JUPITER SEA & AIR
SERVICES PVT. LTD, EGMORE – CHENNAI, INDIA.
E-MAIL : Robert.sands@jupiterseaair.co.in Mobile : +91 98407 85202
Corporate News
Letter for Tuesday - July 01, 2025
Today’s Exchange Rates
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CURRENCY |
PRICE |
CHANGE |
%CHANGE |
OPEN |
PREV.CLOSE |
DAY's LOW-HIGH |
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85.74 |
0.25 |
0.292432 |
85.48 |
85.49 |
85.4375- 85.78 |
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|
1.1709 |
-0.0009 |
-0.076807 |
1.172 |
1.1718 |
1.1708- 1.1751 |
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|
117.4475 |
-0.008095 |
-0.006892 |
117.2649 |
117.4556 |
117.1785- 117.4986 |
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|
100.524 |
0.417702 |
0.417258 |
100.181 |
100.1063 |
100.1007- 100.5511 |
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144.463 |
-0.186996 |
-0.129275 |
144.70 |
144.65 |
143.781- 144.764 |
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1.3686 |
-0.003 |
-0.218724 |
1.3704 |
1.3716 |
1.3685- 1.3741 |
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|
97.239 |
-0.162003 |
-0.166325 |
97.185 |
97.401 |
96.974- 97.299 |
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|
0.5947 |
0.0037 |
0.62605 |
0.5919 |
0.591 |
0.5906- 0.5949 |
/// Sea Cargo News ///
India is pushing ahead to make Chabahar, located in the strategic southeastern corner of Iran, its main port of call in a bid to pivot away from Bandar Abbas near the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint, said ports, shipping and waterways secretary T.K. Ramachandran.
The recent tension in West Asia, marked
by the Iran-Israel conflict and US bombings, has prompted India to fast-track
its plan to develop rail and road infrastructure at Chabahar port.
This would turn it into the preferred
port of call for the movement of all Indian goods destined for Central Asian
countries and Afghanistan and reduce dependence on Bandar Abbas.
Chabahar not only provides India with an
alternative access point to Central Asia and Afghanistan, it also bypasses both
Pakistan and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
This offers India greater regional
connectivity and trade options, reducing its reliance on Pakistan and
potentially strengthening its geopolitical influence in the region.
“Work on improving and expanding
facilities at Chabahar Port is ongoing and the port has also been consistently
getting increased Container and cargo at its terminal.
Very soon, the port will get connected to
the main rail and road networks in Iran, allowing it to become the prime port
for movement of shipments from India to Iran, Afghanistan and other Central
Asian Republics,” Ramachandran told Mint.
Key Takeaways are given below :
A road less Chinese? India may find a strategic path through Kazakhstan
As China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) continues to expand its influence over global trade infrastructure, India is exploring alternative pathways that reduce reliance on Beijing-led corridors.
One such emerging option is the Trans-Caspian Internationalindia-kazakhstan-middle-corridor-TITR-trade-route-alternative-to-china-briTransport Route (TITR), commonly known as the Middle Corridor, with Kazakhstan playing a central role in its development.
India has long objected to key BRI
components, especially the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which cut
through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The Indian government has consistently
raised concerns over CPEC’s implications for territorial sovereignty.
In 2024, Ministry of External Affairs
spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated India’s position in an interview with
ANI, “On PoK, we are very consistent in our position. We want to tell you, the
whole of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, the union territories, they are part of
India, an integral part of India. They were an integral part of India. They are
an integral part of India and they will remain an integral part of India.”
“Our position on CPEC also is well known to you. We are not in favour of it. We
are against it. It goes against our territorial integrity and sovereignty,” he
added. But now, a quieter alternative is
gaining traction, and it doesn’t start in Beijing. It begins in Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan’s Middle Corridor : According to The Economic Times, Kazakhstan is emerging as
Eurasia’s logistics pivot through the Middle Corridor. While India is not
directly connected to this network, its rapid expansion presents a vital
opportunity for New Delhi to reduce reliance on Chinese-dominated
infrastructure and diversify its trade routes.
The Middle Corridor spans over 4,250 km of rail and 500 km of seaway,
connecting China, Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus, and Europe,
bypassing both Russian and Chinese bottlenecks.
