Category Archives: Aviation

Pradeep Panicker, CEO, GMR Hyderabad International Airport says, “Indian EXIMs heavily depend on international carriers, presenting a growth opportunity for domestic airlines to enhance freighter connectivity. However, challenges persist, including inadequate infrastructure for cold chain logistics operations, limited adoption of advanced technologies, scarcity of pharma skilled workforce, and post-Covid regulatory hurdles. The absence of dedicated wide-body freighter aircraft impedes access to long-haul destinations, while time-consuming regulations and lack of coordination among industry stakeholders exacerbate delays and inefficiencies in air cargo operations. Achieving seamless coordination among stakeholders and addressing infrastructure deficits are crucial steps towards optimizing India’s air cargo industry.”

Keku Bomi Gazder, CEO & MD, Aviapro Logistic says, “Changing trade policies can have significant ramifications on global supply chains, influencing sourcing strategies, production locations, and distribution networks. 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.”

Glyn Hughes, Director General, TIACA shares, “The risks of geo-political tensions and the impact they have on supply chains, often go without notice. The recent situation in the middle east which escalated to closing off the red sea shipping lanes was one example. It very quickly caused crucial drug shortages in parts of Europe and whilst air cargo was quickly mobilized to support, accessing suitable capacity at short notice was a challenge. Additionally, effective disruption management requires constant interaction between partners to identify if temperature excursions are at risk and to then agree on corrective measures. For this to be optimized we need much greater adoption of universal digital standards and the agreement to utilize and share data across the community.

Sunil Kohli, Managing Director, Rahat Cargo says, “The air cargo sector has recently seen growth in the export of high-value goods and pharma, the industry is focusing on ensuring safe and seamless transportation followed by efficient deliveries. So, it’s vital to have exporters’ friendly rules & guidelines in place by the govt which could encourage them to achieve their optimal productivity in maximising the exports. It may be noted that the disruptions in the supply chain also have a direct and an indirect impact on inflation. The direct impact is related to the prices of imported goods, which rise as shipping costs increase. The indirect impact is related to an increase in the price of tradable inputs used in the domestic non-tradable sector.”

Delhi L-G VK Saxena has given the go-ahead for setting up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ)/Free Trade Zone (FTZ), at the Indira Gandhi International Airport over an area of five acres, a move that will give a major economic boost to the capital, the LG Office said in a press release. According to the LG Office, “Related to the Cargo Infrastructure and other allied activities, this SEZ/FTZ once operationalized will give a massive fillip to the logistics sector and catalyse the economic growth apart from spinoffs for generating employment”. The LG approved the proposal taking note of the strategic importance of developing an FTZ/SEZ at the Airport hub, after ensuring that DDA gives a go-ahead for the same as per provisions of MPD-2021, the release stated. “The SEZ would create economic activities through exports, warehousing, trading and provisions for related services at the Airport complex. It will also liberalize and reduce procedural complexities in terms of applications, licensing, clearances and other regulations and reduce red tape, apart from providing tax benefits to entrepreneurs,” the release said. The official press note stated that the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India has identified Delhi as a Pilot Air Cargo Hub which requires Tier 1, 2 and 3 level infrastructure while DIAL already has developed Tier 1 & 2 infrastructure by way of developing two cargo terminals and logistics centres at the Airport, it will achieve Tier 3 once an SEZ / FTZ comes up at the Airport complex. “DIAL proposed the setting up of two multi-product SEZs at the IGI Airport over an area of 2.02 hectares each (5 acres) and requested for Delhi Government’s recommendation under SEZ Rules, 2006. Thereafter, …

GMR led Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) has achieved a significant milestone by transshipping over 80 lakh kgs of Bangladeshi cargo to international destinations in the last one year. The first batch of transshipment cargo left Delhi Airport on March 5, 2023. Since then, Delhi Airport has helped transship Bangladeshi Cargo to various international locations including Spain, Netherlands, and France. Delhi Airport has transshipped over 5.17 lakh MT of international cargo between April 2023 and January 2024. This achievement not only cements Delhi Airport’s status as the foremost Cargo hub in Southeast Asia but also catalyzes a favorable domino effect throughout the aviation industry. The transshipment facility for Bangladeshi cargo first began on February 26, 2023, paving the way for a faster and cost-effective route of shipping export cargo internationally. Since then, Delhi Airport has helped tranship over 80 lakh kgs (8000 MT) of readymade garments to European nations including Spain, Netherlands, and France. The European Union is the second-largest export destination for Bangladeshi apparel, followed by UK and Canada. The first batch of cargo, which left Dhaka on February 26, 2023, arrived at Delhi Airport on March 3, 2023, and proceeded for its destined location in Spain on March 5, 2023. The Government of India’s approval on February 7, 2023, allowing Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) to serve as a Cargo Transshipment hub between Bangladesh and other global destinations, has significantly boosted international ties and the national economy. This decision has not only reduced shipment costs for manufacturers but has also led to a daily increase in the export of international cargo via Delhi Airport, covering a spectrum of products, from ready-made garments (RMG) and handlooms to footwear, leather …

