Category Archives: Aviation

GEODIS has officially started pharma and healthcare operations at its new 5500 sq. mt. site in Schiphol This new location is next to the existing site and will expand GEODIS’ footprint in pharma & healthcare, which is already well-established at the logistics operator’s Venlo site with a significant presence in contract logistics for customers in both sectors. The new Schiphol-Rijk investment will focus on freight forwarding and be part of GEODIS’ worldwide cross docking network for ambient and cold chain products. The new location is TAPA-A rated for air freight and holds the appropriate CEIV Pharma certification1 for handling goods in the 15-25 °C and 2-8 °C ranges. “Opening an additional specialized warehouse at Schiphol-Rijk enables us to offer customers a turnkey solution for pharma & healthcare logistics,” says Mark van den Assem, Managing Director GEODIS Benelux. “Increasing the synergy between our Contract Logistics and Freight Forwarding lines of business is a crucial part of our growth strategy and will have significant benefits to the supply chain needs of our customers”.

ITA Airways has continued to develop its digital connectivity by linking its systems with the WiseTech cargo management platform. The tie-up means that the Italy-based airline will connect with WiseTech’s CargoWise via APIs and make its capacity available to the platform’s customers, which include 24 of the 25 largest forwarders. Forwarders that use CargoWise will have access to ITA Airways Cargo’s schedules, dynamic rates, capacity, and allotment bookings as well as the ability to change digital bookings. Emiliana Limosani, chief commercial officer ITA Airways, said: “ITA Airways’ growing presence on online cargo booking portals is a key pillar of our business development strategy. “This connection to the CargoWise ecosystem further enables this strategy. The air cargo market is extremely dynamic, and we need to be able to respond quickly and accurately to drive customer experiences with ITA Airways.”

C.K.Govil, President, ACAAI and CMD Activair Airfreight India, said, “Efficient air cargo operations, optimized logistics and an improved customer experience are what AI can bring to our industry. It has the power to ease bottlenecks at airports, make data transparent and well organised, and optimize storage in warehouses and planning for flights. AI can facilitate information collection, processing, and flow, thus reducing disruptions in the supply chain. Besides tracking shipments in real-time, AI can forecast delays based on previous data. This would help the industry players save time, money and prevent delay in last-mile delivery.  We have seen AI-enabled chatbots strengthening customer support in many industries. It will bring about a change in the way we manage customer queries and make air cargo booking and reservations simpler. He added “The talk of AI taking over jobs is as old as technology making humans redundant. That did not happen because we are smarter than technology and made it work for our benefit. We need people skilled at people using and employing AI to our advantage. The change is already happening; we can turn the tide in our favour by embracing it.”

Cathay Cargo joined hands with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) for the first time to offer ONE Record data protocols for intermodal sea-to-air shipments accepted at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) Logistics Park in Dongguan for export from Hong Kong. IATA’s ONE Record initiative implements end-to-end transparency for consignments and logging progress as they pass through multiple links in the supply chain. Tom Owen, Director, Cathay Cargo, said, “This pilot also showed ONE Record’s flexibility, and being able to accept cargo from an upstream cargo terminal and then log its transit by boat was a world first. It also shows ONE Record’s value in enabling services such as Ultra Track and other use cases that we are continuing to explore.

On the airports front, the government is in the process of developing a concept paper to promote hub airports in India. This initiative aims to position India as a hub for both passenger and cargo traffic, further enhancing its role in international trade and logistics, says Pradeep Panicker, CEO, GMR Hyderabad International Airport (GHIAL). He adds, “The airport is geographically well positioned in India to be a transshipment hub. Increased transhipment activities will enhance connectivity, which will improve the delivery times for Indian EXIM cargo as well. With the majority of key locations in India located within a two hours flying distance and the ability to connect to the Middle East and South East Asia within 5-6 hours, Hyderabad is well equipped to facilitate both intra-India (I2I) regional connectivity and international transshipment connections from destination to India ( D2I) and from India to destination (I2D). While there is a strong push for “Make in India” and “Make for the world”, South-East Asia, including China still forms a substantial manufacturing base for the world. Consequently, there is a robust flow of goods from ASEAN countries to the Middle East, Europe and the US. India’s geographical position places it in the middle of this route, providing opportunities to leverage this dynamic. Airlines can achieve scale economies by consolidating cargo from Eastern countries along with the finished goods from India and transporting them to the Middle East and West at more competitive rates. The sectors like textiles, electronics, pharma, perishables, aerospace & defence offer significant opportunities for growth. Such an approach will not only boost transhipment cargo, but also impact the export and import cargo positively, as freight rates may decrease due to …

Çelebi India announces partnership with Uganda Airlines to support ground handling services for the airlines at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai. The inauguration took place with the direct flight from Entebbe to Mumbai on 7 October. Çelebi India leads the sustainability movement within the Indian ground handling industry, and aims to help the Indian aviation industry attain carbon neutrality. Tauseef Khan, CEO, Çelebi Ground Handling India, said, “We are delighted to bring our ground handling expertise to Uganda Airlines in Mumbai. We anticipate a long-term partnership as Uganda Airlines expands its footprint in India. Our commitment remains steadfast in providing seamless services and contributing to the growth of aviation in India.”

