With trade wars and geopolitical tensions affecting traditional trade routes like those between the US and China, the air cargo industry has diversified its operations to new and alternative regions for instance, cargo flows to emerging markets in Africa and South America, have increased,” said Delhi International Airport’s official spokesperson.  He added, “Airlines have had to re-route flights to avoid regions affected by geopolitical tensions, such as the Middle East. This has resulted in the search for more stable and predictable corridors, which may require longer or less direct flights, but ultimately ensure the continuity of services. Cargo flow through Indian airports have improved as it was found to be a more stable route. In response to tariffs and geopolitical tensions, many companies have sought to shorten supply chains by nearshoring production closer to end markets. For instance, companies have increasingly moved manufacturing from China to countries like Vietnam, India, and even Mexico, which has increased demand for air cargo services to these regions.”

Our ministry’s goal is to transform India Post into India’s leading logistics organisation, serving both MSMEs and the largest e-commerce players, said, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Union Minister for Communications, recently while addressing the Head of Circles Conclave in Mumbai. Scindia noted that India Post had laid the foundation for the country’s communication system and is now undergoing a paradigm shift to become a profitable and future-ready organisation. Stating that India Post’s future lies in becoming a fast, reliable and economical service provider, playing a key role in the country’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat,’ Scindia stressed the importance of adopting technology, process re-engineering and active collaboration from all circles in this transformation. The minister has further called for detailed business plans from all circles to address the Department’s financial challenges and shift towards profitability. The conclave was attended by Secretary Posts, Vandita Kaul; Director General Postal Services, Jitendra Gupta; Members of the Postal Board, Chief Postmaster Generals and other senior officials. The officers participated in four key group discussions, each aimed at addressing crucial areas such as mail and parcel services, financial inclusion, Postal Life Insurance and citizen-centric services.

DP World’s Container Terminal (ICTT) in Cochin has set an all-time high-volume record in FY 2024-25, handling 834,665 TEUs, registering around 11 per cent year-on-year growth. The earlier record was 754,237 TEUS achieved in the previous financial year. The transshipment volume also set a new record at 169,562 TEUS. Volume records were also set across various business segments, including foreign exports, coastal exports, reefer volumes, and the highest single-vessel volume transaction. DP World Cochin recorded one of the highest number of vessels calls per annum in South and East India at 640, reinforcing its pivotal role in regional trade and supply chain efficiency during this period. In the FY 2024-25, DP World Cochin has significantly expanded its capacity with strategic infrastructure upgrades, including the introduction of new Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes, electrified Rubber-Tyred Gantry Cranes (e-RTGs), and an expanded yard space—boosting the terminal’s total capacity to ~ 1.4 million TEUs. The terminal’s power infrastructure upgrades from 3 MVA to 5 MVA ensures seamless operations during peak demand, while the 100% electrification of yard cranes along with the in-house solar plant reduces the carbon footprint for cargo, offering customers a sustainability-driven competitive edge. DP World also successfully handled multiple Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs) over 350 meters in length in the past year, demonstrating its ability to accommodate growing trade volumes. Additionally, Kerala’s first Free Trade Warehousing Zone (FTWZ)—India’s only such facility within a major port—has achieved a significant milestone by handling 2,255 metric tons of cargo in FY2024-25.  This reinforces FTWZ’s role as a key enabler of trade efficiency and economic growth in the region. Commenting on the successful performance, Praveen Joseph, CEO, DP World Ports & Terminals, Cochin, said, “We …

KPMG’s latest report, The Great Reset: Emerging Trends in Infrastructure and Transport 2025 highlights the growing role of digital twins in infrastructure. These digital replicas are rapidly becoming integral to infrastructure decision-making, allowing organisations to improve operational efficiency, predictive maintenance, and long-term planning. KPMG predicts that digital twins will become a cornerstone of business operations in the next three years. A significant talent gap continues to plague the construction and infrastructure sectors. The report highlights the need for a workforce capable of driving innovation and adapting to new technologies. Many companies are struggling to attract digitally-savvy talent and will need to invest in training programs to meet growing demand. KPMG forecasts significant changes to infrastructure systems, driven by a combination of climate change, evolving economic conditions, and rapid technological innovation. The report urges infrastructure leaders to adopt bold, risk-taking strategies and rethink traditional practices in order to thrive in a world of uncertainty.

