Category Archives: Aviation

JustDeliveries, a new-age cold chain logistics startup focused on mid-mile transport for India’s food and beverage sector, has raised INR 5.5 crore in a funding round co-led by VC Grid and NABVentures. Other participants included LetsVenture, Anay Ventures, and FAAD Network. The funding brings the company’s total capital raised to $2 million (approximately INR 15.9 crore), as per a press release from the company. Operating in a logistics market valued at $200 billion JustDeliveries is working to bring structure and reliability to perishable goods transport. Its plug-and-play, asset-light third-party logistics model is already in place across five major Indian cities: Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Delhi, and Hyderabad. The fresh funds will now power expansion into three more cities, including Lucknow and Chennai, while also strengthening its technology infrastructure.

Federal Express Corporation (FedEx) is empowering Delhi small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to scale innovative ideas and reach global markets through its SME Connect series—an initiative bringing tailored logistics, digital tools, and strategic insights to emerging business hubs. “As SMEs accelerate their ambitions, we’re matching that pace with smarter solutions, stronger infrastructure, and deeper engagement,” said Nitin Navneet Tatiwala, Vice President of Marketing, Customer Experience, and Air Network, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and Africa (MEISA), FedEx. “Through our SME Connect platform, we’re delivering more than packages—we’re enabling aspirations for SMEs to compete on the global stage.” Launched in 2019, SME Connect has evolved from a knowledge-sharing forum into a dynamic advocacy platform. In FY25, FedEx introduced new formats—SAMPARK, ANUBHAV, and MANTRA—to engage businesses in a more personalized way, aligned to their lifecycle and sectoral challenges, and connect them to global opportunities to thrive in this digital age. These efforts also support national programs like Invest India and Directorate General of Foreign Trade’s, One District One Product (ODOP) and District Export Hub (DEH) initiatives, promoting regional export hubs and sector-specific growth in cities like Delhi. To date, SME Connect has engaged over 5,000 SME customers and prospects through 58 editions held across 55 cities in India. FedEx connects Delhi entrepreneurs to international markets through its robust network, now featuring 23 weekly flights in and out of India. FedEx International Priority®: Critical shipments reach key markets in 2–3 business days. * FedEx International Connect Plus® (FICP):Affordable international e-commerce shipping across 14 AMEA markets, delivering in 1–3 days. *

“Harmonisation of customs procedures and the adoption of international standards are essential to enhance cross-border air cargo efficiency,” Yukki Nugrahawan Hanafi, FIATA Region Asia-Pacific Chair said, ” While digital processes are increasingly in place, the region is still in transition; many areas continue to rely on printed documentation. Full digitalisation and the reliability of customs processes are therefore critical. Customs authorities across the region must also be able to communicate with one another to avoid the need for manual manifest submissions, which can expose freight forwarders to the risk of penalties. The broader implementation of digital customs platforms, pre-clearance systems, and mutual recognition of Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programmes can significantly reduce delays. FIATA is actively promoting the modernisation of the Global Air Cargo Programme, which governs the relationship between freight forwarders and airlines, and is advocating for the harmonisation of air cargo procedures across the Asia-Pacific. FIATA continues to foster dialogue with regulatory bodies to ensure the freight forwarding community has a seat at the table in shaping practical, trade-friendly solutions that strike the right balance between security and efficiency.

DP World has launched a cutting-edge, sustainable cold chain warehouse in Taloja, Navi Mumbai. The 1,10,000 sq. ft. grade-A warehouse features 11,000 pallet positions and supports multiple temperature zones to ensure the secure and efficient movement of perishable and temperature-sensitive cargo. Located just 8km from the Taloja-Dombivli Road and close to the Navi Mumbai Airport (39km), JNPA Port (43km), and key container freight stations (40km), the facility is well placed to serve Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Western Maharashtra. Equipped with advanced temperature control technology and next-generation refrigeration systems, the facility uses sustainable refrigerants to enable precision cooling, energy efficiency, and reduced emissions. It can cater to a wide range of temperature-sensitive products, including dairy, frozen foods, seafood, meat, pharmaceuticals and perishable agricultural produce. The new facility reinforces DP World’s commitment to transforming India’s logistics landscape and supporting the evolving needs of the pharmaceuticals, FMCG (dairy, frozen food, perishable agriculture products), and quick-service restaurant (QSR) sectors. Anoop Chauhan, Vice President – Contract Logistics and Cold Chain, DP World Subcontinent said: “With rising demand for high-quality food and healthcare logistics, our new cold chain facility in Taloja delivers a future-ready solution to businesses. It combines sustainability, connectivity, and technology to help businesses grow in India’s evolving consumption landscape”. The facility has been designed to the highest standards of safety, hygiene and compliance, meeting all regulatory standards for food and healthcare goods.  Key safety features include a dedicated pump room, high-performance fire protection systems, rockwool insulation, thermal-sealed architecture, and round the clock surveillance.  The warehouse is also equipped with temperature and humidity monitoring alarms and real-time environment tracking. Together, these systems provide comprehensive cargo protection ensuring sensitive materials remain secure and stable throughout …

