Air cargo volumes have been more resilient to coronavirus pandemic-related effects than passenger traffic activity. From the last few months, the business is showing signs of recovery with a rise in exports and addition of freighter services at major airports. Now, as rolling out of COVID vaccines has started in some countries, and is expected to begin soon in the rest of the world, hub airports in the US and Europe have built up all necessary infrastructure and bracing themselves to handle what will possibly be the largest and most critical distribution programme in recent history.
Upamanyu Borah
Foreword
Air cargo is frequently used to transport high-value, time-sensitive commodities and, more recently, personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators and other medical equipment. Air cargo demand was driven by both, urgency to obtain these supplies and the need to fill in for supply chains that had been disrupted due to stay-at-home orders and travel restrictions.
There are many cases of commercial airports which have found that building a cargo business is a better option than a passenger one. That realisation almost came about by accident as passenger traffic slumped alarmingly amid the pandemic – but freight volume carried on growing.
In the past, airports have been consistently late in anticipating and meeting air cargo facility demand. This delay created a very predictable infrastructure crisis. In case after case, a shortage of efficient, properly located, air cargo facilities is preceded by a carrier or carriers expressing a serious unmet need for greater and more efficient space. Efficiency is the key – a cargo facility should be the right size and configuration for the potential market.
Looking at current situation, although many feel its airports rather than airlines that could be most at risk of unpreparedness, one thing is to be emphasised, no one would dare to indulge in this kind of misadventure if they are not fully prepared or lack the necessary infrastructure and systems. After all, its airports that have managed to accommodate the rising movement of shipments whether e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods or perishables, as demand grows with an ever-growing global population, emerging markets and the new geography of trade.
Governments across the world are already considering ways in which it will work with their aviation sectors for smooth transportation of the vaccine, which will require state-of-the-art time and temperature-sensitive storage and transportation infrastructure.
Airports have planned and created dedicated task forces in conjunction with their airline partners to facilitate vaccine transportation. The teams will undertake advance planning and collaborate with all stakeholders such as regional airports, airline customers, supply chain partners, regulatory and governmental bodies, and vaccine distributors. Such advance planning could go a long way in making the transportation process seamless.
The task forces will extend all efforts to optimise temperature management, reduce dwell time with prior special approvals from regulators, and lower processing time in order to ensure an unbroken cold chain for the vaccine movement from the manufacturing facility to the end distributor.
Besides personnel capabilities, airports are also planning to dedicate their infrastructure capabilities towards vaccine storage and distribution.
Cargo and Cold Chain Infrastructure
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
A city within a city, the success of the giant Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) keeps tens of thousands employed across Georgia.
There are industries prevalent in Southeast USA, and many of their inputs and outputs are air cargo reliant. Within these, the top commodities shipped from the 6-state region around Atlanta to domestic and international destinations mostly include transportation equipment, aircraft and spacecraft parts, electronics, precision instruments, automotive, e-commerce shipments, perishables, and pharmaceuticals.
ATL has approximately 1.5 mn sq ft of space dedicated to air cargo which includes space for cooling and temperature-controlled pharmaceutical shipments. It also has space for expansion of cool facilities and recently bid out 100,000 sq ft of cargo warehouse space with airside access to the world’s largest air cargo handler, Worldwide Flight Services (WFS).
Located in the airport’s South Cargo Area, the newly-constructed Cargo Building C combines a 100,000 sq ft warehouse and 20,000 sq ft of office space and incorporates freighter ramp handling facilities and a container bypass handling system. To support customers’ premium temperature-controlled products, it also houses 2,500 sq ft of dedicated cooling facilities capable of storing 140 skids as well as ULD containers for handling pharmaceuticals and perishables cargoes. WFS has already commenced the process to become the first cargo handling partner in Atlanta to achieve Good Distribution Practice (GDP) certification.
DHL Express is also moving from a smaller space on Toffie Terrace near Hartsfield-Jackson to ATL’s new Cargo Building C, and is adding the needed infrastructure for its operations there to create a ‘gateway to the Southeast’. DHL’s move into the new cargo building at ATL will increase their footprint, add jobs and lead to more cargo flights into the airport.
Additionally, Delta Airlines which has its hub at Atlanta operates a 40,000 sq ft cold chain facility at the airport, certified to handle temperature and time-sensitive pharmaceuticals. The airline said it recently transported the first shipments of COVID-19 vaccines from Detroit to Atlanta and to San Francisco.
