Category Archives: Aviation

Scandron Pvt. Ltd. becomes the first company in India to receive a DGCA Type Certification for Logistics Drone, the CargoMax 500HE. This historic milestone achievement demonstrates Scandron’s commitment to technological innovation with drones and its commitment to ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements to ensure safe drone operations. With this certification, Scandron is uniquely positioned to revolutionize logistics and supply chain management, enabling efficient and timely delivery for companies that are adopting drones in their supply chain. The launch of a DGCA Type Approved Logistics Drone facilitates critical medical deliveries to remote regions, streamlines e-commerce logistics, and enhances mid and last-mile delivery. Scandron recently entered into a strategic partnership with CriticaLog India to offercomprehensive B2B and hub-to-hub drone delivery solutions across 160 Indian cities. Receiving DGCA Type Certification for the CargoMax 500HE Logistics drone enables Scandron and Criticalog to operationalize their partnership and introduce innovative drone-based logistics solutions to the market. This partnership leverages Scandron’s CargoMax series of logistics drones manufactured in its Bengaluru facility and CriticaLog’s expertise in logistics to enhance delivery services in various sectors, including healthcare, e-commerce, and NFO.

Kenya Airways announced the launch of a twice-a-week freighter service from Mumbai to Nairobi, with its newly inducted Boeing 737-800 freighter. The African airline operated its first flight from Mumbai International Airport on Thursday, February 15, 2024. The freighter will be operated out of Mumbai every Monday and Thursday. With the routing Nairobi-Sharjah-Mumbai-Nairobi, KQ has plans also to operate the freighter directly to Mumbai and back, informed Daniel Salaton, Senior Manager E-commerce and Express Cargo, Kenya Airways Cargo. Talking about the reason behind plans to operate the Nairobi to Mumbai flights, he said, “We are not just a Kenyan airline but an African airline and plans to cater to demand for African perishables and other valuable products in India with a direct connection to India.” He also informed that the first KQ freighter operated out of Mumbai was full and carried 20 tonnes of cargo. Meanwhile, Manoj Singh, Chief Cargo Officer, Adani Airports, said, “Kenya Airways freighter flying to Mumbai adds more capacity and adds more choice to the customers in Mumbai. The revenue balance can be achieved only if there is cargo moving in both directions. Looking forward to more frequency and flights from Kenya Airways.” Kenya Airways inducted the new aircraft in November 2023 and is planning to add the second B737-800 freighter in February 2024. This will take KQ’s freighter fleet to 4 aircraft as it already operates two Boeing 737-300 freighters, primarily for the Africa region.

The latest figures show that the air cargo market is beginning to cool after a brisk start to the year caused by the Red Sea crisis and pre-Lunar New Year (LNY) rush. Figures from analyst WorldACD show that in week six, tonnages out of China declined by 2% compared with the previous week while imports were down 15%. This slowdown follows a “recent surge” in cargo volumes out of China as shippers “rushed to get goods shipped before the LNY holiday”. And WorldACD expects both inbound and outbound tonnages to fall further this week. Looking at the last two weeks, volumes also showed signs of a slowdown with global demand dropping by 3% compared with the preceding two weeks. “The 3% worldwide tonnage decline was largely driven by a 7% drop in tonnages from Asia Pacific origins – which, in turn, was mainly generated by a 17% fall in intra-Asia Pacific traffic, with the intra-Asia Pacific market apparently responding more quickly than the main long-haul markets to the arrival of the LNY holiday period,” WorldACD said. The analyst has also consistently pointed out over recent weeks that it is hard to gauge the underlying strength of the air cargo market during the first two months of the year due to the movement of the LNY holiday. Last year, the two-week break took place on January 22 while this year it started on February 10.

