Category Archives: Aviation

Taiwan-based STARLUX Airlines has placed a firm order for five all-new A350F freighters and three more A330neo widebody aircraft to expand global operations. The agreement was signed by KW Chang, Chairman, STARLUX Airlines and Christian Scherer, CEO, Commercial Aircraft business, Airbus, said an official release from Airbus. “STARLUX Airlines has continuously nurtured the cargo market since its inception, capitalizing on the strategic advantages offered by Taiwan’s geographical location,” says Glenn Chai, CEO, STARLUX. “With this order, STARLUX will become the first Taiwanese airline to operate the next-generation A350F widebody freighter. In an era of climate change, the A350F has unbeatable efficiency in terms of fuel burn, CO2 emissions and economics, offering significant energy-saving and carbon reduction benefits. It not only meets customer requirements for carbon reduction but also aligns with STARLUX’s ESG plan to achieve zero emissions by 2050. Additionally, the three new A330neos will strengthen our fleet advantage and provide greater flexibility for passenger operations.” Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, EVP, Sales, Commercial Aircraft, Airbus adds, “We love working with STARLUX Airlines in building and strengthening its fleet. Operating both the latest generation Airbus single aisle and widebody aircraft brings the airline enormous benefits. It significantly reduces fuel consumption and carbon emission and offers unrivalled levels of technical commonality, benefits in maintenance and training. The A350F, the only new generation large freighter, will fit seamlessly into this all-Airbus fleet and enable STARLUX Airlines to compete effectively with the leading players in key cargo markets.”

Geodis has completed a complex air cargo transport project featuring oversized thermo-compressors that involved 13 flights over seven days using an Antonov AN-124, the world’s largest cargo aircraft. The just-in-time logistics operation entailed transporting 249 pieces of oversized, overweight cargo totalling 776 tons and 4,455 cu m to southeast Colombia. Geodis originally planned to mobilise the cargo in Cartagena and transport it to the end destination via the La Orquídea Bridge in Boyacá, the only road transport option for freight of this size and weight along the route. However, when the bridge collapsed in August last year, Geodis had to develop and execute an alternative solution to transport the cargo via air. “With 13 total flights, including a long international journey and 12 domestic trips, this unprecedented operation faced consistent challenges to overcome,” said Carlos Palacios, manager director of Geodis in Colombia. “Despite the complexities, our team at Geodis and our collaborators—including Antonov, the Colombian Air Force and the individual airports involved—were able to successfully come together to keep essential materials moving across the country at a critical time for our client’s operations.” Geodis identified the Antonov AN-124 as the only aircraft option that would be large enough to mobilise the cargo given its extra dimension and weight characteristics. The planning process included securing the aircraft given its limited availability amid the Russia–Ukraine conflict and its use in humanitarian aid operations.

CHAMP Cargosystems has added a new service that will enable companies transporting e-commerce shipments to comply with the European Union’s latest ICS2 rules. The Traxon Global eCommerce (TGE) service will address the requirements of cargo pre-load security filings and pre-arrival filings for e-commerce shipments under ICS2. CHAMP said the latest phase of increased ICS2 requirements demands reporting at the House Air Waybill (HAWB) level, with the “added complexity that each commodity must be reported separately”. “This poses potential risks for the e-commerce industry if air carriers, freight forwarders, express courier service providers or postal operators do not ensure they have the processes or technology in place to respond to these new requirements,” they added. The service consolidates information from the sender and generates outputs in formats specified by relevant governmental agencies, CHAMP said. CHAMP chief executive Chris McDermott explained, “CHAMP’s portfolio is built on its open neo platform, enabling quick development, launch and integration with other CHAMP or third-party services. TGE is a fantastic tool, that will help air cargo businesses to expand into new markets, capitalize on the opportunity of e-commerce, and avoid costly delays by ensuring regulatory compliance quickly and cost-effectively.” The company said that the system would be updated as more pre-load and advance filing initiatives are adopted and it can link with other Traxon products and services.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen collaboration to support the growth of aviation in the Asia-Pacific region. Under the MOU, CAAS and IATA will work together on initiatives in the areas of aviation sustainability, air traffic management, aviation safety and aviation training. The MOU was signed by Mr Han Kok Juan, Director-General of CAAS, and Mr Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA. The key initiatives under the MOU include: (i) Aviation Sustainability Development of initiatives to advance sustainable aviation for Singapore and the Asia-Pacific region. These include the development of a Sustainable Aviation Fuels accounting and reporting system. (ii) Air Traffic Management Development and implementation of a regional training cooperation framework to improve regional air navigation services performance. (iii) Aviation Safety Development of solutions and provision of operational safety data and expertise to support the identification and mitigation of safety risks, including through data-driven safety initiatives. (iv)Aviation Training Development and provision of training courses and assistance to local and international trainees.

LATAM Cargo, part of LATAM group, announced its successful re-certification by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics (CEIV Pharma). “Being the first airline in the Americas to achieve this certification in 2017, the company has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining high industry standards by securing recertification once again for their airline operations as well as their handling operations (GHA) in Miami, highlighting its continued dedication to excellence in pharmaceutical transportation,” says an official release. During 2023, the carrier renovated and improved its cold chain facilities and carried out a comprehensive technological upgrade on all existing equipment in the cold storage warehouses, accompanied by significant improvements in doors and electric forklifts to ensure the optimal delivery of products requiring precise temperature control, the release added. To add further value and align with the group’s sustainability strategy aimed at reducing carbon footprint, the refrigerant used in all coolers has been replaced, resulting in a 65 percent reduction in CO2 emissions from warehouses. “I am delighted to announce that the assessment was concluded with 100 percent compliance and zero findings, further validating our meticulous approach to compliance and the effectiveness of our quality management systems,” says Diego Garcia, COO, LATAM Cargo Chile. “This recertification is not just about our achievements but underscores the spirit of collaboration that defines LATAM Cargo, solidifying our position as trusted leaders in pharmaceutical transportation in the Latin American region. This reaffirmed commitment aims to satisfy our clients better, ensuring that their needs are met with the highest standards of safety and reliability.”

