Category Archives: Aviation

Challenge Group has announced the expansion of its operations in India with the introduction of two weekly cargo flights to Delhi, starting October 3, 2024. This brings the Group’s total to five weekly flights into India, including three into Mumbai. The new service will operate on Wednesdays and Sundays using Challenge Group’s growing fleet of Boeing 767F aircraft, with a capacity of approximately 52 tons each. “Delhi is a vital hub for global trade, and our new routes reflect our commitment to supporting India’s growth as a key player in the world economy,” said Or Zak, Chief Commercial Officer at Challenge Group. “These flights will boost connectivity for essential industries and provide much-needed capacity for temperature controlled, time-sensitive, hi-tech shipments, along with other complex verticals.”

The Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations in India (FFFAI) organised its 61st Annual General Meet (AGM) in New Delhi. Dushyant Mulani, Chairman, executive members, govt officials and industry stakeholders, focused on various issues prevailing in this industry such as innovation, technological enhancements, demand coming from Grade A Warehouses especially for electronics, automobiles, the need for air cargo hubs, 3PLs, operational excellence, multimodal connectivity, collaboration etc. Piyush Srivastava, Senior Economic Advisor, MoCA also graced the occasion and highlighted that infrastructure at metro and regional airports need improvement. Cargo industry stakeholders must collaborate in order to succeed.

CK Govil, President, ACAAI talks about the theme of the upcoming convention, ‘Wings of Innovation: Charting New Paths in Logistics’ and shares that the theme emphasises the dynamic and transformative role innovation plays in the logistics industry. The logistics sector is undergoing a digital revolution, driven by technologies like AI, IoT, blockchain, and big data These innovations help optimize supply chains, improve transparency, and boost efficiency. For example: – AI and predictive analytics enable companies to forecast demand, streamline routing, and reduce delivery times. – IoT-enabled sensors provide real-time tracking of cargo, improving visibility across the supply chain. – Blockchain technology ensures secure and transparent transactions, particularly in verifying shipment records, reducing fraud, and building trust between stakeholders. Environmental sustainability is becoming a major focus in logistics, and innovation is at the heart of this transformation. Companies are now investing in: – Alternative fuels like electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles for transportation to reduce carbon emissions. – Efficient route optimization software that minimizes fuel consumption and reduces unnecessary transport miles. – Circular logistics that focuses on waste reduction and recycling within the supply chain. The integration of autonomous vehicles and drones is poised to revolutionize last-mile delivery: – Drones are already being tested for quick, short-distance deliveries in congested urban areas and remote locations. This not only saves time but also reduces traffic and emissions. – Self-driving trucks could reduce labor costs, improve safety, and ensure round-the-clock transportation without the limitations of human drivers. The pandemic underscored the need for resilient supply chains. Innovation in logistics can help companies be better prepared for future disruptions: – Cloud-based logistics platforms facilitate real-time coordination among multiple stakeholders. – AI-driven contingency planning allows businesses …

DB Schenker is collaborating with Microsoft Cloud Logistics for the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and Sustainable Marine Fuel (SMF), highlighting their collective ambition to comprehensively reduce the environmental footprint of their transportation practices. This pivotal effort also includes building best-in-class logistics warehouses and implementing alternative energy trucks. It signifies an important step towards reducing the carbon emissions associated with their logistics operations (Scope 3) compared to transportation associated with conventional fossil-based fuels and thus supports their overarching environmental sustainability goals. Jochen Thewes, CEO of DB Schenker says, “Microsoft and DB Schenker, that’s two global leaders united to reduce emissions in transportation and logistics. Our cooperation is expected to demonstrate that significant CO2e-savings are feasible already in today’s intercontinental supply chains. The upgrade of the Netherlands warehouse to BREEAM Excellent status and the Illinois, United States SuperHub receiving the LEED Platinum Certification are prime examples of our dedication to paving the way for more sustainable and innovative logistics solutions.”

