Category Archives: Aviation

After a gap of two years, the Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI) is back with its 46th edition of Convention, to be held at Hotel Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, Thailand, opening today till 27th November 2022. The theme of the Convention this year is “Resilient Air Cargo Industry – Post Pandemic”. The convention will provide a perfect platform to discuss, deliberate, interact and learn as a professional community how the air cargo experts can continue to be resilient in this post pandemic era. This will be the fourth ACAAI Convention to be held in Thailand, the previous ones being held in Bangkok (2005), Chiang Mai (2006) and Phuket (2019). The key focus points will be: 1. Resilient Air Cargo in New Normal 2. Air Cargo Stakeholders: The New Warriors 3. Air Cargo: Leveraging the Power of the Seas 4. Women Power in Logistics 5.Benefitting from Advanced Technologies Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, is a large city known for ornate shrines and vibrant street life. It is famous for its revered nightlife scene and carefree atmosphere. ACAAI Convention 2022 offers an astounding opportunity for all delegates to engage in business in the midst of the culturally rich and tourist delights of Bangkok.

Talking about the 46th edition of ACAAI convention, which is all set to start today in Bangkok, Thailand, Anil Vazirani, Convention Chairman, ACAAI shares, “The air cargo industry has learned a great deal from the Covid-19 pandemic. The industry learned the need to be resilient, agile and be ready with the efficient contingency plans to deal with any future crisis. The industry adopted 100 per cent digitalisation as the only survival tool and came up with the quick and efficient solutions in the shortest possible time to deal with the situations at that time. The convention has a very relevant theme, Resilient Air Cargo, Post Pandemic, that’s what we are striving for in the new normal scenario. The convention will provdie a great platform for the air cargo industry experts – freight forwarders, airlines, airports, custom brokers, transporters, ground handlers etc to meet and discuss the struggles faced during the pandemic, existing bottlenecks and solutions to resolve the same.”

Highlighting ACAAI’s theme, C K Govil, Vice President says, “We have a long road ahead towards making India a supply chain superpower. Building a robust infrastructure, reducing the freight, and warehousing costs, and bridging the demand-supply gap are some challenges that need attention.” He adds, “In the new normal post pandemic scenario, logistical growth can happen only with combined efforts of the Indian government and the industry comrades. Our joint endeavour brought the Gati Shakti and the National Logistics Policy to fruition. But that is just the beginning. During the convention, we expect to resolve the issues through united efforts with the government and hope to receive due support in that regard. “The global centre for trade is rapidly shifting to Asia, and Indian air cargo is becoming the hero of the post-pandemic world. With strong inventory levels and manufacturing output, the industry has grown steadily this year, leaving behind the turmoil faced during the pandemic. Despite the demand fluctuation due to rising fuel costs, air cargo revenues are expected to rise to $169 billion this year, 13 per cent more than the pre-COVID levels. India has also added to the freighter capacity this year, although largely due to imports. As a result, air cargo is set to become the new normal in the Indian logistics and supply chain industry. And then, the multimodal logistics park that Reliance Industries is building in Chennai is the talk of the town currently. We strive to reduce freight and warehousing costs and reduce carbon footprints and congestion.”

“The lifeline during the Pandemic was the Air cargo sector. This sector showed it’s resilience; adaptability and strength throughout the crisis. Many new routes and commodities were added to the existing network. With passage of time, the initiatives and lessons learnt may get diluted and forgotten. The theme shall be a continuous reminder to all stakeholders,” says Samir J Shah, Honorary Secretary, ACAAI, while justifying the theme. He adds, “Many airports are expected to become functional in the near future. This coupled with new airlines will increase the penetration of this across the length and breadth of the country. Many exporters; traders; commodities will have the added option of using Air as a mode of transport. Newer entrepreneurs and new commodities will get added. The time is ripe for the sector to take a leadership role here. The issue is not only cost effective – it is also available; usable. As more users use these facilities the other benefits will fall in place.” Talking about the crucial areas of concern which will be addressed at the convention, he highlights, “Private sector partnership with the Government; removal of many redundant regulations and an all round trust regime, will be the core focus areas. The industry needs to attract a large number of young persons for all levels and a new thinking which will emerge from engaging all stake holders.”

“The pandemic and its aftermath has had a major impact on the air cargo industry. The sector managed to perform and deliver good results in spite of the severe challenges,” says, M Afzal Malbarwala, President while justifying the theme, ‘Resilient Air Cargo – Post Pandemic.’ “Learning from challenges faced, the Air Cargo industry is focussed on enhancing the infrastructure at all major cargo points, ensuring our airports are aligned to modern day cargo handling requirements and developing long due connecting links from the manufacturing zone to the airports etc,” he adds. “With volumes growing and India becoming a favoured manufacturing hub – We need to ensure moving shipments is hassle free and customers having a pleasant experience from India. To this extent – introducing and use of modern day technologies will be a key factor.” He adds, “The theme is very apt. We will be extensively discussing on the challenges faced in the pandemic, the increased freight rate and scarcity of space, issues being faced with the airlines in this post COVID scenario, and lastly the GST waiver on freight charges which every year we have been discussing with GOI,” says Malbarwala.

