Category Archives: Aviation

Apeksha Gupta, Head Skilling, VCJ foundation said, “Young entrepreneurs are entering the logistics industry, traditionally viewed as complex, due to vast opportunities for digital transformation. They’re drawn by the e-commerce surge and a market demand for efficiency, seeing challenges as avenues for tech-driven solutions. Their motivation stems from a desire to disrupt and innovate within a sector ripe for modernisation, focusing on asset-light, scalable models. These young founders are rethinking logistics across the board. For last-mile, they’re deploying micro-fulfillment and AI-powered route optimisation. Warehousing benefits from automation and smart inventory. Real-time tracking is evolving with advanced analytics and predictive capabilities. This innovation is fueled by new education emphasizing data science, automation, and sustainable practices, moving beyond outdated perceptions of logistics. This holistic training empowers them to devise out-of-the-box, tech-driven solutions for complex supply chain problems.”

Block your dates for PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (PHDCCI) upcoming Gati Se Pragati Conclave 2025 focusing on driving holistic and accelerated growth for inclusive development and seamless connectivity towards Viksit Bharat 2047. The event will be held at Le Meridian, New Delhi on July 3. Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways will grace the event as Chief Guest.

GEODIS has launched GEODIS AirSmart, a new low carbon solution designed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to air freight by leveraging performance. By selecting the most energy-efficient aircraft and optimising routing, GEODIS AirSmart significantly reduces GHG emissions. Leveraging external flight data and advanced analytics tools, the solution enables smarter routing decisions while enhancing performance.   This innovation marks a new step forward in GEODIS’s route to decarbonization and to support its customers in achieving their climate goals. It also aligns with GEODIS’ pledge to reduce absolute Air Freight emissions by 25% by 2030.   Emission savings through GEODIS AirSmart are available to all customers via our digital platforms, offering tangible and comparable environmental progress. It’s a unique key differentiator in the Freight Forwarding industry increasingly focused on carbon-conscious performance.   “We’re thrilled to introduce the launch of GEODIS AirSmart, our new innovative solution that combines high performance with reduced emissions in Air Freight. It’s smart, it’s sustainable, and it’s a game-changer for GEODIS and our customers,” said Henri Le Gouis, EVP, Global Freight Forwarding at GEODIS.   GEODIS also plans to expand its maritime offering by deploying a complementary solution based on a similar approach to lower emissions related to ocean freight.

  According to latest data by WorldACD, the air cargo market was stable in terms of tonnage on a worldwide level in the week ending Sunday, May 25 (week 21), compared to the previous week. Although the week-on-week worldwide figure remained flat, demand was 6% higher than last year, with the largest absolute volume growth in the Asia Pacific region. Thanks to the strong increase in week 20, the last two weeks taken together were up with a high single digit (+7%) compared to the two weeks before combined (2Wo2W), according to the latest data from WorldACD. Zooming in on origin regions, different regional dynamics reveal a more nuanced picture in the last two weeks. Compared with the previous two weeks combined, the most buoyant region-to-region markets were Asia Pacific to North America (+19%) and North America to Asia Pacific (+13%), with the largest decline in volume from Central & South America to North America (-23%), which is a normal post-Mother’s Day flower shipments pattern.

Kerala State Industrial Enterprises (KSIE), a state govt undertaking has submitted a proposal to industries department for building an integrated logistics hub at Balaramapuram. The initiative aligns with development plans associated with Vizhinjam International Seaport, said official reports. KSIE identified a land parcel of around 10-15 acres at Kattachalkuzhi, currently under the possession of Coconut Research Institute of Kerala Agricultural University. As the land belongs to the university, its consent is required before taking any further steps. Govt’s decision on it is expected soon, the online reports stated.

