Category Archives: Aviation

Air Canada Cargo launched their first commercial trip into Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, with a Boeing 767 freighter. The service will be available once a week. “We are excited to add yet another destination to our expanding freighter network. This new service builds upon our capabilities to serve the island through Air Canada’s passenger network, providing consistent year-round cargo capacity for our key customers in the region,” said Jon Turner, Vice President, Cargo at Air Canada. We are pleased to welcome the first freighter flight from Air Canada Cargo. As winners of the Airports Council’s International Airport Service Quality Awards for seven consecutive years, we are confident that this will contribute to the excellence and diversification of our cargo operations,” affirmed Giovanni Rainieri, director of Airside Operations at Punta Cana International Airport. Air Canada Cargo’s flight to Punta Cana is the latest addition to its worldwide freighter network, following recently launched freighter services to San José, Basel, Liege, Dallas, Atlanta and Bogota.”

WFS, a member of the SATS Group marked its India foray with the launch of operations at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), Bengaluru. WFS (Bengaluru) Private Limited, a 74:26 JV between WFS and airport operator Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), will operate a cargo terminal facility at India’s 3rd largest cargo hub at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (IATA: BLR), with a concession period of 15 years beginning 24th May 2023. WFS will also be the exclusive operator of BLR’s Dedicated Cold Chain Facility during the concession period. WFS will be making significant investments into upgrading and expanding the two terminal facilities at its BLR Gateway to shortly take the ultimate annual cargo handling capacity to over 250,000 MT of general cargo and over 80,000 MT of cold chain cargo in phases. Commenting on the occasion, Mr John Batten, CEO, Europe, Middle East, Africa & Asia (EMEAA) WFS said “Our operation in Bengaluru represents WFS’ first foray into cargo handing in India. As the global leader in air cargo handling, WFS looks forward to adding value to the Indian air cargo industry through introduction of world class practices, ensuring better efficiency and driving productivity improvements which we believe to be well aligned with the Government of India’s National Air Cargo Policy and related ambitions. We will introduce highest international standards for safety, security, environment and operational excellence and make significant investments into improving and expanding the cargo infrastructure at our BLR Gateway. Ultimately, we believe that WFS can play an important role in aiding and facilitating the air cargo growth ambitions of BIAL, the broader Bengaluru region and India overall.”

Airblox announced its collaboration with National Airlines to expand the capacity lanes for both companies, ensuring reliable and efficient air cargo transport worldwide. “Airblox’s innovative platform enables cargo airlines, freight forwarders and global sales agents to instantly search and secure available cargo capacity across multiple airlines via standardised and digitised capacity contracts. By collaborating with National Airlines, Airblox is now able to offer its customers even more capacity options, including access to new and hard-to-reach regions,” says a release from Airblox. While National Airlines will be able to offer its customers a wider range of options, Airblox will gain a strong partner to support its mission of providing capacity visibility, freight financing and insurance options enabling better capacity and risk management capabilities to its platform users, the release added. “Airblox is excited to collaborate with National Airlines to enhance our platform with expanded capacity options,” says Brian Kolb, Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, Airblox. “With National Airlines’ global network and expertise, we are confident that this collaboration will provide our customers with even more reliable and efficient air cargo solutions.”

Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), the operator of Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR Airport), is thrilled to announce that Terminal 2 has received the prestigious IGBC Platinum certification by the Indian Green Building Council under the IGBC Green New Building rating system. BLR Airport’s steadfast commitment to sustainability is a fundamental principle ingrained in its business philosophy. This unwavering dedication is embodied by the Airport’s new Terminal 2 (T2), which continuously strives to implement sustainable processes, showcasing BIAL’s strong belief in responsible and environmentally conscious practices. Hari Marar, MD and CEO of Bangalore International Airport Ltd remarked, “I am pleased to announce that Terminal 2 has achieved the coveted Platinum rating from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) under their newly launched IGBC Green New Buildings Rating System. This is a significant milestone for us and a testament to BIAL’s unwavering commitment to sustainability. T2 exemplifies our dedication to implementing green concepts and techniques, showcasing our efforts to conserve natural resources, energy, and water.” The design and construction of T2 adhere to several key environmental categories outlined by the IGBC Green New Buildings rating system, including Sustainable Architecture and Design, Site Selection and Planning, Water Conservation, Energy Efficiency, Building Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Innovation & Development. By incorporating these green concepts and techniques, T2 effectively addresses national priorities such as natural resource conservation, demand-side energy, water efficiency, the adoption of renewable energy sources, and the optimisation of consumer and occupant health and comfort.

Boeing released the Boeing Cascade Climate Impact Model for public use to support commercial aviation’s path toward net zero carbon emissions. Cascade, a data modeling tool that identifies the effects of a range of sustainability solutions to reduce aviation’s carbon emissions, is accessible on Boeing’s new Sustainable Aerospace Together hub, www.sustainabilitytogether.aero. Cascade examines the full life cycle of alternate energy sources for aviation – from production through distribution and use – and quantifies the ability to cut aviation’s carbon emissions. Data modeling also measures airplane fleet renewal, operational efficiency, renewable energy sources, future aircraft and market-based measures as pathways to decarbonization. “We created Cascade to serve as an industry tool that creates a common framework among aviation, energy, finance and policy,” said Boeing chief sustainability officer Chris Raymond. “By putting data first and sharing this model with the public, we are enabling collaboration, feedback and alignment across industry, government and others who work together to achieve a more sustainable aerospace future.”

