Category Archives: International

David Shepherd, CEO, IAG Cargo,” says, “We are looking forward to expand our business operations in the Indian market because of the recent negotiation between the UK and Indian government, which has resulted in an expanded air service agreement. We hope British Airways gets to increase its capacity here in the Delhi market.” He adds, “India has been the most consistent performer for our business. It’s an important part of our network. Be it pharma, perishables, automotive, e-commerce, or high-tech products, India is exporting all these products which makes India an important player for us. We fly to a lot of places, a lot of countries around the world, and India is the most consistent and strongest performer and remains that way.”

Bolloré Logistics announced their partnership with collaborative platform Winddle, for enhancing transport operations by integrating the management of product orders and encouraging collaboration with suppliers. The Winddle solution has already been applied by Bolloré Logistics towards handling orders of a renowned French luxury cosmetics brand, that replaced a purchase order (PO) management system which relied on shared files. Over 80 users have utilised the platform over a period of three months, which included industrial logistics managers, transport managers, customs managers for the brand, and implant and origin managers for Bolloré Logistics. The tool enables monitoring of all operations that start from the announcement of product handover by suppliers to the final delivery of several thousand shipments annually. The customer also obtains tools to oversee supplier performance metrics (OTD, OTIF, etc.) and optimize transport performance like reducing reliance on air freight, cost optimization, etc.

According to a report from consulting firm McKinsey & Company, both shippers and logistics providers have sustained and grown their technology investments since 2020, despite deteriorating market conditions. The report, “Digital logistics: Technology race gathers momentum,” gathered results from more than 250 logistics leaders, who agree on market forces propelling shippers and logistics providers towards technological innovations for increased flexibility, predictability, efficiency, and resilience. The common pain points that they share include cost management, productivity of the workforce, labour, and performance, according to the report. This indicated that shippers and providers can address these shared challenges amongst others to increase capability and coordination.

Menzies Aviation renews and secures several cargo contracts with various airlines at London’s Heathrow Airport, which includes Thai Airways Cargo, Middle East Airlines, Royal Air Maroc Cargo, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines Cargo and Tarom. Menzies is also now partnering with Thai Airways for cargo handling and airside trucking services, with 14 turns per week that will transport more than 16,000 tonnes of vegetables and fresh fish from Thailand to the UK. Apart from that, Royal Air Maroc Cargo, which is the cargo business of Morocco’s national airline, has also partnered with Menzies to manage their cargo handling at Heathrow.

Data provider Rotate launched a live air cargo capacity tool which is accessible to air cargo company users for free. The tool consists of live updated flight data from an exhaustive list of airlines, more than 9,000 airports and over 200 aircraft types and will let users see the amount of air cargo capacity on various trade lanes. The data has been “filtered, cleaned, and enriched to deliver unique, real-time insight into changes and trends in air cargo capacity”, according to Rotate. Gert-Jan Jansen, co-founder of Rotate, said, “The air cargo industry has long been investing in digital and technology solutions, which have led to ever-increasing amounts of data being produced and stored every day. Our Rotate Live Capacity tool supports a range of functions within the air cargo industry, from network design to business development, benchmarking, carrier management, pricing, and market trend analysis. Access to real-time data also opens up a whole new range of use-cases going forward – such as pricing and revenue management”

Oman Air partners with Çelebi India for ground handling services at Manohar International Airport, Goa, making it the first foreign airlines to land the new airport located in North Goa. Oman Air will be operating four flights per week from Mopa airport to Muscat. On 29 October, 2023, Çelebi India successfully executed ground handling services for Oman Air at the airport, and is expected to mark a lasting collaboration to “redefine industry standards by combining Çelebi’s extensive expertise in ground handling with Oman Air’s commitment to delivering exceptional service.” Mr. Tauseef Khan, CEO, Çelebi Ground Handling, India, said, “It is exciting to announce that we have extended our support to the historic inaugural flight of Oman Air at Manohar International Airport in India. This marks a significant milestone as Oman Air becomes the first foreign airline to land at this airport. As a trusted ground handling services provider, we at Çelebi are fully equipped to meet the specific requirements of international carriers and provide exceptional services to our partner airlines across India. This partnership with Oman Air is a testament to our unwavering commitment to delivering top-tier services and contributing to the growth of India’s aviation industry.”

