Cargo

Mumbai, 29th April 2024: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) recently declared its stats for cargo operations during FY 2023-2024. With a connection to over 700 cargo destinations this fiscal, CSMIA witnessed 6% year-on-year increase in the overall cargo volumes, marking a significant stride in economic recovery post the COVID-19 pandemic. This boost was predominantly driven by a remarkable 10% surge in international cargo volumes. Notably, these volumes managed to attain an impressive 93% recovery comparing to their pre-COVID levels, indicating a robust resurgence in global trade and logistics activities. This fiscal year saw a 20% increase in the total number of Cargo Air Traffic Movements (ATMs). This achievement showcases the airport’s dedication to efficiently and flexibly managing the rapidly rising cargo volumes. CSMIA’s cargo facility manages a diverse array of goods, with pharmaceuticals, agricultural products, and automobiles being among the primary categories. On the international scale, the top three categories transported are automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural cargo. Meanwhile, domestically, the leading cargo categories include General cargo, engineering goods, and post office (PO) mail. These categories underscore the airport’s proficiency in handling a wide variety of goods. The surge in e-commerce significantly impacted cargo operations at CSMIA. The festive season of Diwali noticed a notable 87% year-on-year growth in e-commerce shipments. The demand for perishable items also experienced a noteworthy increase. Mango exports were particularly prominent during the months of April to July 2023, accompanied by the export of seasonal cut flowers and chocolates during the Valentine’s Day period. Additionally, in a groundbreaking achievement, CSMIA successfully handled its inaugural shipment of frozen ready-to-serve food products, such as Idli and Vada, using specialized va-Q-tec containers bound for Amsterdam. CSMIA’s international cargo volumes comprised 56% exports and 44% imports. London, Frankfurt, Dubai, Chicago, and Amsterdam were the top global destinations for outgoing cargo, while Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad led domestically. Top International carriers handling cargo volumes from CSMIA included Emirates, Qatar, and Cathay Pacific, along with Indigo, Vistara and Akasa Air as top domestic carriers. This further reinforces the airport’s strategic position as a key facilitator in both international and domestic airfreight operations. To enhance the infrastructure and facilitate the adoption of advanced technology, MIAL is in process of building PEB (Pre-Engineered Building Structure) to enhance its cargo handling capacity in imports. In addition to these efforts, CSMIA has pioneered innovations in cargo operations, notably introducing the Air Cargo Community System, Adani MIAL Air Exchange (AMAX), the first of its kind in India. This system revolutionizes processes through SOPs, integrated systems, and digitization. Mobile apps like AMAX and Turant enable transparent, paperless, and digital operations, eliminating physical documentation for export consignments. Integrated processes like E-Airwaybill, e-carting order, e-CSD, e-delivery orders, and e-gate passes ensure efficiency. Additionally, CSMIA spearheaded the Air Cargo Community portal in India, enhancing operational efficiency and supply chain planning. The introduction of Digital Docket Delivery (D-Cube) for import gate pass system further streamlines online processing, reducing paper usage and cargo dwell time. With sustainability being an integral part of CSMIA’s operations, the airport has implemented various environmental sustainability initiatives such as LED lights, battery-operated cargo handling equipment, electric vehicles for staff movement, and solar panel installation to reduce electricity dependency, CSMIA has also prioritized the replacement of air conditioning units with lower GWP refrigerants. Furthermore, recent trends in the industry indicate a notable rise in air cargo volumes, largely attributed to challenges in container movement in the Red Sea. In Q4 of FY 2024, international cargo surged by approximately 22% compared to the previous year, showcasing air cargo’s adaptability in addressing supply chain disruptions and meeting market demands.

