Qatar Airways Cargo, which is celebrating two decades of operations, has continuously expanded its fleet, network, and product portfolio, becoming the world’s number one cargo carrier since it took delivery of its first freighter, an Airbus A300-600 converted freighter, in 2003. Qatar Airways began regular operations to Amsterdam and Chennai, and shortly thereafter to New Delhi. Today, the cargo airline operates more than 160 belly-hold and over 70 freighter destinations with over 200 passenger aircraft and 31 dedicated cargo freighters, says an official release. Elisabeth Oudkerk, Senior Vice-President, Cargo Sales and Network Planning says: “As Qatar Airways Cargo celebrates 20 years of freighter operations, we extend our heartfelt thanks to our customers for their continuous trust in our services. We take immense pride in our history and anticipate contributing to the promising future of air freight.” With the launch of its Next Generation strategy, Qatar Airways Cargo has defined its role in the air cargo industry by bringing a fresh and innovative approach to business across its network and operations through enhanced products and services, cutting-edge technology, a commitment to sustainability and diversity, investing in existing talent and attracting new ones.

Air Canada has placed a new order for 18 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner aircraft. This order substitutes a previously announced agreement to purchase two Boeing 777 freighter aircraft, and Air Canada will no longer take delivery of the two freighters. “Deliveries of the new aircraft are scheduled to begin in Q42025 with the last aircraft scheduled for delivery in Q1 2027,” says an official release. They will be used to replace older, less efficient wide-body aircraft currently in the Air Canada fleet. The agreement also includes options for another 12 Boeing 787-10 aircraft, which will provide flexibility for growth to meet future customer demand.” Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer, Air Canada says: “Air Canada has made investing in the passenger experience a core priority. Our experience shows customers greatly enjoy flying on the Dreamliner, so we are pleased to offer them a larger version of this popular aircraft, which will premiere a new, state-of-the-art interior cabin design. As importantly, the 787 is highly fuel efficient and will generate operational savings as well as support our sustainability goals of reducing emissions.”

The Air France KLM Group has placed an order to purchase 50 Airbus A350-900 and A350-1000 aircraft with purchase rights for 40 additional aircraft. The deliveries are expected between 2026 to 2030, says an official release. “This will be an evolutionary order, providing the Group with flexibility to allocate aircraft within its portfolio of airlines, according to market dynamics and local regulatory conditions,” the release adds. Benjamin Smith, CEO, Air France-KLM says, “This new order will be a major step in the renewal of the Group’s fleet. The Airbus A350 is a state-of-the-art aircraft with an excellent track record at Air France where it has rapidly become a favourite among passengers and crew since its entry into service in 2019. It is the perfect fit for the network needs of the Group and boasts outstanding performances: it is a quieter, more fuel-efficient and more cost-effective aircraft compared to previous generations. It will be instrumental in helping the Group reach our ambitious sustainability targets including (-) 30 percent CO2 emissions per passenger kilometre by 2030.”

DP World marked milestone with the berthing of the maiden voyage of the Far East India Express (FIX1) service at its terminal in Chennai. The FIX1 service is a collaborative endeavor involving four consortium partners, with Sinotrans deploying two vessels and TS Line, Sealead, and SITC each contributing one vessel to the fleet. FIX1 is the first-ever service to establish a direct shipping connection between Chennai and China, reducing transit time by 8 days, by bypassing traditional transshipment ports. The service’s rotation is strategically designed to optimise the supply chain efficiencies, covering Ports Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, and Shekou ports in China, the Chennai and Vizag ports in India, and Port Kelang in Malaysia (East Bound). Providing direct, swift, and seamless connectivity, the service will provide greater logistical reliability to traders across the East Asia corridor. The service will be further complimented by DP World’s best-in-class logistics solutions and greater supply chain efficiency to boost trade in the region. The FIX1 service will be the third weekly service sailing from DP World Chennai for the East region. The service’s key beneficiaries will be the large enterprises along with the SME and MSME clusters across the South and East Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal, Bihar and Odissa. DP World’s vast multimodal network will allow these clusters to link with the port terminal via road and rail connectivity. Commemorating the occasion, DP World Chennai berthed the Renjian 27 vessel carrying a load of 3814 TEUs (2350 Moves) on 11th September 2023. The company also hosted a small felicitation ceremony at DP World Chennai premises, honouring the vessel and its Captain, Zhang Qin in the presence of Shiva …

DHL Supply Chain has announced plans to begin operating biomethane fuelled trucks with an investment worth €80 million into a dedicated biomethane production facility in Cork, run by Stream BioEnergy. Biomethane is a renewable gas with the capacity to be carbon neutral. The new facility will provide fuel for up to 150 trucks, resulting in an annual carbon reduction of 15,000 tonnes, the equivalent of more than 38 million miles driven by an average petrol-powered passenger vehicle. As part of a shared commitment to decarbonising Ireland’s transport network, DHL has joined forces with leading grocery retailer, Tesco Ireland. To support the initial vehicle roll-out and whilst production ramps up, DHL will subsidise the biomethane from other sources. Once the new facility is fully functioning, DHL will operate 92 locally fuelled biomethane trucks across Tesco’s country-wide network.

