Category Archives: Aviation

With expanding their fleet in Germany by 40 Volvo FM Electric trucks, DB Schenker is taking the next important step towards a sustainable future in logistics. The electric 20-ton trucks with the option for trailer operation are perfectly suited for both urban and regional transports. The 40 new vehicles will be deployed nationwide from December 2024. “By deploying an additional 40 electric Volvos for last-mile delivery, DB Schenker underlines its commitment to leading the transition to sustainable drive systems and strengthens its partnership with Volvo Trucks,” says Cyrille Bonjean, Executive Vice President Land Transport at DB Schenker in Europe, adding, “We will be able to offer low-emission transport solutions to our customers across the country.” On the way to sustainable logistics, DB Schenker continuously invests in innovative, low-emission land, air, and sea freight solutions to meet the growing customer demand for low-emission supply chains and to support them in achieving their sustainability goals. The use of electric trucks like the Volvo FM Electric is an important contribution to reducing CO₂ emissions in land transport. Another advantage of the electric drive is the significantly quieter operation compared to the conventional combustion engine. These two characteristics make the Volvo FM Electric ideal for use in urban areas.

  Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Associations in India (FFFAI) celebrated its 63rd Foundation  Day on December 2, 2024 at Bengaluru. Office Bearers and Executive Members of the Federation from across the country and members of the Federation from Bengaluru attended this event in large numbers. N. Sivasailam Special Secretary Logistics (Retd.), Government of India graced the event as Guest of Honour, while P.K. Agrawal Pr. Chief Commissioner, CGST, Bengaluru Zone graced the event as Chief Guest. Advisors (Past Chairmen) of the Federation,  P S.Krishnan, R. Radhakrishnan, Shantanu Bhadkamkar, S.Ramakrishna & A.V. Vijaykumar were special invitees for the event. Dushyant Mulani, Chairman, FFFAI is his opening address welcomed the Chief Guest, Guest of Honour, Advisors andExecutive Committee Members present for the event. Stating that it was a proud moment for FFFAI, he reiterated commitment of the Federation of further strengthening its vision of facilitating the trade, protecting custom brokers and empowering the fraternity with knowledge, skill development and training. He maintained that with the strength of its 31 Member Associations and close relationship with CBIC the Federation’s endeavour would be to closely work with the Government in reaching the goal of ‘Vikshit Bharat’ by 2047. Federation felicitated, the Chief Guest and the Guest of Honour with a bouquet of flower and shawl.

Sumadhura Group inaugurates warehousing facility for Zepto and NX Logistics India, a global logistics giant at Sumadhura Logistics Park – Bengaluru’s largest Grade-A+ warehousing hub. This milestone marks the establishment of one of Zepto’s most advanced logistics spaces, aiming to optimise its supply chain and cater to its growing operations in the region. This facility is part of a strategic partnership with NX Logistics India (Nippon Express), which involves a lease agreement for 1.8 lakh sq. ft. The state-of-the-art facility, subleased to Zepto, is equipped with cutting-edge infrastructure to support efficient storage and seamless logistics operations, driving Zepto’s growth across multiple categories. Sumadhura Logistics Park, spanning 100 acres, is set to redefine Bengaluru’s warehousing landscape. The first phase involves a planned investment of Rs. 600 crores to deliver 2.5 million square feet of prime warehousing space, with a vision to expand to 6 million square feet in subsequent phases. This project underscores Sumadhura Group’s commitment to providing world-class logistics infrastructure in the region. Sumadhura Logistics Park has delivered 5,00,000 sq. ft space till today and plans to complete 8,00,000 sq.ft by March 2025.  

Piyush Srivastava, Senior Economic Advisor, MOCA, GoI says, “My complements to ACAAI for hosting this wonderful Convention at Baku. Azerbaijan is a crucial link between the eastern and western world. Similarly India has great geographic advantage being the link between East Asia with America, Europe and Africa. As such, building bonds between the logistics players of the two countries is mutually beneficial. This Convention recognizes air cargo industry’s significant role in contribution to the country’s economy. The convention served as a platform for industry leaders, stakeholders, and policymakers to discuss emerging trends, technological innovations, and regulatory frameworks that can boost cargo efficiency. By fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing, the event supports India’s aspirations to become a global logistics hub, promoting seamless trade and economic growth. I particularly liked the nice amalgamation of technical sessions with sessions on yoga and mindful moves. On our part, the Ministry is committed to strengthening infrastructure with initiatives and policies that support the growth of air cargo in India.”

Kelvin Seow, Chief Business Officer, AISATS shares, “We have plans to invest heavily in video analytics in the next ten years as it will not only drive efficiency but also improve operational efficiency. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are the future and we are keen to adopt it. It will help in cargo identification, improving safety and security of cargo and building a great future. We have introduced that in our upcoming facilities at Noida International Airport.”

