Category Archives: Aviation

Ras Al Khaimah-based Vaayu Group has signed an agreement to be a strategic investor in New Delhi-based Pradhaan Air Express. The agreement was announced on the sidelines of the Dubai Airshow 2023. It not only opens up business opportunities in the Middle East for Pradhaan Air Express, the agreement has revealed Vaayu’s commitment in reinforcing the business, says an official release from Vaayu. “The world’s first A320P2F aircraft, which is operated by Pradhaan Air Express, is on show at the Dubai Airshow. Pradhaan leased this aircraft from Vaayu last year, and has been in commercial service since October 2022.” Emad Al Monayea, Chairman and President, Vaayu Group says, “Vaayu’s vision is to become a significant player in the air cargo space in the years to come. This move with Pradhaan is quite strategic considering the opportunities it presents between the two regions. We are quite hopeful that we are flying in the right direction.” Vaayu plans to expand its footprint in the air cargo space with the addition of two more A320P2Fs by 2024, which will enhance capacity and improve its network, the release added. Nipun Anand, Founder and CEO, Pradhaan Air Express says, “We are pleased with the fact that Vaayu has joined us since they bring with them a great record in the aviation sector. Their invaluable expertise and their single-minded plans to increase cargo capacity bodes well for us. The Airbus range of freighter aircraft is impressive and will add immense value to Pradhaan’s plans.”

Etihad Cargo has launched an Instant Offer Rate (IOR) tool to streamline the shipment booking process, provide faster response times and offer improved levels of customer service. Developed in collaboration with IBS Software, Etihad Cargo’s IOR solution is designed to enable the carrier to boost efficiency by reducing pricing transaction times by up to 70% in its online booking portal. Utilising automation, the IOR feature means prices are instantly generated based on five key booking and flight parameters, including density, departure day, direct and indirect flights, flight demand and requested services. Using this data, the IOR solution will provide the “best available price to customers within a few seconds, offering a seamless, user-friendly booking process”, said Etihad Cargo. “Since launching Etihad Cargo’s revamped booking portal, the carrier has continued to add features that enhance the customer journey, making it easier and more intuitive for partners and customers to make bookings,” commented Leonard Rodrigues, head of revenue management and network planning at Etihad Cargo. “By giving portal users instant access to prices based on their unique requirements, partners and customers have all the tools they need to make a booking within seconds and with the confidence their cargo will be transported across Etihad Cargo’s global network safely, securely and reliably at the most competitive price.” The launch of the IOR solution is the latest feature to be added to Etihad Cargo’s booking portal, following the recent addition of features enabling the booking of cats, dogs and dangerous goods.

Wiremind is developing its capacity optimisation technology to better meet the needs of freight forwarders. The company said it is working closely with a number of forwarders and partners to enhance its SKYPALLET solution to accommodate the specific requirements of freight forwarders. Due to be released next year, SKYPALLET 2.0, will in fact “pave the way for the necessary product enhancements to offer a forwarder-specific, dedicated workflow module”, said Wiremind. Though originally developed to support airlines with space optimisation, SKYPALLET “could, and already does”, help forwarders optimise their own capacity management processes, explained the company. Airlines and forwarders have similar needs in this respect, however their processes and use cases vary slightly. For example, when planning shipments, forwarders determine how much capacity needs to be procured from an airline, or how best to assign house airway bills across different allocations, Wiremind added. Forwarders’ transport management systems also differ to those of airlines, the company pointed out. “We have collaborated with freight forwarder customers for many years, and they often illustrate use-case scenarios that lend themselves perfectly to becoming additional SKYPALLET features,” said Nathanaël de Tarade, chief executive of Wiremind Cargo. “Then, during the COVID-pandemic, when the pressure to make maximum use of available capacity was at its peak, two freight forwarders actively opted to use SKYPALLET to support their business processes. “From their reported positive results and the many discussions we have had with a forwarder community increasingly interested in adopting digital solutions, Wiremind’s mission now is to create a freight forwarder SKYPALLET version that offers dedicated functionalities to support their specific workflows.”

