Category Archives: Aviation

Çelebi Delhi Cargo Terminal has successfully handled Import and Export cargo of around 150 pieces each way, consisting of about 40 superbikes and amounting to nearly 900 tons of inbound and outbound cargo for the MotoGP Bharat organised at Buddha International Circuit, Greater Noida. This extensive operation involved impeccable planning, stakeholder alignment and coordination, high collaboration and efficient handling of all EXIM consignments for the thrilling motorsport event. The successful handling of ultra-customised sports vehicles, which use advanced electronics and the very latest materials, requires a range of specialized equipment and infrastructure. Çelebi was well-prepared with main deck loaders, lower deck loaders, heavy-duty forklifts, flatbed trucks, experienced operators, and real-time coordination with all stakeholders, ensuring a seamless cargo operation. In total, 8 wide-body freighters (747s) were involved in this operation, with three different aircraft operators. Mr. Kamesh Peri, CEO of Çelebi Delhi Cargo Terminal, expressed his enthusiasm for Çelebi’s role in India’s first-ever MotoGP event, stating, “We are thrilled to have facilitated our expertise during India’s first-time hosting of MotoGP. Çelebi delivered seamless cargo handling services, underscoring our unwavering commitment to excellence. With our state-of-the-art equipment and highly skilled & motivated team, Çelebi was highly equipped to handle special cargo handling requirements. We are proud to have contributed our services to the successful hosting of MotoGP Bharat, ensuring that this remarkable event ran smoothly.”

Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) handled the transportation of high-value Superbikes for recently concluded Bharat MotoGP event, using three Silk Way West Airlines and one ATLAS Air Freighter Aircraft, amounting to a total of 155 pieces and approximately 380 metric tons of cargo. DIAL handled four full freighter shipments from 14th to 17th Sep 2023. The efficient and timely handling of the shipments has been managed by DIAL in partnership with Celebi and RE Rogers. A dedicated team comprising DIAL, Celebi (Cargo Terminal Operator), ground handling agents (BWFS & Celebi), and RE Rogers (freight forwarder) closely monitored the entire process, from freighter offloading to the release of the Superbike consignments. To ensure the secure handling of the motorbikes, vehicle entry passes were issued, granting direct access for transport vehicles to the ramp and minimizing the need for multiple handling. The entire movement was escorted from Delhi International Airport to the Buddha International Circuit, ensuring a safe and efficient journey.

Qatar Airways Cargo, which is celebrating two decades of operations, has continuously expanded its fleet, network, and product portfolio, becoming the world’s number one cargo carrier since it took delivery of its first freighter, an Airbus A300-600 converted freighter, in 2003. Qatar Airways began regular operations to Amsterdam and Chennai, and shortly thereafter to New Delhi. Today, the cargo airline operates more than 160 belly-hold and over 70 freighter destinations with over 200 passenger aircraft and 31 dedicated cargo freighters, says an official release. Elisabeth Oudkerk, Senior Vice-President, Cargo Sales and Network Planning says: “As Qatar Airways Cargo celebrates 20 years of freighter operations, we extend our heartfelt thanks to our customers for their continuous trust in our services. We take immense pride in our history and anticipate contributing to the promising future of air freight.” With the launch of its Next Generation strategy, Qatar Airways Cargo has defined its role in the air cargo industry by bringing a fresh and innovative approach to business across its network and operations through enhanced products and services, cutting-edge technology, a commitment to sustainability and diversity, investing in existing talent and attracting new ones.

Air Canada has placed a new order for 18 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner aircraft. This order substitutes a previously announced agreement to purchase two Boeing 777 freighter aircraft, and Air Canada will no longer take delivery of the two freighters. “Deliveries of the new aircraft are scheduled to begin in Q42025 with the last aircraft scheduled for delivery in Q1 2027,” says an official release. They will be used to replace older, less efficient wide-body aircraft currently in the Air Canada fleet. The agreement also includes options for another 12 Boeing 787-10 aircraft, which will provide flexibility for growth to meet future customer demand.” Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer, Air Canada says: “Air Canada has made investing in the passenger experience a core priority. Our experience shows customers greatly enjoy flying on the Dreamliner, so we are pleased to offer them a larger version of this popular aircraft, which will premiere a new, state-of-the-art interior cabin design. As importantly, the 787 is highly fuel efficient and will generate operational savings as well as support our sustainability goals of reducing emissions.”

The Air France KLM Group has placed an order to purchase 50 Airbus A350-900 and A350-1000 aircraft with purchase rights for 40 additional aircraft. The deliveries are expected between 2026 to 2030, says an official release. “This will be an evolutionary order, providing the Group with flexibility to allocate aircraft within its portfolio of airlines, according to market dynamics and local regulatory conditions,” the release adds. Benjamin Smith, CEO, Air France-KLM says, “This new order will be a major step in the renewal of the Group’s fleet. The Airbus A350 is a state-of-the-art aircraft with an excellent track record at Air France where it has rapidly become a favourite among passengers and crew since its entry into service in 2019. It is the perfect fit for the network needs of the Group and boasts outstanding performances: it is a quieter, more fuel-efficient and more cost-effective aircraft compared to previous generations. It will be instrumental in helping the Group reach our ambitious sustainability targets including (-) 30 percent CO2 emissions per passenger kilometre by 2030.”

