Akash Tyagi

ACFI South India Conclave 2025 to focus on sectoral growth

Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI) South India Conclave 2025 is scheduled for 31 January, Friday, at the Novotel Hotel, RGI Airport, Hyderabad. With the theme ‘Southern Gateways – Accelerating Global Trade Through Indian Air Cargo’, the conclave aims to highlight and harness South India’s potential as a hub for global trade and logistics. The conclave will address challenges and unlock opportunities for sustainable growth in the air cargo ecosystem through collaborative panels, insightful discussions, and key industry insights. The Chief Guest for the South India Conclave 2025 will be Duddilla Sridhar Babu, the Honourable Minister of IT, Government of Telangana. Sandeep Prakash, Chief Principal Commissioner of Customs, Hyderabad, will be the guest of honour. The conclave will feature discussions on topics such as Synergy between airlines and airports for driving economic growth, developing cargo infrastructure in tier II and III cities, and government initiatives supporting sectoral growth.

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Global air cargo demand surges by 11.3% in 2024: IATA

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) revealed full-year demand in 2024, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK) increased 11.3 per cent in comparison with 2023. The full-year 2024 demand growth surpassed the record volumes set in 2021. The Full-year capacity in 2024, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK), increased by 7.4 per cent compared to 2023 (9.6 per cent for international operations). “Air cargo was the standout performer in 2024 with airlines moving more air cargo than ever before. Importantly, it was a year of profitable growth. Demand, up 11.3 per cent year-on-year, was boosted by particularly strong e-commerce and various ocean shipping restrictions. This combined with airspace restrictions which limited capacity on some key long-haul routes to Asia helped to keep yields at exceptionally high levels. While average yields continued to soften from peaks in 2021-2022, they averaged 39 per cent higher than 2019,” Willie Walsh, Director General, IATA, said.

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Shadowfax acquires CriticaLog, to boost operations

Shadowfax has completed the acquisition of CriticaLog, a premium logistics firm, reinforcing its position as a market leader in value-added logistics services. The firm has developed a wide range of value-added services alongside its core Express Parcel or Forward Logistics business. Key services include Quality Check-based Reverse Logistics, Hand-to-Hand Doorstep Exchange, Same Day Delivery—termed “Prime” services—and Quick Commerce 10-minute delivery. With this acquisition, Shadowfax is set to further expand its offerings by introducing comprehensive and customizable high-value item delivery services across India. “We are thrilled to welcome the exceptional team at CriticaLog into the Shadowfax family. Their expertise in managing high-value product movements with an industry-leading 0 per cent loss rate is unparalleled. With this acquisition, we are excited to expand our capabilities in delivering high-value items safely and reliably to more pin codes,” Abhishek Bansal, CEO & Co-founder, Shadowfax, said.  

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DP World launches Saral-3 to connect Gandhidham to NCR

DP World has announced the launch of SARAL- 3, a rail-led multimodal service, which will now connect Gandhidham in Gujarat to the National Capital Region (NCR). The SARAL- 3, a part of ‘Sustainable, Assured, Reliable and Agile Logistics’ (SARAL) initiative, builds on the success of SARAL and SARAL 2, which connects South Gujarat and Chennai to NCR respectively. SARAL-3 caters to the evolving needs of businesses by offering a combination of speed, precision, and reliability. As part of this newly launched weekly rail service, a dedicated container train will commence from Bhimasar, Gandhidham every weekend.  It will reach Pali-Rewari, Haryana within three days and provide an option to reach Panipat or Modinagar Inland Container Depot (ICD) within six days thereby, providing businesses assured transit time for their cargo at the start of the week. “At DP World, we focus on reimagining logistics with a customer first approach. SARAL-3, connecting Gandhidham to the National Capital Region, reflects our commitment to creating seamless, multimodal solutions that deliver at pace and with precision that modern businesses expect. By integrating sustainability into every step of our operations and investing in future-ready infrastructure, we are empowering businesses to access newer markets in a rapidly evolving trade environment,” Adhendru Jain, Vice President, Rail and Inland Terminals, DP World Subcontinent, said.

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Balmer Lawrie signs MoU to boost logistics solutions

Balmer Lawrie & Co. has signed MoU with BEML Limited to provide extensive logistics solutions for BEML’s EXIM and domestic requirements. The partnership aims to enable BEML Limited to focus on its core competencies of production and sales by leveraging the expertise of Balmer Lawrie, a leader in end-to-end logistics, for efficient and reliable logistics solutions. The MoU was formally exchanged between Adhip Nath Palchaudhuri, Chairman & Managing Director and Director Service Businesses – Additional Charge, Balmer Lawrie and Shantanu Roy, Chairman & Managing Director, BEML Limited. The signing ceremony was held on January 20, 2025, at Bengaluru and was attended by other Directors of BEML Limited and senior officials from both the organisations.  

