Category Archives: Aviation

C K Govil, President and Praveen Menon, Honorary Treasurer, Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI) held a meeting recently with Jason Kuo, Executive Director of the International Ocean Freight Forwarders and Logistics Association of Taiwan (IOFFLAT) to discuss the expanding synergy between India and Taiwan. “India is growing as a potential market and investment destination and Taiwan is also looking to tap the potential and explore the business opportunities here,” said President.

The Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Associations in India (FFFAI) held its fourth Executive Committee (EC) Meeting in Mumbai to sensitize the FFFAI members regarding undue practices of authorities concerned as regards to Customs Brokers’ plights of being penalized for a matter without any involvement and responsibilities for the same. The session titled ‘Who will police the police’ was conducted by Sujay Kantawala, who is an eminent lawyer. Welcoming the Special Guest Speaker Sujay Kantawala, Dushyant Mulani, Chairman, FFFAI pondered on the importance of the subject of this session. He pointed out that the CB community often faces undue penalties imposed on them, Show Cause Notices are being issued, harassment and treated on par with exporters or importers for any mistakes done by their customers (importers or exporters). Kantawala, focused on Customs related issues and especially on misinterpretations of the CBLR/Customs Act by many Customs Officers. He raised the serious concern of accountability of Customs Officers. According to him, Citizen Charters displayed in Customs Offices do not make any sense in view of the ground reality. For example, after five years a CB is not required to maintain any records. However, he still receives Show Cause Notices (SCN) for the same. He also underscored many instances of serving SCNs to CBs for which he was not even remotely involved. He also stated that responsibilities on issues/disputes arising out of self-assessment are equal concerning involvement of a shipper and proper officer who is the final verifying authority on this matter. In his opinion, many times Customs Officers fail to adhere to the Guidelines issued by the CBIC. CBs should not be penalized for any error in this regard. Similarly, concerned Officers should …

Ayesha Katgara, Head – Corporate Strategy, Jeena & Company highlights key emerging trends and says, “With time, customer demands have changed, and expectations are on real-time data and therefore service providers across the globe are working towards meeting this demand. Supply chain agility & automation is something that the entire logistics sector is striving for. The more agile our supply chains are, better equipped we would be to face any sort of disruptions. This can be achieved through automation and digitization. With advancements in technology, there will always be something new to adopt and leverage for the sector to be at par with other industries. IOT and advanced analytics are crucial for customers. The industry has put emphasis on sustainability in a big way. Across the globe, many green initiatives have been undertaken or are in the pipeline for reducing carbon footprints.”

Nomita Kothari, CEO, New Globe Logistik says, “We are very active in adapting & implementing cutting-edge technology to our cargo business. We have introduced advanced data analytics platforms for comprehensive track and trace, end to end transparency, forecasting & offer automation solutions via EDI. These new technology innovations have resulted in faster and more cost-effective deliveries. Our emphasis on cloud-based solutions has facilitated seamless communication and collaboration across the supply chain, enhancing efficiency and transparency. Moreover, our commitment to continuous improvement drives ongoing research and development of innovative solutions, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of technological innovation in the air cargo industry. Advanced tracking systems offer real-time visibility into shipments, optimizing route planning and minimizing delays. Automation and data analytics tools facilitate smoother operations, from booking to delivery, enhancing customer experience and satisfaction. Moreover, predictive analytics help forecast demand and optimize inventory management, enabling better resource allocation and cost savings.”

Kritika Seth, Head Business Development and Marketing, Allied Aviation shares, “Technology has significantly streamlined air cargo operations in recent years, enhancing efficiency and reliability. We at Allied also leverage real-time data from reliable sources. This allows us to gain instant insights into global air freight trends and market dynamics, enabling us to promptly identify gaps, support our partner airlines, and enhance overall performance. Furthermore, our subsidiary, Speedbox provides white-label digital solutions to logistics companies globally. This platform pioneers a range of tools and features, empowering logistics firms to digitize, optimize operations, and expand their market presence, showcasing our commitment to technological progress in the air cargo and logistics sectors.”

Global sea freight rates are expected to stabilise after significant increases since last November, according to Turgut Erkeskin, President of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA). The challenges in maritime shipping impact air freight as well, leading to higher prices compared to pre-COVID levels, he told Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of the FIATA-RAME (Region Africa Middle East) held in Dubai. Erkeskin anticipates an increase in sea freight capacity and volume, potentially stabilising prices. While some routes remain unaffected, others, particularly in Africa and Europe, have seen significant rate hikes. He said that economic growth forecasts suggest a 2.4 percent increase in 2024, influencing logistics and freight operations globally. Foreign direct investment is shifting towards regions like the Middle East and Africa, impacting logistics activities, according to Erkeskin. The conference is essential in addressing current global supply chain challenges by bringing industry stakeholders together to improve supply chain efficiency and resilience. Dubai’s role as a major global trade hub adds significance to the event. Erkeskin emphasised the importance of alternative solutions to enhance global supply chain resilience and efficiency. These solutions include creating new trade routes, and alternative transit corridors, and leveraging digital transformation to boost the effectiveness of transportation and logistics processes.

