Category Archives: Aviation

Etihad Cargo has enhanced its Abu Dhabi tarmac transportation fleet with the addition of high-tech cool dollies. The introduction of cool dollies for the transportation of pharmaceutical and perishable shipments will enable the carrier to fully complete its temperature-controlled cool chain capabilities at its Abu Dhabi hub. In partnership with Etihad Airport Services Cargo, Etihad Cargo has added dedicated cool dollies for pharmaceutical and perishable products to provide maximum safety to the carrier’s partners and customers at every stage of the handling process. The specialised containers will offer a closed, temperature-controlled system to ensure the reliable and seamless transportation of high-value and temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical cargo between the carrier’s aircraft and state-of-the-art cool chain warehouse. Thomas Schürmann, Head of Cargo Operations & Delivery at Etihad Cargo, said: “Etihad Cargo is committed to the safe, reliable and robust transportation of temperature-sensitive cargo via its IATA CEIV Pharma-certified PharmaLife and IATA CEIV Fresh-certified products. Part of this commitment is ensuring cargo is transported between the aircraft and cool chain facilities as fast as possible and mitigating the risks associated with outdoor and environmental conditions during the cargo’s journey. Etihad Cargo and Etihad Airport Services Cargo have partnered to introduce dedicated cool dollies at the carrier’s Abu Dhabi Airport hub to minimise the time that temperature-sensitive cargo is exposed to external factors, such as high temperatures. These specialised containers not only control the temperature but also enable Etihad Cargo to access the data records, providing Etihad Cargo increased visibility of this Critical Control Point to reduce, eliminate and prevent hazards.” Naresh Ranganathan, Acting Vice President Cargo at Etihad Airport Services Cargo, said: “We recognise the importance of a secured cool chain, and the demand …

Hans Infomatic has announced its partnership with Continental Carriers Group, serving as the technology solution provider for India’s first RA-3 accredited greenfield Air Freight Station (AFS) recently launched in New Delhi. “This milestone marks a proud moment for Hans as we continue our legacy of over 30 years in delivering cutting-edge technology solutions for the logistics and supply chain industry”, says Parvinder Singh, Managing Director, Hans Infomatic. At the heart of this partnership lies “WiseCargo,” our flagship software solution designed to streamline air cargo operations with its innovative features and intelligent technologies. With WiseCargo, Continental Carriers’ AFS will experience enhanced efficiency, profitability, and operational excellence. Overall, WiseCargo aims to revolutionize air cargo management with its comprehensive suite of features, transparent pricing, on-time delivery, real-time tracking, and 24/7 online support. We would also like to mention here that at many airports across India, WiseCargo is widely accepted as their preferred partner for their Cargo Custodian’s IT solutions. Hans has been one of the flag bearers when it comes to automation in the supply chain domain. With a vast and varied portfolio of products, Hans has truly revolutionised supply chain automation across all verticals. “As Hans Infomatic continues to deliver cloud-based logistics and supply chain management solutions, we are committed to driving efficiency, reliability, and customer satisfaction across the air freight industry”, concludes Parvinder Singh.

“Changing trade policies can have significant ramifications on global supply chains, influencing sourcing strategies, production locations, and distribution networks,” says Keku Bomi Gazder, MD and CEO, Aviapro Logistic. He adds, “Tariffs, trade agreements, and geopolitical tensions can disrupt established supply chains, leading to increased costs, delays, and uncertainties for businesses worldwide. As a company operating within this complex landscape, we closely monitor trade policy developments and adapt our strategies accordingly. We prioritize agility and resilience in our supply chain operations to mitigate risks associated with policy changes. Additionally, we maintain open communication channels with our suppliers and partners to swiftly address any emerging challenges. From the government, we expect transparent and consistent trade policies that foster a conducive environment for international trade. Clear regulations, minimal bureaucratic hurdles, and a commitment to free and fair trade are essential for businesses to thrive in the global marketplace. Furthermore, we encourage policymakers to engage in constructive dialogues with industry stakeholders to understand their concerns and develop policies that support sustainable economic growth. Additionally, investments in infrastructure, technology, and skill development are crucial to enhance the competitiveness of Indian businesses on the global stage. By fostering an enabling environment for trade and innovation, the government can contribute to the resilience and prosperity of the Indian economy amidst evolving global dynamics.”

