Several key Asia-Europe sea-air hubs have recorded a strong surge in tonnages in the last few weeks as shippers continue to seek alternative logistics solutions due to the disruptions to container shipping caused by the attacks on ships in the Red Sea, according to the latest update from WorldACD Market Data. “Freight sources have reported, anecdotally, that some Asia-Europe sea-air hubs such as Dubai, Colombo and Bangkok have been inundated with air cargo in recent weeks as cargo owners seek to replenish stocks in Europe that have run low because containerships that would normally transit via the Suez Canal have been forced make the longer voyage around the Cape of Good Hope.” Analysis this week by WorldACD Market Data confirms that air cargo tonnages to Europe from Dubai, Colombo and Bangkok have been at significantly elevated levels this year compared with the equivalent period last year. In the first seven weeks of 2024, all three of those sea-air hubs have seen their respective flown tonnages to Europe rise by more than 50 percent compared with the first seven weeks of 2023 with Dubai-Europe traffic up 71 percent, Colombo-Europe tonnages up 61 percent and Bangkok-Europe volumes up 58 percent. Despite some reports of elevated traffic volumes to Europe via Singapore and Doha, Singapore-Europe and Doha-Europe tonnages were up, YoY, by just 10 percent and three percent, respectively, in the first seven weeks of this year based on more than 450,000 weekly transactions covered by WorldACD’s data.

Allcargo Supply Chain is poised for significant growth as it expands its operations to meet the evolving needs of the market. Currently operating in 6 million sqft of space, ASPL aims to add an additional 3 million sqft within the next 2-3 years as part of its expansion plan. The initial phase of this expansion plans will begin from the north and south regions. ASPL has warehouses spread across more than 80 locations in India. ASPL’s growth trajectory aligns with the surging demand for a premium logistics solution in key sectors, including auto engineering, ecommerce, chemical, and retail. The company’s diversification plan encompasses an expansion of transportation services, catering to both Full Truck Load (FTL) and city distribution, showcasing its commitment to meeting the evolving needs of its diverse customers. Mr. Pirojshaw (Phil) Sarkari, Managing Director, Allcargo Supply Chain Pvt Limited said “Our focus is very firmly on delivering exceptional customer experience and modernising our infrastructure which will go a long way in ensuring the same. What add to our strengths are the synergies with Gati, which is India’s premier express distribution company, As part of Allcargo Group, we are geared to offer truly end-to-end logistics solutions. This synergy aligns with our commitment to delivering unparalleled services to our customers, creating a seamless and efficient supply chain.”

BLR Airport has shipped 29 million rose stems, weighing in at 1,222,860 kilograms this valentine’s season, representing 108 percent increase in the tonnage processed compared to the same period last year. The airport witnessed growth in both international and domestic rose shipments, with 9 million stems bound for international destinations, marking a 14 percent increase from last year, and 20 million stems shipped domestically, reflecting a 148 percent increase. “BLR airport has solidified its reputation as the No.1 for perishables in India, surpassing last year’s bouquet of 15.4 million stems,” reads the release. The top international destinations for roses from Bengaluru are Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Kuwait, Manila, and Sharjah, while top domestic cities include Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Guwahati, and Jaipur. Maintaining quality, temperature control, and ensuring faster turnaround times are critical for perishable items like roses. BLR Airport has invested in real-time tracking to empower stakeholders to proactively address temperature excursions, ensuring the integrity of sensitive products. Advanced monitoring at dedicated cold chain centres guarantees an unbroken cold chain, translating into faster handling, enhanced security, and sustainable practices. It also reads, “Looking ahead, BLR Airport with its partners WFS Bengaluru is committed to expanding its cold chain capacity to approximately 80,000 metric tonnes per annum and investing in the export of perishables. Our partnerships with two new partners, WFS and Menzies Aviation, for operating BLR Airport’s cargo terminals for 15 years is expected to further enhance cargo handling efficiencies, solidifying the Airport’s position as one of the leading players in the ever-evolving air cargo landscape.”

