Category Archives: Aviation

In an impressive feat of organisation, GMR Air Cargo & Logistics-Goa (MOPA Airport) has sent its first tonne of mangoes to Muscat, Oman. Led by Purushottam Singh Thakur, Business Head, GMR, ACL and his team, this flight marks a significant step in the company’s global logistics commitment. Present at the event were Suresh Pillai Airport Manager, Oman Air Goa, Haridas, Assistant Commissioner, Goa Customs, Shrikanth Bhandarkar, Chief Commercial Officer, GOX, Prashanth CS, Assistant General Manager, Commercial, GOX, and Chandrakanth Rachakonda, Commercial Manager, GOX.

Lessor Vaayu Group has delivered the world’s second A320 passenger to freighter (P2F) aircraft to Cairo-based Sky Vision Airlines. This is the second aircraft that UAE-headquartered Vaayu has leased after its first A320P2F was leased to New Delhi-based Pradhaan Air Express, a sub-lessee of Vaayu. Vaayu Group chairman and president Emad AlMonayea said: “Vaayu’s vision is to become a significant player in the air cargo space in the years to come. Our second aircraft is quite strategic considering the opportunities Middle East & North Africa presents.” Sky Vision Airlines chief executive Amr Abd EL Zaher said: “We are happy to take delivery of MSN 2724 with V2500 engines to start our cargo operations. “We are pleased with the fact that Vaayu has joined us since they bring with them a great record in the aviation sector. Their invaluable expertise and their single-minded plans to increase cargo capacity bodes well for us.” The aircraft was converted by EFW, a joint venture (JV) between Singapore-based ST Engineering and France-headquartered Airbus, and leased to Vaayu by Juniper Aviation Investments, ST Engineering’s freighter aircraft leasing JV. “We are extremely encouraged by the demand for the A320P2F, which is a clear testimony of the versatility, benefits and value that the freighter platform brings to the market,” said senior vice president and head of aircraft and freighter leasing of ST Engineering Tan Boon Keng. Vaayu plans to expand its footprint in the air cargo space with the addition of another A320P2F this year, which will enhance capacity and improve its network.

Continental Carriers officially inaugurated India’s first Air Freight Station in New Delhi. “The idea of this Air Freight Station was conceived by my father late Shri T N Vohra at the time when the concept of cargo handling/processing at an off-airport location was unknown to the logistics industry in India,” shared Vipin Vohra, Chairman, Continental Carriers. “Although a successful model in other countries, we, in India, only dreamt about having an off-Airport Cargo Terminal where the export cargo could be handled/processed before it gets transported to the Air Cargo Terminal at the Airport in ‘ready for carriage’ condition for delivery to the respective Airlines.” He adds, The vision of a Continental Carriers Pvt Ltd, for launching India’s first RA-3 accredited green field Air Freight Station is to provide efficient, reliable, and cost-effective Air Freight services to its customers worldwide. The company’s aim is to be a leader in the Air Freight industry, with a reputation for excellence in customer service and operational performance. Continental Carriers Pvt Ltd aims to provide customized solutions to meet the unique needs of each customer, whether they are small businesses or large corporations. Our aim through AFS is to revolutionize air cargo handling in India, ultimately leading to decreased logistics costs for companies. We strongly believe this initiative will significantly transform the logistics industry, and we call upon the logistics community to join us in making it a success.”

