Category Archives: Aviation

Debajyoti Bagchi, Vice President – Business Development, TT Group said, “While the transition of freighter operation from CSMIA to NMIA may bring initial teething issues effective from Aug 16, 2025, it is typical with any major operational shift and such challenges are expected to stabilise over time. Change is inevitable, but adapting to it requires time and collaboration. A similar experience was observed during the transition of airports in cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad. The shift from HAL to Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru and from Begumpet to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Shamshabad, initially posed challenges. However, those decisions have proven to be transformative, ushering in world-class airport & cargo infrastructure and garnering international recognition, including multiple Skytrax awards. For decades, Mumbai’s air cargo operations have grappled with infrastructure constraints, even as cargo stakeholders experienced exponential grown. This growth has been managed within the same limited space, making the shift to NMIA a timely and much-needed welcome change. The new integrated cargo terminal is expected to significantly improve cargo handling efficiency while targeting 3.25 million metric tons during its final phase, including seven code F stands, automation, dedicated ODC corridor resulting faster acceptance, ample equipment to do build-up, and dispatch processes to apron side. Moreover, NMIA’s strategic location, with direct connectivity to major highways, eliminates the need for cargo trucks to enter the city and deal with ‘no-entry’ restrictions—resulting in smoother, more predictable logistics with faster handover timing. It is imperative for NMIA to focus and get all statutory & regulatory validations done such as EU-RA3, TSA, ACC3, GSDP-WHO, ISAGO including EDI to make the ball rolling faster before the official inauguration. While customers and stakeholders will take time …

Sunil Kohli, Managing Director, Rahat Cargo said, “As per reports, NMIA proposes to implement a state-of-the-art Cargo Management System with real time tracking, transparency and automated truck slot management process to avoid congestion and to further reduce dwell time for vehicles apart from introducing paperless transactions. These moves undoubtedly are welcome steps to facilitate cargo movement from to-be-commissioned NMIA. However, as per trade whispers, the infrastructural facilities there are yet to get fully operational and hence there remain apprehensions among the trade whether seamless functions relating to freighter operations effective August 16 2025 would actually be possible. It would have been desirable to conduct a trial run of the freighters well before to identify the emerging bottlenecks with a view to have their corrections before the effective date of full-fledged freight operations.

Vipin Vohra, Chairman, Continental Carriers said, “With freighter operations shifting to NMIA during CSMIA’s upgrade, a smooth transition is critical. While NMIA offers modern infrastructure, it must ensure dedicated facilities for forwarders—currently concentrated around CSMIA—for efficient handling and processing. Proximity to cargo terminals is vital for seamless movement. Forwarders are preparing for the shift, but coordinated efforts and infrastructure support near NMIA are essential to minimize disruption and unlock long-term gains for Mumbai’s air cargo ecosystem.”

M Afzal Malbarwala, Managing Director, Galaxy Freight shared, “We are excited about the new Air Cargo Complex (ACC) in Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). It’s a big step forward for the freight forwarding industry. But we really need better infrastructure to make the most of it. The road to the NMIA needs to be improved so that cargo can get there in under an hour. This isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s absolutely necessary. We need to clear up some questions about the cargo cleared at the old ACC. Will it be bonded and transported by airlines? If so, are there going to be extra charges for that? If they add these costs to the freight without being upfront, it could create unexpected expenses for everyone involved. Plus, if we use bonded trucking from the old ACC and only some of the cargo from an Air Waybill (AWB) gets shipped, what happens to the rest? Will it be loaded onto the plane or put on hold until the balance is ready? If the next flight doesn’t leave for a few days, who pays for the extra storage fees? Also, what’s the plan for screening the cargo? Is it going to be done at both complexes? If we pay Terminal Charges (TC) at the ACC where the cargo is cleared, will there be more charges for screening at the new ACC? Since there’s a brand-new ACC, it would be great if there were spaces for agents to create their pallets, just like in many other countries. If we can tackle these issues and get the right infrastructure in place, it will make everything run much smoother.

Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) is nearing completion of its state-of-the-art cargo terminal and gearing up for inauguration and operation by August 16, 2025. As per an official statement, NMIA will have dedicated integrated cargo terminal (for both domestic and international) with handling capacity of 0.5 milion tonnes per annum in phase 1 and 2 and will be further scaled up to 3.25 million metric tonnes post completion of final phase. As of now, Adani Group has also announced infrastructure upgradation at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. CSMIA will temporarily shut down a part of its cargo facilities and not have freighter operations from August 16, 2025, ‘until further notice’, as per the official statement. Private and charter planes operating to and from CSMIA will be moved to Navi Mumbai too.  Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) has informed operators it is doing so to carry out multiple airside works including building new taxiways for Runway 14/32 to enhance its capacity and bring efficiency in operations. The Navi Mumbai Airport will be inaugurated this June and it may become operational before the Aug 16 deadline for freighter movement at CSMIA, said reports.

