Sanjeev Kapoor, AVP Product – Air India says, “Lack of adequate Supply chain solutions/Management, Pricing pressure- Govt. control on drug pricing, Russia-Ukraine War, High R&D cost, Lack of skilled workforce and Regulatory Compliance are some of the existing challenges in air cargo sector.” He adds, “The road connectivity within India has improved at a high pace which has made it possible for the non metro stations to send their pharma products on Reefer trucks to metro stations across India. The cargo industry needs to have blanket approval for moving trans shipment goods via any transit point in India without any restrictions.”

Kerry Logistics has launched a new air-sea solution between Europe and Oceania, which is faster than sea freight and cheaper than air freight on the same lanes. The new product, which connects eight European countries with destinations in Australia and New Zealand, is 50 percent cheaper than air freight and three times faster than sea freight on the same lanes, says an official release. “We have been looking for innovative ways to help customers facing issues due to the situation in the Red Sea, which has dramatically increased sea freight transit times to somewhere in excess of 60 days between Europe and Oceania,” says Emma Rowlands, Strategic Sales Director, Europe, Kerry Logistics. “Our air-sea service provides a cost-effective solution, and we have already serviced several key accounts resulting in transit times that have been even better than expected with shipments arriving in Australia from Europe in fewer than 20 days.” Kerry Logistics is offering daily uplifts from airports in the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and Turkey to Australia and New Zealand with a 20–24 day transit time. Freight is handled through the Hong Kong bonded and secure facility with the product offering complete online visibility as well as carbon emission reporting, the release added.

Amazon Air expanded its air cargo capacity last year through the addition of larger aircraft but also simplified its network and conducted fewer flights. The latest study from The Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development shows that in the five weeks running to March 12, Amazon Air increased its tonnage capacity by 4.9% compared with the same period last year, while total daily flights fell by 1.8% compared with the same period last year. This comes as the airline moved to larger aircraft and consolidated operations at fewer hubs. Since March last year, the carrier has added three Boeing 767-300s, all operated by Air Transportation. International, and its first Airbus A330-300, operated by Hawaiian. In the process, the percentage of the fleet comprised of 737 or smaller planes has fallen from 38% to 33% over the past year. The carrier also stopped using ATR-72 turboprops over the last year and reduced the number of airports it flew to. Overall, Amazon Air’s US fleet increased by one aircraft to 78.

Kamesh Peri, CEO, Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management says, “Indian airport terminals have made significant strides in upgrading their infrastructure, enhancing capacity to effectively store and distribute pharmaceutical products and securing industry certifications/accreditations. Recognizing the critical importance of maintaining optimal conditions for pharmaceutical shipments, airports have invested in advanced technology and innovation. Temperature-controlled and monitored storage facilities, automated tracking systems, and specialized handling equipment & procedures have been implemented to ensure the integrity and safety of pharmaceutical cargo. Furthermore, the integration of technologies such as AI, IoT, and blockchain has revolutionized the tracking and monitoring of temperature and humidity levels in real-time. This not only enhances the efficiency of cargo handling but also provides a higher level of transparency throughout the transportation process. As a result, Indian airport cargo terminals are well-equipped to meet the stringent requirements of pharmaceutical logistics and contribute to the seamless distribution of vital healthcare products. The precise and rigid criteria for pharmaceutical shipments present a significant challenge for all stakeholders engaged in the transportation process. More importantly, it’s about all stakeholders playing their part and consistently adhering to prescribed requirements including ensuring seamless data exchange.”

Pharma.Aero, a leading organisation in the life science logistics industry, released a white paper detailing the findings of the Green Air Pharma Logistics Project (GAPL). The paper explores sustainability challenges within healthcare supply chain logistics and introduces a comprehensive index known as the Lane Sustainability Readiness Index (LSRI) to measure the sustainability readiness of stakeholders throughout the airport-to-airport supply chain. The collaborative effort will identify key quantitative and qualitative indicators defining a green air lane, involving various stakeholders along the supply chain including life science manufacturers, airports, airlines, cargo handlers, and solution providers, says an official release. LSRI will be a tool to support life science companies and freight forwarders to integrate sustainability considerations into freight procurement and lane assessment processes as part of their efforts in achieving Scope 3 targets. Additionally, it is aimed at supporting freight forwarders and airlines in developing low-emissions products and value propositions aligned with their customers’ sustainability goals, the release added.

