Category Archives: Aviation

MSC Air Cargo has joined The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA). Jannie Davel, senior vice president air cargo at MSC Air Cargo, said in a LinkedIn post on October 19 that the move is a “significant milestone in our journey towards excellence in the air cargo industry.” Davel added, “At MSC Air Cargo, we are committed to delivering innovative solutions and world-class service to our clients. Joining TIACA aligns perfectly with our mission to continually improve and stay at the forefront of industry developments. “TIACA’s global network and expertise will empower us to connect, collaborate, and contribute to the growth and innovation of air cargo on a global scale. We look forward to engaging with fellow members, sharing insights, and collectively shaping the future of air cargo.” TIACA represents the global air cargo community: shippers, freight forwarders, ground handlers, airports, airlines, manufacturers, solution providers as well as cargo media, universities and academia.

India has better presence of international airlines, operating to & from a large number of origins and destinations, high aircraft movements happening, says Sushant Nigam, Executive Director at ACAAI. He adds, Cargo Terminals and better transshipment facilities should be utilized optimally by the neighboring countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Kathmandu, etc. After the initiatives taken by the cargo industry of India, cargo originating from Bangladesh is being carried by road via Petropole / Benapole border to Indian gateway airports like Kolkata and Delhi, to start with, for upliftment to final foreign destination. It will benefit everyone in the entire supply chain.

Jeena & Company has partnered with Uniserve Group, to focus on providing first-class customer service. It embodies the idea that when two industry leaders collaborate, they can achieve more than the sum of their parts. Together, Jeena and Uniserve aim to redefine the logistics landscape in India, offering customers an unparalleled experience in international freight management and movement. Clients can expect nothing less than the utmost integrity, seamless services, and exceptional customer care. The synergy between these two powerhouses will set a new standard for logistics services in both countries. Gary Cobbing, Group Chief Commercial and Operating Officer at Uniserve, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, saying, “Our shared vision for excellence and commitment to first-class customer service make this partnership a perfect fit. Starting from the 1st of October 2023, we look forward to a long and successful collaborative partnership together.” Jeena & Company’s rich history spanning more than 12 decades of operations in India and a presence in 27 locations across the country, has rightfully earned its status as the go-to international logistics partner in India. Over the years, they have set the gold standard for logistics services and have built an unshakable foundation of trust and reliability with their clients. Uniserve, a renowned provider of logistics solutions in the UK for many years, has carved a niche for itself with an unwavering commitment to delivering top-tier logistics services. Their dedication to precision and efficiency has earned them a strong reputation in the country, making them a trusted partner for businesses across various industries. Excited about the collaboration, Sam Katgara, Partner at Jeena & Company said, “This partnership signifies a remarkable step forward for both Jeena and Uniserve …

Artificial Intelligence, and how it can help the air cargo industry improve operational efficiency and speed will be the key focus area shares, CK Govil, President ACAAI. “We will hear from companies employing AI in multiple functions and learn from them.” ACAAI is all set to organize 47th convention in Malaysia from Nov 23-26 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. “We chose Malaysia because it is a business-friendly country with a rich history of bilateral ties with India for over two and a half decades. Another significant reason is good flight connections from various Indian cities, thus making it easier for all participants to travel to the convention. India has had a bilateral relationship with Malaysia for 66 years, and the trade has only grown. It is an important trade partner for our nation, and I see much more growth in the times ahead. Over the past two and a half decades, our exports to Malaysia have grown at an annual rate of 10.4%, and imports have shot up by 10.3%,” he adds.

Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways, has enhanced its cool chain capabilities through the expansion of the carrier’s network with Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a member of the SATS Group. Etihad Cargo’s US customers will benefit from consistent end-to-end cargo services via the carrier’s PharmaLife and FreshForward products in addition to the cargo handling facilities and services offered by WFS at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport. “Etihad Cargo recently expanded its network with WFS to incorporate all the carrier’s US stations,” says an official release. “Before adding Chicago O’Hare International Airport, the carrier partnered with WFS in New York and Washington to ensure Etihad Cargo’s robust quality standards are maintained throughout the cargo’s entire journey. In both New York and Washington, WFS operates specialised facilities for the handling of perishables and pharmaceutical commodities.” At JFK, two cool rooms provide storage for perishables and pharmaceuticals requiring temperatures of between +2 to +8 and +15 to +25 degrees celsius. The JFK facility also features a ramp area located immediately behind the building and an organised ULD storage area with a new racking system, making the handling of cargo more seamless, the release added.

