Category Archives: Aviation

Vipin Vohra, Chairman Continental Carriers says, “Indian airport terminals have been working to enhance their infrastructure and capacity to handle pharmaceuticals. Many pharmaceuticals are highly sensitive to temperature variations. Maintaining a requisite temperature throughout the transportation process, especially during air transit, is crucial to prevent degradation or loss of efficacy. Packaging and Labelling are vital to protect pharmaceutical products from damage and ensure their integrity during air transit. Inadequate packaging or labelling can lead to product spoilage, contamination, or loss. Some pharmaceutical products have a limited shelf life or require timely delivery to meet patient needs. Delays in air transportation can result in product expiration or stockouts, impacting patient care and causing financial losses for pharmaceutical companies. Addressing these pain points requires collaboration between pharmaceutical companies, logistics providers, and airlines, to implement robust quality management systems, advanced tracking technologies, and specialized packaging solutions tailored to the unique requirements of pharmaceutical transportation by air. With the increasing importance of the pharmaceutical industry, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, airports in India have been focusing on improving their cold storage facilities and distribution networks for pharmaceutical products. Many airports in India, including major ones like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru etc, have dedicated pharma zones equipped with state-of-the-art cold storage facilities and temperature-controlled warehouses to handle sensitive pharmaceutical shipments. Overall, while there might still be room for improvement, Indian airport terminals have been making strides in enhancing their infrastructure and capacity to store and distribute pharmaceutical products.”

Soumya Sinha, Director, Supply Chain & Logistics, Middle East & South Asia, Frost & Sullivan shares, “Indian medical equipment export performance is lagging as compared to other nations because of the underdeveloped infrastructure, lack of skilled workers, and low investments in Research and Development which limits further innovation. Hence focus should be on developing robust infrastructure, increasing the R&D budget, and training human resources. The Drug formulations category accounts for approximately 72% of the total pharmaceutical exports. Unfortunately, exports of bulk drugs are getting less importance by domestic pharma companies as their main focus is on manufacturing drug formulations. Due to this India depends heavily on the imports of bulk drugs (APIs) and Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) from other countries. This is a huge challenge as the prices of these imports are on the rise.

As part of its expanded summer schedule, WestJet Cargo is launching three new destinations in a row: Chicago (ORD), Moncton (YQM), and Incheon (ICN). The Chicago route was opened for cargo sales on May 16th, connects Calgary to the US city three times a week, increasing to daily flights by June 17th and will continue to operate year-round. Operating with 737 aircraft, this route offers cargo capacities of 2,700 kg per flight, focusing on the transportation of perishables. This route addresses increasing demand and marks the opening of WestJet Cargo’s passenger belly network in addition to the weekly freighter that already operates into Chicago. Moncton, Canada, was opened for cargo sales on May 17th to meet the growing needs of the Canadian market and will continue to operate year-round. Also utilizing a 737 aircraft, this route links Moncton to Calgary, Edmonton, and Toronto with varying frequencies: up to daily flights to Calgary, 3 to 4 weekly flights to Edmonton, and 3 to 5 weekly flights to Toronto. The primary cargo for this route is live animals and can also accept 2,700 kg per flight of cargo. The Calgary to Incheon route, launched on May 18th, operates three days weekly with a 787 Dreamliner, offering a 60 tonnes capacity for all cargo commodities. This route is already highly popular with the WestJet cargo customers. “These new routes will significantly enhance our ability to serve the Canadian market by offering greater capacity and more options for our customers,” said Kirsten De Bruijn, Executive Vice President of WestJet Cargo. “We’re delighted to expand our network and provide reliable and efficient cargo services to meet the growing demand.”

The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) and Airports Council International (ACI) signed MoU aimed at strengthening cooperation for the benefit of each of the associations members and the industry. The primary objective of the MoU is to improve the overall level of safety, efficiency and sustainability of cargo operations within the airport ecosystem for the benefit of the aviation industry and its related stakeholders. Key points of the MoU focus on: • Development of joint advocacy programmes in the context of ICAO events, aimed at facilitating the sustainable growth and development of the aviation industry, with a focus on cargo; • Cooperation in the establishment of joint programmes or mutual support of industry initiatives, in particular in the domains of aviation workforce and social sustainability; • Mutual support for and collaboration across actions and initiatives aiming to achieve the industry agreed goal of Net-zero 2050; • Participation in each other’s working groups and committees as necessary, to provide industry expertise and strategic orientation where appropriate; • Collaborating on the establishment of relevant industry guidance material and technical recommendations on topics of use for the respective memberships; • Cross-promotion of relevant activities, such as events or publications, to each other’s membership or relevant governance bodies; • Sharing of relevant documents, data and information as needed in the context of the Parties work programmes. “TIACA aims is to unite air cargo and by coming together with key organizations like ACI, is just one of the ways we are actively doing this. By coming together on key items, we are working together to support the industry in its sustainable growth and development, while ensuring the most efficient and safe operation possible.” stated Steven …

IATA released data for April 2024 global air cargo markets showing strong annual growth in demand into the second quarter (Q2). Air cargo demand started Q2 with a solid 11.1% increase. While many economic uncertainties remain, it appears that the roots of air cargo’s strong performance are deepening. In recent months, air cargo demand grew even when the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) was indicating the potential for contraction. With the PMI now indicating growth, the prospects for continued strong demand are even more robust,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. Several factors in the operating environment should be noted: • In April, the PMIs for global manufacturing output and new export orders turned positive (51.5 and 50.5 respectively). This is the first time in two years that the new export orders PMI has been in growth territory. • Industrial production increased by 1.6% in March year-on-year, while global cross-border trade contracted by 0.8%. • Inflation remained relatively stable across the US, EU, and Japan in April with rates at 3.4%, 2.6%, and 2.5%, respectively. China reported a 0.2% increase in consumer prices year-on-year—a positive signal amid concerns over China’s economic slowdown. April Regional Performance Asia-Pacific airlines saw 14.0% year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in April – the strongest of all regions. Demand within the Asia market grew by 13.2% compared to April 2023, and the Asia-Europe route grew by 17.7%. The Middle East-Asia route rose by 10.4%, 9.5 percentage points (ppt) less than the growth recorded in March. Capacity increased by 7.8% year-on-year.

