Category Archives: Aviation

Sunil Kohli, MD, Rahat Cargo said, “As per the UK government the new trade agreement is projected to boost annual bilateral trade between India and the UK by £25.5 billion which comprises 26 chapters and is expected to take around 15 months for full implementation. Consequent upon finalisation of the FTA, an approximately 99 percent of Indian exports will enjoy zero-duty access to the UK market, enhancing export competitiveness. Further, the import duties on 90 percent of tariff lines will be reduced, with 85 percent of these becoming completely tariff-free over the next 10 years, offering notable savings for Indian consumers and businesses. The agreement is expected to boost exports from India’s labor-intensive sectors, including textiles, marine products, leather, footwear, sports goods, toys, gems and jewelry, engineering goods, auto parts, engines, and organic chemicals, creating new business and employment opportunities. And above all. the Indian professionals working temporarily in the UK will benefit from a three-year exemption from social security contributions, reducing the financial burden for both employees and employers. In conclusion, the deal projects a win win situation to both the countries.”

Balagopal Balachandran, National Head – Air Freight, FEI Cargo said, “The UK-India FTA represents a significant step forward in economic collaboration between the two nations. This is not just a trade agreement, it is a pathway to mutual growth, prosperity and a stronger partnership between two vibrant economies.  On the Indian side, the agreement opens massive export opportunities by eliminating tariffs on 99% of its tariff lines. Sectors such as textiles, marine products, leather, engineering goods auto parts, sports goods, jewelery, organic Chemicals stand to gain immensely. The incremental increase in imports would not significantly affect the domestic market.  The reduced tariff access will not only enhance access to the UK market but also aligns with the government’s focus on job creation through FTA in labour intensive sectors. The agreement carries multi-dimensional benefits for key stakeholders across the supply chain, including exporters, importers, freight forwarders and airlines. Freight forwarders can expect increased cargo volumes and demand for value-added logistics services,  integrated and differentiated solutions. Airlines are likely to see higher freight loads and potential route expansion.

Unicommerce processed over 2 Crores quick commerce order items via its flagship platform Uniware in FY25. The orders were processed via Unicommerce’s integration with various leading Q-commerce platforms. This integration enables brands using Uniware to process bulk orders from their warehouses to the mother stores of quick commerce platforms. The integration of Uniware with both brands and various quick-commerce platforms enables the brands to align orders in real time, optimise stock allocations and process these orders efficiently from their warehouse. Uniware’s single-window system allows brands to allocate shipments to pre-integrated B2B courier partners, in the process also ensuring simplified compliances like GST e-invoicing and e-way bill generation. The categories benefiting from this integration include personal care and hygiene products, nutraceuticals and supplements, toys and baby products, snacks and healthy foods, fashion and travel accessories, apparel as well as home decor items. Commenting on the growing scale of quick commerce orders, Kapil Makhija, MD & CEO of Unicommerce, said, “Quick commerce has brought products closer to consumption points, heightening customer expectations and driving retail growth. As brands continue to invest in intelligent and agile supply chains to meet this demand, Unicommerce is proud to be a key part of this dynamic technology ecosystem.  

The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) announced that Roos Bakker, Manager Business Development and Contract Management at CTSN will be the next TIACA Chair, leading the Association for the 2026-2027 period. Roos has served as one of two Vice Chairs together with Emir Pineda, Director, Marketing & Air Service Development Division, Miami International Airport, for the past two years. “Steven Polmans has led the Association for the past 6 years and together with the Board has implemented a transformation program that has aligned TIACA’s activities and services to the needs of today’s air cargo industry.  Membership has grown significantly during this period, and we have launched some highly relevant industry programs such as our Sustainability Insights, Roadmap, BlueSky program, annual ACF and an enhanced Awards portfolio.  Stevens leadership has been instrumental in securing the success that TIACA is today and his dedication to improving the organization has been inspirational.  We now look forward to working with Roos as she steers TIACA to even higher levels of success,” stated Glyn Hughes, TIACA Director General.

To ease congestion and move cargo with speed, the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) is exploring ways to have a separate corridor from the Chennai airport, in association with the Airports Authority of India (AAI). “We have to discuss this plan in detail with AAI and they should be able to shift cargo operations to the rear side of the airport. If that is agreed upon, this plan will greatly help in decongestion and smooth movement of cargo,” a CUMTA official said in a statement. As part of the recently held first meeting of the City Logistics Coordination Committee, under the Tamil Nadu State Logistics Policy, several plans were discussed to ease regional and urban cargo movement in the city, said reports.