As per Indian think tank Observer Research Foundation, the corridor was
born out of geopolitical necessity following Russia's 2014 Crimea annexation,
when Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia sought to hedge against dependence on
unstable or adversarial routes.
In 2017, the launch of the 826-km Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway cemented the
route’s viability, allowing transit from China to Turkey in 12 days, and to
Prague in 18.
Kazakhstan’s Transport Ministry reported that in 2024, traffic on TITR surged
by 62%, reaching 4.5 million tonnes. Container transport grew by 170% to 56,500
TEUs, with 35,600 TEUs moved along the China-Europe leg, 27 times more than the
previous year. The 2025 target is 5.2 million tonnes and 70,000 TEUs.
But these numbers are just one part of the story. TITR’s real significance lies
in the infrastructure push that's coming, data suggests.
As The Economic Times reported, Kazakhstan is investing massively in its
logistics network. In 2025 alone, it plans to modernise 13,000 km of roads and
6,100 km of railways, expand six airports, and build new maritime terminals,
including a container hub in Aktau with a capacity of 240,000 TEUs. By 2029,
another 11,000 km of rail lines will be upgraded, and new corridors like
“North” and “Sedmiddle” are in the works.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, speaking at the Foreign Investors’ Council
plenary on June 24 (as per Akorda, the official website of the Kazakh
Presidency), described Kazakhstan’s economic strategy as future-ready,
sustainable, and globally integrated.
The country reported a 6% GDP growth in
the first half of 2025, driven by logistics, trade, and construction. This is
the fastest in 12 years.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Tokayev projected GDP growth of at least 5.5%
for 2025, but added that this was “not such an ambitious outcome,” as the
government seeks additional growth engines.
Why TITR matters for India : Although
India is not directly linked to the Middle Corridor, several geopolitical and
economic factors could make TITR relevant to Indian interests. As per rating
agency ICRA, India relies heavily on maritime trade via the Suez Canal, a route
that has become vulnerable due to Red Sea instability and Houthi attacks.
“The recent escalation of the conflict in the Red Sea has resulted in a 122%
increase in freight cost in the past couple of months. As a result, the
majority of global container shipping companies are deciding to avoid the Suez
Canal and instead take the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope,” ICRA
noted.
According to the World Bank, 95% of India’s foreign trade by volume and 67% by
value is seaborne. The Suez route is crucial for trade with Europe, North
Africa, and the Americas, regions accounting for over 35% of India’s total
foreign trade.
The TITR offers a land-sea multimodal alternative that could ease maritime
congestion, reduce freight costs, and benefit Indian exporters, particularly
those targeting European markets.
More importantly, TITR intersects with
India’s International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a 7,200-km
network linking Mumbai to Europe via Iran and Russia. While TITR and INSTC are
separate, they share geographic nodes in the Caspian Sea and Caucasus,
especially Azerbaijan.
This overlap allows for synergy: Indian goods could travel via INSTC and switch
to TITR segments to access Central Asia, Turkey, and Europe. Despite delays in
INSTC, caused partly by sanctions on Iran and slow progress on the Chabahar-Zahedan
railway, its relevance has only grown. According to ORF, INSTC, initially
proposed in 2000, has been ratified by 13 countries and comprises road, rail,
and sea links.
Its Eastern Route, or KTI Corridor, runs through Iran, Turkmenistan, and
Kazakhstan, connecting Russia’s Finnish border to Iran’s Bandar Abbas port.
RailFreight.com reports that Russia and Iran are now fast-tracking key INSTC
links like the Rasht-Astara railway, expected to be completed by 2027. The
convergence of INSTC and TITR could thus form a formidable trans-Eurasian grid,
one that reduces India’s reliance on China or the Suez Canal.
Strategic autonomy: Beyond BRI - India’s objections to the BRI, especially
CPEC, are rooted in sovereignty concerns. More broadly, New Delhi remains wary
of BRI's debt-driven model and China’s centralised control over participating
nations.
TITR stands apart. It is not dominated by any one country, and is increasingly backed
by Western actors, including the EU, Turkey, and Georgia.
In 2024, Kazakhstan hosted its first working group meeting with China on TITR
freight movement. As per the Kazakh Ministry of Transport, both countries
agreed to increase container traffic on the China-Europe route to 600 trains
annually by 2025–26, and up to 3,000 trains by 2029.