Brihanmumbai Custom Brokers Association (BCBA) convened its 39th Annual General Meeting (AGM) & Annual Function in Mumbai and elected Sanjeev Harale who has successfully served the Association for more than 20 years.  The keynote address was given by the Chief Guest, Principal Chief Commissioner of Customs, Mumbai Zone II, Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House, and Rajesh Pandey (IRS). The AGM witnessed the taking over of the charge of the Association Office by the new Office Bearers who stood unopposed by election nomination process and the newly elected Managing Committee for the term 2024 – 2026 under the leadership of the incoming President, Sanjeev Harale with his vast experience and noteworthy skills in the field. Senior Vice President / President Elect, Paresh Thakkar, Vice Presidents Vinayak Aparaj, Hiren Ruparel & Ganpat Korde, Hon. Secretary, Nirav Thakker and Hon. Treasurer, Ketan Desai took charge as the new Officer Bearers of the Brihanmumbai Custom Brokers Association.

Keku Bomi Gazder, Managing Director & CEO, Aviapro Logistic says, “10 MMT by 2030 is an aspirational target set by the government of India and I would say that we are well on the way of moving towards it. Whether we do it in 2030, 2031, before that or after that, what matters is, how do we want to get there? Do we want it only with local cargo, transshipment cargo, or with both? I think the answer lies in the third one, which is to have a mix of everything. If India is going to become a Viksit Bharat by 2047, if we want to achieve the position of Atmanirbhar Bharat, we need to consider what we can do to grow our businesses here. I am confident we will achieve the target.”  

Satish Lakkaraju, CEO, NexGen Logistics says, “The trade lanes play very important role to achieve 10 MMT, this target cannot be accomplished from one airport or state or commodity. The trade lanes become critical because today the large revenues in terms of exports will come from countries like US, which are area one traffic. So, we are making good progress, and especially in the limelight of what is happening in the neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and in the rest of the world, India has a great opportunity to capitalize on it in terms of achieving the 10 million metric tonnes target by 2030.  

C.K Govil, President, ACAAI says, “The government initiatives to promote and develop the airports across India to facilitate the export of cargo is really what I should say a big step in achieving this target. I am sure with this initiative and positive thinking of the government to mitigate any issues and trying to resolve the blockades would help in getting these issues resolved and help India in achieving the target of 10 million metric tonnes by 2030.”

Abhishek Goel, Executive Director, Aeroprime Group says, “The development in the air cargo industry has been tremendous, and fast, especially boosted by the e -commerce exports. So, logistics is the backbone of the industry, which is driving the growth in the industry. Further, the government support and export of commodities and industrial goods has also supported the export out of India. I think we should be able to surpass the 10 MMT by 2030 target set by the government, and even achieve much higher tonnage in the coming years.”

Hans Infomatic successfully hosted the first-ever AI-focused hackathon for the logistics industry, titled ‘Algnite..Code The Future 2024,’ to bring together software developers and industry experts to explore the transformative role of AI in logistics operations, aiming to boost business efficiency and operational agility. Parvinder Singh, MD, Hans Infomatic along with two other directors, Tajinder Kaur and Padma Handa graced the occasion. Singh also gave a welcome speech and shared the company’s vision behind this initiative. The hackathon featured talented software developers from various regions who showcased their coding skills, building cutting-edge AI applications tailored to the logistics sector. The event was moderated by Rajesh Kumar, General Manager of Hans Infomatic, while Ankush Tyagi, Software Development Manager at Ericsson (Austin, Texas), and Jivtesh Singh, Backend Developer at IBM (Austin, Texas), served as judges to evaluate the innovative AI solutions presented. The event kicked off with discussions on the future potential of AI applications in streamlining logistics processes and optimising supply chain management. Developers competed to craft the best AI-driven solutions for enhancing operational efficiency in areas such as shipment tracking, inventory management, and predictive analytics.