Category Archives: Aviation

According to IATA, seasonal demand, front loading of shipments to avoid tariffs and lower fuel prices helped air cargo demand rise again in April, but airlines need to remain ready for trade changes, IATA has warned. The trade association said that total demand, measured in cargo tonne km (CTK), rose by 5.8% year on year. Month-on-month, demand also rose by 2.3%. Demand rose 4.4% year on year in March due to front loading of cargo. Fashion and consumer goods are typically shipped between April and June, ahead of the summer retail cycle, supporting these numbers. Moreover, front-loading aimed at avoiding the upcoming US tariff change on 2 May, 2025, regarding lifting of the de minimis allowance, contributed as well,” said IATA in its Air Cargo Market Analysis for April. Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne km (ACTK), increased by 6.3%. The cargo load factor (CLF)—measured as CTK divided by ACTK—stood at 43.9%, a 0.2 percentage point decline compared to April 2024.

Zeeshan Mukhi, Vice President – Freight Forwarding, Subcontinent DP World said, “Significant investments are being channelled into specialised warehousing for high-growth segments like e-commerce, perishables, and pharmaceuticals, creating new opportunities for Indian exporters and strengthening domestic supply chains. While growth prospects are strong, challenges persist in multimodal connectivity and last-mile logistics. Addressing these gaps, DP World has developed an integrated ecosystem comprising 3 free trade warehousing zones, 5 million square feet of warehousing space, and a 15,000-pincode express network. As India’s one of the largest private rail freight operator with 16,000+ containers and 7 inland terminals, the company is enhancing critical connectivity between ports, airports, and hinterland markets. Private sector efforts complement government initiatives like the UDAN 5.0 scheme which is upgrading cargo infrastructure at 24+ Tier 2/3 city airports. The convergence of public and private investment is creating seamless logistics solutions that boost India’s trade competitiveness. With the air cargo sector projected to maintain its double-digit growth trajectory, these coordinated developments position India to capitalize on shifting global supply chains and meet rising demand for efficient freight solutions.”

Lufthansa Cargo has introduced a new AI-driven system to speed up how it processes booking requests. By combining AI with robotic process automation, the airline can now automatically extract booking details from unstructured customer emails and input them directly into its system, removing the need for manual entry. Customers then receive immediate, fully automated booking confirmations instead of waiting for manual processing. While most bookings already come through structured digital platforms, Lufthansa still receives many requests in formats such as plain text or file attachments. Previously, these had to be transferred manually. The new system eliminates that step, making the booking process quicker and reducing the chance of errors. Sales teams benefit from fewer repetitive tasks, giving them more time to interact personally with customers instead of managing administrative duties.

  According to WorldACD Market Data, “Global air cargo volumes saw a notable recovery in mid-May, with a 6 per cent week-on-week (WoW) increase in tonnages during week 20 (12–18 May), largely driven by a resurgence from Asia Pacific. This rebound follows a recent softening of US-China trade tensions and the end of holiday disruptions in Japan and South Korea.” According to the data, the majority of the global tonnage gain came from China, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea. Japan recorded a sharp 60% WoW increase and South Korea rose by 21%, both bouncing back from public holidays. Meanwhile, volumes from China and Hong Kong rose by 8% WoW, spurred by an interim US-China agreement that reversed or delayed new tariffs and softened restrictions on low-value imports. As a result, shipments from China and Hong Kong to the US surged 19% WoW, returning to levels seen before the recent slump caused by tariff hikes.

Panattoni announced its expansion plan for Panattoni Park, Hosur I, a 25-acre development in Hosur, Tamil Nadu. Located in Hosur, Panattoni Park, Hosur I spans over 25 acres (approximately 11 lakh sq. ft.), with Phase 1 featuring a built-up area of 550,000 sq. ft. Construction is set to begin in the third quarter of 2025, with completion expected in the second quarter of 2026. Designed to global standards, Panattoni Park, Hosur I will cater to a diverse mix of occupiers — from e-commerce and 3PL players to FMCG and manufacturing companies — offering scalable, high-performance infrastructure built to Grade A specifications. The development will also integrate sustainable building practices, aligned with Panattoni’s global ESG commitment. Situated just 50 km from Bangalore’s Central Business District (MG Road) and 11 km from Hosur Town, Panattoni Park, Hosur I offers exceptional access to major transit routes.It lies only 5 km from National Highway 44 (Bangalore – Chennai Highway), 4 km from the Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR), and 7 km from SIPCOT Phase 2, enabling direct connectivity to established industrial ecosystems and logistics corridors. The project’s location leverages Hosur’s growing reputation as a hub for automotive and EV manufacturing, making it an attractive proposition for companies seeking proximity to Bengaluru with the benefit of cost-efficient real estate and access to a skilled workforce.

“India has recognised the importance of expanding its domestic air cargo ecosystem beyond just the metro cities and that is where Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities are starting to play a much bigger role,” Amit Tandon, MD, Asia Shipping India. He added, “One of the most impactful initiatives has been the UDAN scheme, which focuses on improving regional air connectivity. Under this, many smaller airports have been upgraded to handle not just passenger traffic but also cargo—especially for sectors like agriculture, pharma and e-commerce that need faster, more efficient logistics. More airports are being developed under this scheme as greenfield projects. A strong momentum is also seen through PMGS and NLP initiatives, both of which prioritise developing multimodal logistics infrastructure in non-metro regions. These efforts are aimed at linking regional production hubs, like textile clusters, industrial parks and agri zones, to national and international markets via air. The increasing connectivity of the moffusil airports to the gateway airports also improves the efficiency of the export activity for the perishable products. What is promising is the growing investment in infrastructure like modern and well-equipped warehouses, temperature-controlled storage, digital cargo tracking, and bonded warehousing, at regional airports.  Private players are also stepping in, which is helping to accelerate the process. Furthermore, cities like Indore, Lucknow, Coimbatore, and Guwahati and other export centres are already emerging as cargo nodes, and this trend is only going to strengthen with the passage of time. It’s a big step forward for inclusive trade growth and building a truly nationwide logistics network.”