Seoul, 13th Sept, 2023: Korean Air will begin its full-scale digital transition to electronic air waybill (e-AWB) to replace conventional paper air cargo transport documents. The full transition will first apply to documents for general cargo departing from Korea bound for North America, Europe, Japan and other select markets. e-AWB is a digital replacement for traditional paper air waybills. Whereas paper air waybills require in-person visits for documentation, printing, and submission, the digital transition will streamline the entire process from reservations to final delivery. The transition will also enhance data quality and accuracy to allow the airline to share essential information more transparently. Simplifying processes and eliminating costs will also increase efficiency in the AWB framework. By going paperless, the airline will also be able to practice its ESG initiatives to make a sustainable impact. To minimize operational disruptions, Korean Air held consultations and completed trial operations with all stakeholders, cargo clients and forwarders. The airline will mandate e-AWB for Korea-outbound cargo starting from January 2024, and plans to expand the digital transition for all Korean Air Cargo departing from all global stations in due course. “Taking this digital step forward will bring an innovative paradigm to logistics, and we stand behind IATA’s effort to phase in e-AWB for air cargo digital transformation, ” said a Korean Air official. “We believe that Korean Air’s commitment to international industry initiatives will help raise Korea’s air cargo industry competitiveness.”

Jakarta, 5th Sept.2023: BBN Airlines Indonesia, a subsidiary of Avia Solutions Group, that specialises in the provision of ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance & Insurance), air charter, and air freight services is the latest addition to Indonesia’s aviation industry. ACMI is considered relatively new in Indonesia, and there are very few service providers. With this expertise in hand, BBN Airlines Indonesia is expected to give an extra boost to support the ever-growing aviation needs in Indonesia. For the three services above, BBN Airlines Indonesia was awarded an Airline Operator Certificate issued by the Directorate of Airworthiness and Aircraft Operations of the Ministry of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia on August 31st, 2023. The AOC was issued to BBN Airlines Indonesia upon successfully completing five stages of Pre-Application, Formal Application, Document Compliance, Demonstration and Inspection, and Certification; all of which complied with ICAO regulations and applicable aviation laws in Indonesia. By completing all certification stages, BBN Airlines Indonesia was declared qualified after having fully met all technical and safety requirements to be granted an AOC, and therefore can immediately conduct commercial flights. “The AOC is a testament to our serious commitment and readiness to support Indonesia’s aviation needs, in all sectors from airlines, tour operators, and cargo, to logistics. We have witnessed a high demand for aircraft provision, especially during high seasons such as Umrah, Haj, Eid, and other special holidays that result in a large surge in goods distribution, and we have conducted thorough research on that. This is why we are confident that this is an excellent opportunity for us to be able to give much-needed support to the airline, logistics, and tour operator companies so that, in return, they can give customers a fast, reliable, safe, and comfortable service,” says Martynas Grigas, Chairman of BBN Airlines Indonesia. Immediately following the issuance of its AOC, BBN Airlines Indonesia will operate a fleet consisting of two Boeing 737-800F specializing in air freight services. By the end of 2023, BBN Airlines Indonesia has set a target to operate a fleet of nine aircraft for air freight and passenger purposes. The commitment to get the aircraft fleet ready has been an important part that makes BBN Airlines Indonesia stand out among the other competitors in the ACMI field. “ACMI providers are still a rarity, especially in Asia. We are offering wet lease as well as mixed-crews or damp lease that can be custom tailored to the client’s specific needs. While the lessee gets an additional aircraft or more, the lessor gives a full guarantee on the airworthiness of the aircraft, crew, maintenance, and aircraft insurance. On the other hand, the lessee will be responsible for the other operational aspects such as fuel, and ground handling services,” says Mr. Grigas. The ACMI services provided by BBN Airlines Indonesia offer a full solution to the needs of Indonesian airline companies. Focusing on flexibility, reliability, and safety, BBN Airlines Indonesia offers a wide range of options from experienced crew, clockwork-like maintenance, and comprehensive insurance coverage needed by a partner company to run a safe and efficient operation. The second service offered by BBN Airlines Indonesia is air charter flights. This service directly answers the growing needs of travellers in Indonesia who have unique needs and requirements. In this case, BBN Airlines Indonesia will provide a service that can be custom-tailored according to the traveller’s need for a personalized trip purpose. Finally, air freight service is the third service offered by BBN Airlines Indonesia, which provides for the increasing volumes of e-commerce, in Indonesia and globally. The need for reliable delivery which covers a large area that spans from Sabang to Merauke requires quick and safe cargo aircraft. BBN Airlines Indonesia offers several route options and flexible schedules for business with competent and experienced third-party logistic companies ensuring fast and safe delivery.

