Category Archives: International

IATA is predicting a positive outlook for air cargo demand and believes it will continue to improve as the vaccine rollout progresses and bellyhold services pick up. In a press conference, Willie Walsh, director general of IATA, said airlines “deserve great credit” for pivoting their business focus away from passenger operations and towards airfreight in a short period of time. Noting the use of preighters, Walsh said: “Airlines demonstrated great agility in responding to demand to ensure that there was sufficient supply to meet critical supply chain issues during the pandemic.” He added that as passenger services pick up while the global vaccine rollout progresses, airlines will “shift from survival mode to rebuilding”. “As that happens, we’ll continue to be very focused on the environmental issues that have not in any way bated since we’ve gone through this crisis,” he said. “There is also an immediate focus on the development of sustainable aviation fuels.”

Recently launched CMA CGM Air Cargo has continued to expand its freighter network with the addition of three new destinations. The airline, owned by Marseille-based shipping group CMA CGM, has added Dubai, Beirut and Istanbul to its existing flights covering Liège, Chicago, New York and Atlanta. The service between Liege and Dubai will begin on May 19 and the A330F capacity provider hopes to pick up traffic carry cargo originating in Africa and Asia to and from Europe. “With its services to Dubai, the CMA CGM Group can also provide its customers with a combined Sea-Air offer comprising shipping, logistics and airfreight,” it said. The flights between Liege and Istanbul and Beirut will begin in the next few weeks. Xavier Eiglier, executive vice president CMA CGM Air cargo, said: “Strategically located at the crossroads between several continents, these new destinations will help speed up CMA CGM Air Cargo’s development.”

DHL has announced a series of new upgrades to its myDHLi online booking and management system as its user base grows rapidly in the first quarter of the year. The freight forwarding giant said that it would add road freight to existing ocean and air services — launched last year — to give its customers full visibility and ability to manage shipments across the supply chain. The roll out of the road functionality will begin in Turkey. Speaking at an online event to reveal the latest developments, DHL Global Forwarding, Freight chief executive Tim Schwarth said that the platform has seen a “tremendous” increase in the number of users since the start of the year. He said at the end of 2020 there were around 1,000 customers using the platform, but this has now increased to 3,000 across 62 countries. Meanwhile, revenues generated online in the first quarter were up by around 56% compared with a year earlier. The company hopes that by the end of the year, between 8,000 and 10,000 customers will be using the platform.

DACHSER Emission-Free Delivery means that Dachser delivers all shipments emission-free as standard in a defined downtown area, usually the city center with pedestrian zones. No air pollutants or greenhouse gases are released locally. In addition, there are fewer noise emissions. Based on a modular system, the company uses battery-electric vans and trucks as well as electrically assisted cargo bikes, each tailored to local requirements. The bikes are specially designed for groupage and palleted goods weighing up to 250 kilograms. While the e-trucks supply microhubs—small warehouses near the city center—or directly deliver goods that are not suitable for bicycles due to their weight or dimensions, the cargo bike routes start at the microhub and primarily serve pedestrian zones. Based on a modular system, the company uses battery-electric vans and trucks as well as electrically assisted cargo bikes, each tailored to local requirements. The bikes are specially designed for groupage and palleted goods weighing up to 250 kilograms. While the e-trucks supply microhubs—small warehouses near the city center—or directly deliver goods that are not suitable for bicycles due to their weight or dimensions, the cargo bike routes start at the microhub and primarily serve pedestrian zones.

Zipaworld the Logistics e-Mall of India has joined hands with ASYAD Group of Oman which is the centralised and integrated logistics service provider across Oman and GCC countries. The logistics start-up has taken a huge leap into the global arena by venturing into the Middle East and GCC market, as envisioned by Dr Ambrish Kumar, the founder of Zipaworld, during the last quarter of 2020. After the launch of their digital Ocean Freight Module and thereafter the strategic stake in pioneers of domestic logistics Radiant X-Ways Logistic Pvt Ltd., this move comes as a prospective way forward into the global logistics front. ASYAD is Oman’s new integrated logistics provider. It is the centrepiece of Oman’s ambition to reclaim the country’s 2,000-year-old regional trade leadership and establish it as one of the world’s top ten logistics hubs by 2040.

