Category Archives: Aviation

Airports Authority of India (AAI) is planning to add space to its export dock to expand the cargo handling capacity of the Chennai airport. The dock is an automated facility where trucks unload export consignments in the cargo complex. This decision is expected to speed up the handling of cargo as AAI has been getting complaints of trucks queuing up at night at the export dock. Adding space to the export dock can improve infrastructure, an area where the Chennai airport is losing out to other airports. Chennai airport is also suffering a decline in cargo demand as per global slowdown. AAI data show that international freight movement in Chennai declined by 13.2 per cent and domestic by 20.3 per cent in April to July 2019, compared to the same period last year, making it the lowest when compared to major airports, except Kolkata.

The Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI) has appointed Sunil Arora of Delta Air Freight as the President of ACAAI for 2019-2020. Arora, who held the post of Vice President earlier, takes over from TA Varghese of Aroscan Cargo Trade. Afzal Malbarwala of Galaxy Freight, who previously served as Secretary General, has now been appointed as the Vice President of ACAAI. CK Govil of Activair Airfreight India and Anil Vazirani of Robinsons Cargo & Logistics have taken over as Secretary General and Treasurer, respectively. The announcements were made during the 49th annual general meeting in Mumbai. The ACAAI Annual Convention 2019 will be held from November 21-24 at The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa, Phuket.

M Raja Kishore, Airport Director, Rajahmundry Airport, states that cargo services will commence from the airport soon. In a stakeholders meeting, it was identified that agro, marine, fish, soft crab and pharmacy shrimp would be the main cargo. The committee will submit a report to the central government for clearance relating to operation of cargo services and the operations will be commenced shortly. Kishore further says, “There were abundant opportunities for cargo services from the airport as rice, vegetables, fruits, coconuts, aqua, fish and coir can be transported across the world from this airport and it is centrally located between Amaravati and Visakhapatnam.”

Blue Dart Express announced its General Price Increase (GPI), effective January 1, 2020. The average shipment price increase will be 9.8 per cent as compared to 2019, dependant on the shipping profile. The price increase will apply to all customers signed up until August 31, 2019, those signing up between September 1– 30, 2019 will continue to enjoy benefits at the existing rates, till December 31, 2020. A GPI free period of September 1-30, 2019 for new customers also announced first time ever. This is generally applicable to sign ups between October to December of the previous year. Customers signing up from October 1 to December 31, 2019 will not be impacted by the price increase. Commenting on the announcement, Balfour Manuel, Managing Director, Blue Dart, said, “The price adjustment will allow us to further enhance our capabilities and enable us to delight our customers by providing them high quality solutions and services, best-in-class technology and innovative products”. Ketan Kulkarni, CMO & Head – Business Development, Blue Dart, adds, “Blue Dart has made strategic investments ahead of the curve to remain agile and adaptive in a dynamic environment. These include expanding our reach, improving transit times, network optimisation, infrastructure and technology solutions and focusing on emerging markets, SMEs and key sectors”. Blue Dart adjusts its prices annually, considering inflation, currency dynamics, fuel cost fluctuations and other rising regulatory and mandatory costs, such as expenses related to compliance for the workforce with enhanced security regulations across the large number of locations its services.

Digital integration and technological remodeling are imperative for simpler, cost-effective, convenient, transparent and accurate implementation of supply chain functioning. LogYcode has launched the mobile app to serve the need of the hour. With the app, the user can now check and compare live market freight rates, book shipments, refer to tariffs, create and manage freight documents, track shipments, get bill invoices, book transportation, 24×7 chatbot and customer service, on the go using the LogYcode Mobile Application which is freely available on Google Play store for download. This is the 21st century, which is mushrooming towards technological infinity, positioning people’s expectation at the zenith degree. Logistics industry is no exception in terms of technological advancement. The industry is enduring the progress steadily, however, still lags for handy and consumer friendly processes. It is high time the cargo fraternity experiences easy access platforms and applications to effectuate supply chain tasks. Why not have pocket logistics services!

