Category Archives: Aviation

‘Exporters’ friendly policies can maximize productivity, exports’

Sunil Kohli, Managing Director, Rahat Cargo says, “The air cargo sector has recently seen growth in the export of high-value goods and pharma, the industry is focusing on ensuring safe and seamless transportation followed by efficient deliveries. So, it’s vital to have exporters’ friendly rules & guidelines in place by the govt which could encourage them to achieve their optimal productivity in maximising the exports. It may be noted that the disruptions in the supply chain also have a direct and an indirect impact on inflation. The direct impact is related to the prices of imported goods, which rise as shipping costs increase. The indirect impact is related to an increase in the price of tradable inputs used in the domestic non-tradable sector.”

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Delhi LG approves setting up of SEZ, FTZ at Delhi’s IGI Airport

Delhi L-G VK Saxena has given the go-ahead for setting up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ)/Free Trade Zone (FTZ), at the Indira Gandhi International Airport over an area of five acres, a move that will give a major economic boost to the capital, the LG Office said in a press release. According to the LG Office, “Related to the Cargo Infrastructure and other allied activities, this SEZ/FTZ once operationalized will give a massive fillip to the logistics sector and catalyse the economic growth apart from spinoffs for generating employment”. The LG approved the proposal taking note of the strategic importance of developing an FTZ/SEZ at the Airport hub, after ensuring that DDA gives a go-ahead for the same as per provisions of MPD-2021, the release stated. “The SEZ would create economic activities through exports, warehousing, trading and provisions for related services at the Airport complex. It will also liberalize and reduce procedural complexities in terms of applications, licensing, clearances and other regulations and reduce red tape, apart from providing tax benefits to entrepreneurs,” the release said. The official press note stated that the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India has identified Delhi as a Pilot Air Cargo Hub which requires Tier 1, 2 and 3 level infrastructure while DIAL already has developed Tier 1 & 2 infrastructure by way of developing two cargo terminals and logistics centres at the Airport, it will achieve Tier 3 once an SEZ / FTZ comes up at the Airport complex. “DIAL proposed the setting up of two multi-product SEZs at the IGI Airport over an area of 2.02 hectares each (5 acres) and requested for Delhi Government’s recommendation under SEZ Rules, 2006. Thereafter, …

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DIAL transships over 80 lakh kgs of Bangladeshi cargo in one year

GMR led Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) has achieved a significant milestone by transshipping over 80 lakh kgs of Bangladeshi cargo to international destinations in the last one year. The first batch of transshipment cargo left Delhi Airport on March 5, 2023. Since then, Delhi Airport has helped transship Bangladeshi Cargo to various international locations including Spain, Netherlands, and France. Delhi Airport has transshipped over 5.17 lakh MT of international cargo between April 2023 and January 2024. This achievement not only cements Delhi Airport’s status as the foremost Cargo hub in Southeast Asia but also catalyzes a favorable domino effect throughout the aviation industry. The transshipment facility for Bangladeshi cargo first began on February 26, 2023, paving the way for a faster and cost-effective route of shipping export cargo internationally. Since then, Delhi Airport has helped tranship over 80 lakh kgs (8000 MT) of readymade garments to European nations including Spain, Netherlands, and France. The European Union is the second-largest export destination for Bangladeshi apparel, followed by UK and Canada. The first batch of cargo, which left Dhaka on February 26, 2023, arrived at Delhi Airport on March 3, 2023, and proceeded for its destined location in Spain on March 5, 2023. The Government of India’s approval on February 7, 2023, allowing Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) to serve as a Cargo Transshipment hub between Bangladesh and other global destinations, has significantly boosted international ties and the national economy. This decision has not only reduced shipment costs for manufacturers but has also led to a daily increase in the export of international cargo via Delhi Airport, covering a spectrum of products, from ready-made garments (RMG) and handlooms to footwear, leather …

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‘Ensuring data integrity, skill development crucial’