Çelebi Aviation has successfully deployed Taxibots across Bengaluru and Delhi. Taxibots are towbarless aircraft tractors that are fully automated. Unlike traditional methods, where aircraft engines are used to taxi from the gate to the runway, these TaxiBots provide an eco-friendly alternative by towing the aircraft without the need to use the aircraft’s own engines. These state-of-the-art, semi-robotic aircraft towing systems have led to a reduction of over 1,137 tons of aviation fuel (ATF) consumption, eliminating more than 3,500 tons of CO₂ emissions while saving over 427 hours of ground time for airlines and also saving 1429 hours of engine time for aircrafts, which translates into significant financial benefits and sustainable solutions for airline partners. As part of its electrification roadmap, Çelebi is the First ground handling company in India to proactively invest in Taxibot technology, and globally these were first operated on commercial operations in India. The company has currently deployed Taxibot units at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DIAL) and at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (BIAL). This initiative directly aligns with global aviation’s carbon neutrality goals and India’s sustainability vision. Additionally, Çelebi Aviation has ensured operational excellence by training 3,592 certified Taxibot crew members, positioning itself as a future-ready ground handling partner. With airlines increasingly prioritizing green solutions, Çelebi’s Taxibot deployment is set to further revolutionize aircraft movement efficiency at major Indian airports.

Crown Worldwide Group has introduced its new custom bonded warehousing service in India, operated under its Crown Workspace & Warehousing division. The new service is designed to provide businesses with a duty-free, secure, compliant and technology-enabled solution for storing high-value imported goods without the immediate payment of customs duty. This strategic initiative aims to streamline import-export operations, ensure superior logistics services and provide global businesses greater agility in managing their supply chains. The bonded warehouse is now operational in Mumbai. It offers ISO-certified, digitally managed, and tamper-proof, dust-free storage designed to handle a wide range of high-value products—including fine wines and spirits, luxury goods and fashion, jewelry, electronics, and general cargo. The facility also supports ESD-safe handling for sensitive electronic items and includes flexible options for bulk and industrial goods. In terms of security, the warehouse is equipped with 24/7 surveillance, restricted access protocols, and full insurance coverage against theft or damage. It is built to meet international standards for safety and operational efficiency, ensuring clients have complete peace of mind. Kavitha Suresh, Assistant General Manager, Workspace and Warehousing- Crown Worldwide Group spoke about this latest venture, “At Crown, we have always looked to push boundaries. The custom-bonded warehousing service integrates technology to provide our clients with a seamless storage and transit experience. Through this new development, we are effectively bridging global benchmarks with local needs. From luxury items to bulk to electrical, electronics, and imported wine & spirits we look forward to catering to all sectors and offering a great experience to our clients.”  

Rajat Kumar Saini, CEO and MD, NICDC and Chairman NLDS in an exclusive interview shared, “The Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, driven by innovative government initiatives aimed at enhancing infrastructure, connectivity, and overall supply chain efficiency. Logistics is a key enabler of economic growth, and efforts such as the National Logistics Policy and PM Gati Shakti are instrumental in reducing logistics costs and improving India’s global competitiveness through multimodal integration and streamlined operations. To support this vision, we are implementing the LEAD framework — focusing on Longevity, Efficiency & Effectiveness, Accessibility & Accountability, and Digitalisation — to foster a modern, data-driven logistics ecosystem. In this context, NLDSL has taken a pioneering role in the digital transformation of the logistics sector. Our flagship initiative, the Logistics Data Bank (LDB), launched in 2015, has successfully tracked over 80+ million EXIMcontainers across their journey within India, bringing unprecedented transparency and visibility into container movement. Building on this foundation, we introduced the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) in September 2022, under the PM Gati Shakti initiative. ULIP integrates data from 43 systems of 11 ministries, enabling seamless, digital, and paperless logistics operations. This platform addresses a wide range of industry use-cases, significantly reducing time and costs for stakeholders across the supply chain. Together, LDB and ULIP are not just technological advancements; they are strategic enablers in India’s journey toward becoming a global logistics hub. By enhancing operational efficiency and sustainability, these initiatives are poised to accelerate economic growth, generate employment, and elevate India’s position in the global economy — all contributing directly to the realization of Viksit Bharat @ 2047. These efforts lay the foundation for a world-class, future-ready logistics infrastructure and a digitally empowered …

DHL Express has partnered with Sai Life Sciences to use DHL’s emission-reduced shipping solution – GoGreen Plus (GGP). The partnership provides Sai Life Sciences with a greenhouse gas emissions reduction of up to 90% for its international logistics needs by using SAF. Sai Life Sciences works with over 300 global innovator pharma and biotech companies to accelerate the pace of their drug discovery, development and commercialisation. R.S Subramanian, Senior Vice President – South Asia, DHL Express, said, “Addressing Scope 3 emissions is critical to DHL for achieving the commitment to be carbon neutral by 2050. GoGreen Plus is a pioneering service that helps our customers address Scope 3 carbon emissions of their critical shipments to global destinations. The Life sciences and healthcare sector is a focus area for growth outlined in our Strategy 2030 and GoGreen Plus is very relevant to key players here who have a committed road map on carbon footprint reduction. We are incredibly proud to have Sai Life Sciences join us on our mission to reduce Scope 3 emissions with GoGreen Plus – the most technically viable option currently available.”