Vietnam Airlines announced the appointment of Aeroprime Group, as its General Sales Agent (GSA) in India for both aviation effective 01 January 2024. Aeroprime Group will serve as integral and strategic partner to Vietnam Airlines to support with sales and marketing strategies through its innovative and tech driven solutions, deliver expanded market reach and distribution across India. The collaboration aims to deliver unparalleled customer service, elevating the travel experience for Vietnam Airlines’ esteemed customers. The appointment of Aeroprime Group will help to further widen Vietnam Airline’s presence and will pave way for expansion in the Indian market to provide a premium, customer friendly services. Abhishek Goyal, Executive Director of Aeroprime Group, said, “We are honoured that Aeroprime Group has been selected as General Sales Agent (GSA) for Vietnam Airlines in India. We are committed to work with Vietnam Airlines to develop a strong brand presence and expand the customer base in India. With our dedicated team of seasoned professionals across multiple cities and using our cutting-edge technology solutions, we look forward to effectively market the flights and provide superior customer services, offering an exclusive experience of Vietnamese hospitality. Nguyen Trung Hieu, General Manager of Vietnam Airlines Branch in India, said, “We are pleased to appoint Aeroprime Group as our new General Sales Agent (GSA) pan India as we embark on a new journey to enhance our network and to provide the premium services to the Indian travelers. The collaboration with Aeroprime Group will help us to strengthen distribution channels and elevate customer service standards in the Indian market. Vietnam is an incredible destination, with its natural beauty and traditions. Leveraging on Vietnam Airline’s extensive network, this partnership will offer premium …

cargo-partner officially launched the construction of the third warehouse hall at its iLogistics Centre in Dunajská Streda, Slovakia. The expansion will almost double the storage capacity from the current 27,600 to 50,000 pallet spaces, and will create 60 to 70 additional jobs at the new facility, says an official release. “cargo-partner has been operating in Slovakia for 30 years and is one of the most successful freight forwarding providers in the country. The company reported a turnover of nearly €140 million in 2022, and currently employs more than 200 logistics specialists across its branch offices in Bratislava, Dunajská Streda, Žilina, and Košice.” The iLogistics Centre in Dunajská Streda has been in operation since 2012, gradually expanding to meet growing customer demand for logistics solutions, the release added. “The previous expansion in 2020 increased the warehouse capacity to 18,200 m². The construction of the third hall marks the fourth and final phase of the project, bringing the storage capacity of the logistics complex to 34,300 m² on a site of 60,000 m².” The warehouse’s strategic location and direct connection to the Metrans intermodal terminal allow cargo-partner to reduce handling time by one to two days, resulting in significant ecological and economic advantages, the release said.

Oman Air has taken delivery of its first cargo aircraft, a 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF). The order is the first dedicated cargo aircraft for the Muscat-based carrier, said Boeing in a press release. Traditionally a passenger airline, Oman Air in February announced it would add its first freighter by the end of the year, though it did not specify the type of aircraft. With the ability to carry up to 23.9 tonnes of freight at a range of 3,750 km, the 737-800BCF will contribute to continued capacity growth at the airline. “The 737-800BCF brings the right payload and range to complement Oman Air’s passenger fleet with dedicated cargo capacity,” said Kate Schaefer, vice president of Boeing Commercial Modifications. “We are honoured to partner with Oman Air Cargo to support their operation with a proven and reliable freighter.”

WestJet Cargo announced a new agreement with Flexport, the global leader in supply chain technology, to offer new airfreight solutions for Canadian exports into Asia. Under the unique agreement, WestJet Cargo will deliver Canadian cargo to O’Hare International Airport (ORD), where Flexport operates dedicated freighters from the U.S. to key air freight hubs in Asia, including Incheon International Airport (ICN), Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), effectively expanding the global reach for WestJet Cargo and their customers. Given the surge in demand for Canadian products in key Asian markets, particularly perishables like seafood, WestJet Cargo and Flexport’s comprehensive solution meets the needs of customers in Halifax and the surrounding regions at a pivotal time. “We’re thrilled to collaborate with WestJet Cargo to provide a creative, dependable air freight solution for Canadian exporters looking for greater access to Asian markets,” said Neel Jones Shah, EVP of Global Key Accounts and Chief Customer Officer. “Our collaboration with WestJet Cargo is the latest example in Flexport’s mission to make global commerce so easy there’ll be more of it; by creating a fast lane for Canadian exporters to move their goods, we can break down global trade barriers and boost export volumes for these producers.” “This partnership with Flexport opens new doors for WestJet Cargo, and reinforces our commitment to our customers and Canadian economic growth. Together, we offer cutting-edge logistics solutions to meet the growing demand from Canadian exporters to Asia, particularly with regards to our valuable perishable cargo. Using ORD as a connection point, we are seamlessly able to transfer cargo within a matter of hours, further ensuring the freshness and integrity of key Canadian perishable exports,” …