Cyrus Katgara, Partner, Jeena & Co, says, “Ensuring data integrity across medical products and services throughout the supply chain is a significant challenge, alongside other areas in the sector that require improvement. While efforts are underway to address various issues, the shortage of skilled workforce remains a major pain point.” Focusing on Govt’s initiatives to improve multimodal infrastructure, he adds, “Governments and private sector are actively investing in the enhancement of transportation infrastructure. These investments aim to facilitate the accommodation of temperature-controlled vehicles and facilities through various upgrades and expansions. Furthermore, there is a notable integration of advanced technologies such as GPS tracking, temperature monitoring systems, and remote control mechanisms into reefer vehicles. This integration is geared towards improving the precision and efficiency of managing temperature-sensitive shipments, thereby optimizing overall logistics operations. Additionally, the establishment of strategically located cold chain warehouses along transportation routes is playing a pivotal role in ensuring the seamless transfer of goods between different modes of transport while maintaining the requisite temperature conditions. Along with infrastructure and technological advancements, the government is instituting regulations and standards to ensure the safe and efficient transportation of perishable goods. These regulations encompass vehicle specifications, driver training protocols, and strict adherence to temperature maintenance guidelines.”

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IATA launches cargo digitalisation leadership charter

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced launched IATA digitalisation leadership charter at the IATA World Cargo Symposium in Hong Kong. Cathay Cargo, CHAMP Cargosystems, Global Logistics System (HK) Company (GLS), IAG Cargo, IBS Software, LATAM Cargo and Lufthansa Cargo are the inaugural signatories of the charter, says an official release from IATA. “The digitalisation leadership charter aims to accelerate the air cargo industry’s digitalisation journey by committing to five key guiding principles. Developed in consultation with IATA’s cargo advisory council members, airlines and the wider air cargo community, the charter seeks to drive innovation, enhance efficiency and promote a sustainable and harmonised digital transformation. Central to the charter is the importance of data sharing using IATA ONE Record for smooth and efficient data exchange.” Brendan Sullivan, Global Head of Cargo, IATA says: “Digitalisation is imperative for the air cargo industry. It requires alignment to ensure a unified and effective approach. IATA has introduced the digitalization leadership charter to spearhead this alignment. By adhering to the charter’s principles—adopting industry-wide standards, championing sustainability, ensuring ethical technology use and upholding digital leadership — the charter sets a benchmark for excellence.”

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IATA, SFC join forces on Co2 emission calculation for air cargo shipments

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Smart Freight Centre (SFC) announced a partnership to provide consistent and transparent CO2 emissions calculations for air cargo shipments. This is an important step for the global air transport sector to advance its decarbonization efforts. The two organizations will focus efforts on developing the cargo component of IATA’s CO2 Connect offering, which successfully launched its passenger version in 2022. The IATA CO2 Connect platform uses primary industry data to power highly accurate carbon calculations. The collaboration with the SFC Clean Air Transport Program will promote a common methodology in CO2 emission calculations and ensure accurate and consistent CO2 calculations are distributed to the industry’s biggest shippers and freight forwarders in air cargo, supporting them with pre-shipment and reporting purposes.

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Adani Group, largest airport operator with 40% air cargo

Adani Group is the world’s second largest solar power company. We are the largest airport operator with 25% of pax traffic and 40% of air cargo. We are the largest Ports & Logistics company with 30% of national market share, says Gautam Adani, Chairman, Adani Group in his speech. “We are India’s largest integrated energy player. Our presence spans across generation, transmission, and distribution, LNG and LPG terminals, city gas and piped gas distribution. We are the country’s second largest cement manufacturer. And we have declared our path forward in new sectors including metals, petchem, aerospace and defence, data centres, super apps, and industrial clouds. Under the PPP agreement, we were selected by the Gujarat government to develop a full-fledged commercial port in Mundra. Keep in mind, while I knew our end objective was to build a port, we had not even laid a brick in our life. Thereafter, the next opportunity followed when the Gujarat Government announced the SEZ policy in 2005. The 40,000 acres of marshy land around Mundra port that was considered of very little value, had now become a priceless asset. We moved quickly to convert the land originally allocated for salt works – into what is now the country’s largest multi-product SEZ – supported by an unparalleled world class infrastructure including ports, rail, and air networks,” he adds.