In June 2019, ATL collaborated with Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) to create a logistics corridor to promote cargo trade and investment between metro Atlanta and the Netherlands. From September 2019, and throughout 2020, ATL and AMS has been working on the formation of the Atlanta Cargo Network, with the aim to increase exports from ATL to AMS of agricultural and manufacturing goods produced in Georgia, which will be measured by an economic impact assessment study due in 2021. The agreement will connect the key cargo operators and logistics providers at ATL and AMS to further strengthen the new trade and logistics corridor, and will be supported by Cargonaut, which operates the Cargo Community Information Platform at AMS.
There are various other innovations and initiatives which ATL airport is currently working on and all are meant to improve efficiency and make it a hub for cargo as well as passengers. Also, new Greenfield cargo warehouse facilities that will be third-party developed are within the airport’s master plan. At present, ATL is planning to add a new cargo facility in its South Cargo Area.
“Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has three main areas that service cargo. North Cargo serves several airlines such as Southwest, United, and Alaska, as well as the integrators- FedEx, DHL, and UPS. The mid-field area services Delta Airlines and all its SkyTeam partners. Finally, South Cargo is where the airport sees most of the action in terms of big all-freighter business. Airlines serviced in South Cargo include ABX, Cathay Pacific, China Cargo Air, Asiana, Cargolux, Amazon Air, and many others taking the number to 23 carriers in addition to charters. The three ground handlers are Swissport, Alliance Ground International, and Lufthansa Cargo AG,” said Elliott Paige, Director- Air Service Development at ATL.
“We have seen a rise in shipments to fight COVID-19. There have been many charters, sometimes as much as 60 flights on our peak day of the week– Thursdays.”
According to Paige, ATL has been working for five years to improve operations through new procedures, nurturing relationships with cargo stakeholders and implementing new technologies to bolster speed and efficiency.
“In 2017, we implemented TruckPass, a truck marshaling yard, supported by software and dock sensors that allocate doors at the warehouse for delivery and pick-up through trucks. This has reduced truck congestion around the warehouse facilities, and instead helped in significantly increasing throughput. In November 2019, we launched the first Airport Cargo Community System in the US. This AI-powered system allows perfect track and trace, billing delivery, and other features of cargo at the airway bill level for all stakeholders– freight forwarders, airlines, ground handlers, and truckers,” Paige explained.
“ATL recently awarded a new warehouse of 100,000 sq ft to WFS. The expectation is that it should be operational by the end of 2020.”
“We are also soon to launch a project titled ‘Modern Air Cargo Terminal,’ a state-of-the-art cargo warehouse complex with advanced refrigeration and e-commerce capability, material handling and cargo community systems as well as green technology. This is a public-private project where the airport provides the land, and the private sector will build, finance, and launch an on-airport cargo warehouse. The request for proposal should be issued by the last quarter of 2020, with the expectation to have proposals to review and approve in twelve months,” Paige informed.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Located across two counties due to its size, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is the largest hub for American Airlines and tenth busiest airport by passenger number.
DFW’s cargo operations serve 22 major cargo hubs throughout Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. DFW handles 54 per cent of the air cargo from Texas, generating more than $20 billion and accounting for nearly 55 per cent of the airport’s total annual regional economic impact. As American Airlines’ largest hub, DFW links cargo with freight forwarders and moves products through nearly 580 connecting flights each day.
The Dallas region’s central location, transportation infrastructure, and connectivity—combined with DFW and American Airlines’ cargo network and expertise in handling time and temperature-sensitive products—make North Texas the ideal gateway for this massive logistical effort.
The airport opened its cold chain facility in October 2017, enabling it to handle temperature-sensitive products. Since then, the airside cold chain facility experienced a 20 per cent increase in pharma shipments. DFW is also the first airport in North America to have both an IATA CEIV Pharma community and a cloud-based air cargo community system, which enables collaborative data sharing of cargo shipments across all stakeholders in the supply chain.
DFW was awarded IATA’s Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) Pharma certification in March 2019. The airport teamed up with its four community members as part of the CEIV Pharma programme– ground handler dnata Cargo USA, reefer trucker SCL Cold Chain, warehousing and distribution specialist BIG Logistics, and freight forwarder Expeditors. The partners participated in the certification process that involved training, pre-validation assessment, audit and validation.