Citing Andhra Pradesh as one of the largest food producers,A.P. Chambers of Commerce and Industry Federation said that Vijayawada International Airport must get a customs-notified cargo centre to facilitate exports of goods to other countries. In a letter addressed to Airports Authority of India Chairman Sanjeev Kumar, members of the Chambers said the State occupies a premier position in the country’s agri-business industry and that the food processing sector has made enormous progress in the State. However, due to the absence of a customs-notified cargo centre, the exporters are having to ship these from Hyderabad airport. This will only incur more expenses and lead to wastage of time, the letter said. On an average, it is estimated that approximately 800 tonnes of cargo being shipped from Hyderabad airport daily belongs to Vijayawada and neighbouring places, they said, in an official statement to AAI.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for January 2024 global air cargo markets indicating a strong start to 2024. Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs*), increased by 18.4% compared to January 2023 levels (19.8% for international operations). This significant upturn marks the highest annual growth in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs) since the summer season of 2021. Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometres (ACTKs), was up 14.6% compared to January 2023 (18.2% for international operations). This was largely related to the growth in belly capacity. International belly capacity rose 25.8% year-on-year (YoY) on the strength of passenger markets. “Air cargo demand was up 18.4% year-on-year in January. This is a strong start to the year. In particular, the booming e-commerce sector is continuing to help air cargo demand to trend above growth in both trade and production since the last quarter of 2023. The counterweight to this good news is uncertainty over how China’s economic slowdown will unfold. This will be on the minds of air cargo executives meeting in Hong Kong next week for the IATA World Cargo Symposium with an agenda focused on digitalization, efficiency and sustainability,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

FIATA International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations announced its partnership with World Logistics Passport (WLP), a global initiative aimed at promoting seamless trade flow among traders, freight forwarders and key supply chain players through its logistics loyalty programme. The partnership announcement coincides with the commencement of the 2024 FIATA-RAME Field Meeting in Dubai, United Arab Emirates where the WLP is headquartered, and at which these key themes in the region and on the global logistics playing field will be discussed, says an official release from FIATA. “The collaboration between FIATA and WLP marks a significant milestone in advancing international trade facilitation. Through this partnership, with FIATA’s vast global network comprising over 40,000 freight forwarding and logistics companies across 150 countries, the two aim to support their respective members in easing trade processes. The WLP overcomes non-tariff trade barriers through the offering of financial and non-financial benefits such as fast-tracking of cargo movement, reducing administrative costs, advancing cargo information and facilitating trade across borders, all of which can benefit FIATA members.” Stéphane Graber, Director General, FIATA says: “This collaboration aligns with FIATA’s mission to promote global standards and overcome geographical barriers to ease trade. WLP and FIATA can synergistically work together on the common goal of facilitating trade through networks and collaboration. The world is getting more and more complex due to environmental and political crises, disrupting supply chains. Trade facilitation is key to ensuring the seamless movement of goods around the world. To achieve a resilient and efficient supply chain, we must bring people together, which is the common objective of FIATA and WLP. Members will benefit from best practices and practical inputs of trade facilitation resulting in better connectivity …

Boeing and AI Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) have agreed to work together to enhance aircraft maintenance training in India. Boeing will provide training materials, aids, and instructor support to help ensure standardization of AIESL training programs. AIESL will provide infrastructure and instructors, while securing Civil Aviation Regulation (CAR)147 approval from the Indian regulatory authority to conduct maintenance training for customers. “The collaboration with AIESL strengthens and supports the development of Boeing’s customer-focused capability in the region,” said Chris Broom, vice president, Commercial Training Solutions, Boeing Global Services. “Through working together, we anticipate Boeing and AIESL will be well positioned to provide high-quality maintenance training while contributing to the overall safety and efficiency of aviation in India.” “By partnering with AIESL, we are investing in the future of aircraft maintenance capability in India. This collaboration demonstrates our commitment to nurturing local talent to support the growth of the indigenous MRO industry,” said Salil Gupte, president, Boeing India and South Asia. Expanding in-country expertise of maintenance employees is critical to meeting strong industry demand for trained maintenance technicians in India. The country will require almost 33,000 pilots and 34,000 maintenance technicians through 2042, according to Boeing’s 2023 Pilot and Technician Outlook. This collaboration will expand local capacity to deliver comprehensive training programs required for compliance with Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) CAR-66 regulations. “The tie up with Boeing on maintenance training in the fastest growing aviation market will go a long way in supporting industry requirements. AIESL would be able to support training requirements for at least 100 engineers each year going forward,” added Sharad Agarwal, CEO, AIESL. “Collaboration between OEM expertise such as Boeing’s and local capability such as that …