Category Archives: Aviation

For cross border trade, there is an encouraging trend towards cooperation, as seen by the expansion of India’s trade relations with neighbouring countries and global markets, including the EU, America, the Middle East, etc, says Kamesh Peri, CEO, Celebi Cargo Terminal Management India. Such cooperation is essential for overcoming obstacles and prioritising trade facilitation, which promotes a more seamless movement of goods across different forms of transportation. A multi-pronged strategy is needed to overcome the obstacles which restrict smooth cross border trade, including relaxing port limitations, streamlining customs procedures, and creating multimodal freight hubs. Key initiatives such as the MVA (Motor Vehicle Agreement) between BBIN countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal) that was created ‘for the regulation of passenger, personal, and cargo vehicular traffic to boost economic growth in the region are yet to be completely implemented, he adds.

Silk Way West Airlines has taken delivery of its first Boeing 777 freighter as part of its plan to modernise its fleet and increase its capacity for global operations. The freighter is the first of an order for five production 777Fs made by the cargo airline in April 2021. The following four aircraft are due to be delivered gradually until 2027. The 777F arrived at Silk Way’s Baku-based hub airport, Heydar Aliyev International today (October 3). Until now, the airline has operated with Boeing 747F aircraft. At present, it operates five 747-8Fs and seven 747-400Fs. “Delivery of this aircraft marks a defining moment in our strategic plan to make Silk Way West Airlines greener, more fuel efficient, and better positioned for growth from conception to reality,” said Fadi Nahas, vice president of Silk Way West Airlines, Americas.

Finally, International Air Transport Association (IATA) has delivered some positive news for the global airfreight industry with new data that shows year-on-year air cargo demand grew for the first time in 19 months, but it said the trajectory of global trade is a concern. As part of its air cargo market analysis for August, the industry body noted that demand, measured in global cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs) increased by 1.5% year on year (YoY) in August, the first annual growth since February 2022. However, industry CTKs remained 1.3% lower than their pre-pandemic level in 2019. Meanwhile, air cargo capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTKs), was up 12.2% year on year and 3.9% higher than 2019 levels. “This was largely related to belly capacity which rose 30% year-on-year as airlines ramped-up operations to meet peak-northern summer travel season demand,” said IATA. Economic challenges, specifically the “sustained annual contraction of trade” remain a concern for the industry, pointed out IATA. The industry body added that inflation in the US continued to increase for the second month in a row, after 13 months of decline. And Although China’s CPI growth reverted to positive from the July level, the country recorded negative PPI in August for the 16th consecutive month.

The establishment of air transport shipment hubs at major Indian airports will have a significant impact on cargo movement in India, says Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, CEO, Delhi International Airport. ‘By streamlining the transshipment process, reducing transit times, and enhancing connectivity, these hubs will make it easier and faster for Indian exporters to reach global markets. This will boost India’s trade competitiveness and contribute to its economic growth. Cross border trade requires an extensive set of documentation, compliance with cross-border procedures, and a number of processes to take the shipment through. These increase the transaction time and cost for importers / exporters. There has been a significant improvement over the past decade in the Customs regulations and processes. Cargo Community Systems at the Air Cargo complexes provide a number of features to the trade community, which streamlines the processes and provides an ease of doing business. DIAL has implemented a series of technology solutions to help the trade with availability of information and an ease of documentation.

Blue Dart Express announced its General Price Increase (GPI), effective from January 1st, 2024. The average shipment price increase will be 9.6% as compared to 2023, dependent on the shipping profile. Blue Dart is recognised for its market-leadership in future-ready solutions with exceptional service quality, these standards are also benchmarked by the express logistics providers in the industry. In order to consistently deliver resilient, dependable, and efficient solutions to its valued customers, Blue Dart reviews and adjusts its pricing annually. This adjustment considers a multitude of factors including the current macroeconomic factors, geopolitical tensions, tighter monetary and fiscal policies, inflationary pressures, and exchange rate fluctuations, all of which impact the cost structure, there is a need for a reasonable tariff adjustment. Additionally, the company demonstrates its ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility by reducing CO2 emissions through targeted investments in green transportation technologies, smarter route planning, and clean fuels. Blue Dart has planned significant investments in its IT infrastructure to ensure data security and deliver a world-class user experience, including the introduction of chatbots, a new shipping portal, seamless marketplace plugins, and other initiatives. Elaborating on the announcement, Balfour Manuel, Managing Director, Blue Dart said, “The aftermath of the global disruptions in the last few years has given rise to evolving forms of globalization. As of 2023, we have faced the challenges of a volatile global market, yet we have consistently delivered dependable services to our customer base. Through our annual price adjustment, we are channelling investments into our infrastructure and cutting-edge technology, ensuring the resilience, sustainability, and top-tier customer solutions that define our commitment. This includes advancements in our aviation infrastructure and vehicle fleets, the expansion of our hubs and …

