Category Archives: Aviation

Maersk has completed the acquisition of global freight forwarding company, Senator International. According to a company statement, “Senator brings with it a strong organisation and a well-developed airfreight network comprising own controlled flights and long-term partnerships with best-in-class airlines, a well-established full container load (FCL) and less than container load (LCL) network and specialised services such packaging, warehousing and distribution across five continents.” The acquisition will enable Maersk to offer an even wider range of products and the ability to provide flexible and integrated logistics solutions to customers, allowing them to speed up or slow down cargo depending on their changing supply chain needs, the statement added. Vincent Clerc, CEO of Ocean & Logistics, A.P. Moller-Maersk said, “We are delighted to welcome the Senator team to our Maersk family. As a global provider of integrated logistics, we are improving our ability to provide end-to-end solutions to our customers. With Senator on board, we are ramping up our air freight capacity, network, and know-how significantly to cater even better for our customers.”

To cater to the increased demand, the Miami-based Amerijet International Airlines has been rapidly expanding its fleet in 2022. The carrier said in a statement that it has taken delivery of a total of six B757 freighters this year and next year the carrier will add five B767s. The carier’s fleet now stands at 20 freighters. With the addition of B767s the carrier will operate 25 freighters; 19 B767s and six B757s. Tim Strauss, Chief Executive said in a statement, “The carrier is in discussion over another four aircraft that could join the fleet next year. It is going to be a good long run for air cargo. It is a great time to be in the business. Industry has never witnessed this kind of transformation and the stakeholders now knows what supply chain means.”

Ethiopian Airlines is all set to start thrice weekly flights to Chennai from July 2, 2022. The flights to Chennai operated using B737-8 aircraft, will join the vast Ethiopian network as a fourth destination in India after New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr Mesfin Tasew said in a release, “I am excited that we are getting closer to our customers with our signature service and global connectivity options. We have been connecting Asia and Africa for 55 years now facilitating trade between the two continents. The addition of Chennai as a fourth passenger destination in India is a testimony of our resilience and unwavering commitment to serve our customers in India and the continent at large. We will continue to serve India with enhanced frequency and more destinations in the future.” Exports from India includes pharmaceutical products, fabrics, finished goods, petroleum goods, fruits/vegetables, heavy machinery for project cargo, spares, handicrafts etc.

The cargo terminal at Jaipur International airport is now functional. According to the official media reports, Rahul Nangre, commissioner of customs (preventive) inaugurated the terminal which is managed by AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Ltd. Nangre said in reports, “There is immense potential for direct import and export from Jaipur Air Cargo terminal and with the commencement of this cargo terminal, all the importers and exporters of Rajasthan will benefit including gems and jewellery.” He added, “There shall be an increase in export-import of items such as fabrics, clothes, handicrafts, machinery parts, vegetables, and other items due to commencement of operations of this Cargo terminal.”

In sync with the government’s vision of making India a drone hub by 203O, Skye Air Mobility has unveiled its long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) named, Artemis, equipped to carry a payload of 6 kgs with a range of 100 km. It has been designed for inter-city, inter-district, and inter-state cargo movements and has a speed of 100mph speed and an endurance of 90 minutes per trip. Artemis is best suited for sectors such as healthcare and e-commerce, said the company statement. Ankit Kumar, Chief Executive said, “The Skye Air Team has been working on Artemis since mid-2021. Finally, we are proud to showcase a technology that is set to change the landscape of air cargo deliveries. We feel as industries are well embracing the drone technology, it was a perfect time to showcase the Artemis, further adding to our capabilities.” “Skye Air’s vision is in sync with the government’s vision of making India a drone hub by 2030. Skye Air is proactively trying to bring a faster and cost-effective solution for different verticals and by launching Artemis, we have taken another step in that direction.”

Focusing on its commitment to ambitious CO2 reduction targets, Blue Dart has signed the ‘Climate Neutral Now’ (CNN) pledge by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The company has adopted a package of measures worth up to €7 billion to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, primarily to expand the use of sustainable technologies and fuels in its fleets and buildings. The company’s long-term goal is to reduce GHG emissions to net zero by 2050, says release. Pablo Ciano, EVP Corporate Development, DPDHL Group says, “As a Group, we have developed a Sustainability Roadmap that supports the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. We are constantly working towards introducing innovative green logistics solutions that improve our carbon footprint. I am delighted to share that representing the DHL eCommerce Solutions Division in India, Blue Dart has been delivering high on its sustainability initiatives.”

Cathay Pacific and Lufthansa Cargo announced the entry of Swiss WorldCargo into the airlines’ joint business agreement, providing cargo customers with more direct connections, flexibility, and speed. “Cathay Pacific and Lufthansa Cargo have a close collaboration on international lanes via their hubs in Hong Kong and Germany, while the handling of cargo in Hong Kong is coordinated under one roof at the Cathay Pacific Cargo Terminal of Hong Kong International Airport. Under the agreement, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa Cargo, and Swiss WorldCargo will work closely on network planning, as well as on sales, IT, and ground handling. Initially, the airlines will cooperate on traffic from Hong Kong to Zurich and Frankfurt, with traffic to and from Hong Kong and Europe, which is planned to be included later this year,” said a statement. Cargo customers will be able to access the entire network via the booking systems of all three partners.

To promote women professionals in air cargo industry, Zeal Global Corporation provided scholarship for training in the logistics sector to 100 aspirants. Zeal is planning to select first 100 women through a selection process to offer diversified courses, including basic air cargo course, logistics and supply chain basics and e- commerce logistics. It will also cover world geography, air, and sea routes, seaport, and airports as part of the scholarship. Nipun Anand, Director, Zeal Global Corporation said, “While operating in the Indian logistics business, we are striving to empower women and have been working towards undertaking new initiatives to facilitate gender diversity across the industry in line with global standards. We believe that upskilling and re-skilling of women will open a plethora of opportunities to help them move towards more technical and higher positions. This will certainly contribute to narrowing the gender gap in the workforce across India.”

In an event held at Mumbai Airport, Lufthansa Cargo Boeing 777F has been officially named as ‘Namaste India.’ The freighter, with the registration D-ALFH, has been part of Lufthansa Cargo’s fleet since August 2020. The christening ceremony was held in the presence of Ashwin Bhat, CCO, Lufthansa Cargo, and in the presence of J. Florian Pfaff, Vice President, Asia Pacific, Lufthansa Cargo, among others. Currently, Mumbai alone is served four times a week, and Bengaluru, and Chennai twice weekly from Frankfurt with B777F freighters. “For decades, it has been an important and reliable partner in and for India,” said Bhat in a statement. “I am pleased to mark this partnership and success story in the context of this freighter naming ceremony in my home city. It is our goal to continue connecting India with other markets, around the world and to support the strong development of the Indian economy,” he added.

For Chapman Freeborn Germany, Antonov Airlines has successfully completed three AN-124-100 flights to transport a new mobile gas power plant generator from Europe to Africa. The cargo, transported from Ljubljana in Slovenia to Kano, Nigeria included turbine, generator, and additional equipment. It weighed about 200 tonnes. Eugene Kiva, Commercial Executive at Antonov Airlines said, “The entire Antonov team, from commercial to operational, route planning, and load planning, worked closely with our client and agents to ensure the safe delivery of this important cargo, which will support energy needs in Nigeria.” Antonov Airlines has been adversely affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine but continues to fly worldwide, prioritising flights for the Ukrainian government, the Strategic Airlift International Solution (SALIS), and humanitarian missions using its five AN-124-100s, said the statement.