Category Archives: Aviation

MSC Mediterranean Shipping (MSC) has launched its air cargo operations with first Boeing 777 freighter with Atlas Air as its operating partner. Atlas Air will operate the freighter on behalf of MSC. “We are delighted to see the first of our MSC-branded aircraft take to the skies and we are looking forward to start serving the market with our new air cargo solution,” said Jannie Davel, vice-president of air cargo at MSC in an official statement. “We believe that MSC Air Cargo is developing from a solid foundation thanks to the reliable ongoing support of our operating partner Atlas.” The aircraft was delivered as part of a long-term aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance agreement between the Purchase, New York-based Atlas and MSC, which is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. It is the first of four new 777-200Fs that Atlas will operate for MSC, which is eyeing an expansion into the booming post-pandemic air cargo market driven largely by high ocean shipping rates and the broad shift to online shopping,” Davel added.

LATAM Cargo and DSV will increase the frequency of their freighter partnership operating out of Huntsville as they look to capitalise on demand to South America. The partners started the service five months ago with a once-a-week flight on Mondays between the US airport and Viracopos in Brazil utilising a B767-300F, said release. The operation will now be expanded to three times per week with the addition of flights on Wednesdays and Fridays. LATAM said that Huntsville is an “optimal origin and destination point, given its great connectivity both within the US and to international markets in Asia, Europe and South America”. Mads Ravn, Executive vice president of DSV, said, “With the addition of two additional frequencies to the DSV Charter Network, we will now be able to offer unmatched transit times from the US south east as well as in-transit cargo from Asia and Europe. LATAM Cargo’s agile approach, to adapt to our customer’s needs in a challenging market has been instrumental. With the option to connect to LATAM’s network in South America, we offer our customers faster transit time and savings on trucking to Miami by stopping at the DSV Hub in Huntsville, Alabama for direct uplift to all of Latin America.”

The cargo division of Etihad Aviation Group achieved IATA CEIV Pharma recertification following an audit by independent validators that assessed the carrier’s capacity to control and enhance its processes through a checklist that focused on Etihad Cargo’s Quality Management System incorporating supplier management, training programmes, processes and procedures, audit programmes, and quality enhancement, among others, said official release. Achieving recertification demonstrates Etihad Cargo’s and its dedicated pharmaceutical transportation product PharmaLife’s full compliance with specific pharmaceutical regulations, including IATA Temperature Control Regulations (TCR), Good Distribution Practices (GDP), a quality system for warehouses and distribution centres dedicated to medications and life sciences products, added release.

China’s Ezhou Huahu Airport has launched its first all-cargo air route, linking Ezhou with Shenzhen in south China’s Guangdong Province. It is being claimed to be the first “professional cargo hub” airport in Asia and the fourth of its kind in the world, said official reports. Since the airport was put into operation in July, it has opened multiple passenger routes linking Ezhou with cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Xiamen. According to the airport, said Xinhua, the all-cargo air route is operated by Boeing 737 aircraft, carrying express mail. The range of the route covers places such as Wuhan, Ezhou, Huangshi, and Huanggang in Hubei Province. The airport said it will also open an all-cargo air route linking Ezhou and Shanghai soon. The annual cargo and mail throughput of the airport is expected to reach 3.3m tonnes by 2030, with the annual passenger throughput reaching 1.5m.

RwandAir has taken delivery of its first dedicated cargo aircraft as it looks to expand its cargo operation in Africa and the Middle East. The Boeing 737-800SF, which is painted in RwandAir’s first cargo livery, will be based at the carrier’s Kigali hub in Rwanda. The carrier said that the freighter would be utilised on flights to destinations in Africa and the Middle East, including Johannesburg, Nairobi, and the UAE. Yvonne Makolo, RwandAir chief executive, said, “The delivery of our dedicated cargo aircraft is a huge milestone in RwandAir’s fleet expansion plans. “Cargo is of ever-increasing importance for the aviation industry, and as a landlocked country, we recognise the importance and value of good cargo connections. We want to ensure that Africa is seamlessly connected to the world, driving economic growth and valuable trade deals.” Air Cargo News first reported that the carrier, which is 49% owned by Qatar Airways, was looking to acquire a freighter in September 2020.

Ramesh Mamidala, CEO, Adani Airports in an exclusive conversation said, “Air cargo industry globally has suffered a lot especially during the pandemic. The crisis had a huge impact on the cargo volumes. But now the industry is moving towards growth. We should focus on the MoCA’s vision to achieve 10 million tons of cargo by 2030. Also, some policy changes are required and there are various air cargo associations that have been lobbying for these policy changes. Indian carriers have been witnessing recovery now in the post pandemic times and working on bringing back capacity. Freight rates are adjusting now. Airport infrastructure also needs to be developed, especially in the remote areas. Tech integration is happening with ULIP and Kale’s Air Cargo Community System (ACCS) at a fast pace so that’s a good sign. The two biggest risks for the growth of the air cargo in India at present will be, — constraints related to the open skies policy and levy of GST on export freight. GST will unnecessarily put pressure on the exporters, impact EODB and will increase cash flows.”

CargoTalk, India’s leading and highest circulated logistics industry magazine was honored at the recently concluded 46th edition of The Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI) held in Bangkok, Thailand. The three day long convention, after a gap of two years, brought together air cargo industry stakeholders from all across the globe under one roof. The insightful panel discussions will pave the way for the industry to move towards growth and the glittering evenings will be fondly remembered by one and all. Kudos to the ACAAI team for organising highly informative and well-organised convention and setting the standards so high.

J Krishnan, Board of Advisors, ACAAI talked about the core issues prevailing in this sector, he said, “The recent withdrawal of the exemption of international export freight is a very serious speed breaker and is not in consonance with the accelerated impetus to bring down the total logistics cost in India. This exemption or even more effective a’ zero rate’ regime for international freight must be assured. Skilling for the Logistics centre especially a syllabus in the vernacular needs a close monitoring and implementation if we are to provide the requisite efficient manpower for this industry.”

There are few important elements which needs to be really looked into. There is a need for long term planning by stakeholders be it the airlines or the airports,” said Manoj Singh, Senior VP Cargo and Express. He added, “The airports do have the infrastructure and capacity but the planning for the airlines for future requirement of the fleets and with the fuel cost going up and a lot of issues related to the war between Ukraine and Russia, there is an instability in terms of the vision where the airlines can procure the fleets for creating more of capacity.” He added, The fuel cost is very volatile again it’s going to fluctuate. But of course the fuel efficient aircraft, the EVs, the way the environment has been focused upon, even the aircraft are being modernized or new production of the aircraft, the growth is certain.”

India has one of the best cargo terminals in the world. Enjoy your infrastructure. Enjoy what you have. Let’s celebrate. Let’s help each other. Let’s grow together there is a whole new future for us we can do it together and we will show to the world how the Air Cargo will, in future would happen,” said Tushar Jani, Group Chairman, Cargo Service Center while addressing the gathering at the ongoing ACAAI convention. He urged the industry to collaborate, unite and hire young skilled professionals who have a fresh perspective. “I feel there are lots of opportunities for the young generation to enter this business. Younger generation, younger people, efficient government, that’s all what we need to become a global super power. This is our time. Don’t let it go. In the age of 70, in the last 4 months, I have visited 48 terminals around the world, So you need to get out, take your bag, go abroad see what they’re doing. India has all the potential.”