Oman Air launched its maiden freighter services from GMR Hyderabad International Airport, operating its first Boeing B737-800BCF connecting Hyderabad and Muscat. The freighter service will operate two weekly flights, on Tuesday and Saturday. The flight will depart from Hyderabad at 14:00 hours. With a one-way capacity of 22 metric tons, the freighter will add an additional weekly capacity of 88 metric tons from Hyderabad Airport. This service is poised to boost the export of pharmaceuticals and hatching eggs shipments from the city. Pradeep Panicker, CEO, GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd, said, “The Oman Air freighter services from Hyderabad Airport will not only link our diverse industries and the thriving market within the city but will also provide opportunities for the businesses in the surrounding regions access to the global market. As global cargo demand continues to grow, we have emphasized and developed infrastructure and innovative capabilities, digital solutions, and added multiple value additions. We look forward to adding more cargo routes in the coming years.”

The India International Cargo Show (IICS) kickstarted in Mumbai on 13th December with focus on Digitalisation, sustainability and collaboration. Experts discussed, “E-commerce is growing exponentially and driving air cargo business and capacities. Air freight market is evolving, the industry will be dynamic in 2024. There will be huge focus on cost without compromising on the time and quality. India as a Pharma hub will also grow exponentially in next 10 years. Platforms like ULIP will also take industry forward.”

The India International Cargo Show (IICS), country’s biggest cargo & logistics exhibition opens today in Mumbai. The three day exhibition will continue till 15th Dec at Jio World Convention Center. The eveny will have insightful panel discussions on multimodal logistics enabling supply chain efficiency, pharma logistics, airports infrastructure, tech driven growth, embracing next-gen air cargo operations and lot more. The inaugural session will host distinguished ministers and leaders from the logistics industry, sharing their visionary perspectives and insights to pave the way for a future of innovation and collaboration in the dynamic world of logistics. IICS will be the only platform in the country to bring the entire cargo and logistics fraternity including air, ocean, road, logistics, warehousing, ground handling, supply chain, technology, etc. under one roof. With over 200 brands showcasing their products and services, the IICS Show is the perfect platform for logisticians to network with key players in the industry.

Nari Katgara, Director, Jeena Global shares his outlook for 2024 and says, “In 2024, global trade dynamics may shift towards shorter regional supply chains, particularly in critical industries. This could be driven by geopolitical factors, trade tensions, and efforts to reduce carbon footprint.” He adds, “The global supply chain faced significant challenges this year, with disruptions caused by the war. These disruptions highlighted the critical need for resilient and adaptable supply chains. In this evolving landscape, Jeena & Company remains committed to providing our customers with the highest quality service. We are actively exploring opportunities in New Zealand and the United States while further strengthening our operations in Australia. This expansion allows us to better serve our customers and position ourselves for continued growth in the years to come. Looking ahead, we recognize that consumers will continue to demand faster and more convenient delivery options. This will require logistics providers like ourselves to adapt our offerings by investing heavily in technology in order to cater to specific customer needs.”

DP World’s International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) at Cochin will host a new weekly mainline service called, ‘SIG’ operated by ONE Line to strengthen the India-Southeast Asia and the Middle East trade link. DP World Cochin flagged off the new service by welcoming the first vessel, M.V. Safeen Prism, on 7th December 2023. The new weekly service has four vessels deployed with a capacity of 2800 TEUs providing direct connectivity between the Middle East and South East Asia. This new service will further provide Cochin and its hinterland with access to destinations in the Far East, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, United States West Coast, Canada, and vice-versa. The service covers a port rotation between Singapore – Nhava Sheva – Mundra – Dammam – Jebel Ali – Cochin – Colombo – Singapore. Commenting on the launch of the SIG service, Ravinder Johal, COO Ports & Terminals, DP World Subcontinent and MENA region said, “The launch of our SIG service marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to strengthen India’s connectivity to global trade. A pioneering initiative, SIG highlights our commitment to enhancing supply chain efficiencies, building direct trade routes, and supporting economic growth. With this service, Exim businesses will be able to explore newer markets across Southeast Asia and the Middle East.” The launch of SIG will help enhance DP World Cochin position as a preferred gateway to south of India as it offers greater connectivity to ports in Europe, the Mediterranean, China, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Presently, nearly 50% of both export and import cargo is directly connected from DP World Cochin, resulting in faster transit times, seamless connectivity, and better cost efficiencies for …

