Cargo

Delhi, 3rd Sept. 2025: The Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI) formally launched its Andhra Pradesh Chapter in Visakhapatnam, in the presence of the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Nara Chandrababu Naidu. The event had also presence of B.C. Janardhan Reddy, Minister for Infrastructure & Investment, and i T.G. Bharat, Honourable Minister for Industries & Commerce, Government of Andhra Pradesh. The launch witnessed an overwhelming response, bringing together over 350 delegates, including senior leaders from the air cargo, logistics, trade, and industry bodies. The formation of the Andhra Pradesh Chapter marks a significant milestone in strengthening the State’s position as a growing hub for air cargo and logistics in India. As part of the proceedings, the ACFI Board actively participated in the CEO Roundtable, where critical industry issues such as the Open Sky Policy and Double Dipping were raised. On behalf of ACFI, Mr. Sanjiv Edward, President of ACFI, and Mr. Satish Lakkaraju, Chairman – Outreach Pillar & Partnerships, made strong representations on these matters. The discussions were well received by the Honourable Chief Minister, reflecting the government’s commitment to supporting the industry. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sanjiv Edward, President of ACFI, said: “The launch of the Andhra Pradesh Chapter is a major step towards enhancing the State’s role in India’s air cargo growth story. With ACFI’s vision of acting as a catalyst for air cargo growth and the Govt’s focus on developing integrated logistics hubs, we are confident that Andhra Pradesh will emerge as a leader in logistics on the Eastern side “ Adding to this, Mr. Satish Lakkaraju, Chairman – Outreach Pillar & Partnerships, ACFI, said:“Our discussions with the Hon’ble Chief Minister on critical issues like the Open Sky Policy and Double Dipping reflect ACFI’s commitment to addressing industry challenges and enabling sustainable growth.The support shown today is highly encouraging.” ACFI – Committed to leading the Indian Air Cargo Logistics Industry to Greater Heights the Andhra Pradesh Chapter of ACFI will serve as a collaborative platform to promote air cargo growth, strengthen multimodal logistics connectivity, and support trade facilitation in the region.

Mumbai, 02nd September 2025: Air India SATS Airport Services Pvt. Ltd. (AISATS) has become the first ground handling company in India to be awarded the newly mandated Safety Clearance by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The DGCA introduced this mandate in line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recommendations, requiring ground handlers to demonstrate robust Safety Management Systems (SMS), risk controls, staff training programs, and infrastructure readiness. This mandate was in response to increasing air traffic and the need for standardized safety protocols, DGCA introduced mandatory safety clearance requirements for Ground Handling Service Providers (GHSPs). Under the new Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), GHSPs must appoint accountable managers, station managers, and safety and quality managers, while ensuring recurrent training for ground personnel. With this regulation, India becomes the second country globally to formally regulate ground handling services. AISATS has become the first and only Ground Handler in India to receive the Safety Clearance Certificate No. GHSP/001, issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) under these newly established safety regulations. This milestone follows months of rigorous documentation review and operational inspections conducted by DGCA across all AISATS-managed airports. The Quality Management, Risk & Compliance, and Safety teams at AISATS developed a comprehensive suite of Operations and Training Manuals, which were highly commended by DGCA officials for setting a new industry benchmark. Speaking on the achievement, RamanathanRajamani, CEO, AISATS, said,“We are honoured to be the first ground handler in India to secure DGCA’s Safety Clearance. Safety and quality have always been the cornerstone of AISATS’ operations. This recognition reflects our strong culture of accountability, continuous training, and operational excellence. As India’s aviation sector expands at record pace, AISATS remains committed to building a safety-first environment that inspires trust among our airline partners, passengers, and the global aviation community.” AISATS currently operates at six major airports Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mangalore, Ranchi, and Trivandrum providing comprehensive ground and cargo handling services. Its cargo arm manages the BLR Logistics Park in Bengaluru, one of South India’s largest on-airport logistics hubs, and is also developing the 87-acre Multi-Modal Cargo Hub at Noida International Airport, poised to become India’s largest integrated cargo facility.