More significantly, DFW is now a member of Pharma.Aero– which has demonstrated effective cross-industry collaboration, particularly with pharma shippers and other CEIV Pharma communities to bring in innovation so as to guarantee the integrity of life-saving products to shape the future of pharmaceutical logistics and further strengthen the entire air cargo supply chain.
Aditionally, DFW is working with the life sciences sector and air transportation industry to improve safety and ensure the cold chain is unbroken throughout the end-to-end process. DFW’s Cargo Cloud provides a slot booking app for truckers to reduce downtime and emissions at airports. Through the Global Pharma tracker, the airport can also monitor pharma product temperatures from origin to destination.
Established in 2018, ground handler dnata Cargo USA has a 37,000 sq ft cargo centre that includes the only dedicated cool-chain perishable cargo facility at DFW. Around 18,000 sq ft of the facility is dedicated to cool-chain solutions with staff trained to ensure that perishables such as pharmaceuticals, fruits, vegetables, fresh fish and seafood, meat and flowers maintain their freshness during the entire air transportation process.
Hong Kong-headquartered e-commerce specialist Tigers also owns an 86,000 sq ft facility, which includes a temperature-controlled area, at DFW.
DFW is currently planning an express facility for e-commerce and a new cargo area. US-bound flows of international e-commerce have passed largely through major coastal gateways, but, increasingly, providers are interested in gateways further inland to reduce distances for distribution, and DFW is an ideal choice. Also, due to the rapid growth of the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area, domestic e-commerce flows have been strong. E-commerce giant Amazon has five distribution facilities with a combined footprint of about 5 mn sq ft at the airport.
Moreover, the airport authority is looking to establish itself as a gateway for intercontinental e-commerce flows to Latin America, particularly from Asia. This follows its strategy on the cargo side as a connection point for transpacific and US-Latin America operations. The airport plans to tear down some buildings in the north-western sector of the airport that are 40-50 years old and replace them with a new cargo complex.
The first phase, which is earmarked for the e-commerce express facility, will comprise a 148,000 sq ft building and ramp space, with three parking positions for freighters. The second phase will expand the building to 240,000 sq ft and add two aircraft parking positions. Phase three will see construction of a second building, taking the combined footprint to 340,000 sq ft, and two more parking positions.
“DFW Airport has modern, efficient, high-throughput cargo facilities with cargo ramps capable of supporting multiple Group 6 freighter operations 24-hours a day. DFW also has a state-of-the-art perishable and pharma facility to support handling of large quantities of temperature controlled commodities. In addition, DFW Airport boasts more than five million square feet of warehouse space to support freight forwarder and e-commerce operations,” said John Ackerman, Executive Vice President- Global Strategy and Development at DFW Airport.
“During the pandemic, DFW has seen a significant number of passenger aircraft operating as cargo freighters. We have been able to make use of our hard stand area and passenger gates to deliver critical cargo. Most of our freighter schedules have remained as planned and we saw very good load factors for both imports and exports,” informed Ackerman.
According to Ackerman, the entire industry helped bring forth DFW Airport’s importance in the supply chain when critical supplies need to move around the world quickly. The passenger carriers came to the table with creative solutions to help ease the burden on the strained freighter system and keep the world supplied with PPEs and pharmaceuticals. “We are proud that DFW was a hub for some of these activities.”
“Pharma is a big piece of that traffic, as well as raw materials and manufactured goods,” Ackerman said. “We feel the investment in our cool chain facility will allow us to grow the pharma business overall at DFW.”
“We are in process of updating our DFW Cargo Master Plan that will provide for a variety of long-term updates to our facilities. The goal is to ensure and better fund future growth.”
Franz Josef Strauss International Airport, Munich
For Germany's second-largest airport and the first European airport to be awarded the highest seal of quality– ‘Five Star Airport’ status by Skytrax– Munich is working together with home carrier Lufthansa to ensure the safe, secure, and swift transportation of the COVID-19 vaccines from manufacturer to end-user now that the vaccines are approved by the European Medicine Agency.
