Emirates SkyCargo and Boeing have announced an order for five additional 777 freighters as the operator again picks the world’s most capable twin-engine freighter to meet growing cargo demand. The new purchase takes Emirates’ order book to 245 Boeing wide-body aircraft, including 10 777 freighters. Emirates SkyCargo’s investment in the freighter will boost main deck cargo capacity 30 per cent by 2026 and increase, Emirates’ freighter fleet to 17 aircraft, including 777 freighters, 777 converted freighters and 747 freighters. “Demand for our world-class product and services is growing amplified by Dubai’s Economic Agenda, which aims to double foreign trade and reinforce the city’s position as a global trading hub. This investment in additional Boeing 777 capacity enables us to cater to customer demand and marks a step forward on our long-term strategic growth plan,” said HRH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group. “The next phase will include a full assessment for our future freighter fleet reviewing all aircraft options to ensure we are best equipped to respond to the market’s evolving demands and reaffirming our confidence in the role of air freight and, specifically, Emirates SkyCargo, in global trade.” The freighter can fly up to 9,200 km and carry more freight—102 metric tonnes—than any other twin-engine cargo jet. This range and payload capability allows operators to offer more long-range, nonstop flights to connect distant markets such as the USA and Europe without refueling.

NIDO Group has announced a strategic partnership with Emiza to revolutionize package handling efficiency through the deployment of advanced vertical conveyor systems across Emiza’s facilities. Central to this partnership is the deployment of 5 vertical conveyors, designed to facilitate swift and seamless movement of packages from ground level to multiple floors. These innovative systems promise to expedite logistics operations, reducing processing times and enhancing overall operational efficiency for Emiza. By integrating these vertical conveyors, ‘Emiza can streamline its internal logistics processes, ensuring packages are moved quickly and efficiently between different levels within its warehouses. One of the key advantages of the vertical conveyor systems provided by NIDO Group is their ability to maximize space utilization. Unlike traditional horizontal conveyance methods that require extensive floor space, vertical conveyors occupy a smaller footprint, making them ideal for optimizing warehouse layouts. This space-saving feature is particularly beneficial for Emiza, allowing them to increase their handling capacity without the need for significant structural modifications. Additionally, NIDO Group’s vertical conveyors are tailored to meet the diverse operational needs of Emiza’s various facilities. “We are excited about our partnership with Emiza and the opportunity to enhance their logistics operations through our advanced vertical conveyor systems,” said Nirav Doshi, Founder & Managing Director at NIDO Group. “This collaboration reinforces our dedication to innovation and efficiency in logistics, supporting Emiza’s mission to deliver exceptional service to their clients.”    

MSMEs rely heavily on their third-party logistics providers to operate smoothly, as they often face limitations due to a lack of capital or resources,” says Uday Sharma, Chief Commercial Officer, Allcargo Gati. He adds, “The upcoming budget should create an environment where MSMEs can flourish with well-developed logistic infrastructures based on sustainable practices. We expect the budget to prioritize investments in infrastructure development, digitalization, and skill development, which will further empower MSMEs. Our commitment goes beyond providing logistics; we actively support programs that enhance operational efficiency and competitiveness for MSMEs. Through various initiatives like capacity-building workshops, digital transformation projects, and skill development programs, we strive to grow and sustain MSMEs. The logistics subsector is undergoing numerous changes to address infrastructure and technology challenges. As the lifeline of the MSME sector, the logistics and supply chain industry play a crucial role in efficiently delivering their products and enabling them to reach the market or their destination.”  

KK Agarwal, Chairman & Managing Director, CJ Darcl Logistics says,”The Indian economy is projected to grow by 7.2 percent in FY25, driven by improving rural demand and decreasing inflation. We appreciate the govt’s strong focus on the logistics sector with initiatives like PM Gati Shakti, Sagarmala, Bharatmala, and the National Logistics Policy. The previous budget’s emphasis on infrastructure improvement and regulatory streamlining, especially the announcement of railway economic corridors under the PM Gati Shakti initiative, marked a significant leap towards multi-modal connectivity and reduced logistics costs. This aligns with our industry’s expectations and will accelerate India’s GDP growth.” He continued, “Looking ahead, we expect continued support for technology-driven solutions, skill development, and strategic incentives. The anticipated union budget will enhance multimodal connectivity and improve efficiency in the logistics industry. We also foresee comprehensive policies promoting electric vehicles, alternative fuels, and sustainable practices. These measures will boost economic growth in the logistics sector, aligning with the goal of a $5-trillion economy and a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047. A robust Capex Budget is crucial to sustain and enhance this growth trajectory, positioning India as a logistics powerhouse.”    

The National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Limited (NICDC) Logistics Data Services Limited (NLDS) and Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board (GIDB) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to digitize the logistics landscape in Gujarat. The MoU was exchanged between GIDB CEO, Banchha Nidhi Pani and NLDS chairman, Rajat Kumar Saini. The collaboration proposes to leverage Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) to digitise the logistics and further make way for developing the Gujarat ULIP Dashboard. The dashboard will help integrate various state department platforms to provide a seamless flow of information such as real-time visibility of key logistics parametres. These broadly include vehicle utilisation, shipment tracking, transit times and infrastructure availability. The tool will prove beneficial for govt and private sector players to efficiently monitor and handle logistics operations in Gujarat. “This collaboration will bring visibility to streamline logistics operations, enhance coordination among state departments, and decision-making processes through real-time data insights,” Union govt said in a statement.