White Plains, N.Y., August 28, 2025: Atlas Air, Inc., a subsidiary of Atlas Air Worldwide, the global provider of outsourced aviation logistics,announced a new long-term partnership with Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways. Under the agreement, Atlas Air will provide Etihad Cargo with dedicated freighter capacity through the operation of a newly delivered Boeing 777 freighter. Beginning in August, the aircraft will initially serve routes connecting Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi and Madrid. The partnership comes at a time of growing demand for general air cargo, e-commerce, automotive, pharmaceuticals and perishable products across Asia, the Middle East and Europe. The 777F offers state-of-the-art, efficient capacity to support Etihad Cargo’s growth and customer product offering. The agreement reflects the strength of the longstanding relationship between Atlas Air and Etihad Cargo, dating back to 2012 when Atlas Air first began providing flight services over a multi-year period. “We are pleased to again partner with Etihad Cargo, one of the industry’s most respected carriers,” said Michael Steen, Chief Executive Officer, Atlas Air Worldwide. “This partnership reflects our strong value proposition and the trust we’ve built with customers over time. We are pleased to tailor this long-term dedicated capacity solution to help Etihad capture growth opportunities. With our global scale and flexible, agile network, Atlas Air is enabling Etihad to expand their operations and serve their customers with confidence. With our industry-leading fleet of widebody freighters and deep operating expertise, Atlas Air is proud to be a trusted partner of choice, and we look forward to supporting Etihad’s continued success.” “Etihad Cargo’s expanded collaboration with Atlas Air represents a strategic step in scaling capacity and extending our global reach,” said Stanislas Brun, Chief Cargo Officer, Etihad Airways. “With Etihad Airways’ passenger fleet continuing to grow, it is essential that our freighter fleet expands in parallel to sustain this momentum and deliver end-to-end network connectivity. By aligning growth across both passenger and freighter operations, Etihad Cargo reinforces its ability to meet evolving customer demand, strengthen high-volume trade lanes and introduce greater flexibility across key markets. This additional capacity further enhances the reliability and agility of our services, ensuring the delivery of seamless and efficient cargo solutions worldwide.” The 777 freighter is the world’s largest, longest-range twin-engine freighter, with a payload of more than 100 tons. With its fuel efficiency and reliability, this aircraft supports Etihad Cargo’s commitment to delivering sustainable, high-quality cargo solutions across its global network.

Paris, August 18th 2025: ECS Group has been selected by Asiana Airlines as its exclusive global partner to manage the airline’s international belly cargo business. This strategic GSSA agreement reinforces ECS Group’s reputation for delivering seamless, world-class cargo solutions and supports Asiana’s logistics evolution following the divestment of its freighter division. Effective August 1, ECS Group provides end-to-end services—including sales, reservations, customer service, and ground handling coordination—across 33 major locations in 9 countries throughout Europe, the Americas, China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. With a presence in over 60 countries and partnerships with more than 100 airlines worldwide, ECS Group brings the scale, local expertise, and operational excellence needed to support Asiana’s global belly cargo operations at every touchpoint. “We are honoured to partner with Asiana Airlines and proud of the expertise our teams bring to this collaboration. Leveraging ECS Group’s global network, we are committed to supporting Asiana Airlines with reliable, efficient, and tailored cargo solutions worldwide,” said Jean Ceccaldi, CEO of ECS Group. Asiana Airlines has transitioned to a fully belly cargo-based model, utilizing the lower holds of its passenger aircraft—including the A350-900, which offers up to 18 tons of cargo capacity. The airline is strategically focused on transporting high-demand, time-critical shipments such as semiconductor components, fresh food, and small express cargo. According to an Asiana Airlines official, “By combining ECS Group’s global network with Asiana’s expertise, we will respond proactively to the global air cargo market. We will continue to provide systematic and specialized services going forward.” This exclusive partnership enables Asiana Airlines to maintain a competitive edge in international air logistics, even after the sale of its freighter operations—implemented in response to regulatory directives from European and Japanese authorities. In 2024, Asiana Airlines carried approximately 158,000 tons of belly cargo on international passenger flights. With ECS Group now powering its cargo strategy, the airline is well-positioned to expand its global footprint while ensuring operational excellence and customer satisfaction.

Hong Kong, 13th august 2025: DHL Express and the Cathay Group have entered into a new sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) partnership that reinforces their shared commitment to reducing carbon emissions in the air cargo industry. Under the agreement, Cathay will supply DHL Express with 2,400 tonnes of SAF for international flights departing from three airports in Asia namely Seoul Incheon International Airport, Tokyo Narita International Airport, and Singapore Changi Airport. These flights are operated by Air Hong Kong, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Cathay Group, which principally operates express cargo services for DHL Express. Continuing through 2025, the partnership is expected to reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 7,190 tonnes — equivalent to the emissions of over 100 flights from Hong Kong to Singapore with an Airbus 330 freighter. DHL Express Senior Vice President for Network Operations & Aviation – Asia Pacific Peter Bardens said: “Sustainable aviation fuel currently accounts for less than 1% of the total global jet fuel consumption, yet air transport is one of our biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Our decision to expand our SAF usage in Asia with Cathay is another important step that we have taken to drive momentum in SAF production and demand. “DHL Express is at the forefront of SAF adoption, and we look forward to seeing more partners and customers join us on this journey to build a more robust SAF ecosystem in Asia. Our continued investment in this area aligns with DHL Group’s Strategy 2030, which recognises ‘green logistics of choice’ as one of the four bottom lines.” This SAF deal builds on the long-standing partnership between DHL Express and the Cathay Group, including through Air Hong Kong. For more than two decades, Air Hong Kong has played a vital role in DHL Express’s Asia Pacific network. This latest collaboration builds on that strong foundation and paves the way for deeper cooperation in advancing SAF. Cathay Director Cargo Tom Owen said: “This partnership marks the first SAF uplift on Air Hong Kong flights, a key milestone for Cathay as we continue to expand the SAF usage across our global network. SAF remains a core pillar of our strategy to address our carbon emissions, and collaboration is essential to scaling its use. We are excited to be working with like-minded partners like DHL Express to make SAF more accessible and scalable, particularly in Asia.” This collaboration makes DHL Express the latest strategic partner of Cathay’s Corporate SAF Programme, an initiative launched in 2022 to support corporate partners in addressing greenhouse gas emissions from business travel and airfreight through the use of SAF. In 2024, the Corporate SAF Programme enabled the use of over 6,000 tonnes of SAF, with a record 16 partners participating, including HSBC, AIA and Standard Chartered.

