Category Archives: Aviation

C K Govil, President and Samir J Shah, Vice President at The Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI) and Amit Kamat chairman – elect, FFFAI welcomed Turgut Erkeskin President FIATA, and Stephane Graber Director General FIATA during the ongoing FIATA Head Office meeting in Geneva. The ACAAI President along with VP and Past President are promoting the FIATA RAP event to be held in Delhi from 21st May to 24th May 2025. The ACAAI members are actively participating in the event.

Eicher Trucks started the of supplies of the Eicher Pro X small truck to Magenta Mobility. As per, phased plan for initial order of 100 units, the first batch of Eicher Pro X small trucks featuring 1.7T payload will be deployed across Magenta Mobility’s operations in major markets, including Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Chennai. These vehicles will play a key role in reinforcing Eicher Trucks and Magenta Mobility’s vision of driving sustainable logistics and strengthen Magenta Mobility’s mission of decarbonising India’s supply chain. S S Gill, Chief Commercial Officer VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “Through this association with Magenta Mobility, we are driving the future of smart logistics with advanced, eco-friendly transportation solutions The Eicher Pro X range is designed to meet the growing demand for high performance, energy-efficient vehicles in the mid-mile and last-mile delivery sectors and aligns with Magenta Mobility’s focus on decarbonizing last mile mobility.”

The setting up of freight-specific Special Economic Zones (SEZs) near airports are essential to boost exports, says Jayesh Tanna, CEO, ECU Worldwide, adding that it can foster an environment for cargo-centric airline expansions and for simplifying customs procedures with faster clearances and digital documentation. He also adds, “One of the main hurdles to the fast growth of India’s air cargo industry is the lack of smooth integration between freighters and passenger services. Another major issue is that most airports have poor connection with other forms of transportation. Despite the fact that India has over 70 airports with cargo capabilities, many of them are still underutilised because there is a lack of multimodal integration, which is essential for effective last-mile delivery.  Moreover, absence of dedicated warehouses at most Indian airports for perishable goods and pharmaceutical products, coupled with regulatory bottlenecks in their export, remains a significant barrier to the rapid growth of the country’s air cargo sector.”

To enable global oil industry operations, stay uninterrupted, Antonov Airlines and Air Partner have transported time-critical shipment – a valve for an oil refinery from Roma Fiumicino Airport (FCO) to the Middle East following an urgent request. Weighing over 20 tonnes and measuring over three metres in height, transporting the oversized equipment required specialist planning. Antonov Airlines’ AN-124-100 was used to carry the item. An external cargo ramp, manufactured by Antonov in-house engineers, and crane for loading were also required due to the size of the valve. Additionally, the valve had to be accommodated via an extra metal frame and super strong shackles for lashing. Due to the time-sensitive nature of the shipment, Air Partner and Antonov were required to work intensively, alongside Gruber Logistics Italy and Alha Group, to ensure it was delivered on time to the client.

Challenge Group has announced its new affiliate membership with the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations, FIATA. The Group’s admittance into FIATA will enable it to be part of larger industry discussions surrounding evolving regulations, capacity constraints, and supply chain disruption issues that have been of increasing concern as of late. As an international freight operator, its collaboration with other members in the network is a strategic move and a natural next step for the Group. Chief commercial officer of Challenge Group, Or Zak, said of the new membership. “By providing reliable, integrated, and bespoke logistics solutions, we enable global trade efficiently and effectively. As an affiliate member of FIATA, we are excited to contribute our expertise and insights from a freighter operator and handling agent perspective. We believe this collaboration will create stronger synergies between different supply chain stakeholders, ultimately benefiting the entire industry.”

The Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI) is participating at the FIATA HQ Meeting 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland being held from March 17-20, bringing together key leaders from the global freight forwarding and logistics industry, to discuss key industry issues and developments. ACAAI President C.K. Govil is actively promoting FIATA RAP 2025, joined by esteemed industry representatives namely, Dao Trong Khoa Paul – President, VLA, Samir Shah – Vice President, ACAAI, Keshav Tanna – Past President, ACAAI, Amit Kamat – Chairman Elect, FFFAI, Yukki Nugrahawan Hanafi – Indonesian Logistics Federation Association and Tej Contractor, FFFAI.

Canadian freighter operators, Cargojet has carried out its first charter flight to Mumbai. “We marked our inaugural air cargo charter flight to Mumbai (BOM) Airport, strengthening our global network and expanding our reach into South Asia. This mission was a testament to our commitment to delivering seamless, reliable, and time-sensitive solutions to customers worldwide. From specialised handling to efficient cargo movement, we are leading new standards in global logistics,” said official LinkedIn Post.

To digitally transform the trade and logistics sectors, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and Maqta Technologies Group, part of AD Ports Group, have partnered with Etihad Cargo to introduce new features to the Advanced Trade and Logistics Platform (ATLP). Developed and operated by Maqta Technologies Group, ATLP was inaugurated in May 2020 by His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. The platform aims to unify trade and logistics services across Abu Dhabi, including air, land, sea, and industrial free zones.

Vipin Vohra, Chairman, Continental Carriers said, “Drones are set to revolutionise logistics by enabling faster, cost-effective, and eco-friendly last-mile deliveries. They can bypass traffic congestion, reduce delivery times, and reach remote or inaccessible areas with ease. In the coming years, advancements in AI, automation, and payload capacity will enhance their reliability, making them a game-changer for e-commerce, medical supplies, and urgent shipments.”

Sunil Kohli, MD, Rahat Cargo said, “Drones have a crucial role to achieve logistics efficiency considering its safety parameters. They enable real-time tracking and monitoring of shipments, ensuring timely and intact delivery. Drones help us by inspecting storage facilities and transportation fleets and to further uphold safety standards while handling regulatory compliance. They also conduct inspections in hazardous environments like mining sites, mitigating risks of accidents and fatalities. These are equipped with advanced censors and can detect environmental issues such as temperature and humidity, ensuring optimal storage conditions for goods. Drones have the potential to completely change the way that goods and services are delivered by giving the businesses ability to lower logistical costs, boost productivity, and provide customers with faster product delivery. This revolutionary innovation not only redefines operating standards but also holds out the possibility of a time when supply chains will function more responsibly than ever before and also meet the evolving demands of global commerce to address the challenging areas and deliver goods to locations that are difficult to access.”