Category Archives: Aviation

Rajat Kumar Saini, CEO and MD, NICDC and Chairman NLDS in an exclusive interview shared, “The Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, driven by innovative government initiatives aimed at enhancing infrastructure, connectivity, and overall supply chain efficiency. Logistics is a key enabler of economic growth, and efforts such as the National Logistics Policy and PM Gati Shakti are instrumental in reducing logistics costs and improving India’s global competitiveness through multimodal integration and streamlined operations. To support this vision, we are implementing the LEAD framework — focusing on Longevity, Efficiency & Effectiveness, Accessibility & Accountability, and Digitalisation — to foster a modern, data-driven logistics ecosystem. In this context, NLDSL has taken a pioneering role in the digital transformation of the logistics sector. Our flagship initiative, the Logistics Data Bank (LDB), launched in 2015, has successfully tracked over 80+ million EXIMcontainers across their journey within India, bringing unprecedented transparency and visibility into container movement. Building on this foundation, we introduced the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) in September 2022, under the PM Gati Shakti initiative. ULIP integrates data from 43 systems of 11 ministries, enabling seamless, digital, and paperless logistics operations. This platform addresses a wide range of industry use-cases, significantly reducing time and costs for stakeholders across the supply chain. Together, LDB and ULIP are not just technological advancements; they are strategic enablers in India’s journey toward becoming a global logistics hub. By enhancing operational efficiency and sustainability, these initiatives are poised to accelerate economic growth, generate employment, and elevate India’s position in the global economy — all contributing directly to the realization of Viksit Bharat @ 2047. These efforts lay the foundation for a world-class, future-ready logistics infrastructure and a digitally empowered …

DHL Express has partnered with Sai Life Sciences to use DHL’s emission-reduced shipping solution – GoGreen Plus (GGP). The partnership provides Sai Life Sciences with a greenhouse gas emissions reduction of up to 90% for its international logistics needs by using SAF. Sai Life Sciences works with over 300 global innovator pharma and biotech companies to accelerate the pace of their drug discovery, development and commercialisation. R.S Subramanian, Senior Vice President – South Asia, DHL Express, said, “Addressing Scope 3 emissions is critical to DHL for achieving the commitment to be carbon neutral by 2050. GoGreen Plus is a pioneering service that helps our customers address Scope 3 carbon emissions of their critical shipments to global destinations. The Life sciences and healthcare sector is a focus area for growth outlined in our Strategy 2030 and GoGreen Plus is very relevant to key players here who have a committed road map on carbon footprint reduction. We are incredibly proud to have Sai Life Sciences join us on our mission to reduce Scope 3 emissions with GoGreen Plus – the most technically viable option currently available.”

Monada.AI is all set to accelerate freight sales with integrated CargoAi’sCargoCONNECT Quote & Book API Integration for faster air quoting & booking. With this collaboration, both Monada.ai and CargoAi are reinforcing their commitment to building the future of logistics—where intelligent automation, visibility, and data-driven decision-making define success. “At Monada.ai, we are redefining how freight forwarders sell—turning scattered data and manual processes into clear, actionable workflows. Integrating CargoAi’s Quote & Book API allows us to deliver a powerful, AI-enhanced user experience that makes air cargo booking seamless and smart,” said Shahar, CEO of Monada.ai.  “This partnership with Monada.ai exemplifies our mission to digitize every layer of airfreight procurement. Through our CargoCONNECT APIs, we’re unlocking new possibilities for logistics players to optimize operations and scale efficiently,” said Matt Petot, CEO of CargoAi. 

Air India SATS Airport Services (AISATS), launched AISATS BLR Logistics Park at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR Airport). One of the largest on-airport logistics parks in South India, constructed with an investment of Rs. 200 crores, the facility was inaugurated, marking a significant milestone in strengthening India’s logistics and cargo infrastructure. The launch of the AISATS BLR Logistics Park is a step towards enhancing cargo handling capabilities, improving operational efficiencies, and catering to the rising demand for faster, seamless, and more sustainable cargo supply chain. Strategically located within the airport premises, the facility will play a key role in supporting exporters, importers, freight forwarders, and logistics providers, ensuring efficient cargo movement and consolidation services. Spread across 8 acres within Bengaluru’s fast-growing airport, the AISATS BLR Logistics Park is set to become a key enabler of regional trade.  The Logistics Park is a cluster of three distinct buildings to serve the cargo community.  A modern two-level main warehouse offering more than 240,000 sq. ft of Grade A warehousing space, designed to serve the freight forwarders, express courier operators and leading logistics players.  Importantly, this main warehouse includes a common-user general warehouse space to cater for small and medium enterprises and cold storage warehouse space for pay-per-use access, strengthening inclusivity and competitiveness in the logistics ecosystem. To complement this, there is a 11,000 sq. ft public bonded warehouse to allow importers and OEMs to securely store and manage their cargo shipments under Customs bond.  The Logistics Park also offers an office block with 24,000 sq. ft of space for Customs House Agents, logistics companies and support services. AISATS will also provide trucking services to ensure faster, economical and seamless movement of cargo …