CJ Darcl Logistics signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tata Motors to strengthen and enhance CJ Darcl’s fleet of vehicles and explore options of logistics services. The MoU was signed on 11th October 2023, in the presence of Krishan Kumar Agarwal, Managing Director of CJ Darcl Logistics Limited; Kang Sin Ho, CEO of CJ Logistics Corporation; Girish Wagh, Executive Director of Tata Motors Limited and Rajesh Kaul, Vice President & Business Head – Trucks, Tata Motors. Post the MoU, the companies would deliberate on possibilities to enhance CJ Darcl’s fleet and make their operations greener. The engagement also intends to make CJ Darcl’s operations more efficient with comprehensive annual maintenance contracts, dedicated service team and streamlined after-sales processes. With Tata Motors advanced trucks and expertise in fleet management through value-additions, telematics systems and service network, CJ Darcl aims to set new benchmarks in the Indian logistics industry. Kang Sin Ho, CEO of CJ Logistics Corporation said, “India has been a dynamic market for logistics and is anticipated to remain a growth outperformer. According to CRISIL MI&A, India’s GDP is expected to grow at an average of 6.1% between fiscal 2025 and 2027, compared with 3.1% globally as estimated by International Monetary Fund. In this direction, the Indian government introduced the Gati Shakti Scheme, National Logistics Policy, Bharatmala Pariyojana, and Sagarmala which became the key enablers of logistics in India. Further to bolster our efforts to provide logistics solutions, we have collaborated with Tata Motors Limited. This is aimed at bringing operational efficiency to the forefront. The engagement will focus on evaluating cost-effective vehicle deployment to strengthen CJ Darcl’s fleet, whilst providing on-ground support.”

Air India SATS Airport Services Private Limited (AISATS) celebrated their 100th Robotic Aircraft Exterior Cleaning, ‘AeroWash’ for Vistara at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), New Delhi. AISATS launched AeroWash for Vistara in June 2023, and is the only ground handler with this innovative and sustainable aircraft cleaning solution. Sanjay Gupta, CEO, AISATS said, “AISATS is proud to undertake its 100th robotic aircraft exterior cleaning for Vistara. This technology represents a paradigm shift in the aviation industry’s approach to maintaining aircraft cleanliness and appearance and sets new benchmarks for aircraft washing standards. AISATS remains steadfast in its commitment to sustainability, consistently striving to provide advanced, eco-friendly solutions to the aviation sector and introducing AeroWash to our industry is a testament in this direction.”

Global air cargo volumes up by 6% in September as shippers and forwarders opt for long term contracts, according to the latest weekly performance data from CLIVE Data Services, part of Xeneta. Increasing shipper and freight forwarder confidence in a more stable global air cargo market led to a higher commitment to longer-term freight contracts in September as a drop in capacity and traditional month-over-month seasonality pushed volumes up +6%, The number of shippers committing to airfreight contracts of 6+ months in Q3 2023 rose to 34% from 28% in the previous three months, Xeneta says, as the industry comes to terms with a new baseline for the general air cargo market. “This is not a peak season, it is a sign that airlines, freight forwarders, and shippers are finding more common ground to enter longer-term agreements. We previously referenced no macro and market currents to support an expectation of a peak season, and this is still the case. We also said if there was to be an uptick in rates, we would expect this to be mainly driven by the supply side than the demand side, and this also still holds true. The general air cargo market is entering a new phase where parties are not expecting the market to go much higher or much lower. It is finding its feet again. We see more longer-term contracts being signed and this only happens when people feel more comfortable about the now and the foreseeable future. It is easier to make a commitment now than when the market is on a sharp downward or upward trajectory. There is a firmer floor in place,” said Niall van de Wouw, Chief Airfreight …

Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP) has added a new service level to sit between its express and general cargo options. The Franco-Dutch group’s new PLUS service will give customers priority when booking shipments and preferential treatment during loading and unloading. PLUS will bridge the gap between express, which is targetted at shipments requiring late delivery, early pick up or shorter connection times, and general cargo. “The PLUS service level perfectly completes our product portfolio, offering an intermediate option between our general cargo and express products. This extra option has long been on our customers’ wish list,” said Mathieu Fleisch, vice president products and verticals at AFKLMP. GertJan Roelands, senior vice president commercial, added: “The introduction of our new PLUS service level is a new step in our commercial transformation, which is intended to deliver a best-in-class customer experience. “Last month, we achieved a record 78% online bookings. This new service offers an extra alternative and enhances our online customer journey, making it even easier for customers to do business with us.”