India has been battling a severe second wave of the covid pandemic and hospitals in several states are running short of health workers, vaccines, oxygen, drugs and beds. Emirates has set up a humanitarian airbridge between Dubai and India to transport urgent medical and relief items, to support India in its fight to control the serious COVID-19 situation in the country. The first shipment carrying over 12 tons of tents will head to Delhi on Thursday, 13 May. The first shipment sent as part of the Emirates India humanitarian airbridge is a consignment of over 12 tons of multi-purpose tents from the World Health Organization (WHO), destined for Delhi, and coordinated by the IHC in Dubai. The creation of the humanitarian airbridge between Dubai and India, facilitated by Emirates SkyCargo, Dubai’s International Humanitarian City and UN agencies, to transport urgent medical and relief items. HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates’ Chairman and Chief Executive, said: “India and Emirates are deeply connected, since our first flights to India in 1985. We stand with the Indian people and will do all we can to help India get back on its feet. Emirates has a lot of experience in humanitarian relief efforts, and with 95 weekly flights to 9 destinations in India, we will be offering regular and reliable widebody capacity for relief materials.”

CargoTalk is organizing its fifth conclave on May 18, 2021. With eminent speakers from the trade, the focus will be on supply chain complexities in a never normal world. The summit will discuss the congestion issue the industry is currently facing and using real-time visibility to combat the port congestion disruptions. As this port congestion continues to cause downstream effects throughout the supply chain, industry is looking for insight into how delays will impact their shipments so they can remain agile and adjust plans as needed. Speakers will include Samit Datta, Head, Global Supply Chain, IT, Digital Transformation & Operational Excellence, Piramal Glass and Huseni Vohra, Director – Business Development, APAC, project44.

Delmos Aviation transported around 100 oxygen concentrators from Russia to New Delhi for the Government of Rajasthan. Delmos Aviation arranged for an end to end logistics supply for the Rajasthan Government and helped them with pre-buying formalities, legal documentation and clearance processes. Dr Naveen Rao, Director – Delmos Aviation, said, “We are proud to help the government in the procurement of oxygen concentrators in a short span of just three days. During this medical crisis, time-bound deliveries are very crucial. We will not leave any stone unturned to provide all possible support to the people of our country. We will keep on working hard to create new benchmarks. I would especially like to thanks the Aeroflot Cargo management team, Centurion Logistics and Moscow Cargo warehouse for prioritizing and expediting all the documentation needs, enabling a quick airlifting of the consignment.” A total of 1250 oxygen concentrators are ordered and will reach New Delhi in four lots of 100, 300, 450 and 400 units each. Apart from today, other lots will be arriving on 9th, 14th, and 16th May 2021. The consignment includes Oxygen Concentrator Single Flowmeter (0.5-10LPM Adjustable) and Oxygen Concentrator Dual Flowmeter (0-5LPM Adjustable). The models are JAY-10A & LFY-I-5A. “During this raging second wave of the pandemic, Rajasthan Government is working hard to procure essential medical equipment on the directions of Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot and Health Minister, Raghu Sharma. As part of its efforts to augment the medical oxygen in the State, the government planned to import 1250 oxygen concentrators from Moscow, Russia, in collaboration with Delmos Aviation Pvt. Ltd”, said the official spokesperson.

Cathay Pacific Cargo has been operating freighters and cargo-only passenger flights, delivering to date more than 100 tonnes of much-needed humanitarian and medical supplies to some of India’s major centres. These include shipments of specialised oxygen generators, oxygen concentrators and ventilators to Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad. In addition, there has been a sharp increase in volumes for shipments of oxygen, surgical masks, sanitiser, personal protective equipment, pharmaceuticals and vaccines over the past few weeks. “The Cathay Pacific Group has a long standing relationship with India. We are pained to see the current impact of the pandemic in the country and understand the criticality of shipping essential medical supplies” Cathay Pacific Airways’ Regional General Manager- South Asia, Middle East and Africa, Mark Sutch said. “With an expansive global network, freighter operations as well as our ability to deploy ad-hoc Cargo-only-Passenger flights, we have been able to transport essential medical equipment to the Indian communities. Recently, we have also seen a sharp increase in demand from Americas and the Chinese mainland for space for humanitarian aid shipments to India and we are working closely with the Indian authorities to deploy additional capacity to accommodate these essential shipments.”

J. M. Baxi has purchased oxygen cylinders for India, in which 600 will be for Delhi, 250 for Andhra Pradesh and 250 for Maharashtra. Totalling 7200 cubic meters of oxygen carrying capacity, it is being transported to India by the Indian Navy and Airforce.J. M. Baxi & Co is India’s premier ship agency, serving tramp and container vessels and finding maritime carriage solutions for all types of cargo.It is backed by over 600 experienced and committed professionals working from a nationwide network of offices in over 50 locations. J. M. Baxi & Co is the only ship agent in the world that does not subcontract out its core business.With a century of experience, they are the most reliable agency in India. With offices inall Indian ports and ICDs, we represent MLOSs, NVOsand feeder operators. Services pan-India include vessel husbanding, transportation support, EXIM marketing and surveys, and M&R services. The group’s infrastructure include CFSs, ICDs, terminals and rail services to ensure seamless support to the agency division.