Sharmila H Amin, MD South Asia India, Bertling Logistics says, “India’s air cargo industry has set an ambitious target of handling 10 million tons of air cargo per year by 2030. Currently moving 3.5 million tons, the sector aims to achieve this growth through strong fundamentals, including e-commerce expansion and cross-border trade. To meet the target, improved customs processes and collaboration across the air cargo supply chain are crucial. The government’s support in facilitating efficient logistics infrastructure, prioritizing air cargo in Free Trade Agreements, and allowing flights to any Indian airport will further boost the industry’s growth. Additionally, investments in advanced technologies and increased capacity by Indian airlines contribute to the sector’s optimism.”

M Afzal Malbarwala, Managing Director, Galaxy Freight says, “Government of India, with all stakeholders are always in discussion for improvement in areas in logistics. We as an industry are stressing and need more support from government on: Infrastructure development, like modern airports, upgradation of airports with facilities for handling cargo efficiently. Customs procedures to be simplified for speedy clearance process to reduce delays and costs. The key word today is digitalisation, the technology should be promoted for tracking, managing cargo processes. Investment should be done in training programs to develop skilled workers for logistics and air cargo industry. Should have strategies to ensure the air cargo operations are continuing during crisis, natural disasters.”

Sunil Kohli, Managing Director, Rahat Cargo asserts, “India is now seen as a vibrant country to offer various alternative for the global multinational companies for diversifying their manufacturing base, it’s therefore vital to have an accelerated development of logistics infrastructure coupled with favourable policy formulations which can play a dominant role in helping the country garner a larger share in the global manufacturing value chain and thus we must have fully equipped airports even in satellite towns to facilitate smooth air cargo export activities. The all-important logistics sector too needs a boost to have an overall growth in the related areas. We expect the government to set aside a strategic allocation of resources towards infrastructure. Also required is an emphasize of focus on digitization in the logistics sector to accelerate speed and ease of doing business. The government may also consider tax incentives & infrastructural subsidies and further needs to encourage the domestic manufacturing and prepare the logistics sector for service integration, growth in fulfilment logistics, and multi-modal transportation adoption apart from accelerating the digital infrastructure development to boost logistics efficiency and competitiveness in line with the vision and goals of National Logistics Policy.”

Vipin Vohra, Chairman, Continental Carriers shares, “As we transition to a new government, it is imperative to realize the ambitious target to achieve 10 million metric tons (MMT) of annual cargo throughput by 2030, aligning with India’s aspirations to become a global logistics hub. Central to this vision is the National Logistics Policy (NLP) under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP). One strategic move that the new government should prioritize is implementation of the Air Freight Policy, circulated on 28th October 2014, in letter and spirit ,so as to ensure the development/operationalising of off-airport locations and Air Freight Stations (AFS) in time stipulated manner unlike operationalization of India’s 1st Greenfield Air Freight Station which, even after more than a decade, is yet to take off commercially. To encourage the establishment of off-airport locations and AFS across India, government support in the form of subsidies and incentives will be crucial. Providing subsidies for the construction and operation of off-airport AFS will attract investment from the private sector and expedite the development process. As the new government steps into office, it carries the mantle of driving India towards becoming a global logistics powerhouse. By focusing on the development of off-airport Air Freight Stations, the government can address the space constraints at major airports and pave the way for a robust, efficient, and scalable air cargo infrastructure.”

The intense summer heat exerted its influence on fleet occupancy rates, which dropped to almost 60% as loaders and drivers decided to avoid working during the day in different parts of India, according to Shriram Mobility latest Bulletin. The report adds, High summer temperatures, along with fewer public infrastructure projects, caused a drop in truck rental rates along the major routes. A significant downturn in rental rates was observed in the routes spanning Delhi-Kolkata-Delhi, Delhi-Chennai-Delhi and Mumbai- Kolkata-Mumbai. But as India gets ready for what is expected to be an ample monsoon season, tractor sales significantly increased in May. Sales of agricultural tractors increased by a significant 24% in May 2024, indicating strong demand attributable to pre-monsoon buying. Meanwhile, sales of commercial tractors increased by 20% in the same time frame, exhibiting strong month-over- month growth. Fuel sales and FASTag collections also saw a substantial rise in May 2024 due to the rush of vacationers and election campaigners hitting the road. There was a notable 6% increase in toll revenues from month to month, which suggests that there are more cars on the highways. The amount of fuel consumed surged by 5% month over month to 3.45 million tons, the highest level since May 2023. This increase can be attributed to the heightened presence of wheels on the road due to election campaigns and people venturing out during the holiday season. Similarly, diesel consumption also witnessed a substantial uptick, rising by 6% month-over-month to 8.39 million tonnes.

“We must work with the government to improve how certain policies are structured to facilitate transshipment through India, to improve some of the security regulations to enable greater movement of goods and drive industry progress,” says Satyaki Raghunath, COO, BIAL in an exclusive chat with Cargo Talk adding “Active engagement and proactive measures are necessary for the industry to navigate and overcome these challenges effectively.” He adds, “It’s all about knowing that there is an opportunity in the India air cargo sector and making sure we take advantage of it. It will entail collaborating with airline partners, freighters, and the wider ecosystem to ensure that we take advantage of the growing demand and opportunity for air cargo to reclaim its place in terms of being a significant revenue stream for both the airlines and airports.”

