FIATA International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations announced its partnership with World Logistics Passport (WLP), a global initiative aimed at promoting seamless trade flow among traders, freight forwarders and key supply chain players through its logistics loyalty programme. The partnership announcement coincides with the commencement of the 2024 FIATA-RAME Field Meeting in Dubai, United Arab Emirates where the WLP is headquartered, and at which these key themes in the region and on the global logistics playing field will be discussed, says an official release from FIATA. “The collaboration between FIATA and WLP marks a significant milestone in advancing international trade facilitation. Through this partnership, with FIATA’s vast global network comprising over 40,000 freight forwarding and logistics companies across 150 countries, the two aim to support their respective members in easing trade processes. The WLP overcomes non-tariff trade barriers through the offering of financial and non-financial benefits such as fast-tracking of cargo movement, reducing administrative costs, advancing cargo information and facilitating trade across borders, all of which can benefit FIATA members.” Stéphane Graber, Director General, FIATA says: “This collaboration aligns with FIATA’s mission to promote global standards and overcome geographical barriers to ease trade. WLP and FIATA can synergistically work together on the common goal of facilitating trade through networks and collaboration. The world is getting more and more complex due to environmental and political crises, disrupting supply chains. Trade facilitation is key to ensuring the seamless movement of goods around the world. To achieve a resilient and efficient supply chain, we must bring people together, which is the common objective of FIATA and WLP. Members will benefit from best practices and practical inputs of trade facilitation resulting in better connectivity …

FarCargo launched its first transatlantic air cargo route for salmon shipments on March 5. The planned outbound route will be Billund – Faroe Islands – Newark, with a fuel stop in Keflavik (BLL-FAE-KEF-EWR), and inbound Newark – Billund (EWR-BLL). A subsidiary of salmon farming business Bakkafrost, FarCargo will use a Boeing 757-200 converted freighter, which it took delivery of at the end of last year. The aircraft has a total capacity of 34 tons and 240 cubic meters and includes a cool cabin on the maindeck for perishables and pharmaceuticals. Initially, the aircraft will carry out two rotations per week, increasing to five times per week later this year.

Boeing and AI Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) have agreed to work together to enhance aircraft maintenance training in India. Boeing will provide training materials, aids, and instructor support to help ensure standardization of AIESL training programs. AIESL will provide infrastructure and instructors, while securing Civil Aviation Regulation (CAR)147 approval from the Indian regulatory authority to conduct maintenance training for customers. “The collaboration with AIESL strengthens and supports the development of Boeing’s customer-focused capability in the region,” said Chris Broom, vice president, Commercial Training Solutions, Boeing Global Services. “Through working together, we anticipate Boeing and AIESL will be well positioned to provide high-quality maintenance training while contributing to the overall safety and efficiency of aviation in India.” “By partnering with AIESL, we are investing in the future of aircraft maintenance capability in India. This collaboration demonstrates our commitment to nurturing local talent to support the growth of the indigenous MRO industry,” said Salil Gupte, president, Boeing India and South Asia. Expanding in-country expertise of maintenance employees is critical to meeting strong industry demand for trained maintenance technicians in India. The country will require almost 33,000 pilots and 34,000 maintenance technicians through 2042, according to Boeing’s 2023 Pilot and Technician Outlook. This collaboration will expand local capacity to deliver comprehensive training programs required for compliance with Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) CAR-66 regulations. “The tie up with Boeing on maintenance training in the fastest growing aviation market will go a long way in supporting industry requirements. AIESL would be able to support training requirements for at least 100 engineers each year going forward,” added Sharad Agarwal, CEO, AIESL. “Collaboration between OEM expertise such as Boeing’s and local capability such as that …