FedEx Express is expanding its footprint in the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa (MEISA) by establishing a state-of-the-art hub at Dubai World Central (DWC) Airport in Dubai South. The facility was officially inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, along with Raj Subramaniam, FedEx Corporation President and CEO, Richard W. Smith, FedEx Express President and CEO, Airline and International, and Kami Viswanathan, FedEx Express MEISA President. This new FedEx regional hub marks a long-term investment of more than USD 350 million, focusing on infrastructure, and technological advancements. This investment reaffirms our commitment to revolutionize its operations with cutting-edge technology and innovative practices. “The establishment of our new regional hub significantly enhances our presence and capabilities in the MEISA region. This investment is not just about infrastructure expansion; it will contribute to improve the region’s connectivity and play a key role in facilitating global trade and commerce,” said Richard W. Smith, FedEx Express President and Chief Executive Officer, Airline and International. Given the role of the UAE and Dubai in global trade, our regional hub not only aims to serve the MEISA region, which accounts for approximately 45% of the world’s population and includes key markets like India and Saudi Arabia but is also a crucial part of our global air network that connects more than 220 countries and territories.” “This hub is a significant step forward towards our vision of building smarter and more sustainable supply chains for everyone. Integrating the latest physical infrastructure with digital capabilities powered by artificial intelligence, it enables us to improve efficiency and provide our customers with …

WestJet will this year target digital investments in cargo as well as network and product expansion following the launch of freighter operations last year. The Canada-based combination carrier’s cargo business said that in 2024 it would launch a new website “in anticipation of a shift towards more self-service options”. WestJet Cargo added that it would also look to launch new digital partnerships with the possible addition of its capacity to a digital marketplace. “Our priority focus is on delivering reliable solutions to our customers. To achieve this, we’re applying our unique corporate mindset to three main areas this year. 2024 will see WestJet Cargo continue building and expanding its strategic partnerships, further diversifying its product mix, and implementing our digital roadmap with respect to online marketplaces and a new website.” said Kirsten de Bruijn, executive vice president, cargo at WestJet. “Digital innovation will also focus on solutions for enhanced efficiency and service delivery, including the possible implementation of advanced technologies within its cargo operations,” the carrier said. On network, the airline is adding a bellyhold flight to Seoul in May and will upgrade its Narita service to year-round. WestJet Cargo will also continue to invest in its people, focusing on career development, diversity, and inclusion, the company added.

Leading Indian GSSA, Aerosail in a strategic partnership with ACL AIRSHOP enters into Indian market to expand its network and stations. “AIRSHOP has entered Indian market at a time when India is witnessing substantial growth in aircraft orders and increases in both passenger and cargo flights. It is the right time for ACL Airshop to enter the Indian market. ACL AIRSHOP continues the strategic growth of its worldwide network of hub stations. COVID delayed our entry to the Indian market, and now we are delighted to have this strategic alliance with our AEROSAIL colleagues. Mr. van Terheijden said in a LinkedIn post “We have tripled our network across the world, now we have excellent coverage in Mumbai, and more growth is planned.”

Indian carrier, Air India has chosen BLR Airport as its hub in South India, marking a significant expansion of its international flight operations. Also, Air India signed an MOU for the development of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Facilities with both Narrow-Body and Wide-Body capabilities at BLR Airport. This not only enhances Bengaluru’s global connectivity but also strengthens the partnership between BLR Airport and Air India. “As the first of many initiatives, Air India signed an MOU for the development of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Facilities with both Narrow-Body and Wide-Body capabilities at BLR Airport. TATA Advanced Systems Limited will set up Aircraft Modifications and Defence MRO, Indigenous Gun Manufacturing and R&D Projects in Karnataka. This partnership not only underscores BIAL’s unwavering commitment to providing world-class infrastructure but also aligns seamlessly with the Government of India and Ministry of Civil Aviation’s vision to foster multiple aviation hubs across the nation. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Karnataka for their steadfast support and commend Air India and Tata Advanced Systems Limited for choosing BIAL as their partner in this endeavour,” says Hari Marar, MD and CEO – Bangalore International Airport Limited, in an official LinkedIn Post.

Scandron Pvt. Ltd. becomes the first company in India to receive a DGCA Type Certification for Logistics Drone, the CargoMax 500HE. This historic milestone achievement demonstrates Scandron’s commitment to technological innovation with drones and its commitment to ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements to ensure safe drone operations. With this certification, Scandron is uniquely positioned to revolutionize logistics and supply chain management, enabling efficient and timely delivery for companies that are adopting drones in their supply chain. The launch of a DGCA Type Approved Logistics Drone facilitates critical medical deliveries to remote regions, streamlines e-commerce logistics, and enhances mid and last-mile delivery. Scandron recently entered into a strategic partnership with CriticaLog India to offercomprehensive B2B and hub-to-hub drone delivery solutions across 160 Indian cities. Receiving DGCA Type Certification for the CargoMax 500HE Logistics drone enables Scandron and Criticalog to operationalize their partnership and introduce innovative drone-based logistics solutions to the market. This partnership leverages Scandron’s CargoMax series of logistics drones manufactured in its Bengaluru facility and CriticaLog’s expertise in logistics to enhance delivery services in various sectors, including healthcare, e-commerce, and NFO.