Cargo Flash Infotech announced a partnership with Uganda Airlines Cargo to implementation of Cargo Flash’s next generation ‘nGen’ Integrated Cargo Management System (ICMS), heralding a new era of digital efficiency and streamlined cargo operations for Uganda’s flagship cargo carrier. Uganda Airlines Cargo is set to leverage the advanced capabilities of the ‘nGen’ ICMS, encompassing a comprehensive suite of features, it has to offer. This next-generation system is designed to transform Uganda Airlines Cargo’s cargo management, moving from legacy systems to a state-of-the-art digital platform. The key advantages of adopting the ‘nGen’ ICMS are manifold. By consolidating various cargo management functions into one seamlessly integrated platform, Uganda Airlines Cargo will eliminate data duplicity and the need for repetitive data entry. The ‘nGen’ ICMS is a fully web-based system hosted on the cloud, offering unparalleled accessibility and flexibility for cargo management operations. Neha Kumari, Business Head – nGen , Cargo Flash, expressed her excitement about the partnership, saying, “We are delighted to collaborate with Uganda Airlines Cargo, a prominent player in the African aviation sector. The ‘nGen’ ICMS is a game-changer, providing a unified solution to replace disparate systems and optimise cargo management processes. This strategic partnership underscores our commitment to delivering innovative solutions that drive efficiency and excellence in Air Cargo operations.” The ‘nGen’ ICMS is poised to enhance Uganda Airlines Cargo’s operational capabilities, offering real-time insights, improved data accuracy, and a user-friendly interface for enhanced productivity. This partnership represents a significant step forward in aligning Uganda Airlines Cargo’s air freight operations with the latest advancements in technology. Morris Ongwech, Manager Cargo and Logistics Services from Uganda Airlines Cargo expressed confidence in the collaboration, stating, “We are excited to partner with …

The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) and Airports Council International (ACI) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to improve the overall level of safety, efficiency and sustainability of cargo operations within the airport ecosystem. The MoU will focus on the development of joint advocacy programmes in the context of ICAO events, aimed at facilitating the sustainable growth and development of the aviation industry and with a focus on cargo; cooperation in the establishment of joint programmes or mutual support of industry initiatives, in particular in the domains of aviation workforce and social sustainability; and mutual support for and collaboration across actions and initiatives aiming to achieve the industry agreed goal of net zero emissions by 2050. TIACA and ACI will also focus on participation in each other’s working groups and committees as necessary, to provide industry expertise and strategic orientation where appropriate; collaborating on the establishment of relevant industry guidance material and technical recommendations on topics of use for the respective memberships; cross-promotion of relevant activities, such as events or publications, to each other’s membership or relevant governance bodies; and sharing of relevant documents, data and information as needed in the context of the Parties work programmes.

The latest figures from supply chain data firm Xeneta show that air cargo demand in May increased by 12% year on year, the fifth month in a row of double-digit increases. Booming e-commerce volumes are propelling this demand, says Xeneta leading air cargo industry towards a double-digit percentage increase in demand this year. Xeneta chief airfreight officer Niall van de Wouw said that the latest demand increase meant it was looking more likely the industry could report double-digit percentage demand growth for the full year. “We can’t use the word ‘surprising’ anymore,” he said. “When we take a mid-term view of the market, with these kinds of numbers, we might be on track for double-digit growth for the year. It is now a possible scenario.” Meanwhile, capacity was up 4% year on year meaning the dynamic load factor for the month increased by three percentage points to 58%. Rates at a global level increased compared with a year ago for the second month in a row – jumping 9% year on year to $2.58 per kg – although this is compared with a low level in 2023.

SriLankan Cargo unveiled its reinvented service delivery framework and website, with a strong focus on customer experience. The new service model of SriLankan Cargo classifies service delivery under Freshness Class, Wellness Class, Precious Class and Guardian Class to ensure consistent and premium care for customers and their consignments. It also includes a 24/7 service hotline and a redesigned website for a better user experience. “We are excited to present our latest innovation – product verticals – that is the culmination of our collective focus, dedication and creativity in the pursuit of excellence in airfreight services. SriLankan Cargo is passionate about serving its customers even better by setting new standards, which when coupled with the innate warmth and friendliness of our people, create a service that rivals the best in class,” stated Chaminda Perera, Head of Cargo of SriLankan Airlines. The four classes of service emphasize precision in activities throughout the airfreight logistics process. Freshness Class and Wellness Class focus on priority service, rapid connections and advanced cold chain management to conserve the freshness of perishable cargo and potency of medicine, respectively. Precious Class pledges to offer the highest degree of security for valuable and vulnerable cargo, and Guardian Class aims to provide all the comfort and care that pets and other animals need during air transportation.