Category Archives: Aviation

Nirmala Sitharaman, Hon’ble Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs presented the path-breaking, budget of ‘Amrit Kaal,’ i.e., next 25 years. Key highlights for cargo and logistics sector include- 50 additional airports, heliports, aerodromes in India, Rs. 75,000 crores for upgrading transportation infrastructure. Nearly Rs. 2.4 lakh crores were earmarked for development of Indian Railways, a special package will be allotted for MSME sector and start-ups, three new centers for Artificial Intelligence (AI), and new pharmaceutical research and storage centres. Other focus areas include multimodal infrastructural development by creating more dedicated freight corridors, improving connectivity by road, rail, and sea, and enabling technology driven solutions for improved visibility across the supply chain to accelerate and sustain GDP growth.

Hong-Kong headquartered GSSA TAM Group has expanded business operations with the opening of three offices in southeast Asia. In response to growing demand in the region, TAM Group has embarked on joint ventures with Thailand’s GP Group and Vietnam’s TP Cargo Transport Services to launch offices in Bangkok, Thailand and Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in Vietnam. TAM Group said: “The move signifies a return to normality for Asia-Pacific’s aviation industry as the world looks beyond the COVID-19 pandemic and into the future. While the global economy has been hampered by multiple headwinds, the region is set to continue along the path to recovery, thanks to burgeoning global and regional free trade agreements.” In Thailand, TAM Group has partnered with GP Group, a Thailand-based strategic investment group with companies in diverse sectors, from logistics and pharmaceuticals to aviation and technology. In Thailand, one of the first partners is Swan Hellenic, a British cruise line specialising in expedition tours of historical or cultural interest aimed at the higher end of the cruise market. Meanwhile in Vietnam, TAM Group’s partner is cargo GSA/GSSA operator TP Cargo Transport Services. Additionally, TAM Group was selected by China Cargo Airlines (CK) as the representative company for the carrier, effective early 2023. CK will operate four flights each week between Hanoi and Shanghai and one weekly flight between Ho Chi Minh City and Kunming.

We are getting a second Airbus aircraft in the first quarter of this year. We are looking forward to receive two more freighters at the end of the year,” says Vipul Bhalla, Chief Business Officer, Pradhan Air Express. “We want to offer holistic services to our customers. We might start cross border e-commerce service looking at the traffic. We also hope to work with like-minded agencies to see how this aircraft can assist in relief operations and in other sorts of contingencies where you have to at that time incorporate aircraft from outside. Certainly, having a narrow body single aisle aircraft based in India with an Indian flag can help in that aspect.”

Air France Martinair, part of the KLM Group, has placed a firm order with Airbus for four new A350F freighter aircraft. Martinair is the operating carrier for KLM Cargo. The four A350Fs emit over 40% less CO2 and make 50% less noise than their predecessors. The new aircraft will replace the current Boeing 747 freighters from the second half of 2026. The A350F is the freighter version of the A350. It is fitted with an extra-large cargo deck. Lighter materials have been used wherever possible to keep take-off weight to a minimum. Last April saw Air France-KLM make the announcement that it will finalize its order with Airbus for four new generation A350F freighters, following the earlier commitment announced in December 2021. In combination with the efficient Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, this considerably improves performance in terms of CO2 emissions and noise pollution. This aircraft is suitable for carrying a range of cargo, including fresh produce, express shipments, pharmaceuticals, horses, and oversized cargo. The maximum payload of the chosen configuration is 108 tonnes.

IndoSpace has received an investment of US$205 million from Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments). The investment marks the first close for IndoSpace Logistics Parks IV (ILP IV), the company’s fourth development vehicle, targeting US$600 million of total equity commitments. This is the latest venture between CPP Investments and IndoSpace. The first joint venture, IndoSpace Core, was established in 2017 and now owns the largest portfolio of stabilized modern logistics assets in India. CPP Investments has also invested in ILP III. Following the investment in ILP IV, the partnership will exceed US$1 billion in assets. ILP IV will add an additional 25-30 million square feet to the IndoSpace portfolio, furthering IndoSpace’s leading position in the Indian market. ILP IV will focus on India’s largest logistics real estate markets: Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Pune. The establishment of ILP IV follows on from the first three development funds, which have a combined total of 56 million square feet of modern logistics real estate in India. Hari Krishna V, Managing Director, Head of Real Estate India, CPP Investments, said, “Over the past few years, we have made numerous investments in India’s industrial space, where we see strong demand as the manufacturing sector continues to grow and the e-commerce sector matures. We are pleased to be working with our longstanding partner IndoSpace to further capitalize on opportunities in this space and believe this investment will deliver strong risk adjusted returns for CPP contributors and beneficiaries.”