According to a new research conducted by FedEx Express states that small and medium-enterprises (SMEs) which embraced e-commerce during the COVID pandemic are underestimating the importance consumers now place on sustainability in their purchase decision-making. Around 85 per cent of Indian SMEs surveyed said their customers are more interested in receiving their goods as quickly as possible rather than in sustainable shopping, said report. A similar number, 80 per cent, thought that receiving goods as cheaply as possible is more important to customers. Insights from consumers show the reality is very different. “The What’s Next in eCommerce survey polled SMEs and consumers in India, and 10 other markets in the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa region (AMEA) in July 2022. The poll explored the continuing evolution of eCommerce in the region and identified trends that could fuel their future growth. Key Findings: Consumers want both sustainability and speed The accelerated growth of eCommerce during the COVID-19 pandemic occurred as consumer concerns over the environment continued to grow. For a significant number of consumers, the future of the planet is top of mind, and they do not want to compromise – they want both sustainability and speedy delivery. In India, 70% of those surveyed expressed as much interest in receiving their goods quickly as they did in the sustainability of the online shopping process,” said reports.

Challenge Airlines MT has completed its first flight with special cargo onboard. The Malta-registered cargo carrier, which received its air operator’s certificate (AOC) on November 1, brought the Flemish Tapestries from Liège, Belgium to Malta. Challenge Airlines MT provided logistical support as well as the flight. “320 years ago, these valuable Flemish Tapestries made their way by ship from Belgium to Malta. Today, we are honoured and delighted to have been chosen to return them again to their home in St John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta,” said Yossi Shoukroun, chief executive of Challenge Group. The tapestries have belonged to the Co-Cathedral for 350 years and underwent restoration work before their departure from Liège. Challenge Airlines MT, registered as 9H, owns a fleet of two B767-300ER, each with a payload of 60 tonnes. Ten pilots are stationed at Challenge Group’s headquarters in Malta, ready to operate regular flights between Liège (LGG), Tel Aviv (TLV), Sharjah (SHJ), New York (JFK), and Indian Sub-Continent (ISC), in the coming future.

Qatar Airways Cargo has introduced new routes and increased flight frequencies to multiple destinations in the Middle East, Europe and the Americas to meet growing demand this winter season. The carrier recently launched a new freighter service to Riyadh, operating Boeing B777 freighters twice a week, with 100 tonnes cargo capacity each way, per flight. Cargo capacity is also set to increase to and from other Middle Eastern cities, as the airline increases its flights from two to four for Kuwait, and from one to three for Muscat by adding two A310Fs per week to each of these cities. The airline recently launched two new freighter stations in Athens, Greece and Vienna, Austria. Qatar Airways Cargo will once a week operate a B777 freighter to Athens with 100 tonnes of cargo capacity each way, per flight. Once a week it will also operate an A310F to Vienna, with over 35 tonnes of cargo capacity each way, per flight. Effective November 15, Qatar Airways Cargo has also introduced Doha-Dusseldorf bellyhold cargo services, expanding its network in the European region. The launch of daily flights between the two cities increases cargo capacity from Germany to over 1,500 tonnes each way, each week. The carrier will also be increasing its flights to Amsterdam by adding three weekly freighter flights effective November 5 and three weekly passenger flights effective December 23.

Boeing, one of the world’s biggest aviation companies, has projected that air cargo traffic will double in the next two decades as the industry shifts its focus to evolving demand following the coronavirus pandemic. The expansion will be supported by a 57 per cent growth in the global freighter fleet, which would put it at 3,600 aircraft, and will require about 2,800 new and converted freighters for growth and replacement until 2041, the Virginia-based company said in its World Air Cargo Forecast. A third of deliveries will be new jets, while the remainder will come from conversions, giving carriers the ability to increase their flexibility in existing and emerging markets, it said. “While the air cargo market is returning to a more normal pace after historic demand in the last two years, structural factors including express network growth, evolving supply chain strategies and new cargo-market entrants are driving sustained freighter demand,” said Darren Hulst, Boeing’s vice president of commercial marketing. “In the global transportation network, air freighters will continue to be a critical enabler to move high-value goods, in increased volume across expanding markets.” Air cargo was a rare bright spot for airlines during the travel-starved years of the pandemic, prompting many to convert older passenger jets to freighters and to invest in new cargo planes. Strong e-commerce demand and the slower return of passenger flights with cargo belly capacity drove airlines to snap up freighters during the pandemic, said reports.

The gigantic whale-shaped plane, the Airbus Beluga, made a return to the City of Joy Kolkata airport on Sunday morning. The Airbus Beluga (No. 3), one of the biggest planes in the world, landed at the airport for crew rest and re-fuelling. The enormous cabin of the aircraft is about four times as big as a typical wide-body aircraft. The Airbus A300 B4-608 ST super transporter, often known as Beluga, is a wide-body airliner that has been adapted to carry enormous cargo and aircraft parts. “Guess who’s back! It’s the whale again! One of the world’s largest aircraft @Airbus #Beluga (No. 3) landed at #KolkataAirport for crew rest and refueling. Here are few glimpses of the majestic beast from the #CityofJoy,” Kolkata airport officials posted on Linkedin.