Maharashtra clears Rs 992-cr additional expenditure for MIHAN

The Maharashtra Cabinet granted administrative and financial approval for Rs 992-crore additional expenditure for the Multi-Model International Passenger and Cargo Hub Airport at Nagpur (MIHAN).
The project aims at developing the existing Nagpur domestic airport as an international passenger and cargo hub airport along with a huge special economic zone (SEZ), which is abutting to the boundary of the airport.
According to an official statement, the government had earlier approved Rs 1506 crore expenses for carrying out land acquisition, rehabilitation and technical works relating to the project.
29/08/19 moneycontrol

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Emirates SkyCargo moved 18,000 tonnes of perishables from India since May 2019

Emirates SkyCargo moves around 4,000 tonnes of fruits, vegetables and other perishables from India every month. Since May 2019, Emirates SkyCargo has moved 18,000 tonnes of perishables from India alone.

Produce exported from India include summer fruits such as mangoes and guavas and vegetables such as okra, drumstick and chillies.

The freight division of Emirates moved over 150,000 tonnes of perishables and 27,000 tonnes of pharmaceuticals through Dubai between the beginning of April and mid-August 2019. Every day, around 1,100 tonnes of food and other perishable products originating from different parts of the world move through Emirates SkyCargo’s terminals in Dubai. In 2018, Emirates SkyCargo flew close to 3,000 tonnes of perishables just from Italy to the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand and other destinations in East Asia.

Emirates SkyCargo has invested in developing extensive cool chain facilities and dedicated storage space for pharmaceutical cargo. With a combined capacity of over 2 million tonnes of cargo per annum, the terminals see movement of close to 5,000 shipments and over 6 million kilos of cargo per day including during the summer season.
28/08/19 ITL News

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Varanasi to become hub for fruit and vegetable exports

The government aims to make Varanasi, also known as Benaras or Kashi, a fruit and vegetable export hub. Major production of fruits and vegetables grown in the region and adjoining districts will be branded as 'Benaras Brand' and 'Kashi Brand,' respectively and marketed and exported to the world market, and step towards making the country achieve the USD 5 trillion economy.
Fruits and vegetables produced in Varanasi and adjoining districts are preferred in the global markets, which is why the Centre has planned to make Varanasi a hub for exporting fruits and vegetables. According to Pawan Kumar Barthakur, Chairman, Export Development Authority, the exercise has started and he added that in 2018-19, fruit-vegetable exports from Uttar Pradesh amounted to Rs 277.98 crore out of which Varanasi and surrounding areas accounted for 40 per cent of the amount.
During a meeting here on Thursday, in the presence of Pawan Kumar Barthakur in the Commissionerate Auditorium, a primary plan was discussed with regards to making Varanasi the hub fruits and vegetable export hub. In the plan, farmers will be encouraged to grow quality fruits and vegetables by imparting training to them for production of fruit and vegetable that meet global standards. Limited pesticides will be produced in conformity with Singapore and European countries along with the Gulf countries. Each district will have a packhouse, which will have grading, shorting, packaging and testing. After testing and the packing process, the fruits and vegetables will be exported.
Chairman Pawan Kumar Barthakur said that initially Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has prepared a 2-phase action plan for infrastructure. Export of fruits and vegetables to developed countries will be a priority and in order to get a good price and also increase the demand for Varanasi products in the world market, fruits and vegetables will be branded as 'Kashi Brand' and 'Benaras Brand'.
23/08/19 Mid Day

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Cargo services in Rajahmundry Airport soon

Rajamahendravaram: Cargo services will commence from Rajahmundry Airport soon, stated Airport Director M Raj Kishore to The Hans India here on Wednesday. Speaking to this newspaper, he said a three-member team consisting of air cargo general manager Muralidhar, chief security officer Sukumaran and security bureau civil aviation regional director Joy Paul will visit the cargo buildings and other necessary facilities on Thursday in this regard.He said the committee will submit a report to the Central government for clearance relating to operation of cargo services and the operations will be commenced shortly.
He said there were abundant opportunities for cargo services from the airport as rice, vegetables, fruits, coconuts, aqua, fish and coir can be transported across the world from this airport and it is centrally located between Amaravati and Visakhapatnam.
22/08/19 Hans India

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MIAL sets the right tone for temperature-controlled solutions

After becoming the first in India and third in Asia to obtain IATA CEIV Pharma certification, MIAL is well on its way to implement the largest temperature-controlled solution on the tarmac region. With the demanding perishable and pharma sectors, MIAL has been constantly ensuring that customers’ cargoes advance through a smooth journey till its final destination.

GVK-led Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) has been aggressively expanding its cargo handling capacities to maintain its position as the key gateway for India’s growing agro and pharmaceutical export cargo. The current expansion of new temperature-controlled pharma terminal will facilitate 3,50,000 tonnes per year with 127 unit load devices (ULDs), which is expected to be completed by September this year. In April 2019, MIAL commissioned 1,75,000 tonnes for the agro terminal with 32 ULD storage positions. Thus, the overall capacity of both the terminals now accounts to 5,25,000 tonnes per annum.