Industry faced various logistical hurdles during pandemic but improved communication networks, adaptable supply chain approaches, and use of data analytics facilitated supply chain, said, Dr. Surendra Ahirwar, Joint Secretary, DPIIT in a recently concluded PHDCCI summit on Medical Devices, Pharma and Healthcare with the theme – ‘Empowering Atmanirbhar Bharat: A Logistics Odyssey.’ The summit aimed to bring together industry experts, researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss advancements, challenges, and opportunities in the medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare sectors, fostering collaboration and innovation for the betterment of healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. N Sivasailam, Former Secretary, DPIIT highlighted that amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, logistical hurdles included supply chain disruptions, transportation limitations, and heightened demand for specific medical supplies. Nonetheless, there were notable successes, including swift adoption of new technologies, collective problem-solving, and the rise of inventive solutions to ensure the prompt delivery of critical goods and services. The summit offered a diverse range of thematic sessions, attracting an *impressive participation of over 30+ speakers, 10+ exhibitors, and 150+ delegates.* The summit in the *Technical Sessions* covered subjects such as : •Bringing the Pharma Supply Chain into the New Era alignment with Atma-Nirbhar Bharat •Combating Counterfeiting in the Pharma and Medical Devices Supply Chain •Innovative Cold Chain Solutions for Medical Devices Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare •Last-mile delivery and Patient-Centric Supply Chains •Data-Driven Procurement and Sourcing: Leveraging Analytics for Informed Decision-Making The summit in the *Fireside Chat Sessions* covered subjects such as : •Quality Assurance in Pharma and Medical Devices – Then – Now – Way Forward •Insights into the logistical challenges and triumphs experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic The summit *concluded* with a resounding call for continued collaboration, innovation, and commitment towards advancing …

SriLankan Cargo and cargo.one unveiled a global partnership to bring the Sri Lankan national carrier’s cargo capacity to the platform for digital air cargo bookings. Comprising its very first digital sales channel for air cargo, cargo.one will soon deliver its user-friendly and efficient booking platform for all SriLankan Cargo’s global offers, says a release from cargo.one. “The addition of SriLankan Cargo services further adds to cargo.one’s renowned depth and diversity of supply options. The deal reflects cargo.one’s ability to deliver airlines a first class digital sales channel with a broad and competitive presence in all relevant markets.” SriLankan Cargo will provide freight forwarders using cargo.one with connectivity to a global network of 37 destinations in 21 countries across Europe, Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Far East and Australia, the release added. The airline leverages its direct flights to key hubs in Europe as well as particularly strong capacity options to India and the Gulf region. With its road and partner networks, SriLankan Cargo further expands its reach to serve over 200 destinations worldwide, the release added Chaminda Perera, Head of Cargo, SriLankan Cargo says: “Our digital sales progression is now a key driver of our growth, and cargo.one is a logical expert to expedite our transition. We can have total confidence that every SriLankan Cargo customer will enjoy a top-class digital experience. It is excellent to see that our teams are already kick-starting smart initiatives to maximise our market opportunities.” Moritz Claussen, Founder and Co-CEO , cargo.one adds: “We are proud to play an important role in fueling the exciting growth of SriLankan Cargo, our first South Asian carrier. By entering the digital market strongly with a world …

Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways, recorded the highest volumes of pharmaceuticals transported in its history with a 37 percent increase in shipments in 2023 compared to 2022. The carrier also transported 10 percent more fresh and perishable shipments, making 2023 the third consecutive year that Etihad Cargo has achieved growth for both products despite challenging market conditions, says an official release. “This milestone achievement reflects Etihad Cargo’s unwavering commitment to excellence in pharmaceutical and perishables logistics, reinforcing its position as a leading global air cargo operator.” Contributing to the increase in cool chain volumes transported by Etihad Cargo in 2023 was the opening of the carrier’s dedicated pharma hub, which has doubled its cool chain storage and handling capacity, the release added. “The 3,300 square metre facility comprises the latest technology and features including RFS loading docks with levellers, insulation and floor work for faster and more efficient loading with stricter temperature controls, increased storage space, additional build-up and breakdown zones for improved production workflows and upgraded cool chain facilities for our pharma handling and storage operations. Since launching the new pharmaceutical centre in July 2023, Etihad Cargo immediately achieved an increase in pharmaceutical volumes, recording a 39 percent increase in July, a 40 percent increase in August and a 41 percent increase in September.”