Abu Dhabi,22.06.2023: Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways, has welcomed senior leaders from China’s SF Airlines to Abu Dhabi to review the reciprocal block space agreement between the two airlines announced earlier this year and explore opportunities to expand it further based on Abu Dhabi’s strategic location. During the visit, Etihad Airways and SF Airlines entered into an expanded Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cement their commitment to strengthening ties and further cooperating to increase cargo capacity between China and the rest of the world via Etihad Cargo’s hub in Abu Dhabi. In April 2023, Etihad Cargo and SF Airlines signed a reciprocal capacity agreement to connect their respective networks. The new partnership saw the launch of two weekly freighter services between Abu Dhabi Airport and Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in the Hubei Province of China and added a fourth Chinese gateway destination to Etihad Cargo’s expanding global network. The new flights have given Etihad Cargo’s partners and customers greater accessibility to 25 domestic Chinese destinations, including Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Chengdu and Nanjing. SF Airlines, via the agreement, has expanded its Middle Eastern footprint and benefits from Etihad Cargo’s global network for its express product, supporting the airline’s vision of growing its parcel delivery capabilities around the world. The new MoU, signed on 16 June 2023, expands the cooperation between the two airlines and strengthens their commitment to exploring additional opportunities to achieve mutual growth and expand their respective networks via the Abu Dhabi and Wuhan mega-hubs. Future plans include expanding cooperated flights to Ezhou Huahu Airport, China’s first cargo-focused airport. This move would make Etihad Airways the first international airline other than SF Airlines to operate flights to the airport. Under the new agreement, Etihad Cargo and SF Airlines will review the schedule of services between Abu Dhabi and Wuhan with a view to increasing frequencies, thereby ensuring the airlines can meet increasing capacity demands from customers and partners in the UAE, China and around the world. Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer at Etihad Airways, said, “As the national carrier of the UAE, Etihad Airways is committed to supporting Abu Dhabi’s vision of becoming a global logistics and express hub. The agreement between Etihad Airways and SF Airlines will contribute to achieving the emirate’s ambitious strategic plans. It was a pleasure to welcome such prominent visitors from SF Airlines’ leadership to the country’s capital. Etihad Cargo looks forward to expanding the agreement between the two airlines to not only benefit the partners and customers of both airlines but also broaden the strong ties between the UAE and China.” Li Sheng, Vice President of SF Group, Chairman of SF Airlines, said, “Working with Etihad Airways has been a significant milestone and achieved fruitful results. The elevation of two companies ties to a strategic partnership. By expanding this cooperation between SF Airlines and Etihad Airways, we will continue strongly supporting and improving both parties’ service capabilities, and provide global consumers with more convenient and reliable services.” While in Abu Dhabi, the SF Airlines’ delegation visited Abu Dhabi Airport’s new state-of-the-art terminal. Representatives from SF Airlines also visited the Etihad Aviation Training Centre and Etihad Engineering’s facilities.