DHL Express has signed an agreement with sustainable aviation company World Energy to buy 668m litres of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through sustainable aviation fuel certificates (SAFc). The seven-year contract, to 2030, is one of the longest and largest SAFc agreements in the aviation industry to date, said DHL. Under the SAFc system, the fuel’s environmental attributes are separated from the fuel itself using a Book & Claim model, with the aim of ensuring that the emission reductions associated with each credit are accurately transferred and verified by a third party. DHL Express will purchase SAFc, utilise the associated emission reductions, and extend the environmental attributes to its customers through the GoGreen Plus service. DHL adds that SAFc delivered through Book & Claim also helps to minimise logistical costs and emissions as the fuel does not need to be shipped around the world, making them the most efficient way to decarbonise aviation. All World Energy SAFcs for DHL will meet Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials standards and will be monitored by an independent registry to ensure traceability of claims. The fuel itself will be supplied to Los Angeles area airports, close to World Energy’s production facility in Paramount, California.

Ketan Kulkarni, CCO, Blue Dart says, The growth potential in the domestic cargo market drives demand for additional freighter fleets. Airlines can invest in dedicated cargo aircraft to meet the rising demand for air freight services, especially for time-sensitive and high-value shipments. Blue Dart is well-equipped to cater to the evolving demands of the air express industry and meet the growing demand.” He adds, “Consumer demand, especially within the rapidly growing e-commerce sector and evolving consumer habits, plays a pivotal role in the domestic cargo market. E-commerce relies heavily on effective logistics for swift and efficient deliveries. India’s digital transformation, marked by widespread internet access and a well-established digital payment infrastructure, facilitates e-commerce growth, leading to higher shipment volumes and opportunities for cargo service providers and airlines. Additionally, the thriving Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) sector significantly contributes to India’s economy. As these businesses expand, they generate increased cargo traffic for the transportation of raw materials and finished products.”

SF Airlines has expanded its fleet to have 85 freighters. The latest freighter added to the fleet is a Boeing 767-300, which is the eighth new aircraft that has been unveiled by SF Airlines this year. The Boeing 767-300aircraft is expected to be used in the air-express delivery market, catering to the upcoming Double 11 shopping spree and other logistics peaks. The other freighters included in the SF Airlines fleet are Boeing 747-400ERFs, 767-300BCFs, 757-200Fs, and 737-300/400Fs. The airline has been adding an average of six freighters to its fleet each year since its launch in 2009, and their network now expands across Asia, Europe, and North America. 

Lufthansa Cargo coats another freighter with its AeroSHARK technology that reduces aerodynamic drag on the fuselage and engine nacelles of the airplanes. This technology was developed jointly by Lufthansa Technik and BASF for their Boeing 777 freighters, and results in substantial fuel and emissions savings. Ashwin Bhat, Chief Executive Officer, Lufthansa Cargo said: “The special coating significantly reduces the frictional resistance of the aircraft. Together with the lightweight cargo equipment we already use today, this technology will enable us to save 5,493 tons of kerosene per year. This is an important step on our way to becoming 100% CO2-neutral in the air by 2050.”

The increasing focus on using AI in the logistics sector is primarily being seen as a way to bring significant levels of efficiency in our day-to-day activities, says M. Afzal Malbarwala, Immediate Past President, ACAAI and Founder and Managing Director at Galaxy Freight. Ahead of ACAAI’s 47th convention in Malaysia, from Nov 23-26, Malbarwala says, “The challenges would be to identify an AI system which can integrate with our heritage systems, potentially merge with our actual customer deliverables, and protect our data sensitivity while delivering the solution we want as a final achievement. There is a fear among stakeholders that AI run machines can replace the human work force. Addressing such fears should take priority especially for heritage organisations who have long term loyal employees.” It is important to remember that AI’s ability to deliver the benefits is linked to our ability to provide continuous data streams which further allows the system to recognise and analyse data patterns before it can derive a methodology to do the same tasks at a much faster and efficient method.”