Lufthansa’s new Pharma Hub at Munich Airport kicked off operations, after completion of its construction period in just five months. The facility offers space for up to 96 pallets and loose cargo in two different temperature ranges (+2 to +8°C and +15 to +25°C) and a freezer (down to -18°C) on almost 1,000 sq mt and on several levels.
A CEIV Pharma-certification by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for the new pharma hub is planned for this fall. Notably, this will also be the first pharma certification by the aviation association at Munich Airport.
In August, DHL Express announced it is planning to build a new cargo facility, covering more than 8,000 sq mt at Munich Airport.
The new building will have a direct airside access and two pick-up and delivery (PUD) fingers, where up to 65 delivery vehicles can be dispatched simultaneously. This gives a time advantage, particularly to clients in the south of Germany. Furthermore, the new station will meet all safety requirements of the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA), and will obtain the globally recognised TAPA Class A certification, the highest security level in air transportation.
DHL Express said the new facility is being planned and constructed after it saw an increase in import and export volumes at the Munich hub. Construction of the new facility is scheduled to be completed by 2022.
“As an integral part of critical infrastructure, Munich Airport has maintained uninterrupted operations, playing a role both in helping travellers to return home and in ensuring the ongoing rapid shipment of vital goods,” said Andreas von Puttkamer, Senior Vice President- Aviation at Munich Airport. “The four integrators UPS, FedEx, DHL and TNT with operations base in Munich kept their flight operations going throughout the crisis.”
“From early June, many airlines ramped up flight operations and gradually added destinations to our route network. Many European connections have been reactivated. Transatlantic and Asian traffic also gradually restarted. In the meantime, 40 airlines started offering flights from Munich to around 120 destinations, with demand trending upward.”
According to von Puttkamer, on some routes, they have seen some very creative solutions in that regard. “For example, Lufthansa operated the outbound leg of its Munich to Delhi service as a cargo-only flight and the return leg as a passenger flight carrying belly freight.”
“The cooperation with Lufthansa in Munich is an important growth driver,” von Puttkamer said. “Lufthansa's decision to make Munich the exclusive base for its A350 fleet and to transfer Airbus A380 aircraft to our airport delivered a massive boost to intercontinental services and our development as a hub. Also worth mentioning is Munich's outstanding defined peak infrastructure.”
“A further clear signal that growth will continue at this location is the agreement recently signed by DHL and Munich Airport for the construction of a freight building with investment of 70 million euros,” he added.
Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD)
Air cargo is a sector of strategic importance, both for Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) and the national economy. The airport’s position, at a nexus of highways and closer to major logistics businesses, has undoubtedly helped.
The airport operator is now continuously working to ensure that the BUD Cargo City, its world-class cargo hub handed over in January, become the aerial gateway of the country and of Central and Eastern Europe. The approximately 32,800 sq mt facility and the adjoining apron suitable for handling code F aircraft provides an excellent environment for Budapest Airport’s partners participating in the handling of air cargo. In the facility, there are solutions for temperature-sensitive cargo (2-8°C, 15-25°C storages, freezers) as well as special storage for valuable, vulnerable, DGR cargo, and live animals.
“Budapest Airport is working round the clock for maintaining seamless air cargo operations. As in addition to supporting the Hungarian economy, it also plays a key role in the operation of supply chains and job retention in the related areas,” said Jozsef Kossuth, Head of Cargo at Budapest Airport.
“The changing needs during the COVID-19 crisis required some adaptation of the work structure at BUD as well, but fortunately cargo has been a stable point in the airport operations at BUD. Medical cargo has been booming in the last few months, while we see a stable general cargo flow as well,” he said.
“For several years, we have received scheduled flights from Dubai with Emirates, and Doha with Qatar Airways, both of which have evolved into freighters in addition to daily passenger flights in the wake of the pandemic, thereby being very active in connecting belly cargo via their hubs.”
“In addition to the scheduled flights by Cargolux, Turkish Cargo, Qatar Cargo and Korean Air Cargo, the integrator and courier companies like DHL Express, TNT Express, FedEx and UPS kept operating regularly. In the face of the emergency, some airlines, which normally transport passengers, were also carrying cargo. Over the past months, numerous flights by Wizz Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Hainan and Shanghai Airlines brought shipments from China. Large cargo charter flights are also arriving on a daily basis, operated by various different airlines. In general, air cargo traffic from Asia has increased.”