Cyrus Katgara, Partner, Jeena & Co, says, “Ensuring data integrity across medical products and services throughout the supply chain is a significant challenge, alongside other areas in the sector that require improvement. While efforts are underway to address various issues, the shortage of skilled workforce remains a major pain point.” Focusing on Govt’s initiatives to improve multimodal infrastructure, he adds, “Governments and private sector are actively investing in the enhancement of transportation infrastructure. These investments aim to facilitate the accommodation of temperature-controlled vehicles and facilities through various upgrades and expansions. Furthermore, there is a notable integration of advanced technologies such as GPS tracking, temperature monitoring systems, and remote control mechanisms into reefer vehicles. This integration is geared towards improving the precision and efficiency of managing temperature-sensitive shipments, thereby optimizing overall logistics operations. Additionally, the establishment of strategically located cold chain warehouses along transportation routes is playing a pivotal role in ensuring the seamless transfer of goods between different modes of transport while maintaining the requisite temperature conditions. Along with infrastructure and technological advancements, the government is instituting regulations and standards to ensure the safe and efficient transportation of perishable goods. These regulations encompass vehicle specifications, driver training protocols, and strict adherence to temperature maintenance guidelines.”

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced launched IATA digitalisation leadership charter at the IATA World Cargo Symposium in Hong Kong. Cathay Cargo, CHAMP Cargosystems, Global Logistics System (HK) Company (GLS), IAG Cargo, IBS Software, LATAM Cargo and Lufthansa Cargo are the inaugural signatories of the charter, says an official release from IATA. “The digitalisation leadership charter aims to accelerate the air cargo industry’s digitalisation journey by committing to five key guiding principles. Developed in consultation with IATA’s cargo advisory council members, airlines and the wider air cargo community, the charter seeks to drive innovation, enhance efficiency and promote a sustainable and harmonised digital transformation. Central to the charter is the importance of data sharing using IATA ONE Record for smooth and efficient data exchange.” Brendan Sullivan, Global Head of Cargo, IATA says: “Digitalisation is imperative for the air cargo industry. It requires alignment to ensure a unified and effective approach. IATA has introduced the digitalization leadership charter to spearhead this alignment. By adhering to the charter’s principles—adopting industry-wide standards, championing sustainability, ensuring ethical technology use and upholding digital leadership — the charter sets a benchmark for excellence.”

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Smart Freight Centre (SFC) announced a partnership to provide consistent and transparent CO2 emissions calculations for air cargo shipments. This is an important step for the global air transport sector to advance its decarbonization efforts. The two organizations will focus efforts on developing the cargo component of IATA’s CO2 Connect offering, which successfully launched its passenger version in 2022. The IATA CO2 Connect platform uses primary industry data to power highly accurate carbon calculations. The collaboration with the SFC Clean Air Transport Program will promote a common methodology in CO2 emission calculations and ensure accurate and consistent CO2 calculations are distributed to the industry’s biggest shippers and freight forwarders in air cargo, supporting them with pre-shipment and reporting purposes.

Adani Group is the world’s second largest solar power company. We are the largest airport operator with 25% of pax traffic and 40% of air cargo. We are the largest Ports & Logistics company with 30% of national market share, says Gautam Adani, Chairman, Adani Group in his speech. “We are India’s largest integrated energy player. Our presence spans across generation, transmission, and distribution, LNG and LPG terminals, city gas and piped gas distribution. We are the country’s second largest cement manufacturer. And we have declared our path forward in new sectors including metals, petchem, aerospace and defence, data centres, super apps, and industrial clouds. Under the PPP agreement, we were selected by the Gujarat government to develop a full-fledged commercial port in Mundra. Keep in mind, while I knew our end objective was to build a port, we had not even laid a brick in our life. Thereafter, the next opportunity followed when the Gujarat Government announced the SEZ policy in 2005. The 40,000 acres of marshy land around Mundra port that was considered of very little value, had now become a priceless asset. We moved quickly to convert the land originally allocated for salt works – into what is now the country’s largest multi-product SEZ – supported by an unparalleled world class infrastructure including ports, rail, and air networks,” he adds.