DP World today unveiled plans for Bharat Mart, a Dubai marketplace set to open in 2026 that will offer a world-class trading platform for Indian manufacturers and exporters to access global markets. HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, also attended the ceremony. S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India; Ajit Doval KC, National Security Advisor of India; Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India; Sunjay Sudhir, Ambassador of India to the UAE; Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, and members of DP World’s senior leadership team. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO, DP World, said: “By laying the foundations for Bharat Mart, we are paving the way for stronger trade ties between the UAE and India. Our nations have set themselves the target of reaching $100 billion in non-oil bilateral trade by 2030, and Bharat Mart will support this goal, creating more opportunities for Indian manufacturers and contributing to government initiatives like Make in India and D33. With our world-class infrastructure, logistics capabilities and business-friendly ecosystem in Jafza, Bharat Mart will be the ideal gateway for Indian goods to efficiently reach the UAE and other high-growth markets in the Middle East, Europe and Africa.”

Delhi Cargo Service Center (DCSC) has recorded a surge in cargo shipment handling and cargo throughput since the beginning of 2024, indicating highest levels of efficiency, reliability and seamless operations. Avinash Razdan, Group CEO, Cargo Service Center informs, “Till January this year we were handling an average of around 600 tonnes of export and import cargo a day. Since beginning of February this year we have been consistently handling an average volume of 800 tonnes of cargo a day. We even touched 900 tonnes on 12th. Till January this year we used to screen 16,000 – 17,000 pieces per day. During February this year we have consistently been screening 28,000-29,000 pieces of cargo a day. This would not have been possible without our resources in place and more importantly without our determination in our minds. We are proud of our people.”

In a significant move towards advancing green energy initiatives, Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) has signed MoU with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), to establish an Integrated Green Hydrogen Plant and a fuelling station within the premises of Kochi Airport, further reinforcing BPCL’s commitment to sustainable energy solutions. This visionary collaboration leverages BPCL’s technological expertise to establish India’s first Integrated Green Hydrogen Plant and a fuelling station within the airport setting. The MOU outlines plans for a 1,000 KW project at Kochi Airport, scheduled to be completed in 2025. Green hydrogen, a future fuel produced from water using renewable energy sources, aligns seamlessly with BPCL’s Net Zero aspirations of eliminating emissions in scope 1 and 2. The MOU signing ceremony took place at the Legislative Complex in Thiruvananthapuram, with the distinguished presence of Shri. Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala and Chairman of CIAL alongwith Shri P. Rajeeve, Hon’ble Minister for Industries, Dr. V. Venu IAS, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Kerala, Shri G. Krishnakumar, Chairman & Managing Director, BPCL and other senior officials from both BPCL and CIAL. Shri G. Krishnakumar, C&MD, BPCL, highlighted “The collaboration today is a pivotal moment in the journey towards sustainable energy solutions. At BPCL, we are committed to India’s energy independence, strengthening the ambitious initiatives of ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Vocal for Local’.” Under the agreement, BPCL will oversee the establishment of the integrated Green Hydrogen plant and fuelling station at Kochi Airport, providing technology and managing operations. The initial plant output will be harnessed to power vehicles within the airport.

Chennai air cargo complex, which was once the air cargo gateway of the South require infrastructure upgradation and renovation, on urgent basis, says, Dinesh Krishnan, Chairman, ACAAI Southern Region, Chennai. Raising concerns over poor Infrastructure investments & Dwindling cargo tonnage at the terminal right now he said, “Major multinational majors in Auto , Telecom, Hi Tech, Chemicals, Leather & Textiles have set up large scale units around Chennai city, demanding top line air cargo products for their global supply chain reliability. They are now forced to divert their air cargo to other airports by road to meet their air cargo requirements at high risk and costs daily. ACAAI Southern Region chairpersons have been flagging this issue for the past several months for the authorities to take some action. “I have reached out to few others associations like BAR’S South , MCC, CII, FIEO, Tamil Nadu Govt Logistics council, FICCI, AAI & AAICLAS regarding the issues currently plaguing the growth potential of Chennai air cargo industry. We have now escalated the same to “The Special Secretary (Logistics), DPIIT, M/o Commerce & Industry & The Senior Economic Advisor, M/o Civil Aviation“ for their intervention to address this crises at ACCMAA,” he added.