Category Archives: Aviation

“It is our dream to see Madhya Pradesh becoming cargo hub in the coming years,” said Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh, who was invited as a Chief Guest at ACFI Annual Conclave held in New Delhi. He added, “We have seven airports at present and we have plans to increase the number. We have started work on our ambitious project – ‘Future-Ready MP’ under which we are working on improving multimodal connectivity, developing National Highways, linking MP with Delhi-Mumbai freight corridors, we have inter-state air services started already and we have single window system too. We want the industry to come to Madhya Pradesh and consider it as a manufacturing and cargo hub as there’s lot of potential.” ACFI conclave titled, Unlocking Potential: Paving way for a developed India witnessed participation of industry experts from all across the country and even internationally. Guest of Honour included: Dr Surendra Ahirwar, Joint Secretary, DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Piyush Srivastava, Senior Economic Adviser, MoCA.

In FY 2023-24, Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (KIAB/BLR Airport) continues to serve as the No. 1 Airport in India for exporting perishables for the fourth consecutive year. During this fiscal year, BLR Airport recorded a total perishable cargo tonnage of 63,188 metric tons (MT), marking an impressive 18% growth compared to the previous fiscal year. This achievement highlights BLR Airport’s significant contribution to India’s perishable exports, handling 28% of the country’s total perishable cargo. BLR Airport also processed 44% of the south India’s total perishable cargo and 28% of the national share for FY 2023-24. While BLR Airport excels in exporting a variety of perishable goods throughout the year, it secured the number one position for poultry product exports in FY 2023-24, shipping an impressive 47,041 metric tons. Additionally, the airport exported 2,050 metric tons of flowers. Overall, poultry, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, and flowers emerged as the leading perishable cargo categories. Satyaki Raghunath, Chief Operating Officer at Bangalore International Airport Limited, added, “We are immensely proud of our consistent and continued growth and leadership in perishable exports in FY 2023-24. This milestone reflects our commitment to excellence in an unbroken cold chain and the trust placed in us by our partners and customers. We have accounted for 44% of the total perishable cargo export share in the South India region, transforming BLR Airport into the premier gateway to South and Central India. Our focus remains on enhancing infrastructure and services to support the growing demand for perishable goods and further solidify our position as a key player in global trade.” As an important gateway, BLR Airport significantly enhances connectivity, linking Indian producers with key international markets. The airport’s extensive network …

Turkish Airlines Cargo is planning to expand its freighter capacity with the addition of Boeing 777 freighters for global operations, says reports. The carrier announced the order of four Boeing 777 Freighters to be added to its existing fleet of 8 aircraft. Turkish Airlines chief cargo officer Ali Türk said in a statement, “This new investment in expanding our cargo fleet underscores our commitment to meeting the growing global demand for airfreight services. The addition of these Boeing 777 Freighters will not only enhance our operational capabilities, but also serve as another step in our strategic vision to reach the top of air cargo sector worldwide while maintaining our leading position with our unparalleled service and efficiency for our customers across the globe.”

“As India grows, and produces more goods, I feel there is going to be a terrific market to take Indian goods outside of India and bring goods into India. Of course, we need to look at the regulatory issues there,” says Ajay Singh, CEO, SpiceJet. “With the increase in the demand for quick transport of goods with overnight deliveries of consumer items, etc., I think that there is going to be a significant market. At SpiceJet, we have separated the cargo into a new company. And we are intending to expand that, fund it separately, expand that space separately. And that’s part of the current restructuring that we are following. By next year and we will have much more to say to cargo,” he adds.    

      Air India has selected IBS Software to digitally transform its expanding air cargo operations. Air India has chosen IBS Software’s iCargo solution to support its growth plan and commitment to the airline’s ongoing digital transformation. IBS Software’s fully integrated iCargo solution will enable Air India to digitise end-to-end cargo management, allowing seamless integration of various cargo operations, from sales to billing within a single, integrated platform. This will empower Air India to streamline processes and enhance decision-making capabilities. This partnership comes at a time when Air India has embarked on a significant digital transformation of its core businesses across passenger services, fleet, and cargo operations. Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial and Transformation Officer at Air India, said: “Air India is on a transformation journey to not only reaffirm its position as a global leader in aviation, but to also establish foundations for future growth. Air cargo is one of the key drivers of our roadmap for future growth, and technology will be at the core of it.” Somit Goyal, Chief Executive Officer at IBS Software, shared similar sentiments, stating: “As one of the most iconic airlines in the world, partnering with Air India is a proud moment for IBS Software. The Indian aviation market is on a major upswing, and we are excited to be partnered with a company that is dedicated to driving this growth. We are proud that our market- leading digital platform for the air cargo industry will support the ambitious transformation goals of Air India’s cargo offering and take it from strength to strength.” The first end-to-end implementation of iCargo is slated for delivery within nine months from the project’s start, promising immediate business …