Complete data security and compliance are top priorities for GSSAs investing in digital platforms according to a recent poll conducted by Awery Aviation Software (Awery) during a session with members of the Federation of Airline General Sales and Service Agents (FEDAGSA). The poll, receiving over 200 responses, was conducted in March 2025, during the International Air Transport Association (IATA) World Cargo Symposium in Dubai, to better understand FEDAGSA members’ current and future digital requirements. “It is absolutely imperative that companies’ data is stringently protected,” said Tristan Koch, Chief Commercial Officer, Awery. “Industry data regulations and certifications have always been essential to our work, and we’ve made long-term investments to ensure our systems meet the highest standards.”    

FIATA RAP Meet will focus on sustainability, cargo safety, security, multimodal logistics, regulatory policies, etc,” said Keku Bomi Gazder, MD and CEO, Aviapro Logistic Services. He added, “The world is moving towards a new world order where there will be a lot more interaction between countries within the Asia-Pacific region. On the FTAs that India is pursuing with many countries. So, this is a platform where the regional APAC team will have an opportunity to understand what India is contributing towards the industry and how the members of the Asia-Pacific team can benefit from India as well as how India can benefit with its partnership.”

JustDeliveries, a new-age cold chain logistics startup focused on mid-mile transport for India’s food and beverage sector, has raised INR 5.5 crore in a funding round co-led by VC Grid and NABVentures. Other participants included LetsVenture, Anay Ventures, and FAAD Network. The funding brings the company’s total capital raised to $2 million (approximately INR 15.9 crore), as per a press release from the company. Operating in a logistics market valued at $200 billion JustDeliveries is working to bring structure and reliability to perishable goods transport. Its plug-and-play, asset-light third-party logistics model is already in place across five major Indian cities: Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Delhi, and Hyderabad. The fresh funds will now power expansion into three more cities, including Lucknow and Chennai, while also strengthening its technology infrastructure.

Federal Express Corporation (FedEx) is empowering Delhi small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to scale innovative ideas and reach global markets through its SME Connect series—an initiative bringing tailored logistics, digital tools, and strategic insights to emerging business hubs. “As SMEs accelerate their ambitions, we’re matching that pace with smarter solutions, stronger infrastructure, and deeper engagement,” said Nitin Navneet Tatiwala, Vice President of Marketing, Customer Experience, and Air Network, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and Africa (MEISA), FedEx. “Through our SME Connect platform, we’re delivering more than packages—we’re enabling aspirations for SMEs to compete on the global stage.” Launched in 2019, SME Connect has evolved from a knowledge-sharing forum into a dynamic advocacy platform. In FY25, FedEx introduced new formats—SAMPARK, ANUBHAV, and MANTRA—to engage businesses in a more personalized way, aligned to their lifecycle and sectoral challenges, and connect them to global opportunities to thrive in this digital age. These efforts also support national programs like Invest India and Directorate General of Foreign Trade’s, One District One Product (ODOP) and District Export Hub (DEH) initiatives, promoting regional export hubs and sector-specific growth in cities like Delhi. To date, SME Connect has engaged over 5,000 SME customers and prospects through 58 editions held across 55 cities in India. FedEx connects Delhi entrepreneurs to international markets through its robust network, now featuring 23 weekly flights in and out of India. FedEx International Priority®: Critical shipments reach key markets in 2–3 business days. * FedEx International Connect Plus® (FICP):Affordable international e-commerce shipping across 14 AMEA markets, delivering in 1–3 days. *

“Harmonisation of customs procedures and the adoption of international standards are essential to enhance cross-border air cargo efficiency,” Yukki Nugrahawan Hanafi, FIATA Region Asia-Pacific Chair said, ” While digital processes are increasingly in place, the region is still in transition; many areas continue to rely on printed documentation. Full digitalisation and the reliability of customs processes are therefore critical. Customs authorities across the region must also be able to communicate with one another to avoid the need for manual manifest submissions, which can expose freight forwarders to the risk of penalties. The broader implementation of digital customs platforms, pre-clearance systems, and mutual recognition of Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programmes can significantly reduce delays. FIATA is actively promoting the modernisation of the Global Air Cargo Programme, which governs the relationship between freight forwarders and airlines, and is advocating for the harmonisation of air cargo procedures across the Asia-Pacific. FIATA continues to foster dialogue with regulatory bodies to ensure the freight forwarding community has a seat at the table in shaping practical, trade-friendly solutions that strike the right balance between security and efficiency.