In the picture as a historic first occurs— Emirates SkyCargo agrees to implement the PayCargo solution Signing are Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo and Adriaan Reinders, Chairman & CEO International, PayCargo.
     Also pictured back row standing left to right are Matthew Scott, Vice President of Cargo Pricing and Interline, Emirates SkyCargo; Ramachandran Natarajan, International Technical Project Manager, PayCargo; and Javier Gallego, Board Advisor, PayCargo.
     “We’re thrilled to launch in the United Arab Emirates with Emirates SkyCargo as our first regional partner,” declared Eduardo Del Riego, (left) President and CEO of PayCargo. 
     “This solution will help streamline the cargo payment process and save customers valuable time.
      “By eliminating manual payment systems, we can provide a more efficient and reliable solution. We look forward to our continued collaboration with Emirates SkyCargo as they lead the way in digital solutions for the logistics industry.”
     Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo, said, “The next era of logistics, and of Emirates SkyCargo, will be defined by smart technology and digital solutions. This partnership with PayCargo ensures we are at the forefront of that evolution, providing faster and more secure transactions for our customers, streamlining processes for our internal teams, and solving industry-wide challenges of accessing air freight capacity.” 
     The collaboration follows a strategic alliance formed in 2022 between PayCargo and Seed Group, a company of the Private Office of Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed Al Maktoum.
     Seed Group played a key role in introducing PayCargo to the UAE market and supporting its expansion in the Middle East and North Africa.
      Now that PayCargo, a trusted logistics payment platform, has officially launched in the United Arab Emirates, with Emirates SkyCargo as the first carrier in the region to adopt PayCargo’s solution, the  collaboration simplifies the cargo payment process, providing customers with a seamless, efficient, and digital payment solution.
      PayCargo offers an online payment solution that connects carriers with freight forwarders and vendors on a single platform. The launch in the UAE marks a shift in the cargo industry, which still relies on traditional and often inefficient payment systems, including cash transactions.
      Through the integration with PayCargo, Emirates SkyCargo customers in the UAE can now make instant payments via credit card or direct debit, ensuring same-day or next-business-day cargo release, underscoring the airline’s commitment to implementing digital solutions that improve operational efficiency and enhance customer service.
Geoffrey Arend

     Recent developments underscore India’s expanding air cargo sector for perishables, with notable milestones demonstrating the country’s rising prominence in quick, efficient agricultural exports.
     In a significant achievement, 250 tonnes of litchis originating from little known Darbhanga Airport in Bihar recently reached major metropolitan markets across India. This shipment highlights the increasing role of regional airports in facilitating the export of perishable goods from less-known production hubs.
     Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) continues to cement its status as India’s premier gateway for perishable cargo. During the 2025 mango season, CSMIA handled a total of 3,624 metric tonnes (MT) of mango exports in April and May alone—marking a 9% increase compared to the previous year. The airport’s robust cargo infrastructure has been instrumental in supporting India’s reputation for exporting high-quality mangoes globally. As India’s perishable trade grows, regional airports are emerging as crucial hubs for consolidating fruits like mangoes before forwarding them to major gateways like Mumbai or directly to international markets. Goa’s Manohar International Airport exemplifies this trend, having recently facilitated its inaugural shipment of mangoes to Oman, showcasing the potential of regional air cargo operations.
     This burgeoning sector is closely linked to government initiatives like Krishi UDAN, launched in August 2020, with an upgraded version—Krishi UDAN 2.0—introduced in October 2021. The scheme aims to enhance connectivity for agricultural produce, especially from remote and underserved regions, under the broader UDAN (Ude Desh Aa Naagrik) framework that seeks to improve regional air connectivity for citizens nationwide.
     Krishi UDAN emphasizes integrating agriculture and aviation sectors (A2A), with a focus on high-value, time-sensitive shipments. Regional airlines such as Fly91, Alhind Air, Shankh Air, and Air Kerala are increasingly leveraging regional airports to facilitate cargo movement, despite challenges like limited aircraft belly space, infrastructure constraints, and regulatory hurdles. These carriers are deploying smaller aircraft—ATR 72-600s and Airbus A320s—to support both passenger and cargo operations, targeting markets for electronics, medical supplies, and luxury goods.
     Fly91’s CEO, Manoj Chacko, (left) highlights the emerging role of regional airlines in supporting India’s economic growth. While currently focusing on passenger services, Fly91 envisions utilizing its fleet to handle niche, high-value cargo, particularly in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities where logistical infrastructure is still developing. “While our current model does not include (cargo or) dedicated freighters, we see promising opportunities in leveraging our existing fleet to support niche markets, especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities where logistics infrastructure is still developing.”
     Chacko emphasizes that such airlines can bridge remote markets and national supply chains by offering rapid, reliable transport for urgent shipments like perishables, pharmaceuticals and e-commerce parcels: “Our focus is on high-value, urgent cargo that benefits from the speed and flexibility of regional air connectivity.”
     The Krishi UDAN scheme has already demonstrated tangible benefits, helping farmers and exporters access international markets more swiftly. States like Haryana and Punjab have been early beneficiaries; in 2018, the scheme facilitated the export of kinnow citrus, reducing transit times and spoilage. Northeastern states such as Assam and Manipur are also leveraging regional airports like Guwahati and Imphal to export mangoes and vegetables more efficiently.
     Despite these promising developments, the scheme’s overall impact remains modest due to limited geographic coverage, high transportation costs, infrastructure gaps, and lack of awareness among farmers and cooperatives. Addressing these challenges will be crucial for unlocking the full potential of India’s regional air cargo network and further boosting the export of perishables.
As India continues to expand its regional connectivity and cargo capabilities, the integration of dedicated air cargo services at regional airports promises to unlock new markets for agricultural produce, support farmers’ incomes, and enhance India’s position as a global supplier of fresh produce.
Tirthankar Ghosh

