Category Archives: Aviation

DP World has launched Log-X, a technology accelerator platform for logistics in India. The accelerator platform was launched in partnership with Invest India, Kerala Start-Up Mission and its accelerator partner Startup Réseau, to encourage innovation and technology adoption in the Indian logistics sector. The program will focus on digital technologies like block chain, artificial intelligence, robotics, simulators and internet of things, to identify logistics-focused technology start-ups in India. “Technology adoption and innovation will play a strong role in building an integrated logistics platform which offer end-to-end solutions for cargo owners,” said Rizwan Soomar, Chief Executive and Managing Director, DP World Subcontinent.

Airports Authority of India (AAI) has announced the opening of cargo terminal at Surat airport by the end of December. The city’s trade and commerce is set to get a major boost with the announcement. The steel-based modular cargo terminal structure built at the cost of Rs8 crore is ready but is awaiting approval from Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). With it getting operational, cargo movement is expected to cross 7,000 tonnes per month. Constructed on the land between the Air Traffic Control (ATC) and the terminal building, the ground base of the cargo is 1,000 square meter and the first floor will have the same size. The cargo terminal has a cold storage facility for export of perishable items, a strong room among many more facilities.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation Ministry has permited SpiceJet to carry out self-handing of cargo from off-airport facilities. The order has been issued in accordance with ground-handling regulations (GHA), 2018 but has left some of the private airport operators displeased as this means loss of revenue for them. The ministry has said the airline to self-handle their cargo that is subject to clearance from Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). The private airport operators want all the cargo to move through the designated handlers at the airport and argue non-adherence of this may create safety issues.

GMR Hyderabad Airport Cargo launched Hyderabad Cargo Charter Circle (HC3) for facilitating cargo charter operators via Hyderabad Air Cargo Terminal. The move is to develop Hyderabad as an air charter hub in South and boost the regional direct connectivity and link it to the main hubs across the globe. The innovative and dedicated platform for enabling cargo charter operations was launched in the presence of charter operators, freighters, shippers, consolidation agents, freight forwarders and other airport stakeholders. “Cargo charters in India is still in nascent stage but holds a lot of promise, hence, we have launched the HC3 platform to give value and advantage to this segment and thereby boost trade and logistics,” said S.G.K. Kishore, Chief Executive Officer, GHIAL.

SpiceXpress could be listed on a stock exchange within a year as the rise of e-commerce drives growing demand for fast shipping across the region. The carrier plans to sell its share in the logistics business in an Initial Public Offering (IPO). The carrier is expanding its one-year old cargo hauling arm to fill the growing need for overnight shipping services, fuelled by online retailers such as Amazon.com Inc. and Walmart Inc.’s Flipkart. SpiceXpress has nine scheduled departures, six days a week, to Hong Kong from Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati, and one domestic rotation connecting Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai.

Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India in collaboration with Shreeji Translogistics have started bonded trucking service from Kolkata, Indore Airport, Vizag and Goa to Celebi Terminal Delhi IGI Airport from October 1, 2019 to provide their customers a possibility to move air cargo in an efficient, safe, process-driven and cost-effective manner. Celebi Bonded road feeder service is successfully running from Kanpur, Ludhiana, Indore SEZ 1&2, Ahmedabad and Noida SEZ which has given tremendous opportunities to freight forwarders and airlines to solicit business from stations that are offline. These bonded services will facilitate Celebi’s airline customers to offer services to a city to which they do not fly and help CHA/freight forwarders to custom clear, handle duty drawback and shipment documents at origin, while avoiding multiple handling and damage to cargo.

In order to expand its air cargo operations, SpiceXpress has taken the delivery of its first 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF). The standard-body freighter, which is the first 737-800BCF to be operated in South Asia, is on lease. The 737-800BCF entered service last year and its order book has grown to 120 orders. Boeing has ramped up production, with output set to more than double to 17 units in 2019. The 737-800BCF, which carries up to 23.9 metric tonnes of payload. Ajay Singh, CMD, SpiceJet, said, “We are expanding the markets we currently serve, particularly in the Middle East, Hong Kong and Bangladesh and the 737-800BCF’s reliability and versatility is helping enable our strategic direction.” Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had earlier validated the 737-800BCF’s certification.

Airports Authority of India (AAI) is planning to add space to its export dock to expand the cargo handling capacity of the Chennai airport. The dock is an automated facility where trucks unload export consignments in the cargo complex. This decision is expected to speed up the handling of cargo as AAI has been getting complaints of trucks queuing up at night at the export dock. Adding space to the export dock can improve infrastructure, an area where the Chennai airport is losing out to other airports. Chennai airport is also suffering a decline in cargo demand as per global slowdown. AAI data show that international freight movement in Chennai declined by 13.2 per cent and domestic by 20.3 per cent in April to July 2019, compared to the same period last year, making it the lowest when compared to major airports, except Kolkata.

The Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI) has appointed Sunil Arora of Delta Air Freight as the President of ACAAI for 2019-2020. Arora, who held the post of Vice President earlier, takes over from TA Varghese of Aroscan Cargo Trade. Afzal Malbarwala of Galaxy Freight, who previously served as Secretary General, has now been appointed as the Vice President of ACAAI. CK Govil of Activair Airfreight India and Anil Vazirani of Robinsons Cargo & Logistics have taken over as Secretary General and Treasurer, respectively. The announcements were made during the 49th annual general meeting in Mumbai. The ACAAI Annual Convention 2019 will be held from November 21-24 at The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa, Phuket.

M Raja Kishore, Airport Director, Rajahmundry Airport, states that cargo services will commence from the airport soon. In a stakeholders meeting, it was identified that agro, marine, fish, soft crab and pharmacy shrimp would be the main cargo. The committee will submit a report to the central government for clearance relating to operation of cargo services and the operations will be commenced shortly. Kishore further says, “There were abundant opportunities for cargo services from the airport as rice, vegetables, fruits, coconuts, aqua, fish and coir can be transported across the world from this airport and it is centrally located between Amaravati and Visakhapatnam.”