In a significant step towards modernizing logistics education, Softlink Global and Coimbatore Marine College (CMC) have announced a partnership that focuses on integrating practical, industry-standard tools into academic programs. This collaboration underscores a growing trend in educational institutions aligning more closely with industry needs, particularly in the rapidly evolving logistics sector. Under this partnership, Softlink Global’s Logi-Sys, a leading logistics and freight management software, will be incorporated into CMC’s MBA in Logistics and BBA in Supply Chain programs as a mandatory subject. This integration is aimed at bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, ensuring that students gain hands-on experience with tools currently shaping the logistics industry. The primary goal of this initiative is to produce graduates who are not only academically proficient but also adept at handling real-world logistics challenges. Speaking on the collaboration, Dr. S.B. Senthilkumar, Dean – Logistics & Shipping at Coimbatore Marine College said, “Incorporating Logi-Sys into our courses represents a significant enhancement in our educational approach, directly addressing the skills gap in the logistics industry. By infusing the curriculum with Logi-Sys, Softlink Global and CMC are setting a new standard for logistics education, focusing on creating a workforce that is immediately industry-ready.” Kunal Maheshwari, Chief Growth Officer at Softlink Global, commented, “Softlink Global is committed to fostering educational excellence in logistics. With our vision to establish a Softlink Academy, we aim to empower the logistics sector by nurturing skilled professionals. This collaboration is a key milestone in realizing this vision.” “By incorporating Logi-Sys into CMC’s curriculum, we highlight its robustness and applicability in the logistics field. This move aligns our educational initiatives with the practical demands of the industry. It’s a clear demonstration …

Karnataka will soon see a new logistics policy to address the high-cost concerns of industries. Addressing industrialists at the BCIC Manufacturing Conclave, Karnataka Commissioner for Industrial Development and Director Industries & Commerce, Government of Karnataka Gunjan Krishna, informed that a draft policy was in the making, said reports. “We have already drafted the logistics policy to enhance efficiency and reduce costs and are ready to place it before the state cabinet,” Krishna told in news reports. The policy aims to make it easy for anybody to operate a logistics business, warehousing and integrate technology. It will improve the ease of doing business in this sector, offering a single window clearance (for multiple aspects including pollution) and easy access to license. It also proposes major industrial corridors to ease the movement of goods, with lower turnaround times.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) in association with Brihanmumbai Custom Brokers Association (BCBA) planned and designed an Orientation and Skill Development program for the youth to explore the opportunities in logistics business and to spread the word of future employment scope for people residing in and around the proposed Vadhavan Port, in the eco-sensitive Dahanu Taluka. The workshop provided valuable information on the opening of a new window of employment to the regional population relating to EXIM trade and customs clearance activities along with a wide array of other supporting services within the port ecosystem. Office bearers of BCBA, Mr. Sanjeev Harale and Mr. Paresh Thakkar and Committee Member Mr. Rahul Bhojani attended and presented to the large audience gathered to shape their future. BCBA Senior Vice President, Mr. Sanjeev Harale gave an insightful understanding of the various types of job and activity opportunities which would be available with this multi-fold development. Vice President, BCBA, Mr. Paresh Thakkar explained how in the past history of the world and specifically in India, port cities have developed and brought prosperity to the inhabitants for current and future generations. They also gave assurance of the full support of BCBA to JNPA and the people in the vicinity of the port. Many examples and testimonials were shared of individuals working in this industry and their successful growth story. JNPA appreciated the role played by BCBA for supporting the orientation and skill development with youngsters. This soft initiative for skill development, concurrent with the port building, will benefit the youth who want to make a career in the Shipping and Logistics industry. BCBA reaffirmed its commitment to conduct many more workshops for grooming and …

The Air China Cargo and Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) top management met in China earlier this week, and the companies closed a firm contract for eight A330P2F conversion solutions. “All A330 conversion candidate aircraft are owned by Air China Cargo. As the belly cargo capacity of all Air China passenger aircraft is exclusively operated by Air China Cargo, the airline, which is the only cargo airline operating with the national flag, could gain extensive experience on running Airbus aircraft for cargo,” said a LinkedIn post by EFW. “To enforce our freighter fleet by Airbus conversion freighter was a natural step,” says Hongyan Wang, Vice President, Air China. The first A330 aircraft was inducted at conversion partner Ameco Beijing in Q12023 and is scheduled for redelivery by the end of 2023. A second aircraft has also been inducted, the post added. “We are glad that Air China Cargo will operate, for the first time, an Airbus freighter, and we are looking forward to seeing an A330P2F with the Air China Cargo livery soon,” said Jordi Boto, CEO, EFW.

IATA is expecting air cargo demand to increase by 4.5% next year while pressure on rates is expected to bring down revenues for the sector. The airline association said the projection of a cargo tonne km increase next year comes on the back of the International Monetary Fund’s prediction of a 3.5% increase in trade and follows an estimated fall of 3.8% in airfreight demand this year. Looking at regional performance, African carriers are expected to post a 1.5% increase in cargo demand next year, Asia Pacific 3.6%, Europe 4.1%, Latin America 7.7%, Middle East 12.3% and North America 2.1%. Asked why air cargo demand was expected to increase faster than trade, IATA senior macro economist Rachel Yuting Fan explained: “The growth rate is based on a low base. Air cargo has been decreasing for the last two years, especially this year when it declined by 3.8%, so the growth for next year is based on that. She added: “Our assumptions include GDP, inflation, interest rates, the strength of the US dollar, unemployment, jet fuel prices, the pace of recovery in China and conflicts. At the moment our baseline assumption is for war not to spread and for China to have a slow recovery.” Meanwhile, IATA is expecting cargo revenues to fall by 17.3% year on year in 2024 to $111.4bn.