Cargo

By Rajkiran Kanagala, President & Chief Business Officer, Transport Corporation of India Limited (TCI) One evening, while returning home from the office, I noticed a young boy, barely in his early twenties, walking along the roadside, eyes fixed on his mobile phone, completely absorbed in the phone. It was just a few seconds of distraction. The kind we all underestimate. At the same moment, an SUV came rushing down the road, over-speeding, honking relentlessly, zig-zagging through peak-hour traffic the boy just didn’t notice the car, whilst crossing immersed in his phone. The accident was unavoidable! Within moments, the road turned chaotic. The boy lay injured, motionless in shock. The driver, badly hurt, struggled to step out of the vehicle. Lives were not lost that day, but lives were permanently altered. That night, sleep did not come easily. One question kept returning to me: Whose mistake was it? The boy who chose his screen over his surroundings? Or the driver who chose speed over safety, believing a few saved minutes mattered more? Did the driver reach home on time? Did the boy get the entertainment he was seeking? No! A BIG NO! Instead, both were left with injuries, trauma, and consequences that would follow them for years. In India, we often justify risky behaviour with blind faith: “भगवानसाथहै।सबचलताहै। But faith cannot replace responsibility. On the road, belief without discipline is not devotion—it is negligence. “सड़कमाफ़नहींकरती, गलतीकीसज़ादेतीहै।” This incident is not an exception. It is a mirror of our everyday behaviour. According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, 2023 recorded nearly 4.8 lakh road accidents, with a staggering number resulting in serious injuries and lifelong disabilities. Nearly 70% were caused by over-speeding, and most occurred on straight roads, not sharp curves or poorly designed junctions. The truth is uncomfortable but clear: India’s biggest road hazard is not infrastructure. It is behaviour. Every accident leaves a ripple effect. Families are pushed into emotional and financial distress. Careers are disrupted. Children watch their parents suffer. Lives continue but never in the same way again. And yet, we continue to treat road safety casually, as if it is someone else’s responsibility. If real change has to happen, it must begin early in life. Children are the strongest influencers within families and communities. What they learn, they question. What they practice, they remind others of. When road safety, discipline, and responsibility are taught at a young age, they don’t remain rules—they become habits. A child who insists on wearing a helmet influences the parent. A child who understands traffic signals corrects the family. A child who learns safety early grows into a responsible citizen. Behavioural change is most effective when it is built young. At TCI, this belief led us to initiate “TCI Safe Safar”—a step toward shaping safer behaviour on Indian roads. Through NukkadNataks and direct engagement, we take road safety messages to the transport community, because awareness leads to reflection and reflection leads to change. Over time, the initiative has grown in scale and impact: • 1.27 million+ people reached across the country • 1.33 lakh+ safety pledges taken, turning intent into commitment • 1.14 lakh+ kilometres travelled to take the message beyond boardrooms • 47,000 drivers educated, reinforcing discipline behind the wheel • 1,100+ corporate engagements, embedding safety into organisational culture But one organization, one campaign, or one policy is not enough. The real change begins with each one of us and with what we teach the next generation. “आपसुरक्षितरहेंगे, तभीदूसरासुरक्षितरहेगा।” Slow down. Look up. Follow rules—not out of fear, but out of respect for life and for those who share the road with us. Because on the road few seconds of responsibility or irresponsibility is what which will make or break one’s life. (Views Published in this article are of the author.)