According to the latest figures from WorldACD Market Data, global air cargo tonnages showed a positive development in the second full week of September after stabilizing at the beginning of the month. Average rates are also on an upward trend, breaking out of the bandwidth reported since mid-July – between $2.26 and $2.29 – per kilo, now reaching $2.31. Figures for week 37 (September 11-17) show a jump in tonnages of four percent compared with the previous week while average worldwide air cargo prices increased slightly (+1 percent) based on more than 400,000 weekly transactions covered by WorldACD’s data. “Comparing weeks 36 and 37 with the preceding two weeks (2Wo2W), overall tonnages increased by three percent versus their combined total in weeks 34 and 35 while worldwide rates went up by two percent at slightly higher capacity (+1 percent).

Kale Logistics Solutions (Kale) showcased the cutting-edge digital solutions for the air cargo industry at Air Cargo Handling & Logistics Conference (ACHL) 2023, in Athens. Amar More, CEO and Co-founder of Kale Logistics Solutions spoke at the panel discussion titled “Digital & Environmental Transformation – Financial benefits yet to be realized”. The session was held on Thursday, September 21, 2023. He spoke on data-based insights that drive customer satisfaction, cyber security and application monetization which makes Cargo Community Systems a very unique and innovative model of airport and ground handling companies.

Air France-KLM Group announced that Tata Communications, a global digital ecosystem enabler, has joined its Corporate SAF program to promote and develop the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Tata Communications is the first global corporate from India to join this program which actively supports the transition to Sustainable Aviation Fuel and will therefore contribute to the reduction of the CO2 emissions generated by aviation. Sustainable Aviation Fuels are the most decisive ways of reducing CO2 emissions in the aviation industry. However, the production is currently very limited and SAF represented approximately 0.1% of the global jet fuel use in 2022. The corporate SAF program allows Air France-KLM to partner with organizations to accelerate the production and usage of SAF, and thus pave the way towards making SAF more readily available with the aim to contribute to a more sustainable future in aviation. SAF projects selected by Air France-KLM reduce CO2 emissions by at least 75% compared to conventional jet fuel on a lifecycle basis. Speaking on the announcement, Claude Sarre, General Manager Indian Sub-Continent , Air France-KLM said: “Decarbonizing aviation comes with several challenges, compelling the industry to collaborate with various stakeholders and seek innovative solutions to minimize the environmental impact. As a responsible player, sustainability is embedded at the core of the Air France- KLM Group’s strategy, with a strong emphasis on the development and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). We are proud to welcome Tata Communications in the Air France–KLM Corporate SAF Program. This agreement is significant towards raising awareness and addressing sustainability challenges the aviation industry faces. Tata Communications, has a strong commitment towards environment preservation. We are happy to take the first step of …

Vipin Vohra, Chairman, Continental Carriers says prioritizing air cargo in Foreign Trade Agreements (FTAs) can have a significant impact on international trade. It will increase speed, efficiency, and resilience of perishable and high-value goods supply chain, global reach and it can lead to increased trade volume, faster delivery times, and improved access to global markets for certain industries. He says, “Air cargo is known for its speed and efficiency in transporting cargo across borders. Prioritizing air cargo in FTAs can lead to quicker delivery times, reducing lead times for businesses and consumers. Air cargo is particularly useful for transporting perishable goods (like fresh produce and pharmaceuticals) and high-value goods (like electronics and luxury items) that require swift transportation to maintain their quality and value. Supply Chain Resilience: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of supply chain resilience. Air cargo was critical for transporting medical supplies and vaccines during the pandemic. Prioritizing air cargo in FTAs can help ensure a resilient supply chain for essential goods. Global Reach: Airports and airlines cover a wide range of destinations, allowing businesses to access global markets easily. This can be especially beneficial for countries with limited land connections or geographical constraints. The impact of prioritizing air cargo in FTAs on cross-border trade depends on the specific circumstances of the countries involved. It can lead to increased trade volume, faster delivery times, and improved access to global markets for certain industries. However, it’s essential to strike a balance between air cargo and other modes of transportation to ensure diverse trade options and mitigate environmental and cost-related concerns.” While there are benefits to prioritizing Air Cargo in FTAs, it’s crucial to consider the broader implications, including …

The Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations in India (FFFAI) and Logistics Sector Skill Council (LSC) jointly organized a webinar to create awareness on Apprenticeship Training on 12th September 2023. Shankar Shinde, Chairman, FFFAI chaired the webinar. Dr T.C. Saravanabava highlighted that Apprenticeship Training is one of the most efficient ways to develop skilled manpower for the country. It provides for an industry led, practice oriented, and efficient mode of formal training. The National Apprenticeship Act was enforced in the year 1959 at first on the voluntary cause. The bill was presented before the parliament during 1961 and was enforced from 1st January 1963. The act was amended twice in 1973 and 1986. There are 38 sections and one schedule. The schedule is in regard to the adjustments in Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1923 with reference to its application to students under the Apprentices Act, 1961. The panelists included Sudhir Agarwal, Treasurer and OB in charge, Skill Development Committee, FFFAI; Dushyant Mulani, Chairman Elect, FFFAI; Tej Contractor, President, IIFF; Dr. T.C. Saravanabava, Head Apprenticeship, LSC, and Anthony Coelho, Vice President, LSC. Also present on this occasion was Vinod Sharma, Secretary, FFFAI. A large number of FFFAI Member organisations from across the country participated in the webinar. The core objective of the webinar implementation of Apprenticeship training in the FFFAI member organizations.