DHL Express announced the significant agreement with Komatsu Australia for their commitment to invest one million-dollar towards DHL Express’ GoGreen Plus service, which allows Komatsu to reduce (‘inset’) the carbon emissions associated with their international shipments through the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).   GoGreen Plus is one of the most effective ways companies can choose to reduce their carbon emissions for their international shipments as they have the opportunity to invest in SAF, allowing companies like Komatsu to track their progress toward their sustainability goals, backed by science-based, verified and certified reporting on their carbon reduction insets.   This partnership makes significant contribution to Komatsu’s ambitious commitment to slash their carbon footprint by 50% by 2050. The impact of the investment will be announced at the end of the year and audited by an external auditor.

Global air freight rates are maintaining their recent firm tone, according to the latest data from TAC Index. “The overall Baltic Air Freight Index calculated by TAC edged up a further one percent in the week to April 8, the sixth successive weekly gain leaving it lower by only -10.6 percent over the past 12 months,” the update added. Activity is often a little quiet around the Ching Ming festival (which happened on April 4) but rates out of China kept on edging up with the index of outbound routes from Hong Kong gaining another 0.7 percent WoW to leave it ahead by 7.7 percent YoY. Outbound Shanghai edged up another 1.1 percent WoW to leave it narrowly ahead by 0.7 percentYoY. “The biggest price action out of Asia again occurred from the very hot market in India with further large increases WoW on rates both to Europe and to the U.S. as well as from both Bangkok and from Vietnam to Europe.”

DHL Global Forwarding has announced the first investment of the Prada Group in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) credits, utilising DHL Global Forwarding’s GoGreen Plus service. Already in 2023, the partnership with DHL allowed Prada Group to save approximately 4,500 metric tons of CO2e, which would correspond to 7% of the Group’s total transport associated emissions. By leveraging sustainable fuels, DHL Global Forwarding is able to support customers in effectively reducing their transport emissions from airfreight. SAF allows for a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% compared to conventional aviation fuel. The fuel itself is produced from waste sources, such as used cooking oil and food waste. DHL follows hereby an insetting approach, utilising sustainable fuels to reduce emissions directly at the source. Air carriers use sustainable biofuels on behalf of DHL, leading to reductions in emissions. These emission reductions are transferred to DHL, who then allocates them to the shippers in the form of certificates. “In today’s world, it is crucial to establish a clear roadmap for decarbonization that involves carriers, SAF manufacturers, regulators, and customers. We are proud that Prada Group has chosen to leverage the expertise of DHL Global Forwarding to form a partnership that we believe will drive the much-needed change forward,” said Mario Zini, managing director of DHL Global Forwarding Italy.

“The regulatory guidelines for Packaging, Labelling, Documentation, Emergency Response Process Guidelines have been defined elaborately are followed thoroughly. However, the lack of awareness of shippers regards to regulations of shipping dangerous goods during offloading / X-RAY scanning, which results in a disruption of flow of cargo processing, in the otherwise seamless acceptance of cargo,” shares Sanjiv Edward, CEO Cargo and Logistics, GMR Airports. “Additionally, deficiency of skillset amongst those involved in transportation of dangerous goods to Airport cargo Terminal can detrimental to Air Freight. Any error in handling of such goods at any stage, possess imminent and considerable hazard to both airport personnel and cargo if not handled cautiously.”