MIAL became the first airport in India and third in Asia to obtain the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) pharma certification recently. After the pharma facility expansion, MIAL will be India’s largest airport-based facility for export temperature-controlled products which will be managed and operated by the Cargo Service Center during the concession period of 18 years.
09/08/19 Shalini Nair/STAT Times

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Hong Kong strikes hit cargo operations

Hundreds of flights from Hong Kong, the world’s busiest cargo airport, have been cancelled as protesters continue coordinated strikes that are bringing chaos to the city.
Pilots, flight crews and air traffic controllers are all reported to have joined city wide demonstrations.
Cathay Pacific Cargo said it does not foresee any freighter cancellations, but it expects the freighter operation to be affected by minor delays on certain flights.
However, it asked customers to keep an eye on the latest flight information and added that several of its passenger flights had been cancelled.
On the freighter front, six departures have been cancelled today, affecting SpiceJet, Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA), Emirates, Polar Air Cargo, UPS and Etihad.
Six arrivals have also been cancelled, affecting NCA, Emirates, Hong Kong Air Cargo, Etihad and SpiceJet.
05/08/2019 Damian Brett/Aircargo News

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DHL warns poor Mumbai airport infrastructure risks $5 trn economy target

Mumbai: Global logistics major DHL Express is concerned about lack of adequate infrastructure at the city airport, warning this may be detrimental to the countrys $ 5-trillion growth aspiration as well.

The company said there is only a single slot for all air freight operators and there is no scope for expansion at the nations second largest airport.

Anywhere where there are restrictions of slots for landing or network to be able to build our network in terms of services which we are able to give our customers, be it exports or imports, global chief executive John Pearson told PTI here.

Managing director for India RS Subramanian said all the other major airports in the country have dedicated space allotted for operators like it, but despite privatisation, the Mumbai airport lacks the same.

If India says it will be from a $ 5 trillion economy by 2025, trade will have to grow and international trade will have been to grow manifold. And trade will not grow without the support which companies like DHL can provide, Subramanian said.

Pearson explained that their entire operational architecture is based on the hub-and-spoke model, due to which it is able to assure timely pick-up and delivery.

As a result of these constraints, the company is forced to send a consignment via its centres in Delhi or Bengaluru which causes half-a-day delay in delivery, Subramanian said, adding this is a crime in their business.
04/08/19 PTI/Business Standard

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SpiceXpress connects 5 Indian cities with 737-700F freighter

SpiceXpress, the cargo arm of SpiceJet, has launched a new narrowbody domestic freighter service. The daily service will operate between Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore.

SpiceJet's 737-700F freighter aircraft will operate 6 days every week, arriving from Chennai at 9.45 pm and departing for Delhi at 10.45 pm. This service will connect Chennai – Hyderabad – Delhi – Mumbai – Bangalore sectors and has a capacity to carry approximately 20 MT of cargo.

Manjiv Singh, chief project officer, SpiceJet, added “SpiceJet is committed to invest in the growth of Indian trade and commerce. India is consciously taking bold initiatives like ‘Make in India’, promoting and growing our ‘Smart Cities’ and becoming a 5 trillion dollar economy in the fastest possible time. SpiceJet will continue to contribute to the trade by continuously increasing our geographic reach. Today’s consumers demand for the quickest deliveries possible. This has been shaping the e-commerce and logistics processes, and in turn the express logistics sector."

Apart from SpiceJet, the other scheduled freighter services that are operating from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) include Lufthansa, Turkish, Qatar, Cathay Pacific and Blue Dart.
03/08/19 ITLN

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GMR Hyderabad International Airport adds new domestic freighter service

GMR led Hyderabad International Airport has added yet another domestic freighter to its existing range of offerings with the latest entrant being SpiceJet freighter that landed at the airport late on August 1.

The cargo arm of SpiceJet has commenced its services connecting Hyderabad with Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai. With this, the airport now has six scheduled freighters.

The 737-700F type freighter aircraft used by SpiceJet will operate 6 days every week, arriving from Chennai at 9.45 pm and departing for Delhi at 10.45 pm. This service will connect Chennai – Hyderabad – Delhi – Mumbai – Bangalore sectors and has a capacity to carry approximately 20 MT of cargo.
The new SpiceJet freighter service will also offer an opportunity to the shippers from the region to access the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and other markets via Delhi. The offering also includes postal circulation among the key metros, saving critical time and ensuring quick delivery of goods.

SGK Kishore, CEO, GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd. (GHIAL), said, “The availability of high-quality, daily cargo services is essential for the development of trade especially in high-value and time-sensitive products. This will also give a boost to the cargo and logistics sector in the region.”

Manjiv Singh, Chief Project Officer, SpiceJet, added “SpiceJet will continue to contribute to the trade by continuously increasing our geographic reach. The launch of our 737-700F freighter opens up another option to our customers in and around Hyderabad. We have received a positive response from the market and are confident that this move will add value to our customers’ supply chains.”

Apart from SpiceJet, the other scheduled freighter services that are operating from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) include Lufthansa, Turkish, Qatar, Cathay Pacific and Blue Dart.
02/08/19 V Rishi Kumar/Business Lines

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Gun found in Chennai airport cargo, parcel manager detained

Chennai: A parcel manager has been detained and is being questioned for sending a parcel with a gun by an Indigo airlines flight from Chennai to New Delhi on Tuesday.
Tension prevailed at the airport around 1am after an alarm was triggered by a sensor at the final baggage checking area. A search by officials found a gun in one of the pieces of cargo baggage bound for New Delhi. Airport baggage claim officials conduct a final scan of the parcels before loading them on to the flight.
The officials tried contacting Patel Air Cargo, which was mentioned on the package. Since it was midnight and no one could be contacted for the package, security officials opened it and found a gun. The package was detained at the airport. In the morning, when officials contacted the cargo office, the manager of the firm visited the airport and said the package belonged to a customer, Venkat Raj Choudhary, from New Delhi. He told officials that Choudhary had sent a package to Chandigarh by train, but it was misplaced and had reached Chennai.
Venkat, who was their regular customer, contacted the cargo office and asked them to collect the package and send it to Delhi. The manager denied having knowledge of the contents of the package. The officials were not convinced and filed a complaint with the airport police station.
01/08/19 Times of India

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