According to the latest figures from WorldACD Market Data, global air cargo tonnages showed a positive development in the second full week of September after stabilizing at the beginning of the month. Average rates are also on an upward trend, breaking out of the bandwidth reported since mid-July – between $2.26 and $2.29 – per kilo, now reaching $2.31. Figures for week 37 (September 11-17) show a jump in tonnages of four percent compared with the previous week while average worldwide air cargo prices increased slightly (+1 percent) based on more than 400,000 weekly transactions covered by WorldACD’s data. “Comparing weeks 36 and 37 with the preceding two weeks (2Wo2W), overall tonnages increased by three percent versus their combined total in weeks 34 and 35 while worldwide rates went up by two percent at slightly higher capacity (+1 percent).

Kale Logistics Solutions (Kale) showcased the cutting-edge digital solutions for the air cargo industry at Air Cargo Handling & Logistics Conference (ACHL) 2023, in Athens. Amar More, CEO and Co-founder of Kale Logistics Solutions spoke at the panel discussion titled “Digital & Environmental Transformation – Financial benefits yet to be realized”. The session was held on Thursday, September 21, 2023. He spoke on data-based insights that drive customer satisfaction, cyber security and application monetization which makes Cargo Community Systems a very unique and innovative model of airport and ground handling companies.

Air France-KLM Group announced that Tata Communications, a global digital ecosystem enabler, has joined its Corporate SAF program to promote and develop the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Tata Communications is the first global corporate from India to join this program which actively supports the transition to Sustainable Aviation Fuel and will therefore contribute to the reduction of the CO2 emissions generated by aviation. Sustainable Aviation Fuels are the most decisive ways of reducing CO2 emissions in the aviation industry. However, the production is currently very limited and SAF represented approximately 0.1% of the global jet fuel use in 2022. The corporate SAF program allows Air France-KLM to partner with organizations to accelerate the production and usage of SAF, and thus pave the way towards making SAF more readily available with the aim to contribute to a more sustainable future in aviation. SAF projects selected by Air France-KLM reduce CO2 emissions by at least 75% compared to conventional jet fuel on a lifecycle basis. Speaking on the announcement, Claude Sarre, General Manager Indian Sub-Continent , Air France-KLM said: “Decarbonizing aviation comes with several challenges, compelling the industry to collaborate with various stakeholders and seek innovative solutions to minimize the environmental impact. As a responsible player, sustainability is embedded at the core of the Air France- KLM Group’s strategy, with a strong emphasis on the development and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). We are proud to welcome Tata Communications in the Air France–KLM Corporate SAF Program. This agreement is significant towards raising awareness and addressing sustainability challenges the aviation industry faces. Tata Communications, has a strong commitment towards environment preservation. We are happy to take the first step of …

Vipin Vohra, Chairman, Continental Carriers says prioritizing air cargo in Foreign Trade Agreements (FTAs) can have a significant impact on international trade. It will increase speed, efficiency, and resilience of perishable and high-value goods supply chain, global reach and it can lead to increased trade volume, faster delivery times, and improved access to global markets for certain industries. He says, “Air cargo is known for its speed and efficiency in transporting cargo across borders. Prioritizing air cargo in FTAs can lead to quicker delivery times, reducing lead times for businesses and consumers. Air cargo is particularly useful for transporting perishable goods (like fresh produce and pharmaceuticals) and high-value goods (like electronics and luxury items) that require swift transportation to maintain their quality and value. Supply Chain Resilience: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of supply chain resilience. Air cargo was critical for transporting medical supplies and vaccines during the pandemic. Prioritizing air cargo in FTAs can help ensure a resilient supply chain for essential goods. Global Reach: Airports and airlines cover a wide range of destinations, allowing businesses to access global markets easily. This can be especially beneficial for countries with limited land connections or geographical constraints. The impact of prioritizing air cargo in FTAs on cross-border trade depends on the specific circumstances of the countries involved. It can lead to increased trade volume, faster delivery times, and improved access to global markets for certain industries. However, it’s essential to strike a balance between air cargo and other modes of transportation to ensure diverse trade options and mitigate environmental and cost-related concerns.” While there are benefits to prioritizing Air Cargo in FTAs, it’s crucial to consider the broader implications, including …

The Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations in India (FFFAI) and Logistics Sector Skill Council (LSC) jointly organized a webinar to create awareness on Apprenticeship Training on 12th September 2023. Shankar Shinde, Chairman, FFFAI chaired the webinar. Dr T.C. Saravanabava highlighted that Apprenticeship Training is one of the most efficient ways to develop skilled manpower for the country. It provides for an industry led, practice oriented, and efficient mode of formal training. The National Apprenticeship Act was enforced in the year 1959 at first on the voluntary cause. The bill was presented before the parliament during 1961 and was enforced from 1st January 1963. The act was amended twice in 1973 and 1986. There are 38 sections and one schedule. The schedule is in regard to the adjustments in Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1923 with reference to its application to students under the Apprentices Act, 1961. The panelists included Sudhir Agarwal, Treasurer and OB in charge, Skill Development Committee, FFFAI; Dushyant Mulani, Chairman Elect, FFFAI; Tej Contractor, President, IIFF; Dr. T.C. Saravanabava, Head Apprenticeship, LSC, and Anthony Coelho, Vice President, LSC. Also present on this occasion was Vinod Sharma, Secretary, FFFAI. A large number of FFFAI Member organisations from across the country participated in the webinar. The core objective of the webinar implementation of Apprenticeship training in the FFFAI member organizations.