In a strategic move towards fostering sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint, Blue Dart has expanded its electric vehicle (EV) fleet, now boasting over 480 e-vehicles (2,3 &4 wheelers combined). The integration of EVs into Blue Dart’s fleet is poised to yield substantial environmental benefits, with an estimated reduction of 15.05 tonnes of CO2 emissions per month. Blue Dart’s proactive participation as a signatory to the ‘Climate Neutral Now’ (CNN) pledge by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) further underscores its commitment to global climate action. The company’s Sustainability Roadmap emphasizes initiatives such as planting over 111,000 trees annually—a measure projected to offset more than 13,320 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually once these trees reach maturity. Of the initiative Balfour Manuel, Managing Director, Blue Dart, said “Blue Dart is driving sustainable logistics in India, paving the path towards a greener future. By integrating electric vehicles into our fleet, we are poised to significantly reduce our carbon footprint and contribute meaningfully to environmental conservation. Our transition to a green fleet demonstrates Blue Dart’s commitment to carbon neutrality and sustainable growth.” Blue Dart remains dedicated to delivering innovative solutions in its pursuit of innovation while upholding its environmental responsibilities. The company’s adoption of electric vehicles marks a pivotal milestone in its journey towards long-term sustainability objectives, reinforcing its position as an industry leader committed to shaping a cleaner, greener tomorrow.

Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) and BLR marked the triumph of its first year of operations at Bengaluru airport (BLR) on 24 May 2024, with a celebration involving all stakeholders including airline partners, the local air cargo trade community, and representatives from local regulatory authorities. Over the past year, WFS BLR has made remarkable achievements, built strong relationships, and grown beyond expectations. WFS BLR is a JV partner with BIAL at Bengaluru and is part of the SATS’ network of more than 215 stations in 27 countries, offering customers global network connectivity and the support of dedicated teams with extensive experience in the aviation sector. To mark this milestone, the two air cargo terminals at BLR were beautifully illuminated in WFS colours and a special all-hands celebration for team members was arranged with a cake cutting ceremony, followed by a special anniversary feast. The day concluded with musical entertainment and a cocktail dinner for partners and guests. WFS BLR has now firmly established its presence at BLR, and the celebration was a gesture of gratitude to all team members and stakeholders who have been part of the journey so far.

Reliance Industries will soon begin construction of India’s first Multimodal Logistics Park at Mappedu near Chennai. Located 52 km from the Chennai Port, 80 km from Ennore Port and 87 km from Kattupalli Port, the MMLP will be a focal point of logistics in the southern region. It is estimated to cater to around 7.17 million tonnes (mt) of cargo over 45 years, the construction will begin in June says multiple reports. The project was said to have been conceptualised 12 years ago, when in 2022, the company won the bid from Adani Group for the Rs 1,424 crore project on 184.27 acres of land in Tiruvallur district. According to reports, the project aims to facilitate efficient, cost-effective and value-added logistics services such as cargo aggregation and disaggregation, distribution, intermodal transfer, sorting, packing, and repacking. However, it did not take off due to the poor response from the private sector on issues like connectivity.

Ecom Express and Skye Air, specializing in drone technology, announced a strategic partnership aimed at disrupting last-mile delivery solutions. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in the logistics industry, combining Ecom Express’ network and automation expertise with Skye Air’s cutting-edge drone delivery technology. Driven by a shared commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, both companies are embarking on a mission to enhance delivery speed, improve efficiency, and reduce carbon emissions. Studies suggest that transitioning to drone-based deliveries could reduce carbon emissions by 93% as compared to parcel deliveries by road, substantially contributing to environmental sustainability. Through this partnership, they seek to address the interconnected challenges of traffic congestion and environmental sustainability. Vishwachetan Nadamani, COO, Ecom Express, said, “By leveraging Skye Air’s expertise in drone technology, we are excited to explore new opportunities to enhance our delivery services. This collaboration will not only amplify our efforts in reducing delivery times for e-commerce parcels but also enable sustainability efforts beyond electrification of last-mile vehicles.” This partnership will commence with drone delivery trials in select locations in Gurugram, with plans to cover additional pin codes in sparse locations and tougher terrains across India in subsequent stages.

Etihad Cargo is planning to increase its belly network with the integration of additional aircraft, the new-generation Airbus 350 freighter in the second half of 2026, shares Stanislas Brun, Vice President Cargo, Etihad Cargo. Etihad Cargo’s current fleet comprises four Airbus A380s with a maximum capacity of 15,000 kilogrammes each, five Airbus A350s with a maximum capacity of 24,000 kilogrammes each, 22 Airbus A320s, 9 Boeing 777s with a maximum capacity of 24,000 kilogrammes each, and 43 Boeing 787s with a maximum capacity of 22,000 kilogrammes each. “We also operate five of the latest generation of Boeing 777 freighters, each with a capacity of 102,800 kilogrammes, which we use to add capacity to our network to fill up the aircraft, achieving a throughput load factor on the belly of above 90%. 60% of the cargo Etihad Cargo flies is through the belly of aircraft, with belly capacity allowing us to generate multiple frequencies per destination, giving our customers trust in our product and on-time performance,” he adds.