Blue Dart Express announced its financial results for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2025, following the conclusion of its Board Meeting which was held in Mumbai. In a fiscal year which was shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, macroeconomic volatility, and sectoral challenges, the company delivered a stable performance, underscoring its operational resilience and ability to maintain service continuity across markets. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, Blue Dart reported revenue from operations of ₹ 5,720 crore and profit after tax of ₹ 245 crore. For the quarter ended March 31, 2025 (Q4 FY25), revenue from operations stood at ₹ 1,417 crore. Profit after tax for the quarter stood at ₹ 53 crore. Commenting on the announcement, Balfour Manuel, Managing Director, Blue Dart Express, said, “Our focus in FY25 was on delivering consistency, maintaining service quality, and enhancing our offering strength with significant investments towards our aviation capabilities and infrastructure, an approach that will continue as we gear up for the future. With a long-term perspective on these investments, we remain committed to reinforcing our core, adopting technology for efficiency, and delivering reliable service. Several of these investments are front-loaded, and we anticipate upcoming business growth to drive cost optimization. As we look ahead to FY26, we remain cautiously optimistic amid ongoing external uncertainties. Nonetheless, Blue Dart will continue to invest in expanding our network, advancing digital capabilities, and embedding sustainable practices to drive long-term operational strength to enhance service capabilities, deepen customer trust, and build operational resilience.” In the fiscal year gone by, Blue Dart was recognized for excellence across key areas including customer service, sustainability, compliance, and brand loyalty. The company continued to be recognized as …

Jeena and Company has expanded its storage infrastructure at Bhiwandi, Mumbai facility. The Bhiwandi warehouse, which spans over 1.10 Lakh square feet, has a clear centre height of 50 feet and 30 feet shoulder height, providing a high-volume, scalable logistics environment. The facility design includes G+7 and G+6 heavy-duty pallet racking system, G+7 multi-tier shelving system. The warehouse also offers 2 forklifts, 2 stackers, and 14 hand pallet trollies. Its flexible design aims to allow optimised storage space thereby, empowering sellers to boost their business. This capacity expansion includes a 20% increase in storage capacity, adding over 1000 additional pallet positions through heavy duty racking. Additional 16,000 new location bins have been added to manage high volume freight and expand storage capabilities. Jeena’s Bhiwandi facility features a spiral chute to handle gravity-fed material for swift movement of smaller consignments from upper floors to the ground, cancelling operative disruptions between the packaging and dispatch process. Speaking on the development Prediman Koul, Chief Executive Officer, Jeena & Companysaid, “Evolution is an essential to our business. This capacity expansion at our Bhiwandi facility is meant to further streamline operations and reduce turnaround time. We are conscious of keeping ahead of the times and upgrading ourselves as per customer requirements. Proactive investment in infrastructure and technology helps us to offer ease and convenience to our partners.” Jeena is a leading third-party, end-to-end logistics service provider offering tech-enabled inventory management, pick, pack and all value adds, management of e-commerce operations and box in box out. The company also offers ambient temperature control and bonded FTWZ facilities (Free Trade Warehousing Zone).

In a move that reaffirms its deep-rooted partnership and commitment to India’s logistics sector, CJ Logistics Corporation, South Korea’s largest logistics company, has further infused USD 32 million as a combination of Primary and Secondary transaction into CJ Darcl Logistics Ltd. (CJ Darcl), one of India’s leading integrated logistics service providers, increasing its equity stake from 50% to 56%. The investment is aimed at strengthening CJ Darcl’s capital base and powering its next phase of growth. The funds will be strategically directed to accelerate its nationwide expansion across multimodal logistics infrastructure—spanning terminals, advanced warehousing, digital supply chain solutions, and alternative fuel platforms. CJ Logistics and CJ Darcl forged their partnership in 2017 through a strategic partnership, when the KOSPI listed Korean logistics giant acquired 50% stake in DARCL Logistics Ltd., later rebranded as CJ Darcl Logistics Ltd. The remaining 44% stakecontinues to be held by the founding Darcl Promoters and affiliates, reflecting continued alignment and stability in ownership. Mr. K.K. Agarwal, Chairman and Managing Director, CJ Darcl Logistics Ltd., commented, “This investment underscores CJ Logistics Corporation’s strong belief in our vision and performance. It is a testament to the trust we have built over the years and to our shared mission of transforming India’s logistics landscape. The capital will enable us to scale our integrated offerings, invest in next-generation technologies, and drive sustainable growth. We are creating a future-ready logistics enterprise that blends Indian depth with global excellence.”

The year 2025 has seen growth to begin with. For 2024 -2025 financial year we ended with 100000 TEU’s and are expecting significant growth in 25-26. We are currently expanding capacity,” says Malcolm Dsouza, CEO, KSH Distriparks, adding, “Adding additional capacity with a new yard in Talegaon. Expected launch in Nov 2025. We are increasing our existing fleet size by an additional 20 per cent of our own and 40 per cent increase in the vendor’s fleet.”