While China remains a partner, the corridor’s multinational nature limits any
single country’s dominance.
India’s own connectivity vision, such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic
Corridor (IMEC) is aligned with this trend. Despite recent Middle East tensions
slowing IMEC’s momentum, a senior MEA official during the 2023 G20 Summit said
that the project remains a priority, reported The Hindu.
If TITR, INSTC, and IMEC develop in tandem, they could collectively serve as a
resilient alternative to the BRI, multiplying India’s strategic choices and
reducing its vulnerability to chokepoints.
Diplomacy in the Caspian :
Kazakhstan’s reform-driven model further
strengthens the case for deeper India-Caspian ties. According to the country’s
state news agency, President Tokayev has introduced a “prosecutorial filter” to
protect foreign investors and launched a National Digital Investment Platform.
So far, 137 projects worth $70 billion have been facilitated, and 140 legal
amendments initiated.
For India, closer diplomatic and economic ties with Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and
Georgia can help secure energy supplies, mineral access and geopolitical
balance in a region of growing global relevance.
India need not formally join TITR to benefit from it. What matters is that
Kazakhstan’s logistics vision, and the Middle Corridor it anchors, adds
redundancy to the global trade architecture. The more corridors exist, the less
India and others would need to depend on those dominated by strategic rivals.
India imposes anti-dumping duty on Chinese chemicals
India has imposed an anti-dumping duty on four Chinese chemicals so far in June, so that domestic players with businesses in these areas can be safeguarded from unfairly priced imports from Beijing.
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and
Customs, Department of Revenue, in separate notifications, has imposed a
five-year anti-dumping duty on the import of these four chemicals
from China.
The authorities officially imposed the
restrictions after the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), an arm of
the commerce ministry, made recommendations earlier to do the same. India
imposed these anti-dumping duties four chemicals, including PEDA (which is used
in herbicide); Acetonitrile (which is used in the pharma sector); Vitamin -A
Palmitate, and Insoluble Sulphur.
India, United Kingdom likely to sign Free Trade Agreement by July end
The process of legal scrubbing of the
India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) text is progressing at a faster
pace, and the pact is expected to be signed by the end of July, an official
said on Tuesday.
To give an impetus to the process,
Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal is in London with his official team. Barthwal
will meet UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds and
other British senior officials during his two-day visit.
The two countries announced the
conclusion of the negotiations on May 6. It will remove taxes on the export of
labour-intensive products such as leather, footwear and clothing, while making
imports of whisky and cars from Britain cheaper, in a bid to double trade
between the two economies to USD 120 billion by 2030. The world’s fifth
and sixth-largest economies concluded the deal after three years of on-off
negotiations.
Japanese ships transiting Strait of Hormuz to minimise time in Gulf
Japan's Nippon Yusen and Mitsui
O.S.K. Lines said on Monday they have instructed their vessels to minimise
the time spent in the Gulf as they continue to transit the Strait of Hormuz
following the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
The shipping companies said they are
closely monitoring the situation and sharing updates with ships operating in
the region.
"We are instructing our vessels to
shorten their time in the Persian Gulf whenever possible, depending on their
schedules," a Nippon Yusen spokesperson said. "We will make
decisions on each vessel's passage through the Strait of Hormuz on a flexible
basis," he added. MOL's safety operation supporting centre in Tokyo
has stepped up 24-hour surveillance, a company spokesperson said.
Hapag-Lloyd's vessels continue to transit the Stait of Hormuz
At present, Hapag-Lloyd's vessels
continue to transit the Strait of Hormuz. The shipping company says it
continues to closely monitor the current developments in the region with the
safety and well-being of its crews and ships as highest priority.
Hapag-Lloyd also is actively evaluating
potential risks and stand ready to adjust our operations should conditions
change. "Following a careful assessment of the current security
environment, Hapag-Lloyd has implemented a temporary reduction of services to
the Port of Haifa, Israel.
At this time, our Atlantic Loop 7 (AL7)
service will continue to call the port, while our East Med Shuttle 3 (EM3)
service has temporarily suspended cargo acceptance for Haifa-bound
shipments", the Company said.
“We are closely monitoring the ongoing
geopolitical developments in the Middle East. As always, the safety of our
seafarers, vessels and your cargo, as well as the reliability of our service
remain our top priorities.