  DP World welcomed the inaugural voyage of a new weekly mainline service, connecting South East Asia, India and Middle East at DP World Mundra. Marked by successful berthing of MV. ESL vessel, the service strengthens connectivity between key ports in Southeast Asia, India, and the Middle East, reaffirming DP World’s commitment to enhancing global trade. Additionally, DP World Mundra achieved its highest-ever throughput record by handling 128,652 TEUs at its terminal in June, which serves as a testament to its operational efficiency and capacity. The service will be operated by Emirates Shipping Line, CMA CGM, China United Lines, KMTC, Regional Container Lines and Global Feeders. With a weekly capacity of 3800 TEUs, the service offers a robust connectivity between Laem Chabang, Singapore, Port Klang, Nhava Sheva, Jebel Ali, Dammam, Cai Mep, Jakarta, and Mundra, facilitating efficient trade flows for industries including agriculture, industrial goods, and engineering products. Commenting on the launch of the weekly EVGI service,Ravinder Johal, COO, Ports & Terminals, Operations and Commercial, DP World, Subcontinent, Middle East and North Africa, said, “At DP World we are continuously optimizing supply chain efficiencies and fostering access todirect trade routes. This service connects Indian businesses to key markets in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, while also enabling traders and businesses in those regions to explore new opportunities in India. Backed by our multimodal prowess that connect Mundra to the north and central hinterlands of India, we are confident that the service will boost convenience for our valued customers.” DP World Mundra features a 632-meter quay and deep draft to accommodate large vessels. With a capacity of 1.4 million TEUs over 37 hectares, the terminal is a key hub in India’s …

        The Chennai export cargo terminal (ACCMAA) gate was forced to shut by the CTO due to cargo overflow at the export shed, says Dinesh Krishnan, Regional Chairman, Southern Region at ACAAI adding, “leading to trucks waiting to offload export cargo spilling over to the NH,  customs clearance & handing time taking over 24 to 48 hrs, booked cargo missed flights leading to a flash strike by frustrated CHA employees. The terminal has 2 government CTO for the past few decades , AAICLAS ( the landlord / custodian ) having 80% of the terminal space and AIASL ( the tenant / earlier ground handing & custodian ) leaser for the 20% of the space , but handing over 50% of the export tonnage . The root cause of the current crises and decline of ACCMAA can be traced to inexperience of both these CTO to administer , invest and deliver quality air cargo logistics ( CTO operations ) demanded by the EXIM trade. A meeting was held again yesterday at the AIASL between the stakeholders and the CTO to review the issue , subsequently a debriefing with AAICLAS management was done too to see what can be done to improve the current situation . The crux of the matter is that , this is a landlord ( AAICALS ) and tenant ( AIASL ) dispute , each having a list of long term commercial & operation grievances each other . Chennai air cargo terminal ( ACCMAA ) once the gateway of air cargo from South has seen its market share and fortunes dwindle drastically in the past 15 years .This is despite the fact that Tamilnadu is the manufacturing …

Swissport Basel has launched its new “cool+connect” terminal to ensure  seamless integrity of pharmaceutical and temperature-sensitive goods (2-8°C) throughout the loading process, for global operations. By consolidating shipments from the same suppliers in a single truck instead of several as before, CO2 emissions and handling time are reduced by around 70% (from 4.5 to 1.5 hours), as transportation outside the airport is no longer necessary. “‘cool+connect’ is the first of its kind and we are proud to offer this innovation to our customers at EuroAirport,” says Andreas Behnke, Station Manager Basel, and member of the Swissport Global Cargo committee. “The cool chain infrastructure for pharmaceutical centers with many refrigerated containers meets a global need in the logistics industry. Swissport offers a proven, standardized  terminal for airlines, logistics providers and airports to outsource business-critical operations.” Swissport plans to introduce the “cool+connect” infrastructure worldwide. Additionally, the company is committed to expanding its network of IATA CEIV Pharma-certified cargo warehouses for pharmaceutical logistics. Swissport aims to achieve CEIV certification across its network, with Geneva, Switzerland, and Hamburg, Germany, already in the planning stages. In the United States, Swissport is actively pursuing certification for major pharmaceutical centers at Miami International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport, reinforcing its dedication to providing world-class handling of pharmaceutical goods.

JSW Infrastructure Ltd has been awarded a contract by Chennai division of Southern Railway to develop and operate a state-of-the-art multimodal cargo terminal at Arakkonam, says reports. This project is under the Gati Shakti Multimodal Cargo Terminal Policy 2022, and it will cover around one lakh sq metres of railway land next to Arakkonam railway station. The new terminal will include two full rake length lines, large wharf areas for easy goods handling, approach roads with highway connectivity, service buildings, and essential amenities for a fully developed cargo terminal, adds reports. The new terminal aims to make Arakkonam a global hub for multi-modal cargo operations, adding an expected 1 million tonnes of goods handled annually, as per reports. JSW Infrastructure will invest approximately ₹40-50 crore in the project. They have exclusive rights to build additional infrastructure, such as warehouses, mechanized loading/unloading facilities, specialised goods handling, and value-added services. The contract spans 35 years.