Category Archives: Aviation

Ramkumar Menon, Chairman, World Spice Organisation shares, “Indian spice exports are back on track this year at USD 4.4 billion showing an increase in value and volume of exports after a slight dip in the past financial year. However, the Spices Board has set an ambitious target of USD 10 bn for 2030 and USD 30 billion by 2050. It is essential to establish a long-term plan to broaden India’s market share. This can only be achieved by boosting value addition opportunities, establishing export friendly policies and developing strategy to face the challenges from competing origins.”  

Sunil Kohli, Managing Director, Rahat Cargo says, “The scheme introduced by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry is primarily focused on expansion of areas and improving productivity of Cardamom (small & large) and to further generate an exportable surplus of quality spices through post-harvest improvement, export promotion of spices and increasing the share of value-added spices in the export basket. The additional vital components of this scheme are enhancing capacities for market expansion, the trade Promotion, the technological interventions with related research and capacity building apart from establishing skill development centers.”

Dushyant Mulani, President, Brihanmumbai Custom Broker Association (BCBA) and Chairman, Federation of Freight Forwarders in India (FFFAI), who was recently honoured with DDP Trailblazer award at India Cargo Awards 2024, said, “This industry is amazing. When I started my career, the first thing that I realised was the startup world had started. We have 60 per cent startups out here. And the first-time entrepreneurship and first-time employment generation potential is amazing, especially in the logistics sector. Friends, be ready, tighten your seatbelts for the next flight.”

Allcargo Gati is expecting robust growth in shipments in the upcoming festive season and has further strengthened its supply chain operations to meet the growing demand. The company has scaled up its technological capabilities and manpower strength at its sorting and fulfilment centres and beefed up its last mile delivery operations to boost its order processing and delivery efficiency to cater to the volume-driven time-sensitive demand. Allcargo Gati has ongoing collaborations with multinational brands and major ecommerce and quick commerce players. To meet the festive season rush, Allcargo Gati has launched last mile delivery operations for e -commerce giants in multiple locations in Maharashtra and in West Bengal. The company also runs 15 mother hub Sorting centres for its ecommerce customers. All sorting centres are operationally optimized and are capable of delivering more than the capacity during the festive season. In addition, Allcargo Gati has added six more manpower supply services to its pool of staffing solutions providers to meet the sudden surge in order processing and delivery demand in the festive season across regions. It has initial plans to hire over 3000 people in multiple operational roles and will intensify hiring in sync with the growth in demand. The company has also strengthened the capacity, productivity and efficiency at its sorting and fulfilment centres by setting up double deep racking, conveyors, advanced hand-held terminals, etc. apart from digitising the operations. Allcargo Gati has also adopted data-driven route-optimisation solutions to ensure faster last mile deliveries amid festive season rush. Sandeep Kulkarni – Chief Operating Officer (COO)- Allcargo Gati  said, “We expect the festive season demand to reach higher peaks this year on the back of positive consumer sentiment. To meet …

Express Global Logistics (EXG), which is part of the Worldwide Project Consortium (WWPC) in India, has successfully moved Power Plant Equipment from China to the southern part of India for the ongoing expansion of a Nuclear Power Plant. The end-to-end logistics involved Break Bulk Ocean movement from Lushun Port, China, to Tuticorin Port, India, import customs clearance, port handling, inter-carting, and road transportation from Tuticorin Port to the designated site using heavy-duty multi-axle trailers. The project cargo weighted 3708 freight tons in volume and comprised of 36 pieces. It was moved from China to India in just 21 days. The transportation from Tuticorin Port to the designated job site covered 250 km and a combination of heavy-duty and low-bed multi-axle trailers were utilized.

  CJ Darcl Logistics Ltd is set to begin the transportation of heavy construction equipment, i.e., excavators via specialised rail rakes. This initiative positions CJ Darcl as the first in the industry to utilise the Indian Railways network for aggregating machines from multiple OEMs and transporting them from Chennai (Tamil Nadu) to Ballabgarh (Haryana). In a move that underscores its commitment to sustainability and efficiency, CJ Darcl transported 34 excavators using specialised rakes, including models from Volvo CE, Komatsu India Private Limited, and Gainwell Commosales Private Limited. This initiative closely aligns with the company’s mission to integrate eco-friendly practices into its logistics operations. KK Agarwal, CMD, CJ Darcl said, “We are driving a transformative shift in how heavy equipment is transported across the nation. Embracing rail transport is in line with India’s vision of modern, eco-friendly infrastructure. This initiative is a testament to our unwavering commitment to innovation, sustainability, and leadership in the logistics sector. We are proud to pave the way for a more sustainable future.” “Our decision to employ rail transport for excavators marks a significant advancement in our sustainability commitment. This initiative not only minimises our carbon footprint but also underscores our dedication to leading the logistics industry toward a more environmentally friendly and efficient future,” said Nikhil Agarwal, President, CJ Darcl. “We are establishing a new standard in sustainable logistics, demonstrating that innovation and responsibility can coexist. We also extend our sincere gratitude to our valued customers for supporting this movement.” The use of rail rakes for moving excavators represents a major advancement in logistics. Rakes, integral to the Indian Railways’ infrastructure, are designed to handle heavy loads efficiently. Consolidating several excavators into one transport unit …