Kale Logistics Solutions (Kale) announced its collaboration with Budapest Airport (BUD), Hungary, to revolutionise cargo operations through the implementation of its cutting-edge Airport Cargo Community System (ACS). The partnership between Kale Info Solutions B.V (Kale Info), the fully owned subsidiary of Kale, and BUD marks a significant milestone in streamlining cargo operations at one of Europe’s busiest airports. Presently, various cargo handlers and integrators use separate IT systems for data collection, reporting and transmission: to the airport and the relevant authorities. This includes parallel or double data communications, opportunities currently open to digitalise airfreight operation and business processes. Kale’s innovative ACS system provides stakeholders with enhanced visibility and transparency, enabling the real-time tracking and monitoring of cargo movements, incorporating automated regulatory compliance checks, which further streamlines operations, ensuring adherence to industry standards. Commenting on this development, József Kossuth, Cargo Director for BUD said: “Budapest Airport aims to become the main cargo hub in the Central and Eastern European region. “We are on the right track, as the dedicated development of the BUD Cargo City in recent years has provided world-class infrastructure, which, combined with excellent connectivity and a tight-knit cargo community, is attracting more and more partners. “We are now the fastest growing airport in the region in terms of cargo volume, as we handled a record 201,306 tons in 2023 with +48.5% increase compared to 2019. “The introduction of the new Airport Cargo Community System adds an important innovative feature to BUD’s profile, further strengthening the hub function of the airport. He further added: “The ACS will serve as a centralised platform, facilitating seamless communication and data exchange among all stakeholders involved in the cargo handling process.” “We are …

DB Schenker is supporting its pharma business with increased Good Distribution Practice (GDP) compliance. The company now has certifications in accordance with GDP standards for 157 of its stations. These certifications cover key markets in the Americas, Europe and Asia for the global trade of medical goods. By achieving this milestone, DB Schenker can now cover 80% of the world’s healthcare flows with their recent certificates, making it one of the world’s largest GDP-compliant logistics networks. DB Schenker can now even better meet the evolving needs of the global pharmaceutical industry,” said DB Schenker. Within the next twelve months, the global logistics service provider plans to certify over 180 of its stations to be able to organise and manage GDP-compliant logistics. Veronique Dameme, head of global vertical market healthcare at DB Schenker. said: “At the end of every healthcare supply chain there is a patient. That’s why we ensure that medical products are stored and distributed in accordance with the highest standards. “The successful GDP certification of our facilities marks a significant milestone on our roadmap and shows our ongoing pursuit of excellence in pharmaceutical logistics.” Healthcare is a highly regulated industry governed by various guidelines, making GDP compliance critical. With Good Distribution Practice, DB Schenker follows a guideline that ensures that the integrity and quality of pharmaceutical products is maintained throughout the entire supply chain process.

DHL Supply Chain becomes a lead logistics partner (LLP) for Vitesco Technologies. This new logistics cooperation strengthens robustness and resilience of supply chains in the automotive industry. Vitesco Technologies focuses on maximum sustainability, resilience and efficiency in logistics. As of March 2024, the logistics flows of Vitesco Technologies’ twelve European locations will be centrally managed by DHL through the LLP Center of Excellence in Warsaw, Poland. This corresponds to around 100,000 transport movements within the supply chain to the plants as well as from the plants to the customers – and thus accounts for about a third of Vitesco Technologies’ total freight volume. “The main driver of our business is the development and production of sustainable technologies for the mobility of tomorrow. We want to run this business in a CO2-neutral way by 2040. Sustainable logistics solutions are an important step along this path, which we will be taking together with DHL Supply Chain in the future,” says Thomas Kirchermeier, Head of Supply Chain Management at Vitesco Technologies. The big advantage of the new logistics concept is that, as a Lead Logistics Partner, DHL Supply Chain bundles the freight volumes of numerous large companies to generate synergy effects and thus achieves new potentials for optimization. The logistics experts make use of the entire market of freight carriers and forwarding agents and can provide the fastest, safest, most environmentally friendly, and most cost-effective transport solutions. This benefits Vitesco Technologies and all customers: supply chains become more robust and more reliable.