Vikram Kumar, Honorary Secretary General, ACAAI and Director, CTC Air Carriers elaborates on upcoming 47th ACAAI convention theme ‘AI The Game Changer – Embracing the Intelligent Future.’ He said, “AI can help to improve efficiency and Productivity. AI can help in Route Optimisation and Automated Cargo handling through smart devices. There can be significant cost reductions due to fuel efficiencies and predictive maintenance reducing downtime of aircraft and ensuring continuous supply. Safety and security can also be enhanced through predictive technologies. AI based Profiling, screening and risk management can mitigate risks associated with air transportation, enhancing safety and reliability. Good quality AI that can analyze vast amounts of data accurately can optimise capacity planning and resource allocation. The quality of data can also help automate customs and port processes and ensure higher compliance. Customer service is an area where AI has already shown its importance and chat bots can provide real time tracking, bookings and end to end visibility for sensitive products with IOT providing continuous data automated and presented to improve customer experience. The implementation of AI at multiple points in the supply chain can offer significant benefits, but it also comes with several challenges. AI relies heavily on data, and inconsistent or poor-quality data can lead to inaccurate results. Standardizing data formats and ensuring data quality can be a significant challenge, especially when dealing with data from multiple sources. Sharing data across the supply chain can raise concerns about data privacy and security.

Airblox has added Pacific Air Cargo to its network of carriers. The partnership between Airblox and Pacific Air Cargo represents a powerful fusion of community support, innovation, and logistics excellence, says an official release. Pacific Air Cargo has remained strong in its commitment to the communities it serves with a particular emphasis on the Hawaiian Islands. Christian Calderon, Sales Manager, Pacific Air Cargo says: “Since our inception in 2000, Pacific Air Cargo has steadfastly committed to supporting the communities we serve with a particular focus on the Hawaiian Islands. This dedication extends beyond providing exceptional air cargo services since we also provide a vital lifeline during challenging times such as the recent pandemic and natural disasters in Guam and Maui.” Brian Kolb, VP, Strategy, Airblox adds: “Pacific Air Cargo’s unwavering support for the communities they serve aligns perfectly with our mission to provide the air cargo industry with an efficient and reliable platform. For forwarders and logistics professionals, this partnership represents an exceptional opportunity. Accessing Pacific Air Cargo’s capacity in and out of the Hawaiian Islands through the Airblox platform means more than just enhanced flexibility and efficiency in managing supply chain operations; it’s about supporting a carrier deeply committed to community well-being.”

In a seamless transition of leadership, B N Rajmoghon, New Regional Chairman of ACAAI, Kerala Region succeeds Suresh Kumar, who is now the newest member of Managing Committee. The Regional Meeting of Kerala Region was held at the Hotel Windsor Rajdhani Trivandrum Kerala where regional issues related to air cargo were discussed. C K Govil, President ACAAI attended the meet.

The Noida International Airport (NIA) unveiled its International Air Transport Association (IATA) code as DXN. The airport is expected to launch flights by the end of 2024. The code will become active once the airport starts operations. The IATA codes are unique to each individual airport and serve as essential identifiers for airports globally to prevent any ambiguity between countries and cities. These codes are featured not only on passengers’ travel documents but are a crucial element in various other communications on a daily basis across flight schedules, ticketing, and baggage handling from one airport to another.

Starting from October 29, 2023, during the Northern Winter 2023/24 season launch, Etihad Airways will enhance its service on the Abu Dhabi to Mumbai route. The airlines will introduce a fourth daily flight on this route, with flights designated as EY196/197. These additional flights will be operated using Airbus A320 or A321 aircraft. The Abu Dhabi-based airline currently has many unutilized seats, amounting to 10,000 per week out of the total 50,000 allocated seats. By expanding its services and filling these unutilized seats, Etihad Airways is gearing up to enhance its presence and connectivity in the Indian market. In partnership with Abu Dhabi Air Arabia, Etihad operates 165 weekly flights to 10 important gateways across the Indian market.