According to Kossuth, ‘cargo eyes’ in the region are now looking at BUD Cargo City which is resource-efficient and service-oriented, offering high-quality and fast service. The state-of-the-art facility has sufficient capacities that forwarders, handlers, and airline partners can use in order to provide the highest quality service for their customers. “Everybody will notice in the wider network that distributing and collecting cargo via BUD is working flawlessly, and more and more partners will use it instead of the well-known larger hubs in Western Europe.”
“The cargo developments are continuing at BUD,” Kossuth said. “Various actions such as the digitisation of cargo operations, focus on special cargo such as pharma and live animals, optimising the cargo environment, and a certified shipper programme are part of the ‘to do’ list. An ambitious, long-term development master plan for the entire airport is also in the making.”
“For now, the entire BUD Cargo team is focussing on managing these challenging times of the coronavirus pandemic to best serve the needs of the Hungarian people. Meanwhile, we are also focussing on the ‘soft’ elements of our cargo environment. We just kicked off the implementation project of IATA’s CEIV pharma with our handling and forwarder partners,” he noted.
Singapore Changi Airport experienced a significant boost in air cargo volumes for the second quarter of 2024, handling 485,000 tonnes of airfreight from April to June. This represents a 16% increase compared to the same period last year. The growth is attributed to robust shipment flows between Singapore and major markets including the US and China. Changi Airport Group highlighted that the increase was seen across all cargo categories—exports, imports, and transhipments. The airport’s top five air cargo markets for the period were Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, and the United States. In the year-to-date, Changi Airport has processed a total of 960,000 tonnes of airfreight. The first quarter of 2024 also saw strong performance, with 475,000 tonnes handled, driven by high transhipment activity, particularly with China. Key sectors contributing to the cargo throughput include pharmaceuticals, perishables, e-commerce, and advanced materials like semiconductors. Notable airlines operating cargo flights at Changi include Spice Express, Tasman Cargo Airlines, Atlas Air, DHL Express, and Singapore Airlines, which collaborate on cargo operations. As of July 1, Changi Airport boasts 94 airlines operating over 6,900 weekly scheduled flights, linking Singapore to 158 cities across 50 countries and territories globally. This extensive network supports Changi’s role as a major international cargo hub. The airport’s continued growth in air cargo volumes underscores its importance as a critical logistics and transportation hub in the global supply chain.
AP Moller – Maersk is strengthening its operations in Bangladesh, where it has been serving the country and its exporters connect to the global market for almost three decades. Bangladesh has been one of the most important sourcing markets for the garments and apparel industry worldwide. The garment manufacturers exporting to global markets have significantly contributed towards building the country’s economy. Despite the impressive growth of garments exports from Bangladesh, the number of warehouses in Chattogram have not increased since 2012, with the sole exception of ISATL that became operational in 2018. Optimising utilisation of available capacity assisted to an extent, however it did not scale enough to meet the trade’s requirements. The logistics ecosystem and the Chittagong Port get stretched, particularly during the peak seasons. In 2021, a fallout of this structural challenge was felt by all the stakeholders involved in EXIM trade when the Container Freight Stations (CFSs) got clogged with cargo resulting in delayed clearance, stuffing and consequently dispatch of containers to the port. Delay in offloading cargo also led to longer truck waiting time, and delay in dispatch of containers to the port, consequently resulting in lack of overall productivity. These challenges have serious consequences on the overall economy of the country given the fact that the Chittagong Port handles in excess of 90 per cent of the total containerised trade to and from Bangladesh. Recognising these challenges, Maersk Bangladesh has partnered with Ispahani Summit Alliance Terminal Limited (ISATL) to build a 200,000 sq ft custom bonded warehouse. ISATL are pioneers in constructing and operating warehouses and CFS and operate four CFS within Chattogram and the River Terminal at Dhaka. Under the scope of this partnership, ISATL will construct a brand new custom bonded warehouse within the existing premises of the facility located at Pathortoli in Chattogram. The new warehouse will double the existing capacity at ISATL and add around 8 per cent additional space to the existing ecosystem at Chattogram. The construction of the new CFS has already commenced and is expected to be completed in a phased manner by the end of 2022. Bangladesh’s exporters and their overseas buyers will be able to start using the facility from July 2022, once the first phase of construction is completed. “Maersk’s commitment to connect and simplify our customers’ supply chains means that we look at long term solutions for