Category Archives: Aviation

According to the latest data from TAC Index, global air freight rates have increased despite mixed outlook for trade and markets. The global Baltic Air Freight Index (BAI00) calculated by TAC was up another +2.3 per cent YoY over the week to March 24, leaving it ahead by +3.5 per cent YoY over the past 12 months, states report. Rates out of China were higher again last week on lanes both to Europe and to North America, leaving them still close to levels of 12 months ago. The index of outbound routes from Hong Kong (BAI30) was narrowly lower by -0.1% WoW, but still ahead by +3.1% YoY, with sources suggesting that spot rates had continued to rise. Outbound Shanghai (BAI80) was up a further +6.2% WoW – leaving it up by similar +3.4% YoY.  Elsewhere from Asia trends in rates continued to be more mixed – with falls on lanes to Europe from Vietnam, Bangkok and Seoul, and falls this time too on lanes from India both to Europe and the US. By contrast, rates from Vietnam to the US continued to increase. From Europe, rates were generally falling last week, including on lanes to China and Japan as well as to the US. However, the index of outbound routes from Frankfurt (BAI20) bounced back from recent falls with a gain of +9.5% WoW, boosted by gains on most major lanes, pushing that index back into positive territory at +10.3% YoY. By contrast, outbound London Heathrow (BAI40) fell back again after a surge the previous week, a drop of -15.6% WoW pulling it down to -8.7% YoY. Out of the Americas, the index of outbound routes from Chicago (BAI50) gained +5.8% WoW, led by higher rates on lanes to South East Asia to leave it at +12.7% YoY. Overall rates of the US were generally higher on lanes …

“MSMEs form the backbone of India’s economy, and a strong logistics network is vital to their success. We empower MSMEs with efficient, sustainable, and technology-driven logistics solutions, ensuring seamless market access,” said, Kaushal Shetty, Head of Marketing & Transformation, Allcargo Gati. He added, “Through providing the same tools available to larger businesses, and capacity-building, we enable them to scale operations, enhance competitiveness, and contribute to India’s vision of Viksit Bharat.”

Caribbean Airlines Cargo has opened a new cold storage facility at its home hub at Piarco International Airport in Trinidad to cater for seafood shipments, and enhance global operations. The new facility opened on 20 March and offers 5,000 sq ft of storage to handle temperature-sensitive export cargo. “It is the first of its kind within the Piarco aerodrome and English-speaking Caribbean,” the airline said. “This new unit adds immense value to many of the airline’s perishable-goods cargo customers, many of whom are local fish exporters.” The facility was equipped with a roller system and was built to accommodate the easy loading and storage of up to 40 aircraft pallets. It also features “optimal, refrigerated temperature control” to a minimum of 2 degrees Celsius. “At Caribbean Airlines Cargo, we reaffirm our dedication to continuous innovation and service excellence, and this facility was constructed to preserve the integrity of our customers’ shipments and provide them with enhanced reliability in their logistics chain,” said general manager, Marklan Moseley.

FedEx has announced the order of eight Boeing 777 freighters and 10 ATR 72-600 turboprops as third-quarter profits and revenues both improved. In an investor release, the company said that in March 2025 it had exercised options to purchase an additional eight 777F aircraft as part of its fleet modernisation programme. Three of the aircraft are expected to be delivered in 2026 and the remaining five in 2027. It also agreed to purchase a further two of the model earlier in the quarter. Meanwhile, the company said it would also extend the retirement of the entire Boeing MD-11 fleet from 2028 to the end of 2032. It had been gradually phasing out the aircraft to replace them with more fuel-efficient models, such as the 777F. In total, FedEx currently operates 57 777 freighters and has a further 11 on order, including the 10 mentioned above. Its MD-11F stands at 37 aircraft.

  Thales opened its new avionics MRO facility in Gurugram, near IGI airport. Aligned with the vision of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” (‘self-reliant India’), this centre will provide a wide range of services, including the maintenance & repair of avionics components, to prominent Indian airlines such as Air India and IndiGo. This new repair hub draws on Thales’s expertise as a global leader in the aerospace industry, providing premium support and services to airline customers in India. The inauguration was held in the presence of the Honourable Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu. The event was graced by Mr. Damien Syed, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of France in India, along with senior Government officials and eminent dignitaries from the French Embassy and the industry. The Thales team was led by Yannick Assouad, Executive Vice President, Avionics, Thomas Got, Vice President, Aviation Global Services and Gilles Bono, Vice President, India. This occasion marks a milestone in Thales’s continued investment strategy in India’s rapidly expanding aviation market.   Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Honourable Minister of Civil Aviation, Government of India said, “My heartfelt appreciation goes to Thales for setting up this dedicated facility in India to provide onshore MRO services to our airlines. Taking a tour of the facility and seeing it firsthand, I must say that I am deeply impressed by the meticulous planning and innovation that have gone into creating this centre. I believe the inauguration of this advanced avionics MRO centre marks a significant milestone for Indian aviation and a proud moment for Thales in India. This facility exemplifies our collective commitment to building a self-reliant India and a self-reliant aviation ecosystem under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble …

Rajen Bhatia, Director, Tulsidas Khimji said, “Congestion at airports, especially during peak hours, is a significant issue affecting the efficiency of air travel and cargo movement, limited infrastructure and operational bottlenecks contributes to delays, high transit times and increased costs. There are various factors that affect the trade like limited Capacity, high Transit Times and Delays, Increased Costs, Environmental Impact. The Impact on Global Trade and Business: • Uncertainty in Delivery Times: Congestion at airports makes it difficult to guarantee delivery times, which is crucial for industries that rely on fast, predictable logistics. • Global Supply Chain Disruptions: Delays at major international airports affect the global supply chain, potentially impacting businesses’ ability to meet demand, especially in industries like e-commerce, automotive, and manufacturing. Congestion at airports is a complex issue that involves not just the transportation of passengers but also the smooth movement of cargo. It has far-reaching impacts on costs, efficiency, aenvironmental sustainability and supply chain inefficiencies that hurt businesses and disrupt the flow of goods, particularly in critical, fast-paced markets like Mumbai.

Vipin Vohra, Chairman, Continental Carriers said, “Congestion at airports, especially during peak hours, significantly impacts cargo movement, leading to delays, higher transit times, and increased costs. A viable solution is the development of off-airport locations such as Air Freight Stations (AFS) near airports. By shifting cargo processing activities away from the airport premises, AFS can decongest terminals, enhance efficiency, and expedite clearance procedures. To encourage wider adoption, authorities should incentivise AFS development through policy support, streamlined regulatory frameworks, and operational benefits. A structured approach integrating AFS into India’s air cargo ecosystem will optimize logistics, reduce costs, and ensure seamless trade facilitation.”

Kamal Jain, Director, Cargomen Logistics said, “Congestion at airports during peak hours severely impacts cargo efficiency, resulting in delays, extended transit times, and elevated logistics costs. The root causes often include inadequate infrastructure, suboptimal cargo handling, and poor stakeholder coordination. The solution lies in two key areas: implementation of robust Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and automation of cargo handling. SOPs must clearly define vehicle entry, parking, cargo acceptance, evacuation, and terminal exit. Integration of automated systems for documentation and process flow will ensure faster turnaround and improved operational efficiency. Terminal must work on continuous monitoring of turn around time of IN / OUT of vehicle and also work on predictive analysis to deploy manpower and resources.”

Debajyoti Bagchi, Vice President, Business Development, TT Group said, “All air cargo stakeholders expect their shipments to be offloaded at the air cargo complex immediately upon truck arrival. However, most airlines operate during premium slots allocated at peak hours, creating a sense of urgency on the shop floor. This results in a rush for offloading, panic if cargo misses connections, delays in screening and buildup, resource shortages, potential cargo damage, and onboard no-fit situations. A small process change can make a significant impact if effectively implemented and accepted by exporters. Currently, non-peak hours remain underutilized. Custodians can introduce attractive concessions to encourage stakeholders to shift operations to off-peak times, optimizing existing manpower. Raising awareness among exporters about the benefits of releasing cargo earlier can further ease congestion. Concerns regarding free period adjustments can be addressed through negotiations with custodians to ensure fair compensation. While this approach may not provide an immediate solution, it presents a viable strategy to alleviate bottlenecks at cargo terminals.”

Sunil Kohli, Managing Director, Rahat Cargo said, “The congestion mainly at the airports especially located in the metro cities begins from the approaching roads leading to the cargo warehouses with plenty of vehicles carrying the cargo lined up for the entry during the peak hours. The congestion subsequently shifts to the cargo offloading point at the limited truck-doc areas due to departure schedules of flights of several carriers coinciding with each other followed by a delayed process of weighment by the custodian. An absence of regulated parking & offloading processes at the platforms results in bunching of huge cargo waiting for their turns. Congestion further occurs for the screening process wherein large volumes of cargo queues up thereby incurring considerable delays, inflated waiting time & an avoidable wastage of manpower. Thus, all the related agencies have to provide the requisite facilities commensurate with the growth of cargo tonnage facilitating hassle free timely handling of processes. The related agencies must install additional provisions and redesign their systems and processes, wherever needed to be in readiness for any peak demand scenario. They must also consider using technology, coordination, and best practices to optimize the use of resources and minimize delays and congestions.”