The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has launched a platform supporting Investment in Climate Action, as part of an ongoing program to accelerate the air cargo industry’s sustainability transformation. In addition to their established BlueSky program and ongoing initiatives to share best practice around emissions tracking and reduction, TIACA seeks to unite and support the industry in addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and bring real benefits for local communities. The platform enables individuals and companies to support a number of leading standards-certified projects around the world, which contributes to global carbon avoidance and the UN’s SDGs. Each investment generates a verified carbon contribution. The platform, powered by TIACA member South Pole, is funding critical climate projects across key areas of sustainability; ● Nature-based solutions ● Renewable energy ● Improved community and living condition Each project has undergone vigorous assessment and is subject to ongoing monitoring to ensure they deliver measurable benefits to create healthy ecosystems, thriving communities, and prosperous economies. “We are proud to offer this new service to the air cargo industry as it allows individual companies to take action today and invest in climate projects without having to go through the lengthy process of identifying and selecting high-quality, verified, and impactful climate projects themselves. This is consistent with our objective to facilitate all sizes of companies having access to sustainability improvement tools.” Steven Polmans, TIACA Chair The platform is open access and will give users access to detailed project information about different technologies and certification standards, help educate the air cargo industry on funding climate action, and reduce barriers to carbon credit procurement. Investment levels are determined by the user, starting from very low increments. …

Hactl has opened a new cool chain facility as it continues to target the pharma market in Asia Pacific region and globally. Hactl said the new Cool Chain Complex (CCC) is the largest cool facility at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). It allows import shipments to be unloaded from aircraft, broken down, and either stored or handed to waiting customers within an “entirely temperature-controlled environment”. “Exports enjoy a similar seamless temperature-controlled transit from warehouse to aircraft,” the company said. “All additional processes, such as check-weighing and X-ray screening, also take place within the CCC’s controlled environment.” The CCC has been designed to minimise the total time and distance between aircraft and storage, with direct airside access and its own landside truck docks. It has three temperature zones (15°C, 2-8°C, and -25 to -15°C) and all CCC zones have real-time temperature monitoring and CCTV coverage. In addition, the CCC features a dedicated area for dangerous substances, also with three separate temperature zones.

Saudia Cargo, Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) and Alibaba’s logistics arm Cainiao have officially launched their collaboration at Cainiao’s Liege eHub in Liege Airport, Belgium, and aims to create a business model for future e-commerce logistics gateways at global airports. The new collaboration that was first announced in November 2023 aims at optimizing logistics processes through operational streamlining and the adoption of logistics innovations. Teddy Zebitz, CEO of Saudia Cargo, remarked: “Our collaboration marks a strategic milestone, addressing the burgeoning significance of e-commerce in the air cargo sector. Our aim is clear-to introduce a business model that enhances efficiency, reliability, and innovation on a global scale, reshaping the landscape of international trade. With the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia serving as a pivotal market, our operations into Liege solidify its status as a crucial hub for efficient connections to Europe, while also strengthening our position in the KSA market.” “Central to this endeavour is our partnership with Cainiao, leveraging their unparalleled capacity and global network. Our meticulous process, from pre-built ULDs in Hong Kong to seamless handover in Liege via Riyadh, ensures an uninterrupted flow of e-commerce materials. In parallel, as we expand our capacity and cargo flights worldwide, the collaboration with WFS/SATS underscores our commitment to innovation and efficiency, revolutionizing e-commerce handling with cutting-edge technologies.”

DP World announced its multimodal service ‘SARAL-2’, connecting Chennai to the National Capital Region under the ‘SARAL’ initiative. This service is the first multi-modal daily rail freight service with a capacity of 500 TEUs per week. DP World launched the first-of-its-kind dedicated scheduled Rail Freight Service, ‘SARAL’ – ‘Sustainable, Assured, Reliable, and Agile Logistics’, connecting customers from South Gujarat to the markets in and around the National Capital Region (NCR) in November 2023. SARAL-2 leverages DP World’s multimodal services by integrating coastal, rail, and truck operations to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and enhance supply chain efficiencies. With a remarkable reduction of~70% in CO2 emissions compared to road transportation, this dedicated service assures efficient cargo transport for customers in Delhi NCR and Chennai. This innovative second service is a joint initiative by Avana Logistek (part of Unifeeder, a DP World company) and DP World’s rail freight services, to offer customized, reliable, and cost- effective logistics solutions to the trade and businesses with weekly frequency bringing India’s northern markets closer to the southern region. Aligned with PM Gati Shakti National Master plan, SARAL-2 multimodal service will provide seamless multimodal connectivity to various industry clusters in and around the region. Speaking on the launch of the SARAL-2 service for the south, Adhendru Jain, Vice President, Rail and Inland Terminals, DP World Subcontinent, said, “This second service under the SARAL initiative is part of our continuous pursuit of enhancing and streamlining logistics for our valued customers. Our end-to-end multimodal daily service connects businesses based in Chennai with the NCR region, establishing a two-way connection for efficient, reliable, and sustainable operations. This service will surely benefit solar industries, commodity, FMCG, and domestic retail businesses …