Singapore, 7th February 2026: Airbus has confirmed that the A350F, the freighter programme is progressing, marking major industrial milestones with the first development aircraft currently in final assembly, and the programme securing a 54% market share in the new-generation large freighter segment. Industrially, the programme is now fully underway. Sections for the second development aircraft, MSN 701, are arriving in the Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Toulouse, France, and first aircraft MSN 700 is continuing the assembly process that started in Q3 2025. “The A350F programme is progressing according to our development plan, and the entry of the first aircraft into the FAL was a major achievement for the teams involved,” said Crawford Hamilton, Head of Freighter Marketing at Airbus. “It reinforces our confidence in the aircraft, the programme’s execution and our long-term freighter strategy.” Airbus remains on track for first flight later in 2026, with entry into service planned in 2027. A two-aircraft flight test campaign will be conducted using MSN 700 and MSN 701. The two development aircraft will be involved in a light flight test campaign of around 600 hours in total, covering various areas such as the cargo loading system, main deck cargo door, environmental control system and smoke detection. The A350F certification basis has been established with EASA, and multiple full-scale development and certification test benches are already in operation. These benches are designed to de-risk the flight test programme and ensure a high level of maturity at entry into service. A key feature of the A350F is its main-deck cargo door – the largest of any commercial aircraft, with a clear opening width of 4.3 metres (169 inches). It is the industry’s first composite main-deck cargo door, delivering weight savings, and features an electrically powered opening system aligned with the A350’s architecture. Its rear-fuselage position helps maintain a safe centre of gravity during loading. Asia-Pacific remains a key growth market for the A350F. Recent commitments include Korean Air’s conversion of seven A350-1000 orders to A350F freighters, Air China Cargo’s order for six aircraft, and STARLUX Airlines’ order for five additional A350Fs. These add to earlier orders from Cathay Cargo and Singapore Airlines Cargo. Asia-Pacific air cargo traffic grew by 9% in 2025, outpacing global growth rates, driven by expanding industrial economies across the region. Over the next 20 years, Airbus forecasts demand for 2,605 new freighters worldwide, with Asia-Pacific accounting for around one-third of deliveries. “The data is clear: the future of air cargo is centred in Asia-Pacific,” said Crawford Hamilton, Head of Freighter Marketing at Airbus. “Strong regional order momentum and market share underline customer confidence in the A350F. With its record-breaking cargo door, superior fuel efficiency and solid customer backing, it is the right aircraft at the right time for this market.” With its strong market position, advancing industrial maturity and first flight planned for 2026, the A350F is positioned as a core element of Airbus’ long-term freighter strategy and a key platform for the next generation of global air cargo operations.

Gurugram, February 04, 2026: Transport Corporation of India Ltd. (TCI), India’s leading integrated multimodal logistics and supply chain solutions provider, today announced its financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2025. Financial Highlights for Q3/FY2026: – Revenue: TCI reported a consolidated revenue of ₹12609 Mn, marking a growth of 9.3% compared to ₹11539 Mn in the same period last year. – EBITDA: The Company’s Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) stood at ₹1616 Mn, a 9.3% increase from ₹1478 Mn in Q3/FY2025. – Profit after Tax (PAT): PAT rose by 13.4% to ₹1158 Mn, compared to ₹1021 Mn in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Consolidated Standalone Commenting on the Q3FY2026 performance, Mr. Vineet Agarwal, MD – TCI, said,” Quarter 3 reflected the inherent seasonality of the logistics business, supported by festive-led demand which led to positive traction across automotive, FMCG and MSME-driven integrated logistics solutions. While the initial phase of GST 2.0 led to short-term disruption, the subsequent clarity resulted in a sharp pickup in movements, particularly in finished goods and inventory rebalancing. Automotive, along with consumer durables, pharmaceuticals and e-commerce, emerged as key growth drivers during the quarter, supported by record road and rail volumes and improved warehousing utilisation. Our ability to navigate this volatility underscores the resilience of TCI’s diversified operating model, dense branch network and strong execution capabilities, enabling us to respond swiftly to demand fluctuations while maintaining margin discipline. We remain mindful that a portion of the quarter’s momentum was event-led and inventory-driven, with volumes expected to normalise post the festive period. We continued to advance our strategic priorities by scaling up rail, coastal and network-led logistics solutions, alongside expanding warehousing and value-added offerings. Enhancing asset productivity, cost efficiency and sustainability remains central to our execution strategy. The steady evolution of our portfolio toward end-to-end logistics positions us well to serve increasingly complex supply chains, including quick commerce, omni-channel retail and D2C brands, which demand speed, scalability and reliability.

India, 22nd January 2026: Chapman Freeborn has announced the appointment of Tyler Porteous as Vice President of Cargo – Canada, reinforcing its cargo charter capabilities in the region and strengthening its support for local customers. In his new role, Porteous will focus on developing Chapman Freeborn’s cargo operations in Canada, expanding its customer base, and identifying new opportunities across key market segments. He will work closely with clients to deliver tailored charter solutions while building long-term partnerships across the region. With more than 15 years of experience in air cargo and charter operations, Porteous brings deep expertise in freighter operations, commercial strategy, and market development. He previously worked for one of the world’s largest freighter operators, where he was responsible for building and growing the charter division. “I’ve spent my career in the Canadian market, so I understand the customers, the demand patterns, and the industries that rely on air cargo,” says Porteous. “Chapman Freeborn has a strong global reputation, and I see real potential to grow the brand here by focusing on specific segments that haven’t been fully explored yet.” “Tyler’s experience, market knowledge, and close relationships with customers in Canada make him a strong addition to our team,” says Jack Burt, Senior Vice President of Cargo at Chapman Freeborn Americas. “His appointment supports our broader growth across the Americas, while ensuring we remain highly responsive to local market needs.” The move forms part of Chapman Freeborn’s wider development across the Americas, where the company continues to invest in both cargo and passenger charter services, strengthening its footprint and expanding its regional expertise.