The Union Government is conducting a nationwide survey to identify delay points in the cargo movement. The survey is being conducted simultaneously across 15 ports — sea, air, land and dry — that account for 81 per cent of bills of entries for import and 67 per cent of shipping bills for export. From August 1-7, surveys were conducted for seaport and inland container depots and for air cargo, the survey is getting conducted in the first week of September. The exercise to identify bottlenecks and their removal is supposed to expedite the cargo movement and escalate the trade. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), under the Department of Revenue, is carrying out the survey. The nationwide survey will look at causes of delays in movement of consignment caused by regulatory constraints, logistical issues in supply chains, or lack of infrastructure.

SpiceXpress has commenced its narrow body domestic freighter service connecting Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai. With this, Hyderabad International Airport now has six scheduled freighters operating. SpiceJet’s 737-700F freighter aircraft will operate 6 days every week, arriving from Chennai at 9:45 pm and departing for Delhi at 10:45 pm. This service will connect Chennai – Hyderabad – Delhi – Mumbai – Bangalore sectors and has a capacity to carry approximately 20 MT of cargo. Manjiv Singh, Chief Project Officer, SpiceJet, added “Today’s consumers demand for the quickest deliveries possible. This has been shaping the e-commerce and logistics processes, and in turn the express logistics sector.” SGK Kishore, CEO, GMR Hyderabad International Airport (GHIAL) said, “We have been working with our partners including SpiceJet to bring in more choices and offer enhanced services in the Hyderabad air cargo market. With the addition of this new freighter, customers will have more options to ship their goods within the country and beyond. The availability of high-quality, daily cargo services is essential for the development of trade especially in high-value and time-sensitive products. This will also give a boost to the cargo and logistics sector in the region.”

Delhi International Airport (DIAL) has announced the construction of a dedicated elevated corridor to keep away vehicles carrying airport cargo from regular traffic, thus reducing congestion. Delhi airport will be the first airport to have a dedicated road for trucks carrying cargo into the cargo complex via the NH8. This dedicated road will also provide vehicles direct access to the cargo terminals and air cargo logistics centre (ACLC), including the upcoming cargo city. According to a statement issued by DIAL, “This 3km long four-lane dedicated elevated road will provide hassle-free, safe and seamless movement of trucks carrying cargo to the airport and will not disrupt regular traffic. It will also ease the traffic movement on the airport’s main approach road — the Central Spine Road, which is currently being used by both passengers as well as cargo vehicles.”

The International Airport Transport Association (IATA) recently awarded the Mumbai and Hyderabad branches of Dachser India with the prestigious CEIV Pharma certification, recognizing the company for its excellence in transporting Life Science and Healthcare (LSH) products. The certification is a significant achievement for the logistics service provider given that only very few companies are currently accredited in India. In fact, the Dachser Hyderabad branch is only the second logistics firm in the area to receive the recognition; while its Mumbai branch is only among a few in the region. The Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics (CEIV Pharma) certification is a globally recognized certificate that acknowledges companies who excel in transporting Life Science and Healthcare (LSH) products. It is a quality mark and an industry standard that recognizes the logistics service provider as being able to safely, security and efficiently handle pharmaceutical shipments through the supply chain to assure product integrity and compliance with national and international guidelines. “Obtaining the CEIV Pharma certification is an important milestone for Dachser India. It emphasizes our continued focus for providing highly reliable logistic services to our valued customers in the LSH segment”, said Huned Gandhi, Managing Director, Air & Sea Logistics for the Indian Subcontinent. “Quality and efficiency have always been the cornerstones for our success and our teams are extremely proud to receive this accreditation from IATA”, Gandhi added.

Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI) and Aerospace & Aviation Sector Skill Council (AASSC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote the skill development initiatives in the air cargo industry. AASSC & ACFI will work towards fulfilling the needs of air cargo logistics sector by involving the industry in developing and reviewing the occupational standards, build a credible and stringent quality assurance system for identification and accreditation of training partners, training of trainers, stringent assessments and a credible certification, and bring in international best practices.