CARGOCONNECT-OCTOBER2024 - Flipbook - Page 53
AIR FREIGHT MARKET : FEATURE
operations, enhance overall business conditions for air cargo, and
ensure that regulatory frameworks align with global best practices.
ACFI’s efforts to enhance industry standards through its
nine task pillars are instrumental in this context. These pillars,
as Sharma reiterates, focus on critical areas such as operational
e昀케ciency, safety standards, and customer service. “By addressing these speci昀椀c issues, we at ACFI aim to drive overall sector
improvement and ensure that industry practices are aligned with
global benchmarks.”
Technological Advancements and
Digital Solutions
Standardisation and Regulatory
Frameworks
Standardisation and e昀昀ective regulatory frameworks are critical
for ensuring consistency and reliability in the air freight sector.
Aligning Indian practices with international standards is essential
for maintaining operational excellence and building trust among
global partners. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
and other regulatory bodies are actively working to update and
re昀椀ne policies related to cargo handling, security protocols, and
customs procedures.
K S Kunwar, Director General of the Air Cargo Forum India
(ACFI), highlights the complexities and opportunities presented by
open sky policies. “The open sky policies, as implemented, allow for
unrestricted access for both Indian and foreign carriers. However,
the Indian freighter 昀氀eet remains limited, with only a handful of
freighter airlines currently operating.”
Kunwar points out that while open sky policies were intended
to foster a competitive environment and promote growth through a
hub-and-spoke model, the Indian air cargo sector has struggled to
keep pace with global standards. “For instance, Incheon Airport in
South Korea handles more cargo than all Indian airports combined,
illustrating the gap in cargo handling capacity.”
To address these challenges, Kunwar advocates for a more
comprehensive approach that includes improving infrastructure
and policy adjustments to support domestic freighter operations.
“To meet the ambitious target of handling 10 million tonnes of
cargo by 2030, India needs a more robust framework,” Kunwar
asserts. This includes policies that support the expansion of freighter
Technological advancements are at the forefront of transforming
India’s air freight sector. The integration of digital solutions, such as
advanced cargo tracking systems and automation in cargo handling,
is revolutionising how shipments are managed and transported.
Technologies like GPS, IoT, and Blockchain are providing real-time
visibility, reducing fraud, and streamlining processes.
Vipan Jain, Director of Business Development at Ethics Group
of Companies, underscores the need for continuous adaptation to
technological developments. “The air cargo industry, much like
the medical or scienti昀椀c 昀椀elds, is constantly evolving with new
developments emerging regularly.”
Jain’s perspective highlights the importance of staying updated
with technological innovations and regulatory changes to maintain
industry e昀케ciency and compliance.
He points to several technological innovations that have impacted
the industry. For example, the ability to transport cargo in passenger
seats—a practice that gained prominence during the COVID-19
pandemic—demonstrates the sector’s capacity for rapid adaptation
in response to emerging challenges.
Similarly, addressing the transportation of lithium batteries,
which are essential for many electronic devices, has become a
signi昀椀cant focus. Jain noti昀椀es that stakeholders are committed to
integrating the latest technology and addressing critical issues like
these to enhance industry practices.
Training and education play a crucial role in keeping the
industry current with technological advancements. Jain, who also
happens to be the Chairman – Skill Development Task Pillar at
ACFI, highlights the importance of o昀昀ering courses, like the ones
being extended by ACFI, on emerging technologies and updated
customs regulations. These courses cover topics such as optimising aircraft space utilisation and managing cargo in a dynamic
industry environment.
Jain 昀椀rmly believes that by providing industry professionals
with the tools and knowledge they need, companies can ensure that
they remain competitive and e昀케cient in a rapidly evolving market.
The E-commerce Boom and Changing
Consumer Behaviours
The rapid rise of e-commerce has had a profound impact on the air
freight sector. As online shopping becomes more prevalent, there
is a growing demand for faster and more reliable delivery services.
Air freight companies are responding by enhancing their agility
and responsiveness to meet the needs of retailers and consumers.
The shift in consumer behaviour is driving the demand for
specialised cargo solutions. For instance, temperature-controlled
containers are increasingly required for perishable goods, while
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