Industry veteran H. K. Vithalani, the Founder Chairman of Global Aviation Services, was felicitated with Gold Award under the category, ‘Gallery of Legends’, at the recently held India Cargo Awards 2024. His award was received by Jalpa Vithalani, Director, Global Aviation Services. She said, “India Cargo Awards and Cargo Talk is an organisation that we personally revere a lot and, this awards ceremony means a lot to us. My father was honoured with the Gallery of Legends award, and I would say it’s a culmination of his life’s work. Cargo and the aviation industry has been his truest passion, so this acknowledgement comes at a time when it’s at the pinnacle of his career. This recognition is not just a personal achievement, but a testament to the collaborative spirit that drives our industry. Receiving this award is like a crowning glory.” India Cargo Awards are the country’s topmost awards which helps create a platform to recognise and honor heroes of logistics and air cargo industry. Chief Guest Unmesh Sharad Wagh, Chairman, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and Guest of Honour P K Rout, Deputy DG Shipping, Ministry of Shipping, GoI presented the award.

Satish Lakkaraju, CEO, NexGen Logistics, Garudavega says, “The Indian air cargo industry is going through a huge number of changes and rapid technological evolvements and innovations. Given the global disruptions that are happening currently, what customers are looking at is specifically transparency, visibility, agility, and up to date in terms of how they can plan their shipments. I think in the coming years, India would emerge as one of the leading hubs, more so with the disruptions happening in the neighboring parts of our countries. India’s role, not only in terms of political stability, but also cargo stability, are vital and critical because essential commodities, transportation to the other parts of the world, are very key for the basic survival. I think it’s time for India to step in. Given that we have many Indian carriers expanding rapidly and creating belly capacity to far -off destinations, the role of India is critical and important at all stages.”

Astral Aviation Limited announced the launch of its inaugural flight from the People’s Republic of China. This flight departing from Guangzhou to Nairobi with an onward connection to Maputo, the capital of the Republic of Mozambique, marks a significant milestone in the airline’s expansion into the Asian market. The new direct flight between China and the African continent reflects Astral Aviation’s commitment to strengthening trade and logistics links between Asia and Africa. As a pivotal hub in southern China, Guangzhou serves as a vital gateway for Chinese goods, ranging from electronics to e-commerce. Sanjeev Gadhia, CEO of Astral Aviation, expressed his enthusiasm for the new route, “We are thrilled to commence our operations in China with this new service from Guangzhou. This route enhances connectivity between Asia and Africa and supports the increasing demand for reliable cargo transportation, facilitating the flow of essential goods and contributing to economic growth in both regions. We are grateful to our launch customer, Air Charter Service Hong Kong, The @Guangdong Airport Authority Co. Ltd and our China GSA, IGS Air. The Guangzhou service is strategically designed to meet the rising needs of importers and exporters by providing a reliable and efficient air cargo solution. Astral Aviation’s state-of-the-art Boeing 767 Freighter aircraft ensures the safe and timely delivery of various goods, including perishable items, industrial products, and high-tech equipment. This new route is part of Astral Aviation’s broader expansion strategy, which aims to enhance its global reach and offer unparalleled service to its clients. The company plans to introduce additional routes shortly, further bridging the gap between key markets across Asia and Africa.”

Vandana Singh, Director, Global Key Account Management (Asia Pacific) Saudia Cargo was honoured as ‘Cargo Woman of the Year’ at the recently concluded India Cargo Awards 2024 in Mumbai. The award was presented by the Chief Guest, Unmesh Sharad Wagh, Chairman, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), and P K Raut, Deputy Director General- Shipping, Ministry of Shipping, Government of India, who was the Guest of Honour at the event. She said, “I have been following publications of DDP Group publications actively and I’m very proud to be associated with them. Congratulations to the DDP Group for organizing the fantabulous event. I do see the air cargo industry growing by leaps and bounds. We have promised to grow to 10 .3 million cargo tons within the next five years, but I see that happening in the next three years.”