14th June 2023, Auckland: Texel Air Australasia was officially launched from Auckland International Airport as New Zealand’s newest airline operating the B737- 800BCF. The airlines will add two additional B737-800BCFs to the fleet by December 2023. Texel Air, an established cargo airline and MRO based in the Kingdom of Bahrain, is expanding operations into Australasia with the B737- 800BCF, the industry benchmark aircraft supporting regional logistic operators.At present it operates Boeing 737 freighter aircraft from Bahrain International Airport with two B737-700FC aircraft, two B737-800BCF aircraft and one B737-300F aircraft. Texel Air was established in Bahrain in 2013 by Chisholm Enterprises WLL.The New Zealand operations increase the group fleet to six aircraft with further aircraft on order for delivery to New Zealand during 2023. It has been operating the B737-300F (A9C – APC) in New Zealand since 3 April 2023 under contract to NZ Post/Parceline Express in preparation for the arrival of the B737-800 (MSN 29985) ZK-TXE. The New Zealand operations have been supported by flight crew and engineers from Bahrain. The venture into Australasia initially commenced with domestic operations in New Zealand under contract for launch customers Parceline Express and NZ Post. Saturday 10 June 2023 marked the official launch of the New Zealand airline in Auckland. The event hosted by Boeing, was held in the NZ Post hangar where ZK – TXE aircraft was on display. In attendance during the evening were representatives from Government agencies, delegates from the aviation industry as well as major logistics companies from New Zealand and Australia. Joining those attendees were representatives of the Bahrain Civil Aviation Authority. The Texel Air group plans to expand its fleet to ten aircraft by 2026 primarily flying in Australia and New Zealand and between the two countries supporting clients through ACMI services for the express, post and general cargo markets. Texel Air Australasia will benefit from a proven 10 years of operational experience from Texel Air Bahrain to establish an enduring and stable bond between the two distant island nations of New Zealand and Bahrain. John Chisholm, Chairman for Texel Air said “We are already very proud of our reputable and successful operation in Bahrain but to have the opportunity to replicate and launch an airline in my home country of New Zealand makes me even more proud. It is the culmination of my life’s work in the cargo and logistics industries in the Middle East. These next steps are sure to create employment opportunities and boost economic growth within New Zealand and Australia. This, of course, could not have been achieved without the long-standing relationship I have developed over the years with the Government of Bahrain, the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunication and the Bahrain Civil Aviation Affairs. I sincerely appreciate their continued support of our business development both locally and globally. The opportunity we have to host representatives of the Bahrain Civil Aviation Affairs at our launch, will initiate a permanent relationship with New Zealand’s aviation regulatory authority and in turn unfold further opportunities in the aviation and logistics sectors between the two countries.” George Chisholm, Director of Texel Air, said “Appreciation goes to our employees in both locations for their dedication and support to enable the growth and expansion of our company into a different region of the world.” He expressed excitement for the new opportunities the company has identified and looks forward to watching the development advance for many years to come.”

Delhi, 27th February 2023: Cathay is excited to announce the launch of Cathay Cargo, a rebrand of its cargo business, and a change of name from Cathay Pacific Cargo. The change aligns with the airline’s overarching brand redesign, and reinforces the existing strong brand association and perceptions held by its customers. Cathay Cargo aligns with the same purpose, vision and values of our master brand Cathay and all of its subsidiary brands, including Cathay Pacific, the passenger airline, and Cathay, the everyday lifestyle offering. Cathay Cargo is united behind Cathay’s vision to become one of the world’s greatest service brands, and plays an integral role in helping to fulfil that aspiration through its world-class air cargo network, which transports products that facilitate trade across the entire Cathay network and beyond. Shipping directly to more than 70 destinations worldwide, Cathay Cargo is committed to advancing the development of all destination countries served by Cathay’s more than 200 aircraft. Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam said: “Cathay’s cargo business has played a vital role in the success of the Cathay Group since 1946, when we carried our first shipment between China and Australia. Our cargo services operate out of our home base of Hong Kong, which is also the world’s busiest international air cargo hub. “This is an opportune moment to align our cargo business with the master brand as we continue our cargo investments in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area for a promising future. This rebrand reflects our Cargo business’ commitment to the same ‘Move Beyond’ ambition as the Group, while building on a strength that the Cathay brand has long been known for – offering leading-edge services to our customers.” Reflecting this commitment to invest, Cathay Cargo has recently introduced a number of exciting refreshed solutions, including Cathay Priority and Cathay Pharma. Cathay Mail is scheduled for a refresh in March. These services cater to the respective