   Are you ready? The gangs all here for a really big show.
   This uplifting post from Brandon Fried as Summer ‘25 moves deeper into August next week . . .
   “Heading back to The Airforwarders Association headquarters after a productive and exciting AirCargo Conference planning meeting for our upcoming 2026 event, February 15-17, at Omni Orlando Resort at Omni Champions Gate in Orlando, Florida,” Brandon declared.
   “Orlando is venue to tomorrow, as we will gather to explore insights to navigating today’s most complex, global transportation challenges.
   “Looking forward to over 1,000 conferees including AirCargo’s most sought-after leaders, who will share proven growth strategies.
   “Whether you or your business are just taking off or wanting to climb even higher, our event prepares you to make the decisions with your service partners at AirCargo 2026, right after the first of the year when the first major gathering of the global industry in USA,the biggest air cargo market in the world, will fuel personal and professional success.
   “Registration,” Brandon said, “opens September 8th, 2025.
   “Another other great event sponsored by our organization along with AEMCA (Air and Expedited Motor Carriers Association) and Airports Council International - North America.
   “Thanks for Southwest Airlines' help moving us to the set-up for a shot gun start and thanks also at MCO and to our team mates.”

     If there is one among us that gets it and hopes for the best, and is driven by bright new ideas and plans for the future, it is Amar More co-founder and CEO of Kale Logistics.
     Kale is a ubiquitous logistics software company that offers cloud-based solutions for different processes and purposes in the logistics industry.
     Kale understands and in this world is a powerhouse of in-house subject matter experts.
     As someone who, for many seasons and all year-long, has travelled to trade shows all over the world we wonder Summer Recess what has impressed so far this year of 2025?
     “I strongly believe that digitization is the hot topic in all the conferences and the need to digitally collaborate as an industry is getting highlighted in every forum and I love that.
     “I have seen over the past 7-8 years where digitization was discussed on the last day of the conference with meagre attendance now it has made its transition to the ‘prime time TV spot’ in the conference agenda.
  “This is a good development for the industry as a whole,” Amar More declared.

     “TIACA was a wonderful event where the Hall of Fame moment for Jan Krems really resonated with most people. It was beautiful to see an industry of tough men and women who work hard but also wish each other well. I find that fascinating and it is addictive.
     “I found Mr. Moosh Benari's presentation very refreshing and enlightening for the industry. A number of big names are interested in this, and it was great to see. It was about SCENTSOR—a data-driven biosensor solution designed to address one of the air cargo industry’s most pressing challenges: the accurate, non-intrusive detection of undeclared dangerous goods such as lithium batteries, and other substances high-risk items.
     “I see this development as a major step in detecting dangerous goods in air cargo in a very reliable and simple way. If it were up to me, we will hear more about this!
     “For the TIACA conference in Abu Dhabi, my goal is to get the famous Dutchies on stage together. Pieter Elbers, Peter Penseel, Jan Krems, Jeffrey van Haeften, and Robert van de Weg (and we have more!). And then a game of padel against each other.
     “See You In Abu Dhabi.”