Casablanca, Morocco, January 5, 2026: Royal Air Maroc Cargo, the cargo division of Morocco’s national carrier, has launched a new dedicated freighter route between Casablanca and Dakar (CMN–DSS). Operated by a Boeing 767 freighter offering 45 tons of capacity, this weekly Friday service strengthens the airline’s role as a strategic connector between North and West Africa. The addition of Dakar expands the airline’s freighter network, which already includes Brussels (three flights per week), Istanbul (two), Bamako (two), and Ouagadougou (two). Together, these routes form a robust regional backbone that complements Royal Air Maroc Cargo’s wide passenger and belly hold network across Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Supported by its B767 all-cargo aircraft, the airline also offers daily cargo capacity on its Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Boeing 737 aircraft, ensuring flexible and efficient service across intra-African and intercontinental routes. At the heart of this network, the Casablanca hub, equipped with a 200,000-ton annual handling capacity and specialized facilities for perishables, pharmaceuticals, and high-value goods, enables swift onward connections to more than 30 African destinations. “This new freighter route marks another milestone in our long-term vision to reinforce Africa’s logistics ecosystem and bring markets closer together,” said Rita Chraibi, Vice President Cargo at Royal Air Maroc. “Senegal is one of West Africa’s most dynamic economies, and our dedicated Casablanca–Dakar service directly addresses customer demand for reliability, capacity, and speed while advancing our goal of building sustainable and efficient air bridges across the continent.” The launch of the Casablanca–Dakar service follows recent network expansions to Beijing, São Paulo, and Toronto, reaffirming Royal Air Maroc Cargo’s strategy to consolidate its leadership in Africa and enhance trade flows between the continent and the world.

Gurugram, 26th December 2025: As demand for reliable, scalable temperature-controlled logistics continues to rise across the National Capital Region, Transport Corporation of India Ltd. (TCI) – one of India’s leading integrated supply chain and multimodal logistics solution providers – has expanded its cold chain warehousing presence in Gurugram with the addition of a 1.5 lakh sq. ft. facility at Taj Nagar. With over 16 million sq. ft. of warehousing space managed nationwide, TCI continues to reinforce its integrated logistics network to support high-growth industries and compliance-driven supply chain requirements. This facility will be operated by TCI Cold Chain Solutions Ltd., a JV Company Between TCI & Mitsui & Co., Japan. The Taj Nagar facility is designed to cater to high-throughput requirements across sectors such as quick Commerce, QSR, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, dairy, meat and poultry, beauty and life sciences and specialty chemicals. Strategically located between the KMP Expressway and the Dwarka Expressway, the warehouse benefits from unrestricted 24×7 truck access, being outside heavy vehicle no-entry zones. This enables faster turnaround times and seamless distribution across Delhi NCR and adjoining markets. The facility offers multi-temperature storage across frozen, chilled, and air-conditioned zones, and operates on box-in/box-out, unit-in/unit-out, and pallet-in/pallet-out models with a pay-as-you-use commercial structure. This enables customers to flex capacity and throughput in line with evolving business requirements, particularly in time-sensitive and high-velocity supply chains. The Taj Nagar belt has emerged as a key logistics hub due to its proximity to NCR (Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad, Ghaziabad as well as Jaipur) and the growing concentration of quick commerce operations, making it well-suited for efficient, last-mile- distribution. Commenting on the expansion, Mr. B. Sumit Kumar, CEO, TCI Cold Chain Solutions Ltd. said, “The expansion of our Gurugram cold chain facility reflects the growing need for dependable, scalable and compliant infrastructure in the region. With strong connectivity and a flexible operating model, this warehouse strengthens our ability to support fast-moving and regulated supply chains across NCR”. Built with a strong focus on safety, operational efficiency and sustainability, the facility includes a 500-kW rooftop solar power installation, energy-efficient refrigeration systems, SCADA-based monitoring, VESDA Panel for early smoke detection, and more than 600 CCTV cameras for real time monitoring. The fully gated, access-controlled campus also offers ample truck parking to support smooth inbound and outbound movement. (News is published unedited based on the Press release)