Alaska Air Cargo has put into service a new 737-800BCF (Boeing Converted Freighter) and will add another second 737-800BCF “early next year”. The 737-800 freighters have been sourced from Alaska Airlines’ passenger fleet. The US cargo airline currently has three 737-700Fs in its fleet. Alaska Air Cargo took delivery of the first 737-800BCF, from lessor Babcock & Brown Aircraft Management (BBAM), last month. The first aircraft was converted at Cooperativa Autogestionaria de Servicios Aeroindustriales (COOPESA), a maintenance facility in Costa Rica. Now, the second aircraft is being converted by Boeing at KF Aerospace in British Columbia. Ketchikan (KTN), Sitka (SIT), Juneau (JNU) and Bethel (BET) will be among the first in Alaska to benefit from the increased capacity, with expanded freighter service coming to their communities by mid-December, said the airline. The new freighters are in the process of becoming ETOPS-certified, which will enable them to fly long ranges over open water. The aircraft’s expanded range will allow the cargo team to explore new routes, such as a possible nonstop from King Salmon (AKN) to Seattle (SEA). 

Cargo drone airline Dronamics and the UAE’s Strategic Development Fund (SDF) have signed a joint venture (JV) agreement to produce Black Swan cargo drones. The JV will result in the first serial production plant for the airline’s Black Swan aircraft. Production is due to start at the UAE facility in 2025. In late 2022, SDF, through its Venture Capital division, invested in Dronamics and is its largest investor to date. The JV term sheet signed at this year’s Dubai Airshow, builds on the Venture Capital investment and the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between SDF and Dronamics at last month’s SAVI Cluster launch event at Masdar City by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development. Christian Jens Ziehe, executive director, portfolio management and head of industrial investments portfolio at SDF, said: “Through the JV, we will set up a facility in the UAE to start serial production in 2025 that will have capacity to produce up to 300 Black Swan drones annually. “The JV will also contribute to further development of the local supply chain within Aerospace in the UAE.”

The existing multimodal infrastructure for cargo movement needs well-thought & strategically driven steps as presently the cargo movement from the warehouses to the respective ports does not have a comforting & time saving travel by road, says Sunil Kohli, MD, Rahat Cargo, adding road is the only mode which is used maximum by the shippers for domestic cargo movement. The desirability of smooth roads & seamless travel remains all over. He adds, “The critical areas of concern at present which need to be addressed by the related agencies are: Government Regulations, Environmental Regulations, Technological Barriers, Materials handling, Transport, Supply Management and Logistics, Information and control, Distribution and Material Movement and Production Logistics and Management.

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.”

Airlines in India are strategically investing in dedicated freighter aircraft to enhance efficiency and reduce costs for shippers, says Kamesh Peri, CEO, Celebi Delhi Terminal Management. He adds, “The expansion of air cargo terminals by the Airports Authority of India aims to meet the escalating demand, enhancing the overall cargo handling infrastructure. New trade routes with Asian, Middle Eastern, and African countries are also on the horizon, paving the way for increased demand in air cargo services. Additionally, the adoption of cutting-edge technologies like blockchain and artificial intelligence is poised to further augment efficiency and decrease costs, contributing to the sector’s overall expansion. In conclusion, the Indian air cargo sector stands on solid ground for robust growth in the coming years. The convergence of escalating demand, capacity augmentation, government support, and technological advancements paints a positive trajectory for the industry.”

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,” …

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) faculty members, students and alumni have designed and developed a mobile application, OptRoute to enable easier and efficient transportation of goods within cities. This mobile app connects a driver with the consumer with no intermediaries. The key points of differences between OptRoute and existing services include zero commission per transaction and nominal subscription-based service model and direct payment from consumer to driver. The OptRoute app is available for Android devices and can be downloaded from Google Play Store. It is currently available for operational use in multiple cities across India, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Faridabad, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Noida, Panchkula, Pune, Mohali, Surat and Zirakpur.