New Delhi, August 12, 2025: Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI) and The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) signed an MoU during the ACFI Annual Conclave 2025.The primary objective of the MoU is to strengthen cooperation between ACFI and TIACA in promoting the role of aviation – specifically air cargo – in economic and social development within India and the broader region. Key points of this agreement: • Safety Collaboration • Capacity Building & Efficiency • Policy Advocacy • Supply Chain Safety • Sustainability/ESG • BlueSky Program Access • Training Library Access • Climate Action Platform • Knowledge Exchange • Cargo Service Quality (CSQ) • Event/ Conference Collaboration “ACFI is a distinctive nationwide forum representing entire air cargo logistics / supply chain industry which has been partnering in progress with industry and government with strong national and international linkages for propelling progress, harmony and integrated development and economic prosperity of the Indian economy.” stated Sanjiv Edward, President, ACFI. “This MoU marks a significant step in fostering closer collaboration between TIACA and ACFI, reflecting our shared commitment to driving innovation, sustainability, and resilience in the air cargo industry. By combining our strengths, we aim to elevate India’s role in the global supply chain and support broader economic and social development across the region.” stated Steven Polmans, Chair, TIACA “We are delighted to partner with ACFI through this MoU, which underscores our mutual dedication to advancing air cargo’s critical role in economic growth and community development. This collaboration will enable greater knowledge sharing, support capacity building, and accelerate progress on key initiatives like sustainability, safety, and digital transformation.” stated Glyn Hughes, Director General, TIACA.

Gurugram, 29th July, 2025: Transport Corporation of India Ltd. (TCI), India’s leading integrated multimodal logistics and supply chain solutions provider, today announced its financial results for the quarter and financial year ended June 30, 2025. Financial Highlights for Q1 FY2026: – Revenue: TCI reported a consolidated revenue of ₹ 11,506 Mn, marking a growth of 9% compared to Rs. 10,560 Mn in the same period last year. – EBITDA: The company’s Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) stood at Rs. 1,520 Mn, a 11.9% increase from Rs.1,358 Mn in FY2024. – Profit After Tax (PAT): PAT rose by 17% to Rs.1,072 Mn., compared to Rs. 916 Mn in the previous year.       Management Commentary: On the Q1 FY 2025–26 results, Mr. Vineet Agarwal, Managing Director of Transport Corporation of India Ltd. (TCI), said: “We are pleased to report solid progress in the first quarter of FY 2025–26, driven by steady growth across our multimodal, warehousing, 3PL and cold chain verticals. Despite mixed sectoral trends in the economy, our integrated service offerings and customer-centric approach have enabled us to maintain noteworthy operational momentum.”   The manufacturing sector’s revival, particularly in chemicals, engineering and consumer goods, has positively impacted demand for reliable, scalable and sustainable logistics solutions. TCI’s continued investments in multimodal infrastructure, upskilling, AI based SOPs and green logistics have positioned us well to deliver the diverse supply chain solutions that meet the scale of India’s evolving logistics requirements. With continued infrastructure push and steady influx of global players driving multifaceted manufacturing growth, we anticipate a robust order pipeline in the coming quarters. “We remain committed to delivering value through innovation, strategic partnerships, sustainability and operational excellence in serving our customers with agility and efficiency.”

New Delhi,15 July 2025: SriLankan Cargo, the air freight arm of SriLankan Airlines, has achieved the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) Certification for its cargo ground handling operations at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).The certification, awarded by the internationally accredited Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), confirms that SriLankan Cargo’s terminal operations, import and export handling, warehousing and documentation processes meet the highest standards of quality, compliance and efficiency. Chaminda Perera, Head of Cargo at SriLankan Airlines, stated, “Achieving ISO 9001:2015 is a testament to our dedication to maintaining world-class standards in cargo ground handling. It reflects the tireless efforts of our cargo and ground operations teams to ensure efficient and customer-focused service delivery, as well as the strategic process improvements, employee training and strong quality assurance practices we uphold.” The ISO 9001:2015 standard is globally recognised for its focus on quality management principles including customer satisfaction, leadership, risk-based thinking and continuous process improvement. The certification applies to the full spectrum of activities performed by SriLankan Cargo, from export acceptance and import delivery to transit cargo processing, handling of special cargo such as live animals, perishables, valuables and dangerous goods, and documentation control. This achievement aligns with SriLankan Cargo’s broader strategy to enhance its cargo services, build global trust and support Sri Lanka’s position as a regional logistics hub, underscoring the airline’s continued commitment to excellence, safety and customer satisfaction in the global air cargo industry.