Stéphane Graber, Director General, FIATA said, “FIATA is responding by modernising industry standards—such as through the development of the electronic FIATA Multimodal Transport Bill of Lading—and by strengthening dialogue with international organisations to ensure that policy developments reflect operational realities. We are also investing in capacity-building to help our members remain agile in a fast-changing environment.”

Kamal Jain, Director, Cargomen Logistics said, “The temporary closure of key airports in Northern India—Amritsar, Srinagar, and Pathankot—has significantly disrupted cargo operations. Domestic shipments face rerouting delays, transshipment issues and pressure on alternate hubs like Delhi and Jaipur. International cargo, especially perishables, pharmaceuticals, and electronics, is severely impacted due to missed connections and ground handling congestion. Airspace restrictions over Pakistan have forced Indian airlines to take longer routes via the Arabian Sea or Central India, increasing fuel costs and turnaround times. As a result, freight rates on major routes like Delhi–Frankfurt and Mumbai–London will rise by 10–20%, with shippers exploring sea-air and land alternatives.

The Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI) organised a program focusing on the Cold Chain Packaging Solutions in Hyderabad on 8 May. “It was a resounding success, with participation from over 100 industry professionals. The organisers thanked their training partner, Envirotainer, and experts for sharing their in-depth knowledge and expertise, which added immense value to the session.”

Rajen Bhatia, MD, Tulsidas Khimji said, “The recent escalation in India-Pakistan tensions has led to significant disruptions in both domestic and international cargo movement. Time-sensitive cargo, including pharmaceuticals, perishables and e-commerce shipments, is experiencing delays or rerouting. Northern states like Punjab, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, and parts of Uttar Pradesh, which are logistics hubs, are particularly affected.  With air routes compromised, there’s an increased reliance on road and rail transport. This shift may lead to overburdened highways, delayed deliveries and increased costs. Numerous airlines have rerouted or canceled flights to avoid the affected airspace. This includes long-haul flights that typically traverse the region’s airspace. Indian airlines are incurring additional weekly costs of approximately ₹77 crore due to rerouted international flights from northern cities. The cumulative monthly operational impact could exceed ₹306 crore. There may be an increase in insurance claims due to cargo delays or spoilage. The ongoing situation underscores the far-reaching consequences of geopolitical conflicts on international air travel and cargo movement.

Gautham R, Senior Manager – Global Air Freight, Head – Air Freight, India said, “The closure of PAK airspace has any which way impacted the cost of operations of the Indian airlines like Air India, SpiceJet and Indigo. This had not only impacted the flying time and operational cost of Indian Airlines but also the few international carriers like Air France, British Airways, and Swiss Flights, which are followed by Lufthansa, ITA Airways, Lot Polish Airlines and many more, which obviously increased the cost of operations for every airline, which will impact the freight rates till this situation prevails based on the demand. The flights departing from Northern India, especially to Europe and the Middle East, have to take a long route (45 minutes to 1 hour of extra travel time), which will make them carry extra fuel, which affects the payload (reducing the tonnage capacity of cargo that can be carried), which will make airlines increase the cargo rates slowly with no other choice due to operational reasons. Considering the current border tensions, we believe the overall impact may not be too severe when weighed against the safety measures implemented by the Government. Moreover, short-term alternatives are available to navigate the disruption. The greater impact is expected on perishable cargo, especially for domestic shipments with limited shelf life. This season marks the harvest of mangoes, lychees, pineapples, apricots, and other fruits in Northern India—making timely logistics crucial. Given the situation, we recommend that customers opt for road transport to Delhi, from where the cargo can be dispatched both domestically and internationally. The closure of Amritsar airport—an important hub for international perishable cargo movement—has further affected operation.

Vipin Vohra, Chairman, Continental Carriers said, “The temporary closure of airports in Northern India has disrupted cargo operations and may led to delays, missed connections, and rerouting of shipments via alternate airports. Time-sensitive cargo, including perishables and pharmaceuticals, will face the brunt of these disruptions, and logistics operators are under pressure to maintain service levels amidst limited capacity and rising costs. With longer flight paths and increased fuel consumption due to airspace restrictions, operating costs have risen. However, freight rates have not been officially increased by airlines as of now. They have requested support to manage the financial strain and maintain operational continuity under the current circumstances.