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‘Infrastructure and MMLPs to drive sector’s growth’

Amit Maheshwari, CEO, Softlink Global shared his Indian Budget 2025 wishlist. He urges to increase budget allocation for digital infrastructure, allocation of funds for MMLPs, investment in last-mile connectivity, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, streamlining of regulatory processes and compliance for MSMEs, financial support for R&D in sustainable packaging and carbon-neutral supply chain practices, focus on reducing trade barriers to promote exports, and support for freight forwarders and exporters in securing affordable international shipping rates. “The Indian Budget 2025 has the potential to accelerate India’s logistics transformation and make the country a global leader in supply chain innovation. As the logistics industry continues to be the backbone of India’s economy, this wishlist aims to ensure sustained growth, global competitiveness, and long-term value creation for all stakeholders,” he added.

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ASL to build 440 acre industrial park in Ahmedabad

Arvind SmartSpaces (ASL) has signed an agreement for a large industrial park in Ahmedabad, with a total estimated area of 440 acre and a top-line potential of Rs. 1350Cr. This mega project is located on NH47, Bavla-Bagodara road, which is signed under joint development model (70.5per cent revenue share). It is located at a tri-junction that connects the project to Saurashtra region, Vadodara, Ahmedabad and key ports like Kandla, Mundra and Pipavav.  The project is also located close to Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) and the upcoming Dholera Special Investment Region. There are several large industries in close vicinity which are focused on pharma, engineering, renewables, engineering, logistics and ancillaries. “We are excited to diversify our horizontal product mix in Ahmedabad and add a large industrial park to our portfolio. With this industrial plotted development, we have further augmented our horizontal portfolio and now have 77 msf of projects in the Ahmedabad region. Our business development initiatives are shaping up well and the cumulative new business development topline potential stands at more than Rs 3850 Cr for the current year to date,” Kamal Singal, Managing Director and CEO, Arvind Smartspaces, said.

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Ethiopian Cargo adds Boeing 777 freighter to its fleet

To drive the growth in its global operations, Ethiopian Cargo has added a Boeing 777 freighter to its fleet. Ethiopian Airlines mentioned on LinkedIn post that the new 777 freighter carried humanitarian aid in its first flight. “Ethiopian Cargo is proud to expand its capacity and enhance its global operations with the addition of a new Boeing 777 Freighter Aircraft, ET-BA. This milestone strengthens our ability to serve global markets with increased efficiency and reliability, ensuring we meet the growing demand for air freight services worldwide. The new freighter will play a pivotal role in fortifying our extensive network and delivering unparalleled service to our customers. Its first flight carried humanitarian aid, exemplifying our commitment to making a meaningful impact in our corporate social responsibilities,” the post stated. The airlines serve 70 cargo and 140+ passengers destinations spread across Africa, Middle East, Europe, Asia and America.

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‘Govt. must focus on Infra development and affordable airfares’

Vandana Singh, Director, Global Corporate Key Account Management, Saudia Cargo said, “The aviation industry is at a pivotal moment as we approach Budget 2025. With rising fuel costs and increasing regulatory demands, we expect the government to prioritise infrastructure development that enhances connectivity while keeping airfares affordable. Amidst an anticipated GDP growth of 6.4 per cent, this budget is an opportunity to balance fiscal responsibility with sustainable practices. We hope for initiatives that not only address immediate challenges but also pave the way for innovation in green technologies, ensuring the sector can thrive in a competitive global landscape.”

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‘Govt. must invest in logistics parks and multimodal transport networks’

Subhasish Chakraborty, Founder, Chairman, and Managing Director, DTDC Express said, “In Alignment with India’s ambitious goal of achieving a $7 trllion economy by 2030, the upcoming budget 2025 presents a valuable opportunity to address key challenges related to efficiency, sustainability, and global competitiveness. We encourage the government to priotise investments in infrastructure modernisation, particularly in the creation of smart logistics parks and multimodal transport networks that embrace sustainable practices. A strong emphasis on green logistics is essential, with incentives to promote the use of electric vehicles, biofuels, and IoT-enabled transport systems. We also look forward to the implementation of policies that create an equitable environment for all stakeholders, from large corporations to MSMEs. Such a strategy can promote inclusive growth across the industry.”

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