CargoAi launches a new feature named Air Freight Load Board. This innovative feature is designed to empower freight forwarders and carriers alike, streamlining the process of finding and securing available spot cargo with unprecedented ease and efficiency. With the Air Freight Load Board, airlines can now access a comprehensive database of available freight, complete with detailed cargo specifications, all directly in their CargoMART Airline App. Key Features of the Air Freight Load Board include: • Seamless Search Functionality: Effortlessly allowing users to browse through a wide range of available freight listings, tailored to specific preferences and requirements. • Direct Connection: Connecting directly with the right contacts, eliminating the need for intermediary communication and accelerating the booking process. • Real-Time Updates: Keeping users informed with real-time updates on available cargo. • Enhanced Visibility: Giving unparalleled visibility into the air freight market, enabling carriers to make informed decisions and optimize their operations. “At CargoAi, we are committed to driving innovation and delivering unparalleled value to our customers.” said Matt Petot, CEO at CargoAi. “With the launch of the Air Freight Load Board, we complete our value proposition allowing forwarders to manage spot requests across airlines, previously available, and now giving the airlines the ability to proactively find these opportunities – continuing our mission to revolutionize the way businesses connect and secure cargo, empowering them to find and win more volume with greater ease and efficiency than ever before.” The CargoMART Airline App is already used by many airlines and GSAs locally and doesn’t require any API integration or lengthy configuration. After a quick online training, users can receive and manage their spot requests and answer thanks to the help of the augmented …

Blue Dart is pleased to announce the launch of a ground-breaking Unified Shipping API Software Platform. This platform is tailored specifically to empower Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as well as Large Enterprises across India, catering to all their logistics requirements. This innovative tool is designed to address the distinctive challenges faced by small, medium, and large establishments in managing their First Mile Dispatches through Digitization, with a focus on operational efficiency. By streamlining operations and fostering growth across all enterprise segments, Blue Dart aims to transform the way businesses handle their shipments. Blue Dart will integrate the cutting-edge software platform offered by eShipz.com into its existing logistics infrastructure. This integration will provide access to advanced dispatch tools, ensuring seamless connectivity with sales platforms, marketplaces, order management systems, warehouse management systems, and enterprise resource planning systems of shippers. On the offering, Balfour Manuel, Managing Director, Blue Dart, says, “Through this platform, we aim to enhance the capabilities of both MSMEs and large enterprises, enabling them to optimize their supply chain processes and gain a competitive edge in their respective industries. We are dedicated to supporting the growth and success of MSMEs, not only in India but also in enabling them to go global.” On the partnership, Shivadeep Mahadi, Co-Founder & CMO of eShipz.com, added, “Our partnership with Blue Dart aligns perfectly with our mission to empower businesses through technology.” One of the Blue Dart’s key USPs is its unparalleled reach, boasting access to over 56,000+ locations across the nation and with DHL Group spanning 220 countries and territories worldwide.

Global air freight rates are continuing to rise, according to the latest data from TAC Index. The overall Baltic Air Freight Index calculated by TAC gained a further 4.1 percent in the week to March 18, the third successive weekly increase, reducing the decline over 12 months to 20.3 percent. Rates are rising strongly again out of China with the index of outbound routes from Hong Kong up a further 5.2 percent WoW with gains on almost all major lanes cutting its YoY decline to only 7.9 percent, the update added. “With sources among forwarders suggesting renewed robust demand for Chinese exports, outbound Shanghai gained 8.9 percent WoW – strong gains both to Europe and the U.S. – further eroding the YoY decline to 7.6 percent. Meanwhile, after recent huge gains, rates out of India seem to be levelling off, and from Vietnam falling back a little.”

DHL Express is further building up its Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) operations with the signing of a strategic partnership with international bank Standard Chartered for its GoGreen Plus service. The two companies have agreed to co-invest in SAF, allowing Standard Chartered to balance CO₂ emissions linked to its upstream logistics with Verified Emission Reductions (VER) carbon credits. Standard Chartered is among the first banks to use the GoGreen Plus service globally, and has committed to net zero emissions in its own operations by 2025 and in its financed emissions by 2050, said DHL Group. The bank expects to see its own emissions reduce by up to 30% in year one (against a 2019 baseline) with an expected incremental reduction of 7% year on year from 2025. It estimates that 3,780 tonnes CO2e will be saved between 2024 and 2030. Standard Chartered will receive a monthly report on the carbon footprint of its shipments as part of GoGreen Plus and quarterly certification of the emission reduction achieved by an independent auditor. “The partnership between Standard Chartered and DHL has been going strong for more than two decades. They were the first bank to adopt our GoGreen service in 2011 and are now working with us to make international express shipping more sustainable,” said Yung Ooi, senior vice president for commercial, Asia Pacific, DHL Express.

Pradeep Panicker, CEO, GMR Hyderabad International Airport says, “Indian EXIMs heavily depend on international carriers, presenting a growth opportunity for domestic airlines to enhance freighter connectivity. However, challenges persist, including inadequate infrastructure for cold chain logistics operations, limited adoption of advanced technologies, scarcity of pharma skilled workforce, and post-Covid regulatory hurdles. The absence of dedicated wide-body freighter aircraft impedes access to long-haul destinations, while time-consuming regulations and lack of coordination among industry stakeholders exacerbate delays and inefficiencies in air cargo operations. Achieving seamless coordination among stakeholders and addressing infrastructure deficits are crucial steps towards optimizing India’s air cargo industry.”