Category Archives: Aviation

Airports Authority of India (AAI) has launched an air cargo and logistics subsidiary AAI Cargo Logistics & Allied Services (AAICLAS). This new subsidiary will be allowed to develop its own distinct culture, organisation structure and business model while at the same time draw upon the strength of its large patent organisation, AAI. “The vision of the company is to become the foremost integrated logistics network operator in India with primary focus on air cargo handling and allied services,” informs Guruprasad Mohapatra, Chairman, AAI.

As a step of the joint business agreement between Lufthansa Cargo and Cathay Pacific Cargo, the air cargo carrier has moved its local freight handling into the Cathay Pacific Cargo Terminal (CPCT) in Hong Kong. The move took effect on October 1. This benefits customers of both carriers, with one single location for export drop-off and import delivery arrangements. As part of the JBA, both cargo carriers are working closely together on network planning, as well as sales, IT and service enhancements, and plan to transport the first shipment under the cooperation framework from February 1, 2017 – initially from Hong Kong to Europe. The ability to also book eastbound shipments from Europe to Hong Kong will then follow in 2018. The joint activities will be carried out in full compliance with all applicable laws, including the competition rules of the European Union and Hong Kong.

Earlier in September, Emirates SkyCargo deployed three dedicated freighter flights, two from Thiruvananthapuram and one from Kochi, transporting more than 288 tonnes of perishables to the Middle East especially for the Onam celebrations in the region. The perishables included all kinds of vegetables, different varieties of fruits including bananas and banana leaves. The majority of the shipment was headed to Dubai; the perishables also reached other destinations in the Gulf region including Bahrain, Doha, Kuwait, Dammam, Muscat and Jeddah. Emirates SkyCargo has witnessed a steady growth in the export of cargo from Kerala over the years. In 2015-16, the carrier helped export over 29,000 tonnes of cargo, a growth of 8.7 per cent from 2014-15.

Air India SATS Airport Services (AISATS) commenced trial operations of India’s first integrated on-airport perishable cargo handling centre, ‘AISATS COOLPORT’, at the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (KIAB). The state-of-the-art, 11,000 sq. meter facility will meet the ever-increasing demands and handling requirements of temperature-sensitive cargo and will further enhance the state of Karnataka’s status as the pharmaceutical and perishables hub of India. The facility, with a handling capacity of 40,000 tonnes per annum, will cater to an extensive range of perishable commodities such as pharmaceutical products, fruits, vegetables, poultry, sea food and flowers. It is customised to offer the most comprehensive cold storage solutions with 17 dedicated cold rooms with adjustable temperatures ranging from – 25OC to + 25OC. It is designed as a one stop shop to facilitate the import and export processes of the air cargo industry. The integrated facility will house a state-of-the-art drug controller lab as well as a plant quarantine inspection and certification office. It will be supplemented by temperature controlled queue lanes for unitised shipments and cool trollies to ensure integrity of the cool chain from AISATS COOLPORT to the aircraft and vice versa.

Emirates SkyCargo has also been awarded the certification of compliance under the EU Good Distribution Practice guidelines (GDP) for medicinal products for human use by Bureau Veritas following an audit conducted by the certification agency’s team from Germany. The certification validates the carrier’s adherence to the strict guidelines on the transport and handling of pharmaceutical products and covers all Emirates SkyCargo handling activities for pharmaceutical products at its hub in Dubai. Emirates SkyCargo is the first cargo airline in the world that has obtained GDP certification for its hub operations covering two airports and the 24/7 bonded trucking service that connects cargo between them. The carrier also operates the largest GDP certified area in the world offering a total area of 8,600 square metres of combined handling space dedicated for pharmaceutical products at Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central.

Emirates SkyPharma, Emirates SkyCargo’s new purpose-built facility dedicated exclusively to the timely and secure transport of temperature sensitive pharmaceutical shipments at Dubai International Airport (DXB) was officially inaugurated on September 18, 2016 by his Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group. The new purpose built Emirates SkyPharma facility, part of the new 11,000 square metre extension of Emirates SkyCentral terminal at Dubai International Airport, offers 4,000 square metres of space dedicated to pharmaceutical cargo. It also features temperature controlled zones (2-8 degree Celsius and 15-25 degree Celsius), 88 temperature controlled individual positions in the automated ULD (aircraft pallet) handling system and 5 temperature controlled acceptance and delivery truck docks. The new Emirates SkyPharma facility at Dubai International airport works in conjunction with Emirates SkyCentral DWC, the carrier’s freighter hub in Dubai World Central which offers 4,600 square metres of dedicated area for pharmaceutical cargo.

Air Cargo Forum (ACF) 2016 is scheduled from October 26-28, 2016 in Paris. Talking about the significance of the biennial event, Sanjiv Edward, Chairman, The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA), “ACF 2016 is the perfect opportunity to promote and launch new products and services and to interact with potential and existing customers, partners and suppliers. It is important because it gives a unique platform to air cargo industry to understand the volatility of global scenario, recognise global issues and address them with concrete steps.” “ACF is also a prospect for global leaders to apprise themselves of latest developments in air cargo, exchange of ideas from broad spectrum; airports, airlines, security experts, and forwarders etc, showcase new technologies,” said Edward.

KWE India has unveiled India’s first Good Distribution Process (GDP) warehouse at the Hyderabad airport cargo satellite building to exclusively handle pharmaceutical logistics. Mineo Suzuki, Managing Director, KWE India, “Strategically located at the country’s pharmaceutical hub, this facility will be utilised to provide logistics support for the pharmaceutical shipments including both export and import trade.” “Set up in non-bonded area, the state-of-the-art facility is equipped with 24×7 temperature ambient control, CCTV, control access, racking, temperature and humidity indicators, alarm system and skilled and trained manpower to follow GDP compliant process throughout shipment handling,” he adds.

The 43rd annual convention of Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI), scheduled from November 16-19 this year, will be held in Athens, Greece. The theme of the convention is ‘Resurgence of Air Logistics in India’. Explaining about the theme of the convention, Sunil Arora, Secretary General & Chairman Convention, ACAAI, says, “There is a vital need to rejuvenate, resurge and reassess to meet the challenges and be ahead in the race for global preeminence of the skies.”

In the 4th Annual General Meeting of Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI), the association members have elected ACFI’s governing board members for 2016-18. ACFI is committed to develop the air cargo industry by engaging itself proactively with government and other regulatory agencies for simplifying and streamlining procedures and enhancing the level of ease of doing business in India. Tushar K Jani, Chairman, Cargo Service Center is the President, Cyrus Katgara, Partner, Jeena & Company as Vice President, Yashpal Sharma, Director, Skyways Air Services as Hon. Secretary and Ramesh Mamidala, CEO, Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India as Hon. Treasurer. Following are the members of the board: Neera Rawat, ED Cargo, Airports Authority of India (AAI) Abhay Pathak, ED Cargo, Air India (AI) Vipin Kumar Mohla, Director Cargo Sales & Operation, InterGlobe Aviation S. Subramanian, Sr Vice President & Managing Director, DHL Express Arun Kumar, Managing Director, Ensynergy Supply Chain Solution