The global air cargo market may have to ‘hang on until October’ for signs of recovery after a flood of summer bellyhold capacity on major lanes and a -4% drop in demand in April indicated a challenging 4-5 months ahead, according to new weekly analysis from CLIVE Data Services, part of Xeneta. Airfreight spots rates dropped -41% versus April 2022 as a 7% rise in cargo capacity resulted in lower load factors and a fourteenth consecutive month of falling volumes year-over-year. CLIVE’s ‘dynamic load factor, measuring global volume and weight perspectives of cargo flown and capacity available, dropped -5% pts versus 2022 to 57% in April, continuing a more than year-long decline. Summer capacity had its traditionally profound impact on the air cargo market from Europe to North America, with capacity up 26% in comparison to March 2023. Data showed a 10% pts decrease in load factor across the North Atlantic to 57% last month, compared to the 67% level recorded to major North American airports in March. This pushed the general airfreight spot rate on this westbound lane down to USD 2.29 for April. While air cargo market performance in April recorded a level of seasonality expected for the time of year, volumes were also impacted by the Easter, Eid, Pesach, and Ramadan public holidays all coming together so closely – but, this didn’t disguise the dwindling market conditions, says Niall van de Wouw, Chief Airfreight Officer at Xeneta. “This is a market that will test companies. If you look at Europe-North America, what other industries see supply increase from one month to the next by 26%, very much outside of their control. This is a tremendous jump in …

India Post signed an MoU with Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and Tripta Technologies for operationalisation of a portal called ‘Bharat EMart’, which will provide the facility of pick-up of consignments from the premises of traders and will ensure delivery at the doorsteps of the consignees across the country, said reports. It will benefit eight crore traders associated with traders body CAIT, a release from Ministry of Communications stated. India Post in the recent past has entered into similar agreements with Government e-Marketplace (GeM), Regional Centers of Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED), to provide pick-up and delivery of parcels at the doorsteps of the consignees. Shortly, India Post will onboard itself on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform, being developed by Ministry of Commerce as a logistics service provider. Today, India Post provides banking, insurance, and the last mile delivery of benefits of several welfare schemes run by the Government to every village through its network of 1.59 lakh Post Offices. The Minister expressed hope that the MoU with CAIT and Bharat e-Mart would provide much needed logistics support to small traders in the country which would increase their businesses and also the opportunities for employment.

Kale Logistics Solutions in its latest study on airport sustainability titled Kale Shaping Sustainability at Airports stated that technology can save $9 billion for the industry with approximately 16,000 gallons of carbon emissions being cut per airport. Cargo Community platforms have the potential to save 2000-3000 gallons of fuel being saved with lower truck wait times annually at an airport and a hector of forest saved every year with paperless operations. The report was launched at the Air Cargo Europe (Transport Logistic) 2023 event in Munich, Germany. This is the first study by the organization which is committed to drive a sustainable future for the logistics industry. Kale conducted an industry-wide study to understand the impact of technology on airports and its allied community sustainability outcomes. The global study measured improvements at airport level on operational efficiency, visibility, truck congestion, carbon emissions and physical paper utility. Amar More, CEO and Co-Founder of Kale Logistics Solutions said, “Sustainability matters more than ever, our technology enabled strategy is helping power the logistics industry to march forward on the path of sustainability.” “The study’s promising outcome gives us hope that the industry is moving in the right direction. Some exciting facts mentioned in this report will surprise industry patrons and stakeholders.”

Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics division of UAE flag-carrier Etihad Airways, has opted to use logistics software system specialist Descartes’s Bluetooth Low Energy container monitoring system to offer greater visibility of conditions of air cargo during the shipping process as well as insight into ULD handling processes. Descartes’ Internet of Things (IoT)-based Bluetooth Low Energy solution, integrated with Jettainer’s unit load device (ULD) management services, are expected to enable Etihad Cargo’s ability to see where ground and ULD handling processes might be improved while also gaining data concerning the ambient conditions of airfreight in transit. The Bluetooth tags are fixed to containers or pallets, mobile applications and mesh networks to automate the end-to-end tracking of these assets, said release. Such tags fixed to ULDs prior to loading onto an aircraft enable easy access to real-time location data and information on the cargo’s condition within, offering data on conditions such as temperature, light, humidity and movement. They also offer ‘chain of custody’ detail that indicates in whose custody assets are at any given time. Tags can also be added to any ground service equipment (GSE), like dollies, for visibility of a freight carrier’s handling equipment.

Air cargo charter broker CharterSync is all set to offer a fully integrated digital end-to-end booking process and management system for freight forwarders. CharterSync has launched its updated booking system at the ongoing air cargo Europe 2023 exhibition in Munich. According to company officials, it’s time-saving features are build for driving change in the air cargo charter industry using digital disruption and innovation”. The system is expected to be rolled out to customers in June. Fully integrated into CharterSync’s pre-existing web and mobile booking platform, the new process captures and consolidates all the data and documentation associated with a charter booking, aggregating it into a central ‘hub’ which can be accessed in real time by all involved. Accessible by “an intuitive booking dashboard”, the system offers access to key documentation such as air waybills (AWBs), permits, air cargo manifests, customs declarations, load plans, technical drawings, and emails and other correspondence conducted off-platform as required.