Antonov Airlines transported an Intelsat commercial satellite on board of one of its AN-124-100M aircraft from Moffett Federal Airfield, Mountain View, California, U.S.A to NASA’s Shuttle Landing Facility in Titusville, Florida, U.S.A for a launch by the U.S. aerospace company SpaceX. “The cargo with total weight of more than 55,000 kilograms consisted of eight pieces including Intelsat 40e (IS-40e) satellite and its hosted payload in a container measuring 1,280 cm in length, 488 cm in width and 419 cm in height, along with associated parts and support equipment. To оnload and offload cargo, a special Antonov-made ramp system was used in conjunction with onboard winches and cranes as well as external cranes,” says an official release. Virginia Lloyd, Director, Global Logistics and Warehouse Management, Maxar says, “Due to the nature of the cargo, AN-124-100 is the only aircraft available that can haul the size and weight (approx. 36,000 kg) of the spacecraft shipping container. In addition, the AN-124-100 does not require special ground support equipment to load and unload the cargo.” Intelsat IS-40e will provide focused coverage over North America for commercial aviation, maritime, land mobility and networks customers, and its hosted payload, a NASA instrument called Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO), will observe air pollution across North America, the release added. “The satellite was assembled and tested at Maxar and then delivered to the Cape Canaveral launch site,” says Iryna Kyianytsia, Commercial Executive, Antonov Airlines.

The latest report by Technavio on the low-cost carrier market, 2023-2027 estimates to register an incremental growth of by USD 248.65 billion, decelerating at a CAGR of 15.15% during the forecast period. The market is fragmented due to the presence of diversified international and regional vendors. The rising demand for air cargo is notably driving the global low-cost carrier low-cost airline market growth. The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will decelerate during the forecast period. Competitors have to focus on differentiating their product offerings with unique value propositions to strengthen their foothold in the market. Market vendors also have to leverage the existing growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Air Arabia PJSC, Air Canada, Capital A Berhad, Cebu Pacific, Deutsche Lufthansa AG, easyJet Airline Co. Ltd., Fly LEVEL SL, InterGlobe Aviation Ltd., Jet2 Plc, Lion Air, Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA, PAL Holdings Inc., Pegasus Air Transport Corp., PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk., Qantas Airways Ltd., Ryanair DAC, Singapore Airlines Ltd., Southwest Airlines Co., Vueling Airlines SA, and WestJet Airlines Ltd. are among some of the major market participants.

Satish Lakkaraju, Senior VP, Global Head, Air Freight & Pharma, WIZ Freight, Radar Ventures said, “One of the pain points that pharma customers, shippers, and agencies face today is manual Corrective Action and Preventive Action (CAPA), which needs to be digital and takes data from multiple sources to accumulate and do multiple analysis.” He added, Industry must adopt digitalisation fully. IoT is one of the most advanced things that has come into being lately. Today, with technology, you can identify the reasons why cargo has been lying on the tarmac for longer than the time specified for that shipment.” He shared his views in Digital Conclave organised recently by CSC and CargoTalk. “If we can integrate data with airports, then you are stimulating a larger and faster report. Also, India has a first-mover advantage as all the tech companies are here. Global companies are also coming up with live data. Today, it is possible to get the data even from the middle of the sky, so customers get more visibility. Control towers are going to be established, even for the road trucking industry. Tech helps you be proactive in your entire approach. The mindset of stakeholders in pharma needs to change. There are current challenges in this sector. Tech does not come cheap; skill sets are expensive.”

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) and Burrell Aviation Cincinnati are planning to build an air cargo warehouse facility with airside access on approximately 4.5 acres of airport property. The agreement includes a minimum capital investment of $20m. Last year, the US airport demolished old cargo facilities to make way for new infrastructure to enable cargo carriers and freight forwarders to move products more efficiently. Burrell Aviation develops, operates, and invests in next-generation supply chain infrastructure that supports the non-passenger aviation industry. Construction of the 80,000 sq ft facility with associated offices, truck docks, and parking lot will take place on the northern part of CVG’s campus. An expedited timeline is being worked on. “We appreciate the opportunity to assist with a significant expansion of CVG’s current cargo operations and to partner on such an important project with the airport, which is now one of the fastest-growing in the country due to the leadership of Candace McGraw and her team,” said The Burrell Group’s founder and executive chairman Dan Burrell. “Our strategic plan focuses on diversifying cargo operations, specifically, expanding general cargo handling capacity,” said Candace McGraw, chief executive, CVG. “We’ve been approached by developers and are pleased to partner with Burrell Aviation on this flagship facility. With ample demand, we know this facility will act as a catalyst for continued cargo growth at CVG.”

CMA CGM Air Cargo has launched a new freighter route between Paris, France and Mumbai, India, as part of its new partnership with Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP). The freighter airline, which received its air carrier certificate from the French Civil Aviation Authority in June last year, said it began serving the route with an A330F aircraft undertaking four weekly flights from May 12. “Bombay (Mumbai) airport is a major hub offering adapted infrastructures for intermodal connections in the region,” said CMA CGM. “This new destination is part of our strategic partnership with the Air France KLM Martinair Cargo Group and complements the existing offer to give you even more options for your air transport needs.” AFKLMP and CMA CGM Air Cargo officially launched their capacity partnership in April. The initiative was first announced in May last year, when CMA CGM said it planned to purchase a 9% stake in Air France-KLM Group as part of a new 10-year partnership that would see the airline and shipping group combine their fleets. The partnership means the two carriers are now jointly operating the full-freighter aircraft capacity of their respective airlines, initially including CMA CGM’s six freighter aircraft and AFKLMP’s six freighters. The commercial partnership also covers Air France-KLM’s belly aircraft capacity, including more than 160 long-haul aircraft.