problems such as the longstanding congestion within the ecosystem. We tackled the situation in 2021 by deploying an additional vessel for evacuating export loaded containers,” said Angshuman Mustafi, Managing Director, Maersk Bangladesh. “The solutions provided immediate relief to the ecosystem, but there was a need for a comprehensive solution to optimise ocean shipping, port handling and inland logistics that would benefit trade in the long term. By partnering with ISALT, we are establishing a facility that has the potential to partially decongest the system from the landside and streamline the flow of cargo in and out of Bangladesh.” Apart from adding capacity, the facility will offer several other benefits to Bangladesh’s exports. Amongst others, the new facility is being built by benchmarking international best practices when it comes to safety and other compliance guidelines. It will be modern multi-storeyed facility in Chattogram which will have storage at G+2 levels, thus making optimal use of available space to maximise the capacity. There will be an option to offer pallets for all operations, thereby improving the overall operational efficiency. Maersk will also offer customers Garment on Hanger facility, sorting, product audit, labelling, bar code and RFID scanning amongst others. “We are proud to partner with Maersk on this exciting long term project where ISATL’s extensive local experience combined with Maersk’s international best practices will allow us to create a truly world-class facility that will help raise the standards for the entire industry,” said Yasser Rizvi, Managing Director, ISATL.
Indian importers and exporters are grappling with significant cargo delays at Mundra Port, the country’s leading container trade hub. Local trade sources have voiced serious concerns about the worsening congestion at Mundra’s container terminals in recent weeks. "The terminals at Mundra now seem to be hugely congested, and the pendency has increased to levels affecting the normal movement of boxes between CFSs and terminals," stated the Container Freight Station Association Mundra in a complaint. The association added, "All the efforts put in by CFSs are not witnessing any improvement, but are rather finding that the situation is deteriorating further." A recent change in the process of issuing port entry permits for freight vehicles by the port authority has been identified as a major source of frustration. According to freight station owners, truckers are experiencing longer waits to move containers due to difficulties in securing entry permits promptly. "Vehicles are stranded on the road for hours together because of this. A corrective measure needs to be discussed with our members and worked out so as to ensure that movement continues without any hassles," explained the CFS association. The congestion has also frustrated container rail operators, as ICD (inland container depot) volumes constitute a significant portion of Mundra’s trade. The Association of Container Train Operators (ACTO) noted in a trade advisory, "There has been increased congestion at Mundra Port due to delays in effectively evacuating import containers in FIFO [first-in, first-out] sequence on time, despite trains being provided for clearance by container train operators [CTOs]." ACTO indicated that Indian Railways has restricted double-stack loading to expedite train evacuation from the port, resulting in additional ground rent charges for traders. Mundra, Adani Ports’ flagship entity, managed 7.4 million TEUs in the fiscal year 2023-24, marking a 15% increase over Nhava Sheva Port. With volumes rapidly expanding, the Adani Group is considering further investment to enhance capacity. "We continue to invest heavily in the business to drive growth, particularly in the logistics segment," stated Adani in a recent announcement.
Lufthansa Cargo has recently expanded its offerings, providing customers with new belly capacities on several attractive routes. Since the start of June, passengers and cargo alike can benefit from direct connections to various destinations, enhancing global connectivity and trade opportunities. Direct flights to North America, including routes from Frankfurt to Minneapolis (MSP) and Raleigh-Durham (RDU) with Lufthansa Airlines, are now available for booking. Additionally, from the Lufthansa Cargo hub in Munich, new connections to Seattle (SEA) three times a week, and daily capacity to Toronto (YYZ) and Vancouver (YVR) are being offered. Austrian Airlines has also introduced a new route, connecting Vienna with Los Angeles (LAX). Discover Airlines has expanded its services from Frankfurt to Halifax (YHZ) and Anchorage (ANC), further widening the reach of cargo transportation. Moreover, Lufthansa Cargo has introduced freighter capacity to Dubai World Central (DWC), providing customers with additional options for handling larger cargo items or special freight. This new service complements the existing belly service from Dubai International Airport (DXB) and offers enhanced flexibility and efficiency in cargo transportation. With a commitment to enhancing global connectivity and trade facilitation, Lufthansa Cargo continues to innovate and expand its service offerings. These new routes and increased capacities underscore Lufthansa Cargo's dedication to meeting the evolving needs of its customers in a rapidly changing global market.