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Softlink Joins forces with IATA as a strategic partner

Softlink Global, a provider of innovative logistics solutions and developer of the acclaimed Logi-Sys TMS, announced its exciting new role as the company joins the IATA Strategic Partnerships Program and provide its knowledge and expertise in the Digital & Interactive Cargo stream. The official signing ceremony took place at the IATA World Cargo Summit (WCS) event in Hong Kong (12-14 March, 2024). Joining Forces for a Smarter Air Cargo Future: This strategic partnership marks a significant step forward for both Softlink Global and the air cargo industry. Softlink Global, already serving a vast client base with over 30 years of experience, brings its renowned technological expertise to the table. With a focus on cutting-edge solutions like Blockchain, Cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Natural Language Processing, Softlink Global aligns perfectly with IATA’s vision for a digitally driven future. “We welcome Softlink to the IATA Strategic Partnerships Program and look forward to their contribution to air cargo’s digitalization. It is priority across the whole value chain,” stated Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. Amit Maheshwari, CEO of Softlink Global, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: “This is clearly the right direction for Softlink Global. We are a tech-driven company, and this partnership allows us to actively contribute to critical initiatives like eFreight, One Record, and future projects under the IATA Strategic Partner umbrella.” Beyond Technology: Expanding Global Reach: Furthermore, Softlink Global sees this partnership as an opportunity to expand its global reach, particularly in the important European market. By actively collaborating with IATA and its members, Softlink Global aims to further its mission of empowering the air cargo industry with cutting-edge technology and solutions.

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FLV invests in Indicold to boost cold chain market in India

Early growth investment fund Fundalogical Ventures (FLV) has announced their first investment in the Pre – Series A round raised by Indicold, a tech enabled cold supply chain company. The funds will be used to focus on tech development, expanding into new geographies and building a strong team. Fundalogical is backed by well-known sponsors such as Krishna Kotak, Chairman of JM Baxi Group, Tushar Jani, Blue Dart Founder, Mehernosh Currawalla of FAK Cargo Dynamics, Khalid Vohra of SAI Shipping and Suryakant Parekh of Polestar & Parekh Group. It is one of the few funds operating at the intersection of early growth, a cusp between VC and PE and focusing on high growth sectors like Supply Chain and Logistics, and peripheral sectors like consumption which are driven by supply chain. The Fund invests in innovative early growth companies with an average investment size of ₹ 20 to 80 Crore, during their investment cycle as a lead or co-investor. Commenting on the investment, Mr. Tushar Jani, Sponsor, Fundalogical Ventures, “With the country’s rapidly expanding demand for efficient cold logistics solutions, we see immense potential for growth in this sector. With huge losses in storage and transportation of temperature-controlled food supply chains, Indicold’s visionary founders and innovative operations will bring value-added propositions to their customers.”

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DHL, NYU release report on global EXIM trade & efficiency

DHL and New York University’s (NYU) Stern School of Business released the new DHL Global Connectedness 2024 to track how flows of trade, capital, information, and people move around the world and measures the globalization of 181 countries and territories. The report reveals that globalization reached a record high in 2022 and remained close to that level in 2023 – despite a series of global shocks over the past decade, including the Covid-19 pandemic, wars in Ukraine and Gaza, the U.S. – China trade conflict, and the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. The evidence strongly rebuts the notion that the growth of global flows has gone into reverse. Trade growth played a crucial role in boosting global connectedness. The share of global output traded internationally was back to a record high level in 2022. After a slowdown in 2023, trade growth is forecast to accelerate in 2024. The globalization of information flows has been especially strong over the past two decades, even though the latest data show a stall in their growth, partly due to less research collaboration between the U.S. and China. Corporate globalization is rising, with companies expanding their international presence and earning more sales abroad. John Pearson, CEO DHL Express, said: “The most recent findings of the DHL Global Connectedness Report unequivocally dispel the notion of globalization reversing course. Far from being a mere buzzword, globalization is an influential force that has profoundly reshaped our world and has further great potential. Expanding markets and fostering opportunities empower individuals, businesses, and entire nations to flourish in unique ways. Embracing globalization allows us and our customers to forge a promising future, fostering an increasingly interconnected world, more prosperous for …

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