France, 16 December 2025: Royal Air Maroc has appointed Rita Chraibi as its new VP Cargo, succeeding Yassine Berrada. With nearly 20 years of experience within Royal Air Maroc, Ms. Chraibi has held several key leadership positions that have shaped her strong understanding of the airline’s strategic priorities and operational challenges. In her new role, Rita Chraibi will be responsible for advancing the cargo division’s commercial development strategy through 2037, with a focus on strengthening customer experience and supporting the expansion of the network through new cargo route openings. “I am deeply honored by this appointment and the trust placed in me. The cargo division is a strategic pillar for Royal Air Maroc, and I am committed to driving its development with ambition and determination. Together with our teams, we will continue expanding our network, enhancing our services, and ensuring that customer experience remains at the core of our mission,” says Rita Chraibi. “I would like to warmly congratulate Chraibi on her appointment. Her extensive experience, leadership skills, and deep knowledge of Royal Air Maroc make her the ideal person to continue guiding the cargo division’s expansion. This transition reflects the continuity and strength of a company with 68 years of history, and I am confident she will lead the next phase with success,” says Yassine Berrada.

Kochi, 3rd December, 2025: Air India SATS Airport Services Pvt. Ltd. (AISATS) has expanded its national footprint with the commencement of full-scale ground handling operations at Cochin International Airport. With plans to scale its manpower as traffic grows, AISATS has deployed an initial team of 150 trained professionals at its second station in Kerala and eighth airport across India. The launch brings future-ready technology, globally benchmarked safety systems, and sustainable ground handling solutions to one of India’s most strategically important aviation hubs. AISATS has launched operations at Cochin International Airport to support its airline customers, starting with Batik Air and Thai Lion Air, and all other international and domestic carriers planning to fly through this key aviation hub. With over 28 airlines operating at the airport, nearly 60,000 tonnes of cargo handled, and more than 10 million passengers recorded in FY24, Kochi represents a high-potential market where the need for efficient, technology-driven, and safety-focused ground operations is rapidly increasing. AISATS’ entry brings globally benchmarked systems and next-generation passenger service platforms, automated workforce management tools, and end-to-end baggage tracking technologies. Speaking on the commencement of operations, Ramanathan Rajamani, Chief Executive Officer, AISATS, said, “Our entry into Kochi marks a pivotal step in AISATS’ commitment to supporting India’s fast-evolving aviation landscape. Kerala continues to witness strong growth in passenger movement, cargo demand, and global connectivity, and Kochi stands at the centre of this transformation with its strong connectivity, especially with Gulf and Southeast Asian markets. As we begin operations here, our focus is to bring world-class safety, technology, and service excellence to the airport while creating meaningful employment and skilling opportunities for the local workforce. With CIAL, we look forward to building a future-ready operational environment and deliver a superior experience to airlines and passengers alike.” S Suhas, Managing Director, Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) added, “The core of CIAL’s operations lies in its focus on efficient passenger handling and delivering services on par with international standards. An association with Air India SATS, a company with a proven track record, will further strengthen our mission to achieve operational excellence. This collaboration will contribute to Kerala’s aviation growth, open up new employment opportunities and keep CIAL among India’s most efficient and passenger-friendly airports.” AISATS’ expansion into Kochi comes at a time when India’s aviation sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, with Kerala playing an increasingly strategic role in the Gulf–India–Southeast Asia air corridor. AISATS is also the first ground handler in India to receive the DGCA Safety Clearance under the newly implemented national framework.

New Delhi, 1st Dec 2025: Air India has announced the appointment of The Aviation Management Limited (a TAM Group Company) as its General Sales Agent (GSA) for passenger sales in Mainland China.Effective 1 December 2025, The Aviation Management Limited will facilitate reservations & ticketing, marketing initiatives, and provide comprehensive passenger sales services across mainland China on behalf of Air India. The appointment strengthens Air India’s presence across the China market and enables seamless access for travel agents and customers to the airline’s global network. “We are happy to extend our partnership with the TAM Group into mainland China, which will help us to tap into opportunities in one of the world’s most important travel markets. Their strong market knowledge and established distribution capabilities will support our growth plans, deepen customer outreach, and help us serve our customers and trade partners with greater convenience and confidence,” said Manish Puri, Head of Global Sales, Air India. Air India recently announced the resumption of non-stop flights between Delhi and Shanghai (PVG) from 1 February 2026, after nearly six years. The airline also intends to begin non-stop flights from Mumbai to Shanghai in 2026 (subject to approvals). The restored air link would boost exchanges in pharmaceuticals, technology, education and several other sectors of cooperation between the two countries.