In a momentous event today, PM Modi inaugurated a 77-kilometer-long section of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC), marking a significant milestone in India's ambitious infrastructure development efforts. The inauguration ceremony, held in the presence of key dignitaries and government officials, showcased the country's commitment to enhancing its transportation network. The Western Dedicated Freight Corridor is a game-changing project that aims to revolutionize India's freight transportation sector. The newly inaugurated 77-kilometer section connects key industrial regions, providing a dedicated pathway for the efficient movement of goods. With this achievement, India takes a major step towards reducing logistics costs, boosting manufacturing, and improving the overall economy. PM Modi, while addressing the audience, emphasized the importance of this project in promoting economic growth, generating employment, and reducing the carbon footprint. He noted, "The Western Dedicated Freight Corridor is a testament to India's vision for a modern and efficient transportation system. It will not only enhance our connectivity but also make us a global logistics hub." The event was attended by several Union Ministers and top officials from the Ministry of Railways, underscoring the government's commitment to accelerating infrastructure development in the country.
Trade shows are mission-critical, high-investment events where logistics execution directly influences marketing ROI. Exhibitors spend months preparing for a few days on the floor, since a single missed delivery window can jeopardise the entire programme. In this environment, Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) trade show logistics is no longer just transportation; it is an orchestration of timing, compliance, risk control, and venue-specific expertise. While standard LTL carriers can handle general freight, elite trade show shippers excel because they are built for the ecosystem — understanding drayage, marshalling yards, target windows, live-loading rules, equipment constraints, and the high-value nature of exhibits. This updated guide unpacks the differentiators that set the best providers apart, enhanced with additional dimensions such as KPIs, risk mitigation frameworks, technology adoption, sustainability practices, and a practical vendor-evaluation checklist. The Key Differentiators of Elite Trade Show Shippers When shipping general freight, a standard LTL carrier may be sufficient. However, event logistics demand a higher level of specialised service. The top trade show shippers possess four key differentiators that distinguish them from the rest. Proactive and Specialised Support Trade shows operate on rigid move-in schedules tied to booth size, dock flow, and decorator rules. The strongest providers deploy dedicated trade show teams who can interpret show manuals, coordinate with decorators, and time deliveries to avoid re-handling fees. Best-in-class partners also: Pre-audit documentation and labels to avoid show-site rejections Manage drayage coordination to reduce dwell and material-handling charges Offer pre-receiving and staging at regional facilities for smoother Day-1 move-ins This advisory-driven model transforms logistics from a cost center into a risk-mitigation service. Flexible Coordination and Network Access Because no two events are alike, trade show logistics demand configurable access to LTL, FTL, hot-shot, air, and international capacity. Top providers match service levels, route constraints, and budget requirements by tapping into broad asset and partner networks. A sophisticated network allows for: Expedited or guaranteed-capacity moves for high-stakes shows Cost-effective options for booth materials that can stage early Lane-specific equipment (air-ride, liftgate, climate-controlled) This flexibility becomes essential during peak show seasons when capacity is tight and timelines narrow. Guaranteed Performance and Asset Protection Event deadlines are immovable. Leading providers commit to guaranteed on-time service, narrow ETA bands, and contingency planning across linehaul and last-mile execution. They also emphasise exhibit protection through: Air-ride suspension fleets Strapping, padding, and vibration-control practices Secure transport protocols for prototypes and LED/AV assets With show participation costs rising, damage and delay prevention become competitive differentiators. End-to-End Visibility and Services Real-time visibility is no longer optional. Tocay, exhibitors rely on it to make staffing, booth-build, and drayage decisions. The best LTL partners deliver: Live tracking from pickup to booth delivery API connectivity with exhibitor dashboards Pre-emptive exception alerts and delay recovery paths For international events, leading providers integrate customs documentation, Carnet handling, temporary import permits, and venue-specific rules, ensuring frictionless handoffs across borders. What Are the Best LTL Logistics Companies for Trade Shows? Several providers exemplify these differentiators. The following firms are selected based on their demonstrated strength in specialised show support, performance-oriented service design, event fluency, flexible coordination and comprehensive offerings that cover pre-show to teardown. 