Category Archives: Aviation

Airbus has opened a brand-new innovation center in Bangalore, India. “Our innovation journey in India & South Asia started in 2016 when we set up the BizLab, an aerospace accelerator designed to speed up the adoption of technologies from startups for the aerospace and defense industries. Based in Bangalore and led by Siddharth it was the most successful BizLab for Airbus across the globe, and now it’s time to take the next step and transform it into a full innovation center,” said Airbus’ official post on Linkedin. The Airbus Innovation Center – India & South Asia will focus on industrializing disruptive technologies in specific focus areas such as decarbonization technologies (Green Hydrogen, SAF production, etc.), artificial intelligence, industrial automation, unmanned air systems, connectivity, space tech, autonomy, and more. We’re proud to bring together a diverse range of expertise to drive innovation and progress in the industry. The center will host partner startups, MSMEs, SMEs to work out of the Airbus premises, facilitating faster exchanges with Airbus stakeholders locally and globally. We’re excited to be part of the innovation ecosystem in India and look forward to working with our partners to drive innovation and make a positive impact on the industry. We can’t wait to see the exciting innovations that will emerge from this hub of creativity and collaboration,” the post added.

Here’s the first glimpse of India’s C-295 aircraft which Airbus and Tata’s will co-produce. India’s first C-295 aircraft has rolled out of the Airbus defence production facility in the city of Seville, located in southern Spain. The plane is the first of the 16 medium-lift tactical transport airport aircraft which will be delivered to the Indian Air Force (IAF) in flyaway condition.

Wiremind has won the multi-year contract to provide Qatar Airways Cargo with innovative sales and revenue management solutions from its comprehensive cargo product suite, to support the airline in its pioneering digitalisation drive. Qatar Airways Cargo, the world’s leading cargo airline has selected three solutions from Wiremind’s cargo management suite, following a thorough RFP process. Using Wiremind’s Revenue Management system, Qatar Airways Cargo will benefit from advanced demand forecasts and optimised entry conditions, enabling the airline to maximise its entire network contribution and revenue. The air cargo carrier will also have access to the newly launched Overbooking module, which leverages machine learning models to forecast the cargo show-up rate on the day, supporting flight analysts in their decisions on the overbooking percentage for a particular flight to minimise capacity wastage on the day of departure. The last solution chosen by Qatar Airways is Wiremind’s original flagship product, SkyPallet, which optimises space calculations at various points in the cargo lifecycle, to ensure maximum capacity usage and accurate quotations. Nathanaël de Tarade, CEO of Wiremind, says: “We are delighted that Qatar Airways Cargo has chosen individual solutions from our cargo product suite. It is testament to the fact that we were successful in addressing Qatar Airways Cargo’s needs and shows that with the support and vision of CargoTech, we are on the right track to build impactful products to help the industry digitise and adopt the latest technologies. “With the world’s leading cargo airline now on board, we are more than proud, and we look forward to supporting Qatar Airways Cargo in shaping the air cargo industry of the future with all the opportunities that our advanced digital and data-driven machine-learning products …

Kuehne+Nagel has signed a three-year logistics service contract with GMR Aero Technic, a subsidiary of GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited. With the contract, Kuehne+Nagel will focus on inbound and outbound international air logistics needs, reduce downtime and 24×7 AOG support for GMR Aero Technic. GMR Aero Technic has been constantly upgrading its capabilities and expanding its service offerings to meet the growing maintenance needs of airline operators within and outside India with a vision to be a lead MRO in the Asia Pacific region. The Indian MRO industry is expected to grow to US$ 4.0 billion by 2031 and with more than 1,000 new aircraft orders, India is likely to become the 3rd largest buyer of commercial passenger planes in the world. Coen van der Maarel, Managing Director, Kuehne+Nagel India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives said, “We have been supporting GMR Aero Technic with expertise over the last few years by providing them with aircraft maintenance solutions in a timely, cost-effective manner. We are delighted and look forward to adding value to their operations and meeting their international logistics requirements. Technological advancements and disruptions are expected to accelerate the industry’s evolution, and Kuehne+Nagel will continue to be an innovative and committed business partner to GMR Aero Technic. Ashok Gopinath, CEO, of GMR Aero Technic, said, ‘We are delighted to continue our partnership with Kuehne+Nagel. Kuehne+Nagel has proven to be a reliable partner of choice for aircraft maintenance logistics. Their commitment towards AOG deliverables remained unaffected even during the pandemic. GMR Aero Technic continues investing in upgrading and expanding their service offerings for aerospace customers, and our partnership with Kuehne+Nagel serves that priority.’

Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), a subsidiary of GMR Airports Infrastructure Limited (GIL), welcomed the first batch of transshipment cargo from Bangladesh, paving the way for a faster and cost-effective route of shipping export cargo internationally. The first batch of cargo, which left Dhaka on February 26, 2023, arrived at Delhi Airport today and will leave for its destined location in Spain on March 5, 2023. Delhi Airport received approval from the Government of India on February 7, 2023, allowing DIAL to serve as a Cargo Transshipment hub between Bangladesh and other global destinations for export cargo. The decision by the government is expected to boost the national economy while reducing the shipment cost significantly for manufacturers and increasing the daily export of international cargo via Delhi Airport including ready-made garments (RMG), handlooms, footwear, leather products, jute products, and pharmaceuticals. Over the years, Bangladesh has emerged as a global manufacturing hub for ready-made garments. The new route of transportation is further expected to create new vistas of opportunity for the South Asian country. Since Bangladeshi manufacturers rely heavily on India for raw materials including threads, textiles, jute, leather, and pharmaceutical raw material, any boost in exports will directly result in an increase in demand for produced-in-India raw materials in Bangladesh. Bangladeshi RMG products are especially in demand in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, parts of Eurasia, and in the USA. With Delhi Airport’s direct connectivity to most European nations, this route will further boost the Indian government’s initiative of helping reach countries of the Indian sub-continent to their full potential. The transshipment cargo will reach from Dhaka to Delhi, via the Bangladesh-India border at Benapole-Petrapol, said …