burgeoning demands by customers for effective temperature-sensitive solutions, and efficient and reliable delivery solutions with new digital technology that better meets the requirements for shipment visibility, reliability and speed. Director Cargo Tom Owen said: “Cathay Cargo continues to innovate new solutions, services and technology for customers as we build towards being one of the world’s greatest service brands. Continued investment in technology and logistics will solidify our position as a leading player in the industry.” Cathay Cargo has invested in technology in recent years. This includes Ultra Track, a multi-dimensional track-and-trace service that gives customers near-real-time information on the airport-to-airport leg of the shipment journey using low-energy Bluetooth data-loggers; and, Click & Ship, an intuitive online booking service available 24/7 with instant processing and confirmation. As part of its rebranding campaign, Cathay Cargo’s website has been revamped to reflect the brand ethos, and enable users to easily access popular features such as booking, track and trace, and flight availability, whilst also providing a clear showcase of recent campaign offers and featured solutions. The rebrand will connect Cathay Cargo to the master Cathay brand – a premium travel lifestyle brand offering a range of products and services that create more value for customers and partners. Cathay Cargo will have more exciting initiatives in the coming months as the company works toward a complete rebrand.

6th October 2022,New Delhi: IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG) hosted a roundtable at the JW Marriott Hotel in New Delhi to discuss key air cargo trends and business updates. Speakers included John Cheetham, Chief Commercial Officer at IAG Cargo, Yashpal Sharma, President of Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI) & Managing Director at Skyways Group, along with Pratul Shekhar, Senior Director Airfreight at DSV. IAG Cargo recently conducted a global survey of freight forwarders and logistics industry professionals to get their thoughts on the future of the industry. This served as a focal point of discussion, highlighting trends in digitalisation and sustainability. The results showed that the Indian market has heavily adopted online booking as a way of booking air-cargo with 76% of respondents declaring it as their primary booking method, compared to only 46% globally. In sharp contrast, the global market still relies on email as their primary channel for booking freight (53%). The roundtable addressed these statistics in line with the digital advancements taking place and how the speakers are preparing their businesses to adapt to the fast-paced technological changes, which they believe will take place at an even quicker rate compared to pre-pandemic. Indian freight forwarders and logistics professionals appear to place greater importance on sustainability than their global counterparts. 78% of those surveyed in India responded that their business has a sustainability strategy (the global response was 67%) and 68% said they considered sustainability to be “extremely important” compared to 38% in the global audience. The speakers talked about how sustainability is informing their business decisions and how they see the industry progressing with SAF goals. The number one concern of those surveyed was talent attraction and retention. This was particularly pronounced with respondents in India with 46% naming it as their number one business challenge. John Cheetham, Chief Commercial Officer at IAG Cargo said, “I am delighted to have had the opportunity to engage with thought leaders of the industry in India, a region in which IAG Cargo has long since had a strong presence. We have gained some valuable insights which will be hugely beneficial and applicable to our operations around the world.” Yashpal Sharma, President of ACFI & Managing Director at Skyways Group added “It was an insightful and thought-provoking round table session with some of the most inspiring folks from the industry. We came together to deliberate and discuss how both sustainability & digitization are taking the front seats for making informed business decisions by organizations across the trade in the air cargo industry. The outcomes of the remarkable global survey on cargo trends conducted by IAG Cargo prior to the roundtable are really interesting. The findings indicate how people are supporting increased automation and digitization worldwide. It is heartening to see that Indian representatives actively participated in the survey and mentioned about the high benchmarks of digital automation being achieved, along with future expectations set in enterprises. Additionally, the need to attract the right talent and retain them has also taken prominence for enterprises, globally. It is our responsibility to come forward and help build greener and more sustainable means of operations as well as transactions. Coupled with digitization, innovation and the need to move away from legacy systems, each one of us can contribute to reducing the carbon footprints in our own way, for the air cargo industry”. Pratul Shekhar, Senior Director Airfreight at DSV commented, “Thank you IAG cargo for taking this initiative to bring in the industry leaders of logistics and supply chain to address the future of Air Logistics in terms of automation, digitalisation and sustainability. Like IAG cargo, DSV is also working towards making the world more transparent, automated and sustainable”. IAG Cargo also announced that its winter 2022 schedule is offering more weekly services in India than pre-pandemic, with 112 weekly flights servicing 5 Indian airports.