Korean Air has signed an agreement to strengthen its air cargo partnership with Vienna International Airport. The partnership aims to build on growing air cargo demand between Korea and Austria, and leverage Vienna Airport as a major hub to attract greater air cargo demand through joint marketing initiatives targeted at forwarders and customers. Korean Air will share market and industry insight with Vienna International Airport as part of the deal. Vienna Airport serves as a gateway to eastern Europe, and with continued Korean manufacturing investments in eastern Europe, Korean Air anticipates increased air cargo demand in the future. “We are pleased to announce our collaboration with Vienna International Airport. Korean Air is fully committed to enhancing air cargo services and ensuring utmost customer satisfaction between Korea and Vienna with this agreement,” said Jaedong Eum, senior vice president and head of cargo business division at Korean Air. “The neighbouring countries of Austria and Asia have been economic regions that have been closely linked through international air cargo traffic for many years. Especially in the automotive and electronics sectors, Asian companies rely on the manufacturing capacities in the eastern European region. Korean Air is an important air cargo partner since 20 years and I am pleased that we can now further expand our long-standing partnership in the cargo sector with this agreement,” commented Julian Jäger, joint chief executive and chief operating officer of Vienna Airport.

Vinsum Axpress successfully initiated the first consignment of a fleet of trucks from Rewari (Haryana) to Palanpur (Gujarat) filled with automobile parts worth several crores for the automobile giant ‘Maruti Suzuki’ utilizing the recently launched ‘Truck on Train’ program. This approach, introduced by the Dedicated Freight Corridor Company India Limited (DFCCIL), a wholly owned company of Indian Railways, involves loading trucks onto trains for long-distance transportation, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Gati-Shakti Master plan on multimodal connectivity infrastructure. The ‘Truck on Train’ concept, also known as Roll-on Roll-off (RO-RO), aims to reduce carbon footprint by shifting transportation from roads to railways, a key initiative championed by Railway Minister Shri Ashwani Vaishnav. This move contributes to creating a green logistics ecosystem for industries across the country. The event witnessed the participation of executives from Maruti-Suzuki India Limited, including SD Chhabra, Executive Officer, alongside other top leadership members such as Pawan Agarwal and PV Krishnan, Vice Presidents. Also present was Vinod Sharma, Founder & Chairman of Vinsum Logistics, who spearheaded the project with his senior team, along with dignitaries from DFCCIL, ensuring the automobile sector’s entry into this innovative logistics arm, soon to be joined by other industry leaders. During his remarks, SD Chhabra said “Maruti Suzuki has a very conscious policy of greener transportation where railways is a primary source”. “Maruti has already started to use almost 20% of its car fleet through railways and we intend to increase it further while embarking on parts movement now” Mr. Chhabra added. He expressed gratitude towards Vinsum Logistics for their tireless efforts in helping Maruti realize one of its key objectives of strengthening carbon-free transportation.

Om Logistics a leading name in the logistics industry, is excited to announce the launch of its new warehouse facility in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. This strategic move is aimed at elevating the connectivity and solidifying the company’s presence in the southern region. The state-of-the-art warehouse facility, offering are of over 1,00,000 sq. ft., is equipped with advanced infrastructure and features to enhance operational efficiency and service quality. The facility is poised to streamline logistics operations and meet the growing demands of clients. The expansion into the south determines OM Logistics’ dedication to providing seamless logistics solutions for clients all around the nation. With a focus on innovation and customer-centric solutions, OM Logistics is ready to set new benchmarks in the logistics industry.

It is exciting times for the Indian logistics and warehousing industry for many reasons like economic growth, emerging warehouses, MMLPs infra etc. National Logistics Policy announced by the Govt. is also a landmark step,” said, T K Manoj Kumar, Chairman, Warehousing Development Regulatory Authority (WDRA) at the ongoing Warehousing and Logistics show at the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry in New Delhi. He added, “Other programmes like Gati Shakti and more focus on building MMLPs will help too in the growth.” The two day show is being organised by PHDCCI in New Delhi has provided a great platform for the industry stakeholders to meet, greet, collaborate and discuss issues pertaining to the sectors.