ECS Group announces a strategic worldwide partnership with CMA CGM AIR CARGO, a division of CMA CGM Group, a global player in sea, land, air, and logistics solutions. Starting April 1, 2024, ECS Group will be appointed as CMA CGM AIR CARGO GSSA, commercializing air freight capacities on flights operated by CMA CGM AIR CARGO. By joining forces, ECS Group and CMA CGM AIR CARGO aim to redefine industry standards in operational efficiency, service quality, and technological innovation. Together, they will pioneer innovative solutions and deliver a premier customer experience while enhancing operational efficiency. With 9 flights per week between Paris and China/HKG, on B777 aircraft, ECS Group is committed to providing customers with transparent and efficient access to leading air transport solutions, optimizing CMA CGM AIR CARGO’s commercial performance and strengthening its presence in the air freight market. Flexibility and innovation are key drivers of success in this dynamic industry. Through their Augmented GSSA model, ECS will offer CMA CGM tailor-made cooperation models, ensuring adaptability to market fluctuations and local requirements. These customized solutions will be meticulously crafted to meet the specific needs and challenges of CMA CGM, providing a seamless and efficient partnership experience that drives mutual growth and success. Adrien Thominet, Executive Chairman of ECS Group, expresses enthusiasm for this new partnership: “Collaborating with CMA CGM AIR CARGO represents a unique opportunity to combine ECS Group’s expertise in GSSA with CMA CGM AIR CARGO assets. Together, we are determined to pave the way in air freight transport, offering innovative solutions and operational excellence to our clients worldwide.” In conclusion, ECS Group and CMA CGM AIR CARGO embark on an exciting new chapter in air freight transport, pushing …

Jeena & Company announced the merger of the 67-year-old JBS Group based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. This strategic move aims to provide comprehensive logistic services, encompassing both international and domestic sectors. JBS Group, founded in 1957 by Mr. J B Shah, stands as an ISO-certified, AEO group with diverse entities specializing in Customs Clearance, Multimodal Transport Operations, and IATA cargo handling. JBS Group holds its own Customs Broking License, IATA accreditation, and nearly 30 years of experience in FMC registered Bill of Lading. This addition brings an extra 95 pin codes to the existing 300+ PAN-India pincodes. Post-merging, J B Shah Logistics will assume the name JBS JEENA Logistics, combining the esteemed legacies of the 67-year-old JBS Group and the 124-year-old Jeena Group. With this development, JBS JEENA Logistics anticipates a 100% projected growth, leveraging the combined expertise and resources of both legacy entities. As a part of the merger, Jeena & Company will acquire the customers, team, and assets of the JBS Group and expand its Custom Clearance footprint in Gujarat. With JB Shah Logistics’ impactful presence in Gujarat, Jeena aims to leverage its freight forwarding business. Speaking on this, Sam Katgara, Partner, Jeena & Co. said, “As a brand, we are moving in the direction that we envisaged and it is giving us positive results. With the merging of the JBS Group, we inked a partnership that brings together two esteemed, legacy organizations with a rich history and complementary capabilities, positioning us as a leading provider of end-to-end logistics solutions in the region. Together as JBS Jeena Logistics, we feel greatly confident to create value for our customers and stakeholders through our combined force.” JBS JEENA Logistics is poised …

Air India and Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) have entered into an agreement intended to develop Bengaluru as a premier aviation hub for southern India. As part of this initiative, Air India has also signed MOU with the Government of Karnataka to establish MRO facilities at BLR airport. The initiative also aims to boost air travel connectivity to and from India over the next few years. The agreement marks a significant milestone in the Indian aviation industry. Air India (along with other Tata Group airlines – AIX and Vistara) and BIAL will collaborate to enhance international connectivity, operational efficiency, and passenger experience over the next five years. This includes strengthening the group’s presence at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (KIAB or BLR airport) through an enhanced network and establishing a dedicated domestic lounge for premium and frequent travellers of Tata Group airlines Air India and Vistara. This underscores Air India’s commitment to strengthening its presence in Bengaluru and over time, expand its global footprint to meet the growing demand for direct long-haul routes originating from Southern India. This partnership will stimulate the MRO ecosystem and is projected to generate over 1,200 new job opportunities for highly skilled individuals in the state. Campbell Wilson, Managing Director and CEO of Air India, said, “Airline-airport synergy is key to elevated customer experience and efficient operations, while Bengaluru is highly attractive as an origin and destination market as well as a connecting hub. We are therefore delighted to be strengthening our relationship with BIAL with a view to developing a greater presence at the airport, expanding air connectivity as well as building a major MRO center. This partnership agreement is a significant milestone in the …

