Category Archives: Aviation

The war in Ukraine, sanctions on Russia and stepped-up COVID lockdowns in China caused the air cargo market to contract in March and macroeconomic clouds could further dampen a sector that has performed well during a chaotic pandemic. The impact is being felt in freight rates, which are quickly climbing as capacity disappears faster than demand. Clive Data Services reported that shipment volumes declined 6.5 percent last month compared to the pre-COVID level in 2019 and were 4.5 percent lower than a year ago. Meanwhile, available cargo space on aircraft shrank four percent year-over-year and is now 14 percent less than before the pandemic.

Australia’s national airline Qantas will fly non-stop from Bengaluru to Sydney and is finalising a codeshare partnership with IndiGo to make travel between India and Australia easier. From 14 September 2022, Qantas will operate four weekly return flights between Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru and Sydney’s Kingsford Smith International Airport with its widebody Airbus A330 aircraft. These are the first direct flights between Australia and southern India by any airline, cutting almost three hours off the current fastest trip between Bengaluru and Sydney.

IAG Cargo is working with various charities including the Red Cross, Project Hope and SEPLA Ayuda and its sister airlines Iberia, British Airways and Vueling to transport aid for Ukraine. Till dat, the carrier has donated capacity to transport 125 tonnes of aid, including blankets, kitchen equipment and medical supplies. IAG Cargo will continue to support relief efforts into the region. The first aid shipment took place on 4 March from Barcelona to Warsaw, carrying donations from colleagues at its sister airline Vueling.

As a part of its global expansion strategy, UPS Healthcare has recently completed several significant investments in Hungary to offer customers faster shipping times and greater flexibility as they look to grow their businesses in existing and new markets. These investments include the addition of 13,000m2 of state-of-the-art warehousing space to its hub near Budapest. Housing multiple validated temperature-controlled environments for a variety of temperature-sensitive medicines and biologics, this expansion means that UPS Healthcare’s campus has 37,000m2 of dedicated Healthcare space in the country.

Air Canada Cargo has selected CargoAi’s eBooking and eQuote platform for freight forwarders as it continues to invest in its digital transformation.“We continue to invest in our digital transformation, which is a key pillar of Air Canada Cargo’s strategy as it continues to adapt to the changing landscape in airfreight,” said Matthieu Casey, Managing Director, Commercial – Cargo at Air Canada. He added, “We’re looking forward to further leveraging our API capabilities and the opportunity to reach out to additional users via the CargoAi marketplace. We’re continuing to grow our distribution reach and we’re confident that the features available on CargoAi will be well suited to the large range of our product portfolio.”

SkyCell has launched the new 1500X container, the next generation in its hybrid container portfolio for high value pharmaceutical product transportation. The 1500X enables pharma shipments for products that need to be kept at +2°C to +8°C or +15°C to +25°C and has a tested market-leading independent runtime of 270 hours at 20°C. The container also comes fully equipped with SkyCell’s proprietary SECURE SaaS platform for in-transit monitoring. The 1500X container’s extended 270-hour runtime ensures that the transportation of temperature-sensitive goods remains unaffected even in the event of unforeseen circumstances such as flight delays, re-routing, and delays at customs.

Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) is working with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to establish a Joint Innovation Center (JIC) that will drive the development and adoption of digital solutions in aviation. The JIC will also enable start-ups to accelerate innovation in aviation, smart infrastructure, utilities, and mobility by providing comprehensive program offerings and a technical platform that helps customers innovate quickly utilising AWS technology. This is the first JIC by AWS established outside of China and its first JIC dedicated to advancing the aviation industry. The JIC is expected to open at BLR Airport in 2022 and will focus on driving digital innovation for the airport, enhancing passenger experience, and creating positive impact for the community where the airport operates.

Nexxiot announced the launch of the new Nexxiot Cargo Monitor, a revolutionary sensor device which delivers unbeatable connectivity and data performance in a compact, easy-to-use design. It promises to revolutionise global cargo shipping by delivering unprecedented real-time visibility of the location, status, and condition of shipments anywhere in the world. The Nexxiot Cargo Monitor can be used to monitor the transportation of high-value and sensitive products, including perishables, pharmaceuticals, textiles, conditions-sensitive industrial products, electronics and more. Nexxiot’s proprietary, purpose-built software provides a seamless user experience to identify cargo-damaging shocks, excessive humidity, condensation, temperature, cargo provenance, and security issues. The sensor can also connect to Wireless Maritime Services (WMS) which provides connectivity on ocean vessels at sea via cellular and IoT networks.

Gaussin and Qatar Airways Cargo have announced the successful testing and commissioning of the AMDT FULL ELEC automotive multi-directional transporter for air cargo pallets, with production under way for delivery in Q2 2022. This multi-directional transporter for airport cargo operations has been developed by Gaussin in close collaboration with Qatar Aviation Services Cargo (the cargo ground handling subsidiary of Qatar Airways Group). It is zero-emissions, 100 percent electric and compatible with all types of unit load devices (ULDs). Capable of operating both inside and outside of the cargo terminal within minimal space, the AMDT will reduce the normal footprint required for manoeuvring, resulting in additional storage space and ensuring effective readiness of all cargo to be loaded onto the aircraft.

FedEx Express has partnered with air cargo logistics company Elroy Air to test the latter’s autonomous drone cargo system within its middle-mile logistics operations. Elroy Air’s Chaparral is an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aerial cargo system that can autonomously pick up 136-227kg of cargo and deliver it by air up to 480km. The Chaparral is capable of longer-range flights without the need for additional infrastructure such as airports and charging stations. This trial will involve FedEx Express moving shipments between sortation locations.