1. Green River Logistics Solutions A brokerage-led model with deep carrier reach, making it ideal for exhibitors with varied lane structures. Key strengths: Highly personalised coordination and single-point-of-contact support Flexible equipment sourcing — LTL, flatbed, refrigerated, heavy haul Real-time updates and precise timing for fragile builds 2. XPO Logistics A multinational leader with a controlled linehaul network and a dedicated Trade Show Desk. Key strengths: Tight schedule integrity Venue-specific coordination and dock navigation Strong performance management systems. 3. TWI Group A global exhibition logistics specialist excelling in international customs and venue compliance. Key strengths: ATA Carnet expertise and cross-border support On-site liaisons at major venues High-touch service model for global exhibitors 4. Averitt A time-definite, reliability-driven carrier focused on window compliance. Key strengths: Guaranteed performance Expertise with marshaling yards and dock appointments Rapid recovery for last-minute constraints 5. TTI Logistics A specialist for fragile and custom builds requiring maximum protection. Key strengths: Air-ride fleets and vibration-controlled handling Precision timing for target-move-ins Advanced security protocols Comparing the Top LTL Logistics Providers for Trade Shows These providers excel in different areas. This table offers a quick comparison of their key service features to help you align their strengths with your specific needs. New Strategic Enhancements Added for a Modern Exhibitor’s Playbook Technology Advancements Worth Evaluating AI-assisted ETA predictions Digital drayage coordination tools IoT-enabled condition monitoring for AV and prototype freight Automated warehouse cut-off compliance checks Risk-Mitigation Practices That Matter Pre-show risk audits Contingency rerouting plans Venue-specific compliance checklists High-value cargo insurance design Sustainability Expectations from Today’s Exhibitors Low-emission or EV linehaul and last-mile options Carbon-neutral freight programs Reusable or recyclable crating solutions Emissions dashboards linked to booth shipments Performance Metrics That Define Best-in-Class Providers On-time delivery to target windows Damage-free shipment percentage Visibility uptime SLA Drayage handoff accuracy Exception-resolution response time How to Vet Your Trade Show Logistics Partner Applying the key differentiators includes asking potential partners the right questions. When your program includes international stops, ask about their documentation process, how they manage Carnets and how visibility will work across handoffs. The following can further validate fit and execution discipline: What is your detailed experience with my venue and decorator? Can you guarantee delivery within target-window constraints? What risk-mitigation plan is activated if my freight misses staging cutoff? What specialised equipment will you use for fragile or custom exhibits? How do you integrate with drayage contractors and marshaling yards? Which visibility tools and tracking integrations are available? Can you manage international customs documentation end-to-end? What sustainability options can be applied to my show calendar? Your Partner Is Your Most Critical Exhibit A logistics provider is more than a freight handler; they are the enabler of your presence on the show floor. The right LTL partner combines timing discipline, technical fluency, equipment strength, and venue intelligence to protect your brand and maximise your event ROI. Elite trade show shippers don’t just move freight; they orchestrate flawless show execution.
The expansion of Dammam Port in Saudi Arabia has taken a significant step towards strengthening trade relations between India and the Gulf region. The enhanced infrastructure and capacity of the port are set to benefit businesses and industries on both sides, facilitating smoother trade and commerce. The expansion of Dammam Port opens up new opportunities for Indian businesses to engage in import and export activities with the Gulf nations. It also serves as a strategic gateway for goods traveling to and from India, further improving the logistics and transportation landscape for businesses. The project showcases the commitment of both India and Saudi Arabia to enhance economic ties and boost bilateral trade. The increased port capacity will help meet the growing demand for trade between the two regions, ultimately contributing to the economic growth and prosperity of both nations.
Air India is setting its sights on a promising future as the exclusive carrier for TATA's iPhone exports. This strategic partnership between the renowned Indian airline and the tech giant TATA promises to boost India's manufacturing and export capabilities. The collaboration will enable Air India to become the sole carrier for TATA's iPhone exports, facilitating the efficient transport of these popular devices to international markets. With a reputation for reliability and global reach, Air India is poised to play a crucial role in TATA's supply chain. The move not only strengthens the relationship between two major Indian companies but also underlines India's growing importance in the global technology and manufacturing sectors. Air India's role as the exclusive carrier for iPhone exports is expected to generate significant revenue for the airline and enhance India's position as a hub for high-tech exports.
