Category Archives: Aviation

Hans Infomatic successfully hosted the first-ever AI-focused hackathon for the logistics industry, titled ‘Algnite..Code The Future 2024,’ to bring together software developers and industry experts to explore the transformative role of AI in logistics operations, aiming to boost business efficiency and operational agility. Parvinder Singh, MD, Hans Infomatic along with two other directors, Tajinder Kaur and Padma Handa graced the occasion. Singh also gave a welcome speech and shared the company’s vision behind this initiative. The hackathon featured talented software developers from various regions who showcased their coding skills, building cutting-edge AI applications tailored to the logistics sector. The event was moderated by Rajesh Kumar, General Manager of Hans Infomatic, while Ankush Tyagi, Software Development Manager at Ericsson (Austin, Texas), and Jivtesh Singh, Backend Developer at IBM (Austin, Texas), served as judges to evaluate the innovative AI solutions presented. The event kicked off with discussions on the future potential of AI applications in streamlining logistics processes and optimising supply chain management. Developers competed to craft the best AI-driven solutions for enhancing operational efficiency in areas such as shipment tracking, inventory management, and predictive analytics.

The Domestic Air Cargo Agents Association of India (DACAAI) members held a meeting with Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) to discuss regarding the increasing congestion and hikes in handling charges at the airport terminals across the country for domestic cargo movement. “According to the AERA, there’s a regulatory body for commercials, but there’s no official body to monitor the performance of the cargo terminals, or to ensure seamless domestic cargo movement. The domestic cargo agents are pleading the airport authorities to help move the cargo, which, is due to congestion getting delayed despite the customers paying high freight rates for faster deliveries. In this regard, the enraged agents are urging for a fast and concrete solution to this quagmire.”  

The Indian Railways has unveiled the first look of the Vande Cargo Train, a significant advancement in the country’s logistics and transportation sector. This innovative freight train aims to revolutionise the way parcels are transported, drawing inspiration from the efficiency of air travel. With the promise of streamlined delivery processes akin to that of an airplane, the Vande Cargo Train is set to enhance the movement of goods across the nation. The introduction of the Vande Cargo Train comes on the heels of several other ambitious projects by the Indian Railways, including the Vande Bharat Express, Amrit Bharat Train, and Vande Metro Train.

Nihar Parida, Air Cargo Consultant says, “ In the Indian context, expanding the Open Sky Policy for air cargo is an essential step toward improving the nation’s logistics network, boosting export efficiency, and enhancing global competitiveness. It aligns well with India’s broader economic ambitions and has the potential to transform India into a key player in global air cargo logistics, provided there is concurrent investment in infrastructure and technology.” He adds, At the same time India should carefully consider the scope of an Open Sky Policy for air cargo, balancing the potential benefits of increased efficiency and global connectivity with the risks of market saturation, security concerns, and the need to protect domestic airlines and infrastructure. A more calibrated approach—allowing selective access to foreign airlines, strengthening domestic infrastructure, and ensuring national security—may be a wiser strategy for fostering long-term growth in the air cargo sector. India should keep in Mind: 1. Impact on Domestic Airlines and Logistics Companies 2. Risk of Overcapacity and Market Saturation 3. Security Concerns 4. Underdeveloped Infrastructure 5. Regulatory and Operational Complexities 6. Economic Imbalance a. Asymmetrical Trade Benefits: Many foreign airlines may use Indian airports as hubs to transport cargo between other countries, rather than primarily serving Indian exporters or importers. This may not result in significant economic benefits for India in terms of job creation or local investment. b. Revenue Loss: If Indian airlines lose market share to foreign competitors, it could result in a loss of revenue for the domestic aviation industry and reduce the potential for job growth within India. 7. Strategic Economic Protection: Some degree of protectionism may be necessary to ensure that key industries, such as logistics and aviation, remain …

Time critical forwarder time:matters has partnered with cargo.one on the use of its online booking platform. The partnership will give time:matters’ team the ability to quote and book capacity from over 60 airlines on a 24/7 basis, which the company hopes will reduce the time it takes to quote. “The significant savings in team time allows the company to redeploy its logistics experts to focus on more complex, customer-facing tasks,” the company said. The platform will be implemented across time:matters’ offices in the US, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Singapore and China. Lars Krosch, chief operating officer at time:matters, said, “By further digitalising our buying rate process and leveraging more agile quotation and booking capabilities with cargo.one, we are taking another significant step towards enhancing our customer experience. This partnership is in line with our long-term strategy to strengthen our competitiveness, improve the efficiency of our teams and deliver continuously more value to our customers.”

  Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLM) launched a new freighter to Hong Kong after as carriers are moving capacity to the Asia Pacific market to capitalise on strong cargo demand. The flight was operated by Martinair on behalf of KLM between Schiphol and Hong Kong utilising a 110 tonne capacity Boeing 747-400 freighter. The service will initially operate three times per week before increasing to four weekly flights at the start of the winter season on October 27.

Ground handler SATS and freight forwarder Sinotrans will work together to add a series of new airfreight hubs. The two companies said the partnership will see them create gateway hubs for Sinotrans’ airfreight arm, Sinoair, in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Belgium. Sinoair currently has regular charters operating between China, Liege and Dubai International Airport and is looking to expand further to the rest of the world. They are also in talks for SATS to manage Sinoair’s new e-commerce hub in the Chinese city of Hangzhou, expected to be ready in 2026. “This Memorandum of Understanding will pave the way for the two companies to create long-term sustainable value for their respective stakeholders by working together in some of the world’s busiest and most important airports,” the new partners said. SATS chief executive of gateway services Bob Chi said, “We look forward to working with Sinoair to leverage our respective networks to give customers even better global network connectivity to and from China, which has one of the world’s fastest growing air transportation sectors, to cities worldwide.”

TVS Industrial & Logistics Parks (TVS ILP) announced its expansion into Kerala with the acquisition of a new state-of-the-art facility in Kochi. Spanning a built-up area of 3 lakh sq. ft., this positions TVS ILP as the first Pan-India developer to enter the Kerala market, further cementing its status as a pioneer in delivering Grade A industrial infrastructure across the country. Situated on a 10-acre plot in Edayar, Kerala, the warehouse’s strategic location offers excellent connectivity to customers. Kochi, the largest and most populous city in Kerala, plays a crucial role as a major port on the western coast of India. Its strategic location is bolstered by excellent connectivity, served by major highways, and proximity to the Cochin International Airport. The city’s emergence as a significant consumption hub has propelled the rise of online platforms, making it an ideal destination for warehousing solutions tailored to meet the evolving needs of the FMCG and e-commerce sectors. TVS ILP’s new Kochi Park is designed with a focus on operational efficiency and sustainability. The facility features ample parking areas suitable for 24/7 operations, a high clear height of 12 meters, LED lighting, and facilities equipped with solar panel installations. The FM2 flooring offers a load-carrying capacity of 5MT/sq. m (UDL), with roofs designed to maximize natural daylight. Additionally, the park adheres to National Building Code of India (NBC) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) standards and is equipped with a fire sprinkler system, fire storage tanks, a comprehensive storm water drain system, and a centralized security building with CCTV surveillance to ensure a secure environment that aligns with global standards. Aditi Kumar, Executive Director, TVS ILP, said, “Our expansion into Kerala represents a …

  Rahim Bhimani Sr VP air cargo practice, Kale Logistics Solutions says, “The biggest challenge is real-time temperature monitoring by all stakeholders. Integrating data loggers with Cargo Community Systems, such as ACS and PCS, allows for seamless tracking of both movement and temperature. Drones are particularly effective in last-mile delivery to remote or congested areas, minimizing the risk of temperature excursions and spoilage. Additionally, AI and ML can optimize routes and predict potential disruptions by analyzing historical data, ensuring more efficient and reliable logistics operations.”

  Pramod Sant, Director General, FFFAI says, “Skilling is the need of the hour. Skilling in cold chain is critical. People who are handling the supply chain, they are not fully trained they lack the talent and skill so you face the challenges in the area of the skill also and in each area you need to be handling it in a really separate way and at the same time between each area how you look at the collaboration is very. These challenges could be overcome by the technology, it can help in temperature maintaining and ensuring that the cold there are no gaps in cold chain.”