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.

Riyadh Air and Singapore Airlines (SIA) have signed MoU to establish a new partnership between the two airlines. The agreement was inked by Riyadh Air Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tony Douglas and Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong on the sidelines of the 80th International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit in Dubai. Under the MoU, the carriers will explore opportunities for interline connectivity on each other’s services, subject to regulatory approval, an official news release stated. They will also work on other potential areas of commercial cooperation, including codeshare arrangements, reciprocal benefits for their frequent flyer programme members, cargo services, customer experience, and digital innovation as a precursor to a deeper, long-term, strategic partnership.

Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) and Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) has signed MOU to explore business opportunities for leveraging the advantage of each other’s infrastructure and experience in synergy to offer seamless and cost effective end-to-end logistics services to customers under a single window, says reports. Sanjay Swarup, CMD,CONCOR in a statement said that this MoU will enable them to utilise SCI’s shipping services to develop CONCOR’s Footprint at overseas locations and also to foray in the field of Coastal & Inland Waterways trade to offer a wide range of customisable logistics solution for the benefit of trade at large.

Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR Airport) promotes sustainability with the introduction of a new fleet of electric vehicle (EV) Airport Taxis, in collaboration with Refex eVeelz. The new EV fleet comprises 175 compact SUVs, marking a significant shift from traditional fuel-based taxis. With over 50 percent of the fleet being electric, BLR Airport aims to drastically reduce carbon emissions, contributing to a cleaner environment benefiting both the immediate surroundings of the airport and beyond.

At the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Dubai for the first time from June 2 to 4, 2024, IATA has announced cargo revenues are expected to fall to US$120 billion in 2024 (from US$138 billion in 2023). Both are down sharply from the extraordinary peak of US$210 billion in 2021, but it is above 2019 revenues, which were US$101 billion and an improvement on the previous forecast of US$111 billion (announced in December 2023). IATA strengthened profitability projections for airlines in 2024 compared with its June and December 2023 forecasts. It also stated total air cargo volumes are expected to reach 62 million tonnes (MT) in 2024. Despite the strength of demand, the cargo yields are expected to fall 17.5 per cent in 2024, while remaining slightly above 2019 levels. This is a normalisation after extraordinary COVID highs. A key factor in this is the significant belly capacity that entered the market in 2023 in tandem with the recovery of passenger travel. In general, air cargo is in a period of correction following an exceptional year in 2021. Yields, capacity growth, the belly-dedicated freighter split, and other key metrics are moving from the extraordinary mid-pandemic situation towards a continuation of pre-COVID trends and levels.

Nokia has signed MoU with Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) to conduct joint R&D for 5G and 6G use cases in India’s transportation and logistics sector. Under the MoU, Nokia and Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya will collaborate on research opportunities in 5G/6G communications targeting air, land and sea transportation use cases, as well as standards development, smart factory/automation, and AI/GenAI labs,” said reports. The R&D collaboration will specifically make use of Nokia’s Network as Code platform and developer portal, which Nokia says enables developers and operators to accelerate software application development to monetize 5G and 4G network assets beyond connectivity. The collaboration will also cover R&D involving digital twins for the transportation and logistics sectors, fibre sensing and AI, and optical network planning. “The network will be at the heart of India’s transportation ecosystem, and Nokia is committed to supporting India’s ambitions as a global powerhouse for transportation innovation,” said Nishant Batra, chief strategy and technology officer at Nokia. “The collaboration with Nokia will further accelerate the technology-enabled progress in the transportation and logistics sector as well as advance the telecommunications sector,” said GSV vice chancellor Prof. Manoj Choudhary in a statement. The collaboration with GSV is the latest in a series of deals Nokia has struck with India’s research community related to development of 5G and 6G.

Wiremind is all set to launch the improved version of its flagship product SKYPALLET 2.0 this summer. SKYPALLET 2.0 will bring a more intuitive interface, greater processing speeds, and workflow automation thanks to SKYPALLET’s integration in CARGOSTACK. With the original goal of empowering commercial teams with the operational know-how to quote shipments more efficiently, SKYPALLET has advanced significantly today to support full flight optimizations for over 25 customers. SKYPALLET is also one of the bestsellers of CargoTech. Some highlights of the key improvements planned: • Rewriting of SKYPALLET’s code base in a new programming language, enabling all customers today to benefit from faster calculation speeds and more advanced palletization algorithms • The integration of SKYPALLET into the CARGOSTACK ecosystem to allow deeper integrations and significant workflow automations. • The ability to include new data points that can be used by the palletization engine such as freight status or its build characteristics on an inbound leg to produce more granular results • A revamped user interface and experience with more intuitive workflows and information displayed, matching the user-friendliness of the whole CARGOSTACK product suite “Various improvements to SKYPALLET over the years means it is now used at multiple touchpoints and processes in the air cargo lifecycle by our customers,” says Nathanaël de Tarade, Wiremind Cargo CEO. “While SKYPALLET has already been integrated to customer systems through its API, it has remained a stateless application relying on external systems to provide shipment and capacity inputs per calculation. By incorporating it into CARGOSTACK as part of our version 2.0, we now have the architecture to retrieve and hold all the relevant inputs consumed by the palletization algorithm, through what we call a stateful …

DP World commenced operations of its Cochin Economic Zone. Strategically located within cochin port premise of Vallarpadam terminal, it is Kerala’s first free trade warehousing zone (FTWZ) and the third DP World Economic Zone in India. DP World Cochin Economic Zone significantly enhances Cochin Port’s capabilities as it is the first transshipment terminal in India, a preferred gateway to the south. This 75,000 sq.ft. state-of-the-art facility seamlessly integrates with DP World’s strategic multimodal logistics network, facilitating efficient connections across India and global markets. In the heart of Cochin’s bustling port activity, DP World Economic Zone marks a significant leap in its commitment to pioneering trade solutions. With 67 value-added services seamlessly integrated, businesses gain unparalleled advantages for their supply chain operations. Speaking about Kerala’s first Free Trade Warehousing Zone, Ranjit Ray, Senior Vice President – Economic Zones Middle East, North Africa, and Subcontinent, said,“We are happy to unveil the DP World Cochin Economic Zone, an innovative model located within the port premises, setting a new benchmark among economic zones in India. Our aim in establishing economic zones is to enhance global trade opportunities by streamlining supply chains, resulting in cost savings and seamless connectivity. Our integrated solution in Cochin provides value-added services, linking ports to the wider supply chain through multimodal connectivity. At DP World, our dedicated team works tirelessly to create bespoke warehousing and logistics facilities, committed to delivering value and an enhanced experience. This facility will not only support EXIM-oriented businesses but also open doors for global companies to enter the Indian market.” DP World Cochin Economic Zone enjoys excellent connectivity via three National Highways: NH 66 to Mumbai, NH 544 to Salem and Coimbatore, and NH 85 …