Delhi International Airport Ltd is committed to delivering all visitors a seamless and stress-free experience. In pursuit of this objective, DEL has recently unveiled Aero Hub – a Public Amenities Complex at Cargo City. This meticulously designed facility is a game-changer, catering specifically to the needs of our esteemed cargo service partners. With a focus on providing top-notch amenities, the Aero Hub sets a new standard for convenience, ensuring that our trade and service partners have access to world-class facilities unmatched elsewhere. Here is all you need to know about the Aero Hub at Cargo City, Delhi Airport!  Visit: https://bit.ly/DEL_AeroHub

Global air cargo market demand rose over 11 percent year-on-year for a third consecutive month in March as buoyant e-commerce volumes and concerns over the impact of conflict in the Red Sea region on ocean freight services delivered an unexpected first quarter bonus for forwarders and airlines, according to the latest weekly market data from Xeneta. In what are typically weaker months of the year for the airfreight industry, these higher volumes outpaced growth in capacity supply in Q1, which increased by +8% YoY. In turn, this produced a jump in the global dynamic load factor, which is Xeneta’s measurement of cargo capacity utilization based on volume and weight of cargo flown alongside capacity available. Load factor in the opening three months of 2024 rose +2% pts YoY to 59%, and March performance has shown similar growth, edging up to 61%. “While this latest monthly data should be balanced against the lower base recorded in the corresponding month of 2023, when we saw weakened global manufacturing activities, Q1 2024 has still seen a surprisingly busy airfreight market. The level of demand in the first quarter doesn’t indicate a market which is running out of steam so far,” said Niall van de Wouw, Xeneta’s chief airfreight officer. “The question is, should we be surprised by it, or should we get used to it? Although the market didn’t benefit immediately, the Red Sea disruption was clearly a factor in these latest figures. Airfreight growth was primarily driven by increased volumes from the Middle East and South Asia as shippers shifted services from ocean to air to avoid Red Sea delays. We also cannot underestimate the importance of e-commerce growth, which shows no …

With the launch of direct flight to Bengaluru from San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York JFK and Seattle via London Heathrow and second daily flight to Mumbai, Virgin Atlantic is now offering an additional 25,000 tonnes of cargo capacity from the fashion, pharmaceuticals and tech sectors. “With five daily services, Virgin Atlantic Cargo will offer 43,000 tonnes of space available to and from India, which is a 336 percent increase in capacity versus 2019,” says an official release. Beginning October 27, 2024, the second daily Mumbai services will operate on the airline’s state-of-the-art Airbus A350-1000, the release added. Virgin Atlantic has a strategic partnership with IndiGo, India’s leading airline, and the partnership offers 36 additional destinations. “There is a huge opportunity for us in India, it has a dynamic, fast-growing economy and we’re anticipating a huge growth in demand for international travel to and from the region,” says Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer, Virgin Atlantic. “We know both our customers and people love travelling to India and we have a rich history in the destination. Next year marks 25 years of operations and the first time that we’ll offer more than one million seats to India via London Heathrow with optimal connectivity for our U.S. customers from key tech hubs including San Francisco and Seattle. The launch of Bengaluru and doubling of our Mumbai services reaffirms our strong commitment and will allow our customers to travel seamlessly throughout India and beyond, flying on one of the youngest fleets in the skies, with our signature personalised service, delivered by our amazing people.”

“Construction of new regional airports and developing dedicated cargo terminals will help increase cargo volumes and transportation, says Jaideep Mirchandani, Group chairman, Sky One. He adds, “There is need for launching more freighters on high-demand routes. Nowadays, most Indian airlines primarily use the belly cargo space in their fleet for cargo movement. “Inclusion of more wide-body aircraft and also rolling out more dedicated freighters can propel the growth of the cargo sector further. There is need to focus on exploring new routes and strengthening the existing ones through bilateral agreements with key trading partners to enhance cargo movement. A collaborative effort between various stakeholders focusing on technology adoption, infrastructure development, policy reforms, and skill development is necessary to maintain the growth momentum of the cargo sector.” “Upgrading existing road and rail linkages and developing multimodal logistics parks and a greater number of warehouses, will also result in the growth of the sector. Using technology to streamline customs clearance processes, automation to reduce paperwork, and switching to digital solutions for streamlining the whole process is also necessary,” he shares.