Air France-KLM ordered three Airbus SE A350-900 passenger aircraft for Air France and four A350F full freighter aircraft to be operated by Martinair on behalf of KLM Cargo as the Franco-Dutch airline group pushes to modernize its fleet and reduce carbon emission. The group said that the A350-900 passenger aircraft would be based at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, bringing Air France’s A350-900 fleet to 41. Deliveries for the A350s, which will replace previous-generation aircraft, are slated for 2024. The A350F full freighter aircraft will be based at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, with deliveries to Martinair expected as of the second half of 2026. Financial details weren’t disclosed.

US cargo airline Ameriflight has placed an order for 20 Natilus Kona autonomous feeder cargo aircraft valued at $134m. Ameriflight has become the first regional US carrier to sign an Aircraft Purchase Agreement with Natilus. The agreement brings total commitments for Natilus aircraft to $6.8bn – for delivery of 460+ aircraft. Other orders are from companies including Volatus Aerospace, Astral Aviation, Aurora, Dymond and Flexport. Ameriflight is the largest Part 135 cargo airline in the US, serving 200 destinations throughout the US, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and South America. The airline’s primary business is moving high-priority airfreight to and from remote areas for overnight express carriers. UPS is its largest customer. “Through this strategic partnership, we are positioning Ameriflight to build the roadmap for the future in cargo operations and be the first regional operator for Natilus in the United States,” said Alan Rusinowitz, president and chief operating officer of Ameriflight. “Our goal is to grow our product and transform the way we do business through innovation and collaboration, and now through this new partnership with Natilus, Ameriflight will connect the world safely within a sustainable business model.”

Vipin Vohra, Chairman, Continental Carriers shares his expectations from the upcoming budget. He says, “With the launch of National Logistics Policy in 2022 under PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, Logistics industry has high expectations from Budget 2023, which aims at reduction of Logistics cost from 14% of GDP to 8% -10% of the GDP. It is expected that the Budget 2023 will continue with its thrust on infrastructure development both at Airport and off-Airport locations in the form of Air Freight Stations in accordance with AFS Policy inviting healthy competition among the Cargo handling players making Air Cargo affordable so as to improve the global competitiveness of the Indian industry in the world market. Budget-2023 should propose Warehousing and Logistics policy at centre level including PLI and other incentive(s)/subsidies with an option for the states to further liberalise it considering the local scenario.”

Air India SATS Airport Services (AISATS), has been selected by Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) to Design, Build, Finance, Operate & Maintain a Greenfield Logistics Park at the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR Airport / KIAB) for a period of 15 years. The upcoming Logistics Park to be developed on 8.2 acres will be a world-class warehousing facility comprising of a General Warehouse, Bonded Warehouse, Consolidation Centre, Cold-Storage Facility, Office Spaces and other amenities such as Bank / ATM Facility, Business Centre, Cafeteria etc. AISATS will also provide value-added services including manpower and equipment rentals on an hourly or pay-per-use basis for Loading/Offloading, Labelling, Packaging, Bulk-Breaking etc.

Air Canada Cargo is continuing to expand its freighter operation with the addition of two new destinations. The carrier will add flights using its B767 freighters to Liege next month and to Basel in April. Air Canada Cargo will operate flights twice per week to Liege, with service increasing to three flights per week later in the year. Basel will see two flights per week. They will originate in Toronto and have a stop in Halifax. Liege has become one of Europe’s largest cargo airports in recent years by targeting freighter operations, while Basel is a major centre for pharmaceuticals. Matthieu Casey, managing director, commercial at Air Canada Cargo, said: “Air Canada Cargo continues to expand its freighter network to provide customers with reliable, year-round service that connects key European markets with Air Canada and Air Canada Cargo’s global network through its Toronto hub.”