Ramesh Mamidala, Head – Cargo, Air India says – “There have been issues like shortage of capacity during peak season and as an airline that’s one challenge which we face at airports. Capacity expansion is must especially now when the volumes have witnessed substantial growth as compared to last year. During peak seasons, cargo volumes increase notably. I think the capacity expansion is very important. It can be improved by making the process efficient. Regulatory checks, customs clearances, etc, need to become more efficient to process cargo much faster, quicker, and create more capacity. We need to make India a transshipment hub and for that it’s important.”

Arun Chandra, Vice President- Aviation Business, BIAL says, “I feel technology is the only solution which can help in reducing congestion at the airports during the peak hours. Building more capacity at the terminals in terms of brick and mortar is easy but is that the way forward or should we improvise on the processes and use tech tools which help us manage better. There are enough AI tools available with predictive analytics which helps us forecast the demand and helps us to allocate resources for a data driven manner as well. The stakeholders must realize that each of us has a goal to play when we try to have the entire supply chain processes executed. It cannot be a work in silos. It cannot be a work where we are trying to only think of our own part of the process. We all must stitch together the entire story and take it forward.”

With an aim to bolster the trade relations between India and Azerbaijan, The Air Cargo Agents Association of India’s (ACAAI) is hosting its 48th annual convention in Baku, Azerbaijan. The inaugural ceremony began with welcome address by Manoj Kumar Jain, Convention Chairman, followed by the presidential address by C K Govil, President, ACAAI. HE Sridharan Madhsudhan, Indian Ambassador to Azerbaijan and Piyush Shrivastava, Senior Economic Advisor, MoCA, were the Guest of Honors for the evening. Samir Gogia from Deloitte delivered the keynote address and vote of thanks was given by Dinesh Krishnan, Convention Co-Chairman. ACAAI members also released Convention Souvenir 2024. The three-day event scheduled to be held from Dec 5th-8th will also have insightful panel discussions on various topics such as infrastructure upgradation, digitalisation, sustainability, cyber-security and lot more. The global industry stalwarts participated in the inaugural ceremony.

Talking about major highlights of the convention, C K Govil shares, “The convention will focus on the evolving landscape of the logistics and air cargo industry. Sessions will focus on the latest technological advancements such as AI, blockchain, automation, and IoT. With increasing emphasis on sustainability, discussions around eco-friendly logistics practices, reducing carbon footprints, and adopting sustainable supply chain models will be a significant part of the convention. This will include the integration of green technologies, such as electric vehicles for last-mile delivery and carbon-neutral initiatives for air cargo. Experts will also delve into the strategies needed to build flexible and adaptive supply chains, capable of withstanding disruptions like geopolitical conflicts, trade restrictions, and fluctuating demand. Focus will be on India’s growing stature in the global logistics network. This will include discussions on enhancing air cargo capacity, export-import dynamics, and how Indian players can further integrate into the global logistics ecosystem. With the explosive growth of e-commerce, sessions dedicated to optimizing last-mile delivery, using technology to streamline processes, and exploring new business models to meet the demands of rapid deliveries will be another highlight. Regulatory frameworks and policies that impact logistics, trade, and air cargo will be addressed, with a focus on simplifying procedures, improving cross-border trade, and advocating for industry-friendly policies. The convention will offer ample networking opportunities for stakeholders to forge partnerships, collaborate on new ventures, and exchange ideas. This includes special events and roundtable discussions that foster industry collaboration. Given the convention’s location in Baku, there will likely be sessions highlighting Azerbaijan and other emerging markets in Central Asia as new trade hubs, emphasizing the role of logistics in connecting these markets with India and the rest …

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for October 2024 global air cargo markets.  The demand growth measured in CTKs (cargo tonne-kilometers) grew by 9.8 per cent in October 2024, in comparison to the corresponding period of 2023. This is the 15th month of consecutive growth for the global air cargo sector. The ACTKs (available cargo tonne-kilometers) levels rose by 5.9 per cent YoY during the same period. “Air cargo markets continued their strong performance in October, with demand rising 9.8% year-on-year and capacity up 5.9%. Global air cargo yields (including surcharges) continue to rise, up 10.6% on 2023 and 49% on 2019 levels. While 2024 is shaping up to be a banner year for air cargo, we must look to 2025 with some caution. The incoming Trump Administration’s announced intention to impose significant tariffs on its top trading partners—Canada, China and Mexico—has the potential to upend global supply chains and undermine consumer confidence. The air cargo industry’s proven adaptability to rapidly evolving geopolitical and economic situations is likely to be tested as the Trump agenda unfolds,” Willie Walsh, Director General, IATA, said.