Category Archives: Aviation

DHL Group has announced a strategic investment of €2 billion over the next five years to enhance its logistics capabilities in the life sciences and healthcare sector. This investment supports the Group’s ‘Strategy 2030’ and reinforces DHL’s commitment to helping healthcare customers grow, innovate, and serve patients more effectively worldwide. With 25 per cent of the investment allocated to the Asia Pacific, 50 per cent to Americas, and 25 per cent to the EMEA region, DHL is expanding its global footprint to deliver integrated, faster, more reliable, and patient-centric logistics solutions wherever healthcare companies operate. The investment will focus on enhancing high-quality infrastructure and technology across all logistics touchpoints – from storage, order fulfillment, and distribution to global shipping and last-mile delivery – creating even more resilient, scalable, and responsive supply chains for customers. A significant part of the investment will be allocated to establishing new cross-divisional GPD-certified Pharma Hubs for multi-temperature shipments lanes, expanding cold chain capacity in existing facilities, commissioning new temperature-controlled vehicles, and enhancing both passive and active packaging solutions to ensure sustainable delivery.  As the demand grows in critical areas such as clinical trials, biopharma, and cell and gene therapies, DHL is also investing in high-quality, specialized cooling infrastructure to accommodate low and ultra-low temperature ranges. Additionally, the Group will implement cutting-edge IT systems that provide end-to-end visibility, ensuring product integrity, regulatory compliance, and confidence for healthcare providers and their patients. With its new sector brand DHL Health Logistics, the Group consolidates its life sciences and healthcare expertise under one unified umbrella. This creates a seamless, end-to-end experience for customers, simplifying the management of complex, cross-border supply chains with confidence, agility and high-quality service. The approach …

CargoAi is proud to announce the launch of CargoMART Interline, a groundbreaking solution that streamlines and enhances interline cargo bookings. Now live with multiple airlines, including Emirates SkyCargo, this innovative tool digitises and automates interline capacity checks and e-bookings, unlocking new revenue opportunities and setting a new industry standard. For decades, the air cargo industry relied on manual interline booking methods, communicated through emails and phone calls, and fragmented systems to finalise interline bookings. This led to operational bottlenecks, missed revenue, and limited scalability. CargoMART Interline will transform this approach. With CargoMART Interline, airlines can now: ✅ Instantly check and book interline capacity – No more emails or phone confirmations. ✅ Optimize revenue with seamless interline partnerships – Unlock additional capacity with minimal effort. ✅ Scale efficiently using existing APIs – No heavy IT investment required, easy onboarding. ✅ Prepare for the next step: direct interline booking for freight forwarders – Expanding airline reach on pre-approved lanes. CargoMART Interline was developed and rigorously tested with Emirates SkyCargo, a key partner in shaping this game-changing solution. However, the platform is not exclusive—it is designed for rapid adoption by any airline with API connectivity (107 currently available with CargoAi), ensuring quick implementation with minimal technical effort.

With large acquisitions and developments, Dachser grew significantly in 2024, with sales growth of 13 per cent lifting revenue above the 8 billion mark to EUR 8.027 billion. The family-owned company also recorded significant year-over-year increase in other key figures such as headcount (+3,300), locations (+56), and pallet spaces in its warehouses (+720,000). This growth is largely due to the acquisitions of DACHSER & FERCAM Italia, Frigoscandia, and Brummer, which will appear on the balance sheet for the first time in 2024. In purely organic terms, i.e., excluding acquisitions, Dachser grew by 4.7 percent compared to the previous year. This was driven by resilience in its European groupage network and rate increases in air and sea freight. Transported volumes rose by 7.6 percent to approximately 83.2 million shipments, while tonnage increased by 10.2 percent to some 44.1 million. Business development would have been more dynamic, but there was a lack of growth impetus from Germany and Europe: “High costs, weak industrial production, and a decline in personal consumption have also had an impact on our business. Moreover, the many crises we face around the world today have been a constant stress test for our customers, and hence also for us,” says Burkhard Eling, Dachser CEO.

  Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR Airport) has achieved significant milestones in cargo operations for the financial year 2024-25 (FY’25). The airport surpassed 500,000 metric tonnes (MT) of cargo, underscoring its growing importance as a key aviation gateway for both passengers and cargo in the region. The airport handled a total of 502,480 MT of cargo in the financial year 2024-25 (FY’25). This achievement marks a notable 14% year-on-year growth, reinforcing the Airport’s position as a key logistics hub for both India and global trade. Cargo growth was driven by a 21% rise in international cargo, totalling 321,418 MT, while domestic cargo grew 4%, reaching 181,062 MT. For the fourth consecutive year, BLR Airport retains its position as India’s No.1 Airport for perishable exports, reinforcing its role in strengthening the country’s agricultural supply chain. The Airport continues to lead in mango and coriander exports, with cargo demand further driven by ready-made garments, pharmaceuticals, and machinery parts.With 12 dedicated freighter airlines, BLR Airport ensures efficient global connectivity, linking major export hubs like Singapore, London, Frankfurt, Chicago, and Muscat, while key imports flow in from Shenzhen, Singapore, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Frankfurt. Satyaki Raghunath, Chief Operating Officer, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), added, ““We are excited about the growth of aviation in Bengaluru and India. We believe that BLR Airport is very well placed to serve as the preferred gateway to South and Central India, and our investment in expanding airside, landside, and terminal capacity positions us perfectly for growth over the next few years. With an investment of over 17,000 crores over the next five years, we are well-prepared to support the rising demands of passenger and cargo traffic in the …

Reshma Zaheer, CEO, TT Logistics and Cargo, “Trump’s proposed 26% tariff on Indian exports adds pressure on key air cargo sectors like pharma, textiles, and gems. While this poses short-term challenges, it may accelerate market diversification and strengthen India’s trade resilience. With active FTA negotiations underway, in my view and as we have demonstrated in the past, India’s air export sector has the agility to adapt and sustain growth despite shifting geopolitical winds.”