Taiwan-based STARLUX Airlines has placed a firm order for five all-new A350F freighters and three more A330neo widebody aircraft to expand global operations. The agreement was signed by KW Chang, Chairman, STARLUX Airlines and Christian Scherer, CEO, Commercial Aircraft business, Airbus, said an official release from Airbus. “STARLUX Airlines has continuously nurtured the cargo market since its inception, capitalizing on the strategic advantages offered by Taiwan’s geographical location,” says Glenn Chai, CEO, STARLUX. “With this order, STARLUX will become the first Taiwanese airline to operate the next-generation A350F widebody freighter. In an era of climate change, the A350F has unbeatable efficiency in terms of fuel burn, CO2 emissions and economics, offering significant energy-saving and carbon reduction benefits. It not only meets customer requirements for carbon reduction but also aligns with STARLUX’s ESG plan to achieve zero emissions by 2050. Additionally, the three new A330neos will strengthen our fleet advantage and provide greater flexibility for passenger operations.” Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, EVP, Sales, Commercial Aircraft, Airbus adds, “We love working with STARLUX Airlines in building and strengthening its fleet. Operating both the latest generation Airbus single aisle and widebody aircraft brings the airline enormous benefits. It significantly reduces fuel consumption and carbon emission and offers unrivalled levels of technical commonality, benefits in maintenance and training. The A350F, the only new generation large freighter, will fit seamlessly into this all-Airbus fleet and enable STARLUX Airlines to compete effectively with the leading players in key cargo markets.”

Geodis has completed a complex air cargo transport project featuring oversized thermo-compressors that involved 13 flights over seven days using an Antonov AN-124, the world’s largest cargo aircraft. The just-in-time logistics operation entailed transporting 249 pieces of oversized, overweight cargo totalling 776 tons and 4,455 cu m to southeast Colombia. Geodis originally planned to mobilise the cargo in Cartagena and transport it to the end destination via the La Orquídea Bridge in Boyacá, the only road transport option for freight of this size and weight along the route. However, when the bridge collapsed in August last year, Geodis had to develop and execute an alternative solution to transport the cargo via air. “With 13 total flights, including a long international journey and 12 domestic trips, this unprecedented operation faced consistent challenges to overcome,” said Carlos Palacios, manager director of Geodis in Colombia. “Despite the complexities, our team at Geodis and our collaborators—including Antonov, the Colombian Air Force and the individual airports involved—were able to successfully come together to keep essential materials moving across the country at a critical time for our client’s operations.” Geodis identified the Antonov AN-124 as the only aircraft option that would be large enough to mobilise the cargo given its extra dimension and weight characteristics. The planning process included securing the aircraft given its limited availability amid the Russia–Ukraine conflict and its use in humanitarian aid operations.

CHAMP Cargosystems has added a new service that will enable companies transporting e-commerce shipments to comply with the European Union’s latest ICS2 rules. The Traxon Global eCommerce (TGE) service will address the requirements of cargo pre-load security filings and pre-arrival filings for e-commerce shipments under ICS2. CHAMP said the latest phase of increased ICS2 requirements demands reporting at the House Air Waybill (HAWB) level, with the “added complexity that each commodity must be reported separately”. “This poses potential risks for the e-commerce industry if air carriers, freight forwarders, express courier service providers or postal operators do not ensure they have the processes or technology in place to respond to these new requirements,” they added. The service consolidates information from the sender and generates outputs in formats specified by relevant governmental agencies, CHAMP said. CHAMP chief executive Chris McDermott explained, “CHAMP’s portfolio is built on its open neo platform, enabling quick development, launch and integration with other CHAMP or third-party services. TGE is a fantastic tool, that will help air cargo businesses to expand into new markets, capitalize on the opportunity of e-commerce, and avoid costly delays by ensuring regulatory compliance quickly and cost-effectively.” The company said that the system would be updated as more pre-load and advance filing initiatives are adopted and it can link with other Traxon products and services.