Tata Motors flagged off its next-generation, green-fuel powered commercial vehicles to Tata Steel. The fleet includes Prima tractors, tippers and the Ultra EV bus, powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and battery electric technologies. The vehicles were flagged off by Tata Son’s Chairman, Mr. N Chandrasekaran, as part of the Tata Group’s Founder’s Day celebrations in Jamshedpur. Present at the ceremony were Mr. T V Narendran, CEO & Managing Director, Tata Steel and Mr. Girish Wagh, Executive Director, Tata Motors, along with senior members of their leadership teams. Speaking about the long-standing partnership with Tata Motors, T. V. Narendran, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Tata Steel said: “This delivery marks another significant milestone in our long-standing partnership with Tata Motors. As leaders in our respective industries, Tata Steel and Tata Motors share a common vision for sustainability and innovation. By harnessing our collective expertise and resources, we are not only revolutionising our industries but also leading the way in environmental responsibility. Together, we are committed to driving positive change and delivering eco-friendly solutions that not only benefit our businesses but also contribute to a greener tomorrow.” Speaking about the future-ready vehicles being flagged-off, Mr. Girish Wagh, Executive Director, Tata Motors said, “Tata Motors is driving the global megatrend of sustainable, safe and smart mobility in India. Our green fleet of commercial vehicles will accelerate Tata Steel’s efforts towards making its supply chain carbon neutral. We have collaborated with them and their transportation partners to design holistic solutions for enhancing functionality, performance, connectivity and safety. Every aspect of these vehicles has been purposefully augmented to cater to varied duty cycles and special applications. We look forward to strengthening our historic …

EFL 3PL, a subsidiary of EFL Global announced the launch of its flagship Grade A warehousing facility in Bhiwandi region of Mumbai, India. This strategic expansion, with an investment of USD 5Mn, marks a significant milestone in EFL 3PL’s commitment to enhancing its presence in India and solidifying its position as a leader in End-to-End logistics solutions and supply chain management. With over 25 years of experience in the Indian market, EFL has established itself as a trusted provider of freight logistics services. The addition of the state-of-the-art warehouse facility further strengthens both EFL & EFL 3PL’s capabilities, offering truly end-to-end services to their diverse clientele across various sectors. Spanning an impressive 175,000 square feet, the Grade A warehouse features modern facilities and advanced logistics technologies. EFL 3PL’s holistic approach to logistics solutions, infused with latest technology and innovation, ensures the dynamic requirements of clients are met efficiently and effectively. Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Rooso Ramachandran, CEO of EFL India said “We are delighted to inaugurate our flagship warehouse in Mumbai. This investment underscores our dedication to delivering exceptional service to our clients and meeting the evolving needs of the Indian market. With the launch of this state-of-the-art facility, we are not only expanding our operational footprint but also reaffirming our commitment to providing innovative and reliable logistics solutions. This warehouse represents the culmination of extensive planning and investment. We are confident that it will play a pivotal role in driving efficiency and value for our customers while assuring a one-stop-shop solution to all their logistics needs. We look forward to further strengthening our presence in India and contributing to the growth and success of our clients.”

Kruti Jobanputra, Director, JW Ventures says, “We put the highest emphasis on the safety and security of cargo. We ensure that our clients’ precious cargo is stored, handled and transport safely and with the highest quality. To ensure this safety, entry into any of our premises will require an appointment and prior notice that has to be given to the security. We track everyone who enters and exits the facility thru the use of a Gate Pass. Every vehicle in and out is checked and is inputted into a register. We 24×7 CCTV surveillance and a 100% power back up for our cold-chain facilities. For the storage of cargo itself, we have ensured that there is only one entry and one exit point so that unauthorized access is limited. The security guards are required to check for ID cards and or some form of authorization that requires a person access. For Fire safety we have an emergency response team at each site and have our own fire tender to ensure that the first responders are able to take action and that we do not have to wait for any third party.”