Pradhaan Air Express operated its maiden relief flight to Adana, Turkey for Chapman Freeborn. The Aircraft operated with a technical stop at AL Maktoum Airport, also marking the first-ever flight by the A320 Freighter to Dubai World Central Airport. The Airline is grateful to MOCA, DGCA, BCAS in India, GCAA UAE and DGCA Turkey for their assistance at short notice in enabling this operation. The aircraft with 20.4 tons of available capacity remains available for the transportation of urgent materials across the region. The operation of the World’s first and only A320 Freighter from Delhi to Adana is also a reflection of strengthening India-Turkey ties. The Airline believes it was India’s first private cargo airline to operate a freighter for emergency relief supplies to Turkey.

Ukrainian Antonov Airlines, in cooperation with Air Charter Service, provided an urgent air cargo transport solution to move oversized solar turbine from San Bernandino, USA to Avalon, Australia on board an AN-124-100 aircraft. The cargo journey took four days, said an official release. “The total weight of the cargo was 67 tonnes including additional equipment and solar turbine weighting 35.5 tonnes, 11.33 metre length and 3.63 metre height. The size of the cargo determined the AN-124-100 aircraft type is the only option for transporting the unit by air. For loading and unloading the turbine on the stand ,the special ramp system for tall cargoes was used, designed by in-house Antonov`s engineers as well as onboard winch. The external cranes for cargoes up to 100 tonnes were provided by Air Charter Service at both airports.” After successful delivery to the Avalon airport, Air Charter Service took care of transporting the cargo to Winchelsea, Victoria where the solar turbine and additional equipment will be used at the gas compressor expansion plant, the release added. “One of the airports on the route was extremely loaded to provide us a technical stop, therefore we had to find another one urgently,” says Olha Danylova, Commercial Executive, Antonov Airlines. “Taking into consideration the strict deadline on arriving at the destination, both teams showed flexibility and rapidly arranged the alternative route. Thanks to well-coordinated work, we completed the project in time.” Jack Emanuel, Cargo Team Leader, Air Charter Service adds: “We are delighted to work with Antonov Airlines on this crucial project for the energy sector as the global experts for heavy lift cargo transporting. It was a pleasure to work with Antonov`s team, their expertise and …

FedEx Express has expanded its Stuttgart Air Gateway air cargo facility and commissioned a new sorter at the site. The new setup improves handling speed and capacity, helping to meet export and import demand from customers in the region. In addition to more than tripling sorting capacity, the facility offers an almost fivefold increase in capacity for X-raying airfreight shipments, said FedEx. The warehouse, which has been expanded from 800 sq m to 3,000 sq m, also enables better handling of freight and dangerous goods. Stuttgart Air Gateway is currently connected to FedEx’s main European hub, Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, with four outbound and four inbound flights a week. This route is flown with a B737 freighter. An ATR 72 turboprop will be used on another route between Stuttgart and Liège. “The expansion is further evidence of our growth strategy in Europe. We have invested to offer our customers in the region even more service and opportunities. FedEx Express is a strong partner and supports large, medium-sized and smaller companies to grow their business,” said Stefan Dries, FedEx Express vice president ground operations Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Qantas Group plans to add “three additional” Airbus A321 passenger to freighter (P2F) aircraft to help Qantas Freight meet air cargo demand. According to a statement from the Group, the aircraft will help “maintain required capacity despite manufacturer delays to new aircraft” and “burn up to 25% less fuel than the models they replace”. However, the Group did not specify when these freighters would arrive, which company would be converting them, or whether they were already converted, and where they would operate. In August 2022, Qantas Freight said it would increase its domestic fleet with six Airbus A321 passenger to freighter (P2F) aircraft to meet growing e-commerce demand from its customers. The Australian airfreight carrier said the A321s, which are expected to progressively arrive between 2024 and mid-2026, will be sourced on the open market and converted to freighters.

Airport operator Fraport is trialling an autonomous cargo tractor at Frankfurt Airport as it considers automating some operations. The aim of the trial, which will last several weeks, is to determine whether an autonomous vehicle can support regular baggage and cargo operations on the apron. The electric vehicle will operate on an eight km test route within Frankfurt Airport’s secure area, starting in the eastern section of the apron in the baggage handling facility at terminal two, before heading southwards and approaching the future terminal 3. “The trial section is divided into three components, each of which present particular challenges for the autonomous vehicle,” Fraport said. “These include operations inside the baggage handling facility amidst other traffic and people, as well as in the open where there are few other vehicles. “To ensure the outcome reflects real-life conditions with sufficient complexity, the test drives will take place both during the day and at night, in different types of weather.” The vehicle will operate at a maximum speed of 13 km and will tow a maximum of three baggage trailers or two large cargo trailers. A safety driver who has received special training and certification for the project will be present on each test drive in case of emergencies.