Abu Dhabi, 22nd Sept. 2022: Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Aviation Group, has advanced its sustainability journey by becoming the first Middle Eastern carrier to participate in The International Air Cargo Association’s (TIACA) BlueSky programme. Following the March 2022 launch announcement of the air cargo industry’s first multi-sector sustainability verification programme and successful pilot programme, Etihad Cargo is one of the first participants to join the programme’s live operations. Other participants include organisations from airline, airport, ground handler, and general sales and service agents sectors. The first phase of the programme comprises an evidence-based desktop verification process in which participants can assess their progress against eight critical sustainability criteria, including decarbonisation, waste elimination, biodiversity protection, support for local economies and communities, impact on society improvement, efficiency and profitability, employee engagement, retention and development, and partnership building. Upon completion of the tailored assessment process, Etihad Cargo will receive a personalised dashboard which displays the carrier’s performance against the criteria. Later phases of the programme will include the option for a full onsite audit with an in-depth report that highlights areas for improvement. “Sustainability remains a key pillar of Etihad Cargo’s agenda,” said Martin Drew, Senior Vice President Global Sales & Cargo. “Although the air cargo industry has historically been considered less sustainable than other methods of transportation, the sector is making great strides in developing more sustainable solutions and is investing in fleet modernisation, fuel efficiency, sustainable aviation fuel and carbon compensation initiatives. “Participating in TIACA’s BlueSky programme is just the latest step Etihad Cargo has taken to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The assessment process will enable Etihad Cargo to more effectively measure the carrier’s performance and track its sustainability progress as it continues on its sustainability journey, which will benefit Etihad Cargo’s customers and the wider air cargo industry.” Over the past year, Etihad Cargo has embarked on several green initiatives, which include replacing 3,000 containers from its original aluminium unit load device (ULD) fleet with environmentally friendly lightweight versions. On the average wide-bodied flight, utilisation of these lighter ULDs can provide a weight-saving of over 200 kilogrammes, which has lowered fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The carrier has also entered into a memorandum of understanding with B Medical Systems to develop and launch the world’s first airline-specific passive temperature-controlled solution for the transportation of life-saving drugs, vaccines and high-value pharmaceuticals. As these temperature-controlled container units utilise passive cooling technology, they do not require an external power source. They can retain temperatures from -80 to 25 degrees Celsius for five days while still significantly reducing carbon emissions.