Kelvin Seow, CCO, AISATS in an exclusive interview with us shared, “AISATS logistics park has the world-class infrastructure and over 350k MT to 500k MT cargo handling capacity to handle variety of cargo coming in from all parts of the world. The 2,50,000 sq. ft. facility has main warehouse, consolidation center and office amenities. Out of total 2,50,000 sq ft space –  10,000 sq ft warehousing space is dedicated to the Bonded cargo. The MMLP has cargo handling capacity of 350k tons to 500k tons, but there are plans to expand infrastructure further. AISATS has tied up with domestic and international forwarders and airlines such as FedEx, Kuehne+Nagel, DHL, DSV. Special focus is on the SMEs to utilise the facility for their cargo handling and storage purposes. Tenants can use the space for processing, sorting, labelling and packaging of the shipments. AISATS has also launched EVs for all kinds of cargo movements towards Bangalore Airport, Menzies Aviation Terminal and WFS. The focus is on enhancing end to end operations and maintaining security in the cargo premises by deploying the best of technologies such as video analytics, CCTVs and other equipment. The facility, already operational is ready to handle variety of cargo from perishables, pharma, electronics, automobile to dangerous goods.”

I Ahead of upcoming FIATA RAP Meet in New Delhi in May, Đào Trọng Khoa, President, Vietnam Logistics Business Association (VLA) shared, “The ‘Make in India’ initiative has helped India promote domestic production and attract foreign investment. VLA highly values the trade and investment potential with India, especially given the long-standing traditional friendship between the two nations. Vietnam and India established diplomatic relations in 1972 and elevated ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership nine years ago. India is now one of Vietnam’s top 8 trading partners and its largest trading partner in South Asia, accounting for nearly 80% of Vietnam’s exports to the region. Meanwhile, Vietnam ranks as India’s 17th largest global trading partner and 4th largest within ASEAN. India’s geographical location makes it a gateway for Vietnamese goods to access South Asian markets, and conversely, Vietnam is seen as a gateway for Indian goods into ASEAN and Vietnam’s trade partner countries. The complementary nature of the two countries’ trade structures is also a major factor behind the rapid and positive development of Vietnam–India economic relations. The two countries hold great potential for cooperation in IT, pharmaceuticals, machinery, renewable energy, and logistics services. India’s market remains wide open for Vietnamese exports, particularly agricultural products, seafood, and consumer goods. These are the very reasons why VLA was approved by Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade to organize a National Trade Promotion Program in India in May 2025—one of its key missions being to participate in the FIATA Region Asia Pacific (RAP) Annual Meeting 2025.”

Emirates SkyCargo, in collaboration with freight forwarder and haulier Allied Transport Company, is all set to add five hydrogen-powered trucks to its fleet by the first quarter of 2026 as it seeks to improve the environmental performance of its ground operations. The carrier’s existing fleet of over 60 trucks link Dubai World Central and Dubai International Airport as well as serving the wider domestic region. The new hydrogen-powered trucks will have a capacity of 28 tonnes – the same as SkyCargo’s current diesel-powered vehicles – and will emit substantially less CO2. They have a range of up to 700 km on a full tank and will refuel at two stations in Dubai. In addition, the new vehicles are tractor units that are compatible with a variety of trailers, enabling them to accommodate various types of cargo.

Kale Logistics Solutions is all set to implement GALAXY air cargo community system at México City Airport for cargo handling. GALAXY, which is currently in use at more than 120 airports across the world, will streamline export, import and transit operations by digitalising all shipment data. It will offer real-time transparency for all stakeholders and eliminate the risk of incorrect shipment data appearing on paper copies, Kale said. The cloud-based system means that even México Cargo Handling warehouse operators will use handheld devices to make the entire cargo handling process paperless. “At México Cargo Handling we are looking at digital innovation to provide better value to our customers,” said Mathilde de Rocquigny, chief executive at the handler. “We are happy to partner with Kale on creating the right digital infrastructure at our facilities to become more efficient, sustainable, and provide better visibility to our customers.” Amar More, president of Kale, added: “Enhancing customer experience, building operational excellence, and free-up talent from routine support tasks to focus on higher-value activities around transformation and innovation is the fundamental requirement of every airport cargo ground handler worldwide.”

Afzal Malbarwala, Managing Director, Galaxy Freight said, “While Tier 1 and metro areas have historically seen the majority of air traffic, there has been a slight diversification over the past eight to nine years. The top six metro areas’ overall air traffic share in India has decreased from 69 per cent in FY 13 to 63 per cent in FY 21, with smaller airports taking up an increasing percentage of the total each year. Initiatives that have led to this are: growing number of smaller airports, initiative of the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation to expand and modernise the nation’s aviation network, particularly in Tier 2+ cities, expansion of the Regional Connectivity Scheme – UDAN to 1,000 routes and 100 airports, government initiative to begin operations in 100 additional airports in the upcoming five years and creating an ecosystem that will support the expansion of Indian carriers by assisting them in growing their current fleets and creating a welcoming environment for cargo operations in India.”