$150m PIA Package Approved

Pakistan’s finance minister has approved a $150-million financial package to enable the national carrier to modernize its fleet.

“This package was approved at a high level meeting held in Islamabad under the chairmanship of finance minister Shaukat Aziz,” PIA spokesman Imran Garzezi said. Spanning eight years, the plan includes the gradual replacement of old aircraft and efficiency measures to increase PIA’s profitability.

PIA would acquire five Boeing 747-300s from Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific, which are already being leased to PIA.
 

British Airways World Cargo flies high in India

A sudden boom in India’s airfreight business has increased the fortune of British Airways World Cargo (BAWC). BAWC is running four additional charters every month from Delhi and Mumbai, an extra 400-500 tonnes.

Recently, BAWC operated three jumbo freighters, each loaded with about 120 tonnes of condoms from Chennai to Brazil. According to Kamal Kikani, BAWC’s commercial manager for India, demand to the US and Canada has also substantially increased.

Recently, BAWC has focused on loose and express cargo. BAWC now offers 2,200-2,240 tonnes of cargo capacity every month from India, including two scheduled B747 freighter services from Delhi and one each from Chennai and Mumbai. Belly-space on passenger aircrafts is also available from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.
 

Indian Airports Record Growth in Cargo Carriage

Maersk Logistics India Tie Up

Maersk Logistics India has tied up with Concorde Cargo, a Delhi-based airfreight forwarder, to cater to the airfreight requirements of its clients around the country. Maersk will hold management control over the new entity.
 

Cargo carriage at Indian airports has grown by 17.2 percent in the first quarter (April to June 2002) of the current financial year as against the corresponding figures last year, according to latest statistics by Airports Authority of India (AAI). 

While international cargo managed an 18.8 percent growth, domestic cargo grew by 14 percent. 
Despite the 9/11-induced slowdown in exports by foreign retail chains, cargo traffic through various ports, including Mumbai, has shown excellent growth. 

Universal Freight Systems –– a step ahead

UFS established in 1987, is the leading independent multi modal IATA Approved Freight Forwarder of Pakistan. With its head office at Karachi, Pakistan, Universal Freight Systems has always been one of the top three IATA ranking Freight Forwarders.

UFS comprises of a network of carefully selected overseas associates providing optimum local coverage; combined with door to door on-time deliveries; with flexible, customized logistics solutions through out the supply chain. Since the last two decades, UFS has been offering services, which includes air/sea freight handing for both the import & export sectors, multimodal transportation, Break Bulking/consolidation and warehousing. UFS is fully equipped with modern state of the art technology and is all set to develop into a complete Freight Forwarding Corporate Company.

In 2001, the company handled a total volume of 18000 tonnes and now projects a volume of 20000 tonnes of freight for 2002. UFS is in the possession of various 'Pride of Performance' certificates, awarded by prime carriers of Pakistan.

Emirates at Transport India 2002

Emirates SkyCargo, the award winning airfreight division of Emirates will participate in an exhibition, Transport India 2002 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from the 2nd to the 4th of September. The international trade fair for transport and logistics is an ideal forum for Indian and international companies to showcase their range of products and services in the transport and logistics sector.

Prakash Nair
Emirates' Cargo Marketing Manager

Prakash Nair, Emirates' Cargo Marketing Manager says, "Emirates has been flying to over 60 destinations and through our extensive interline alliances, we have global distribution capabilities. In India, we have offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Hyderabad and GSA representation (Global Aviation Pvt Ltd) in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Cochin, Coimbatore, Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram, and Vadodara. At Transport India 2002, Emirates will be promoting its state of the art SkyChain logistics management system as well as its Priority products."

In addition, Emirates SkyCargo hopes to make contacts with representatives of multimodal transport companies, importers and exporters, warehousing and logistics operators, infrastructure development organizations––and other players who are important in the airfreight supply chain.