonderful experience and understanding of the port business, curating products with high impact potential for ports and terminals. We are pleased to see them place their trust in MEP for emissions reduction, by highlighting this product to their customers. We’re confident that we’ll support many new customers to embark on a journey to zero harm in the maritime industry.” Alexander Dorhout Mees, CCO for NxtPort Int’l, said, “We hope that this partnership with RightShip will not only attract organisations who want to use the Maritime Emissions Portal in its current form, but also lead to new partners coming forward who might be able to offer data and collaborate with MEP.”

The National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir authorities for building proposed ropeway projects which were announced under Parvatmala Yojana in the 2022-23 Union Budget in February. The Centre has received at least 150 proposals from states to build ropeways under its flagship Parvatmala Yojana (National Ropeway Development Programme). They include those for about 30 priority points or stretches connecting Leh Palace (Ladakh), Auli-Gorson (Uttarakhand), Nandi Hills (Karnataka), Harihar Fort (Maharashtra), Mahakaleshwar Temple (Madhya Pradesh), Amarnath Cave, etc, and will be taken up under phase one of the project, Union Road transport and highways ministry officials said in a statement. Since then, the government has floated tenders for work on ropeway project for Sonprayag to Kedarnath Temple via Gaurikund and Govind Ghat to Hemkund Sahib in Uttarakhand.

IAG Cargo launched two new routes to Dallas and Washington DC from Madrid Barajas airport. The new routes will be utilising the belly capacity of an Iberia Airbus A332 aircraft, four times a week from Madrid Barajas airport. These two new routes add to over 120 weekly connections between Spain and the USA, with flights already departing twice a day to New York and Miami from Madrid. The additional routes act as a gateway to other American destinations by truck. “It is always exciting to see IAG Cargo launch a new route, so two new routes between Madrid and the USA is even better and provides our customers with further opportunities to move their cargo between the regions.” said Pravin Singh, Vice President Commercial. “The launch of the new routes between Madrid and Dallas and Madrid and Washington DC highlights IAG Cargo’s commitment to offering our customers accessibility into new markets and expanding our wide-body network across the globe,” he added.

Enhancing its Life Science and Healthcare logistics capabilities, Dachser has been successfully recertified with the Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics (CEIV Pharma) certification from IATA for its Hyderabad and Mumbai branches. “With the recertification, we confirm our capabilities in Life Science and Healthcare in India,” said Timo Stroh, Global Head of Airfreight and Life Science and Healthcare Logistics. CEIV Pharma certification requires internal and external training, a review of procedures for handling temperature-controlled life science and healthcare shipments, and a comprehensive evaluation of these complex processes by an independent auditor. “We strive to adhere to the highest international standards in global transportation of sensitive products. We are proud of this recertification and once more confirm our strong presence in the Indian market despite worldwide COVID-19 impacts,” Stroh added.

dnata announced that it would invest US$ 100 million in green operations in the next two years to further enhance environmental efficiency across its global network. The company’s ongoing investment in infrastructure, equipment and process improvement will support it to achieve its strategic objectives and reduce its carbon footprint by 20% by 2024, and by 50% by 2030. Steve Allen, CEO of dnata Group, said: “We’ve been making great progress on reducing our carbon footprint, minimising waste and reducing energy and water consumption across our operations. We will further increase our investments and efforts in strong cooperation with our partners to achieve our targets and preserve the environment for current and future generations.”

Maersk has completed the acquisition of global freight forwarding company, Senator International. According to a company statement, “Senator brings with it a strong organisation and a well-developed airfreight network comprising own controlled flights and long-term partnerships with best-in-class airlines, a well-established full container load (FCL) and less than container load (LCL) network and specialised services such packaging, warehousing and distribution across five continents.” The acquisition will enable Maersk to offer an even wider range of products and the ability to provide flexible and integrated logistics solutions to customers, allowing them to speed up or slow down cargo depending on their changing supply chain needs, the statement added. Vincent Clerc, CEO of Ocean & Logistics, A.P. Moller-Maersk said, “We are delighted to welcome the Senator team to our Maersk family. As a global provider of integrated logistics, we are improving our ability to provide end-to-end solutions to our customers. With Senator on board, we are ramping up our air freight capacity, network, and know-how significantly to cater even better for our customers.”

To cater to the increased demand, the Miami-based Amerijet International Airlines has been rapidly expanding its fleet in 2022. The carrier said in a statement that it has taken delivery of a total of six B757 freighters this year and next year the carrier will add five B767s. The carier’s fleet now stands at 20 freighters. With the addition of B767s the carrier will operate 25 freighters; 19 B767s and six B757s. Tim Strauss, Chief Executive said in a statement, “The carrier is in discussion over another four aircraft that could join the fleet next year. It is going to be a good long run for air cargo. It is a great time to be in the business. Industry has never witnessed this kind of transformation and the stakeholders now knows what supply chain means.”

Ethiopian Airlines is all set to start thrice weekly flights to Chennai from July 2, 2022. The flights to Chennai operated using B737-8 aircraft, will join the vast Ethiopian network as a fourth destination in India after New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr Mesfin Tasew said in a release, “I am excited that we are getting closer to our customers with our signature service and global connectivity options. We have been connecting Asia and Africa for 55 years now facilitating trade between the two continents. The addition of Chennai as a fourth passenger destination in India is a testimony of our resilience and unwavering commitment to serve our customers in India and the continent at large. We will continue to serve India with enhanced frequency and more destinations in the future.” Exports from India includes pharmaceutical products, fabrics, finished goods, petroleum goods, fruits/vegetables, heavy machinery for project cargo, spares, handicrafts etc.

The cargo terminal at Jaipur International airport is now functional. According to the official media reports, Rahul Nangre, commissioner of customs (preventive) inaugurated the terminal which is managed by AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Ltd. Nangre said in reports, “There is immense potential for direct import and export from Jaipur Air Cargo terminal and with the commencement of this cargo terminal, all the importers and exporters of Rajasthan will benefit including gems and jewellery.” He added, “There shall be an increase in export-import of items such as fabrics, clothes, handicrafts, machinery parts, vegetables, and other items due to commencement of operations of this Cargo terminal.”