Çelebi India announced its selection as Cambodia Angkor Air’s cargo operations partner at the Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in Çelebi’s commitment to enhancing air cargo operations and expanding its global footprint. Cambodia Angkor Air, the national flag carrier of Cambodia, has chosen Çelebi Delhi Cargo Terminal as its preferred partner to streamline cargo handling operations, leveraging Çelebi’s state-of-the-art facilities and expertise in cargo logistics. This partnership underscores Çelebi’s capability to provide efficient and reliable cargo handling solutions to its esteemed partners. Kamesh Peri, CEO of Çelebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management, remarked, “We are delighted to partner with Cambodia Angkor Air for cargo operations at Çelebi Delhi Cargo Terminal. This collaboration highlights our commitment to delivering exceptional cargo handling services. With our state-of-the-art facilities and experienced team, we are well-equipped to enhance operational efficiency and ensure seamless handling of cargo shipments, driving mutual growth and success.” The Çelebi Delhi Cargo Terminal, equipped with advanced infrastructure and a dedicated team of professionals, is well-positioned to support the growing demands of air cargo operations. Through this partnership, Çelebi aims to further enhance operational efficiencies and customer satisfaction, ensuring seamless handling of Cambodia Angkor Air’s cargo shipments.

“Leading airline operators are readying for fleet expansions to enhance both pax connectivity and cargo capacity,” says Pradeep Panicker, CEO, GMR Hyderabad International Airport (GHIAL). “A significant step for advancing these goals is the upgrade of logistics infrastructure, distribution centers, and freight corridors, coupled with investments in research and development for pioneering solutions. It is crucial to adopt state-of-the-art technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Automation, and the Internet of Things to maximize operational efficiency in India’s dynamic cargo industry,” he adds.   

  CargoAi announced a strategic partnership with MASkargo, the cargo airline and subsidiary of Malaysia Aviation Group to revolutionize airfreight booking and payment processes across nearly 100 countries worldwide through CargoWALLET, CargoAi’s innovative payment solution. This partnership integrates MASkargo’s extensive airfreight services into CargoAi’s ecosystem, arming freight forwarders with the ability to book and pay for shipments directly through CargoWALLET. Matt Petot, CEO of CargoAi, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are thrilled to collaborate with MASkargo to bring our innovative CargoWALLET solution to a broader audience. This partnership underscores our commitment to streamlining the airfreight process, reducing transaction costs, and facilitating global trade. By integrating MASkargo’s services into our solution ecosystem, we are providing our common users with enhanced access to a vast network of destinations and seamless payment options at the lowest cost.” Chief Executive Officer of MASkargo, Mark Jason Thomas, said: “We are thrilled to announce the partnership between MASkargo and CargoAi. This collaboration signifies a resounding success for us in simplifying customer transactions through the CargoWALLET platform. Not only does this partnership elevate MASkargo’s position in today’s digital world and technology era, it also streamlines the process for customers, enabling them to easily track from the initial stage to acceptance within an incredibly innovative ecosystem. Our joint solution promises to make processes easier, faster, more cost-efficient, and ultimately deliver maximum value to our customers’ experience.” From its hub in Kuala Lumpur, MASkargo is significantly accelerating the digitalisation of air cargo in the APAC region by offering all its worldwide cargo capacity, belly, and freighters on www.CargoAi.co. The new synergy between CargoAi and MASkargo will open up a more extensive network to all forwarding agents worldwide. CargoWALLET’s …

The upcoming greenfield Noida International Airport will soon have multi-modal cargo hub (MMCH). Spanning across 80 acres of land, the upcoming cargo hub will provide quick, convenient and intermodal connectivity to and from manufacturing hubs in the country. The cargo and logistics infrastructure and ecosystem will cater to a differentiated catchment and several upcoming industrial clusters in NCR and Uttar Pradesh, creating a cargo gateway for Northern India. The MMCH will comprise an Integrated Cargo Terminal combined with an Integrated Warehousing and Logistics Zone. This unique logistics zone will offer a transhipment center, as well as a warehouse zone for freight forwarders and integrators. The MMCH will also provide for transportation facilities to support road-to-road, road-to-air, and air-to-road movements. Overall, the infrastructure at Noida International Airport’s MMCH is focussed on efficiency, scalability, seamless process flows as well as common digital infrastructure and systems. Christoph Schnellmann, Chief Executive Officer, Noida International Airport, said, “We are convinced that our novel approach to planning and developing a multi-modal cargo hub with integrated facilities and seamless processes supports the cargo and logistics industry in North India. The Noida International Airport cargo hub will help Western Uttar Pradesh and the NCR fully develop its cargo and logistics potential. The multi-modal cargo hub will bring predictability in operations and address existing logistics bottlenecks through digitisation and enabling seamless and fast processes. We are confident that Air India SATS (AISATS) is the perfect partner to bring this vision to life, owing to their global footprint and long-standing experience. We look forward to this strategic partnership with AISATS to make NIA a preferred cargo hub in Northern India.