National,19th July,2022: UPS announced an expansion of its global smart logistics network with a new airport gateway facility in India at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR). With this added capacity, a new Boeing 747-8 flight will now be able to further connect our customers in India with more international trade opportunities in Asia, Europe and the Americas. “Customers are at the core of our strategy and we’re on a mission to deliver what matters for them,” said Deepak Shrivastava, UPS Managing Director for Indian Subcontinent. “According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, for the first time, in financial year 2022, exports have surpassed $400 billion, demonstrating the strength of India’s supply chains and the resilience of its small businesses. We’re here to support that growth.” This is UPS’s second dedicated airport gateway facility in India after opening its Delhi airport gateway in 2020 and another example of how UPS is empowering local businesses to grow, expand to new markets and compete globally. The Bengaluru facility will provide in-house customs clearance and serve as a cross-border trade link for southern India, giving customers an extended pick-up time of up to two hours, while strengthening supply chains for cross-border trade. The new flight and airport gateway follow the launch earlier this year of a new logistics brand for the Indian market, MOVIN, which is a joint venture between UPS and InterGlobe Enterprises to serve the needs and demands of the fast-paced Indian market. “We look forward to welcoming UPS’s 747-8 aircraft, further connecting Bengaluru to the world,” said Satyaki Raghunath, Chief Strategy & Development Officer at Bangalore International Airport Ltd. “Our airport is on track to become a world-class cargo hub powered by leading global logistics provider like UPS, who are meeting the exponential growth of e-commerce and boosting trade for businesses in southern India.” With the new flight scheduled to pass through BLR five times a week, and with six weekly flights coming into Delhi, the opening of the Bengaluru gateway almost doubles the number of flight rotations for UPS in India. The 747-8 is the largest aircraft in the UPS fleet, which means more capacity with a payload of 307,000 pounds, translating to lower emissions with fewer flights needed. By using owned aircraft, UPS also gives businesses the peace of mind they need when dealing with supply chain complexity. The UPS air network features a fleet of almost 600 aircraft delivering to over 220 countries and territories around the world. This is the third year in a row that UPS has introduced new flights into its network, after services to and from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in 2020, and to and from Osaka Kansai, to and from New Delhi and Cologne and Naples/Milan and Cologne in 2021.

New Delhi, 29th June, 2022: Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI) formulates a new board for a term of 2 consecutive years 2022-2024 at the Annual General Meeting held on 29th June 2022. Yashpal Sharma, MD – Skyways Group has been appointed as the President of ACFI for this period. Cyrus Katgara, the past President handed over the mantle to new board. Katgara will be part of the current board as Ex Officio. He will continue supporting ACFI to achieve its goals and help boost the Indian economy. The “Air Cargo Forum India” – ACFI is an association of all key stakeholders of Air Cargo Logistics Supply Chain Industry consisting of Airlines, Airport Operators, Cargo Terminal Operators, Freight Forwarders, Customs Brokers, Express Industry, Bonded Truckers, etc. Its objective is to steer and promote the development of air cargo logistics industry in India and make it at par with the best Air Cargo ecosystems of the world. It is one of a kind and the only nationwide association that has representation in the Governing Board from all stakeholders of the industry. ACFI has been working very closely with the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) on its vision to achieve the goal of taking Indian air space to 10 million MT by 2030-31 from the current 3.1 million MT. During the 10th ACFI Annual Event held in May 2022, the Minister of Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia himself stated that Air Cargo had started as an underdog during pandemic. However, it has now emerged as a game changer and has ably adopted to the changing environment. It is now time for the entire cargo community to push the pedals harder and ensure they succeed in achieving the vision 2030-31. He also appreciated the efforts of ACFI towards the growth of Indian Air Cargo industry. Yashpal Sharma, the newly elected President said, “I would like to thank my co-founding Members, Past Presidents, the ACFI secretariat and all board members of the past, for their invaluable and passionate contribution to ACFI and the air cargo community. It would be my utmost endeavour to work with the new board members and focus to achieve the Vision and Objectives of ACFI. While we have aligned ourselves to MoCA’s target of 10 MMT by 2030-31 but it would need a determined effort from all of us to galvanize process improvements, sync all stakeholders including Government agencies and set short-term, mid-term and long-term goals and more importantly execute them to perfection within the set timelines. “There is a huge shift in people’s mindset in the logistics sector and they want to move towards ease of doing business. The industry will be strengthened by improved infrastructure and become more effective by adopting digitization and with our PM’s Gati Shakti the government of India is focusing immensely on the logistics and air cargo industry. Our aim is to position Air Cargo as the choicest mode of transportation in India and make it globally admired for its efficiency,” said Sanjiv Edward, the newly elected ACFI Vice President.