In a bid to generate more revenue through freight transportation, the South Central Railway (SCR) has decided to develop a new Gati Shakti Multi Modal Cargo Terminal (GCT) Gadchandur railway station (at Secunderabad Division.) As per information, the new terminal will be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 15,2 crore at Gadchandur railway station. The development work will be carried out by M/s Dalmia Cement Bharat Limited, which secured the tender issued by the zonal railway, said report. Under the contract, which has been signed for a period of 35 years, the construction and maintenance of the terminal will be performed by M/s Dalmia Cement Bharat Limited, Chandrapur. No terminal fees will be assessed on cargo for which the GCTO himself is the consignor or consignee. The railways will be responsible for paying all operational and maintenance costs associated with a variety of assets, including overhead equipment, signal, track, and communication charges, added reports. The latest signed contract also includes the installation of an additional rail line, building a covered shed, laying concrete, installing a Hamali lavatory, building an electronic in-motion weighbridge, building an approach road, and setting up a water supply. Additionally, electrification of additional tracks and the installation of FOIS and TMS will also take place as part of the project.

Kenya Airways Cargo has been awarded IATA’s CEIV Pharma certification for its KQ Pharma Facility as it targets the healthcare market. The certification means that Kenya Airways’ pharma facility complies with IATA Temperature Control Regulations and adheres to international standards and best practices in cold chain and pharmaceutical movements, said release. Allan Kilavuka, Kenya Airways Group chief executive said, “We will continue to improve our premium product verticals, offering long-standing standards of temperature-controlled and time-sensitive cargo transport. With this certification, we join a select group of international operators in reaffirming our diligence in transporting temperature-controlled and time-sensitive products via our pharma network.” Dick Murianki, director of cargo, Kenya Airways also added, “Pharmaceutical shipments are extremely challenging and necessitate maximum dependability from airlines. It is critical to maintain the required temperature so that medication can be used as planned after shipping. Being one of the first African airlines to receive IATA’s international certificate is the result of the work we’ve done over the last few years to strengthen our product.” The facility covers approximately 600 sq m and is dedicated to handling temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals. The facility is segregated into three temperature levels: 2-8 degrees Celsius, 15-25 degrees Celsius and a freeze room.

Global Crossing Airlines (GlobalX) is all set to receive another Airbus A321 Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) conversion aircraft shortly. “Our next A321 freighter- N411 GX- the “Spirit of Liberty” has now received all required FAA modification approvals, and is in final prep before test flights this week and then delivery to Miami,” said GlobalX in an official Linkedin post. The Miami-based airline said the aircraft is due to become operational at the end of May. “We expect to place this aircraft into revenue service at the end of May,” added post. GlobalX’s received its first A321P2F in December last year after conversion by ST Engineering. In May 2021, GlobalX signed a letter of intent (LOI) to lease five A321P2F aircraft with ST Engineering’s Aviation Asset Management unit. These aircraft are being converted and leased to GlobalX progressively.

To allow customers reduce the carbon emissions associated with air cargo shipments by efficiently using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), DHL Aviation, the in-house airline of DHL Express, is planning to launch a new GoGreen Plus service. From June, DHL air cargo customers can choose the GoGreen Plus service for their shipments, with customers being given the chance to tailor the CO2e reduction and the amount of SAF they use. Travis Cobb, executive vice president, global network operations & aviation, DHL Express, said, “Our greatest goal is achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Using SAF is currently key to reducing carbon emissions in aviation and our GoGreen Plus service is made possible following our collaborations with bp and Neste to supply SAF to DHL Express hubs around the world.” Ingrid Raj, senior vice president, global head aviation Commercial, DHL Express also added, “Insetting through GoGreen Plus allows customers to bring down their Scope 3 emissions, the indirect greenhouse gas emissions that occur in a company’s value chain, including downstream transportation and distribution. With the introduction of GoGreen Plus, we empower our air cargo customers to make more sustainable choices and embolden their contribution to reducing carbon emissions.”

The construction of India’s first International Multimodal Logistics Park in Jogighopa, Assam, is well underway, and the jetty is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The park, which is being built at a cost of Rs 693.97 crore, will provide direct connectivity to waterways, road, rail, and air, and is expected to be completed in 2023. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, visited the site recently to review the progress and expressed satisfaction at the pace of work. The development of the first International Multimodal Logistics Park is in line with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of transformation through transportation. The project aims to revamp the transportation network in the Northeastern region of India, including neighbouring countries like Bhutan and Bangladesh. The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan is a key component of this vision, which aims to revive and rejuvenate the transportation system and make it an efficient and effective agent of change.