Emirates has launched Emirates Courier Express, an end-to-end delivery solution that is set to redefine the express delivery experience. To ensure Emirates Courier Express addressed industry-wide challenges, Emirates worked with various global customers to pilot and finesse the product, with the goal to make it as fast, reliable and flexible as possible, before launching to market. Over the last year, Emirates Courier Express transported several thousands of packages from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, South Africa and the UK. The average delivery time is less than 48 hours. Now, Emirates Courier Express is open for business, for businesses. Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo said, “Emirates Courier Express is an evolution in how we move goods across the globe, at speed and at scale. Building on our world-class and well-established infrastructure, and reimagining traditional logistics processes where necessary, this innovative solution does not just meet the Emirates Gold Standard of reliability and excellence but sets a new benchmark for what’s possible. This is only the beginning of our vision to continuously innovate and lead the charge in the express delivery sector.”

  Ocean Network Express (ONE) launched new Indian Ocean Express service (IOX) connecting India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan with the North Europe region offering customers expanded service coverage, said official reports. The transshipment service via Colombo would cater to the shipping needs of customers from East India and Bangladesh, added official release. “The inaugural voyage from Nhava Sheva to North Europe will commence with Hyundai Oakland/V133W, Hyundai Oakland/V133E (ETA London Gateway.

SkyCell has partnered with ACL Airshop, provider of unit load device (ULD) leasing and management, to enhance air cargo logistics for customers. This five-year strategic partnership will integrate SkyCell’s cutting-edge IoT technology across ACL Airshop’s extensive ULD fleet, enhancing real-time tracking, operational efficiency, and asset utilisation. By minimising misplaced ULDs and y fleet allocation, ACL Airshop will be able to streamline operations, reduce excess inventory, and improve overall efficiency for its customers. Backed by 13+ years of expertise in pharma air freight monitoring and the largest IoT network spanning 250+ airports, SkyCell provides ACL Airshop with end-to-end fleet visibility—indoors and outdoors. This ensures greater tracking accuracy, improved asset utilization, and higher operational reliability, enabling ACL and its customers to make data-driven decisions for seamless logistics and cost-effective ULD fleet management.

  Kaushalya Logistics Limited has closed FY24 on a strong note with the commencement of operations at its new depot in Arrah, Bihar, under the CCFA model for ACC (Adani Group). The company has started started operations at its new depot in Arrah, Bihar, under CCFA model for ACC (Adani Group), this marks the company’s 14th depot under the CCFA model, reinforcing its commitment to expanding its footprint across India. Under this model, the company aims to handle up to 3 lakh MT of cement per month. In recent months, the company has significantly expanded its network by adding 20 depots. In FY25, the company successfully commenced operations at 30 new depots/rake points, bringing the total count of depots and rake points to 102. With an ambitious growth trajectory, the company aims to reach 225 depots by FY26, further strengthening its position as one of the key players in cement supply chain management.

  IAG Cargo is hoping to benefit from the addition of new flights to Asia, North America and South America as part of the airline group’s summer schedule. The cargo division of the IAG Group said a major highlight of the summer schedule – running from April to October – was the return of daily flights to Kuala Lumpur from Heathrow, which are due to start on 1 April utilising Boeing 787-9 capacity. Capacity across North America will “grow significantly”, including the return of flights to Denver from Dublin as well as additional services on routes such as Chicago, Vancouver and Washington from Heathrow. In Latin America, services to Rio de Janeiro from Madrid will increase from four to six flights per week, ”supporting growing demand in the region”.

According to IATA, “Air cargo registered its first year-on-year decline in February since March 2023 as a result of ‘extraordinary’ growth a year ago. The latest supply and demand statistics from IATA show that air cargo demand decreased by 0.1% in cargo tonne km (CTK) terms in February. However, the cargo load factor actually improved by 0.1 percentage points compared with a year ago to 45% due to a 0.4% decline in capacity supply. IATA said that the demand decline was the result of a spike in air cargo volumes in February last year caused by a number of factors.