Etihad Airways and SF Airlines have signed a Joint Business Agreement (JBA) to enhance their cargo operations, expand network capacity and offer customers greater flexibility and service options. The agreement was signed today by Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways and Li Sheng, Vice President of SF Group and Chairman of SF Airlines. Through the agreement, Etihad Airways and SF Airlines will collaborate on a metal-neutral basis to jointly market and integrate their airfreight services. The partnership is designed to foster incremental growth and create a seamless, shared network that offers customers an expanded range of destinations, increased cargo capacity and enhanced service efficiency. As part of the JBA, Etihad Airways and SF Airlines will enhance customer choice by expanding network connectivity and capacity across key trade lanes. Both carriers will also invest in improving service quality and operational efficiency, ensuring a consistently elevated customer experience. The partnership enables coordinated pricing strategies and alignment of service standards, delivering a streamlined and competitive offering. Additionally, the collaboration will support the strategic allocation of routes, sales efforts and client portfolios, allowing for joint decision-making and driving operational synergies. With the growth of cross-border e-commerce, time-sensitive shipments and specialised logistics services, the partnership between Etihad Airways and SF Airlines will offer greater flexibility and tailored solutions to meet evolving customer needs. The joint business will focus on key cargo product verticals, including Etihad Cargo’s SecureTech and PharmaLife solutions, which support the movement of high-value electronics, sensitive equipment and temperature-controlled pharmaceutical goods. Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways, said: “This business agreement marks an important step in Etihad’s strategy to strengthen global connectivity and deliver greater value to our customers. By working …

Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP Cargo) is to offer a more personalised and responsive service for its customers with the launch of CRM360, a global artificial intelligence (AI)-powered platform codeveloped with customer relationship management (CRM) software company Salesforce. This next-generation solution is designed to ensure “consistent, efficient and customised support” throughout a customer experience, the Franco-Dutch cargo carrier said. AFKLMP Cargo is investing in various AI-enabled tools – such as chat, voice and priority models – to provide customer service teams with what it described as “cutting-edge tools, insight and expertise”.

Emirates SkyCargo is planning to add new connections between European destinations and the Middle and Far East. It plans to add two further weekly charter freighter services between Milan, Italy, and Southeast China, via Dubai, from the third quarter of this year.  It expects fashion goods and pharmaceuticals, as well as general cargo, to be carried on the freighters. Elsewhere, the current weekly freighter service connecting Dubai World Central (DWC) airport, Maastricht Aachen Airport in the Netherlands and Zaragoza Airport in Spain will now also stop in Beirut, Lebanon, before its return to Dubai. General cargo and pharmaceuticals are expected to make up much of the airfreight flown into Beirut on the service out of Maastricht Aachen, while Zaragoza handles significant volumes of fashion goods and apparel, which can now be flown directly to Beirut.

Menzies Aviation is all set to acquire Spirit Cargo Handling, an airfreight handler owned by SAS Ground Handling Norway. The acquisition represents the company’s first air cargo operation and warehouse in Norway and will boost Menzies’ overall cargo handling capacity by 150,000 tonnes a year. Much of the cargo handled by Spirit consists of high-demand products like salmon, as well as general cargo, and the work includes handling freighter services. As part of the deal, Menzies will resume responsibility for the Spirit cargo warehouse at Oslo Gardermoen Airport, and for handling existing freighter operations at the airport. Once the deal is completed, Spirit cargo operations will be rebranded as Menzies Aviation.

Today, 3.5 million metric tons of goods are transported by air cargo in India. By the end of this decade, this number will reach 10 million metric tons,” said PM Narendra Modi while addressing the gathering at ongoing IATA’s Annual General Meeting in New Delhi. “These are not just numbers. This is a glimpse of India’s new potential. India is working on a futuristic roadmap to maximize its potential. We are investing in a world-class airport infrastructure. As Mr. Naidu said, by 2014, India had 74 operational airports. Today, this number has increased to 162. Indian carriers have ordered more than 2,000 new aircraft. And this is just the beginning. India’s aviation sector is at a take-off point. It has to make the longest and highest flight. And this flight will not only cross global borders, but will also take the world in the direction of sustainability, green mobility, and equitable access. Friends, the handling capacity of our airports has reached 500 million passengers every year. India is one of the few countries in the world that is setting new standards for user experience through technology. We are focusing on safety, efficiency, and sustainability. We are moving towards sustainable aviation fuels. We are investing in green technologies. We are reducing carbon footprint. We are ensuring the security of progress and the planet.”