Vipin Vohra, Chairman, Continental Carriers said, “The new U.S. tariffs—26% on Indian imports and 10% baseline on all global goods—pose significant implications for India’s air cargo trade. High-value, time-sensitive sectors like textiles & apparel, gems & jewellery and pharmaceuticals will see reduced competitiveness, impacting air export volumes. An anticipated decline in exports may lead to a notable contraction in annual air cargo trade volumes and value. Freight forwarders and Airlines may face capacity underutilization and rerouting challenges as exporters explore alternative markets. On the import side, higher U.S. duties may affect goods routed through re-export hubs, reducing inbound air freight demand. However, India’s growing domestic consumption and diversification into Middle East, Europe, and Africa offer partial offsets.

Nihar Parida, Director, Strategy & Development at Uniworld Logistics affirmed, “The U.S. tariffs on Indian goods—especially pharma, gems, apparel, and auto components—have led to a measurable decline in air cargo volumes from India to the U.S., as costs rise, and buyers adjust sourcing strategies. This may lead to a long-term restructuring of India’s export logistics, with a greater emphasis on cost-efficiency and diversification of trade partners.  Pharmaceuticals:  Many generics and APIs faced stricter compliance and the loss of GSP benefits earlier but are now under a broader 10–26% tariff range. Gems & Jewelry: Historically duty-free under GSP, now subject to full MFN tariffs plus possible additional duties (up to 26%). Textiles & Apparel: With the GSP revoked and new tariffs added, Indian garments face tariffs of 15–25%. Auto Components: Facing new 25% tariffs under Section 232. Leather Goods & Footwear: Tariffs raised to 20–30%, especially on leather wallets, belts, and shoes. Let’s wait and see how it evolves. India could be a gainer in this as Mobile phone exports will increase due to Vietnam and China having higher taxes. Textile might increase due to Bangladesh Tariffs. But at the same time are we poised for more manufacturing is a question.

V. Chandra Kumar, Founder & Managing Director Active Freight Logistics, India stressed, “With global manufacturers looking for tariff-friendly alternatives, India is well-positioned to capitalise on this shift. The country’s growing industrial base, improving trade infrastructure and government incentives make it an attractive destination for companies seeking to diversify away from China and Vietnam. Industry experts suggest that India must act swiftly to enhance manufacturing capabilities, streamline customs processes and attract global investment to cement its position as a leading trade and logistics hub in the evolving world order. As businesses realign strategies, the coming months will be critical for countries vying for a larger share of global trade. Whether India can fully seize this opportunity will depend on policy reforms, infrastructure development, and the ability to integrate into global supply chains efficiently.”  

Kamal Jain, Director, Cargomen Logistics shared, “The United States imposed reciprocal tariffs may appear concerning at first glance, the actual impact on India’s overall exports to the U.S. is expected to be limited. Key export categories such as pearls, precious metals, minerals, pharmaceuticals, and electronics already face low U.S. tariffs (0–5%), helping cushion the effect. Interestingly, in some cases, these tariffs may even enhance the competitiveness of Indian products, especially if global competitors face steeper duties. However, it’s important to remember that such unilateral reciprocal tariff actions are not aligned with WTO principles, which are designed to ensure free, fair, and rules-based global trade. The bigger question remain, should trade be governed by reciprocity or by cooperation?

C K Govil, President, ACAAI said, “The impact of U.S. trade tariffs on Indian air cargo EXIM (Export-Import) trade is multifaceted, influencing both opportunities and challenges for the industry. Negative impact could be higher costs for Indian exporters as increased tariffs on Indian goods—such as steel, aluminum, and certain textiles make them less competitive in the U.S. market, potentially leading to a decline in export volumes via air cargo. Tariff uncertainty causes fluctuations in demand, impacting freight forwarders, air cargo handlers, and exporters. Volatility in trade policies forces businesses to frequently adjust logistics strategies. Some Indian exporters may shift focus to non-U.S. markets, affecting established air cargo routes and reducing volume on traditional U.S.-bound shipments. Positive impact could be Opportunities in trade diversion, as U.S.-China trade tensions continue, Indian exporters in sectors like electronics, pharmaceuticals, and engineering goods may benefit from increased demand. This could boost air cargo volumes from India to the U.S. India is increasingly exporting high-value goods like pharmaceuticals, IT hardware, and perishables. Despite tariffs, demand for such critical goods remains strong, sustaining air cargo movements. Companies are optimising supply chains by integrating multimodal logistics (air-sea, air-land) to offset tariff-related costs, leading to new opportunities for air freight operators. India has been proactive in negotiating trade agreements with the U.S. to mitigate tariff impacts. The India-U.S. trade dialogue and initiatives like the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) could lead to tariff relaxations, benefitting air cargo. Indian exporters and air cargo players are investing in agility, technology, and alternative trade routes to mitigate risks. Overall, while U.S. tariffs create short-term disruptions, India’s air cargo EXIM sector is adapting by diversifying markets and strengthening supply chain resilience.