At this time our operations across the
region continue without interruption. Vessel schedules, port calls and inland
activities continue as planned, and we remain fully committed to maintaining
our service levels”.
Cargo ship carrying over 3,000 vehicles sinks in Pacific Ocean after fire
A cargo ship carrying thousands of
vehicles sank in the Pacific Ocean on 23 June, weeks after a fire broke out
onboard. The vessel, Morning Midas, was travelling from Yantai, China, to
Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico, when the incident occurred.
Salvage company Resolve Marine—also
involved in the cleanup of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in
Baltimore—confirmed that the ship sank in international waters, according to
media reports. Two salvage tugs equipped with pollution control systems remain
at the site to monitor for oil leaks and floating debris.
Managed by London-based Zodiac Maritime,
the Morning Midas was transporting more than 3,000 vehicles, including
approximately 70 fully electric and 681 hybrid models. The ship, built in
2006 and registered under the Liberian flag, was a 600-foot (183-metre) long
car and truck carrier. The cargo reportedly included vehicles from
manufacturers such as SAIC Motor, Chery Automobile and Great Wall Motor.
Fire traded to electric vehicle deck :
The fire began on June 03, 2025 while the ship was located around 360 nautical
miles southwest of Adak, Alaska. The source was traded to a deck carrying
electric vehicles. Lithium ion batteries, used in EVs, are known to pose fire
risks if damaged.
According to Zodiac Maritime, “Damage
caused by the fire, compounded by heavy weather ingress, caused the Morning
Midas to sink at around 16.35 local time zone (UTC-9) on June 23, 2025, in
waters approximately 5,000 meters deep and 360 nautical miles from land”.
China’s Wuhu Shipyard sets sights on European market with new green
shipping alliance
Chinese shipbuilder Wuhu Shipyard has moved to enter the European market with a new research and development (R&D) cooperation agreement focused on green shipping technology. Wuhu Shipyard recently signed a cooperation agreement with Germany’s Tamm Media to promote China’s green shipbuilding technology and integrate overseas market resources and experience.
The Chinese shipyard intends to
capitalize on the advantages of its subsidiary San Dian Shui New Energy
Technology in the fields of alternative energy propulsion systems, such as
electric and hydrogen, and intelligent ship technology, aiming for in-depth
cooperation with European shipping companies.
50% reduction of export charges at Karachi’s Port Qasim
Pakistan has announced a 50% reduction in
charges for exporters at Karachi’s Port Qasim, according to the Ministry of
Maritime Affairs. The decision is spearheaded by the Port Qasim Authority and
was recently revealed at a meeting led by Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, the
Federal Minister of Maritime Affairs.
Here’s an insight to this development
that is targeted towards boosting trade and economic growth in the
country. Port Qasim is the second busiest port of the country, trailing
behind the Port of Karachi.
It has been in operations since 1973, and
services 52% of all imports and exports for the country. Given the high
volume activity at this port, a reduction in export charges can significantly
impact Pakistan’s economy, particularly for cities like Karachi. In fact,
Minister Chaudhry emphasised this point sharing how this shift can amplify
opportunities for local businesses and domestic trade.
“The government’s reform agenda in the
maritime sector, including the charge reduction at Port Qasim, signals a strong
commitment to supporting the business community, enhancing trade facilitation,
and promoting economic development across coastal regions”, he said.
Trump’s FAA nominee Bedford lied on pilot license
Bryan Bedford,
President Trump’s nominee for heading the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA), never obtained a valid pilot’s license for commercial aircraft. This
fact contradicts his multiple claims and assertions. Instead, he only possesses
a private pilot’s license. The swindle was now revealed by the magazine
POLITICO, following thorough research. Until his hearing last week, before a
chamber in Washington, he claimed to be holder of a license allowing him to fly
commercial passenger or cargo aircraft.
Bryan Bedford
(forefront) at a Plane Pull event at Republic Airways – company
courtesyWhat at first glance
appears to be a trivial matter, should be an alarm signal for U.S. aviation and
its supervisory authority, the FAA. With a boss who had presumably wittingly
falsified his bio as CEO of Republic Airways, in which he describes himself as
a pilot holding a “commercial” rating, the authority will be further damaged
should Trump not drop him last minute. If Bedford should be confirmed, it would
further drag down the reputation of the FAA, following the controversial
dismissal of hundreds of aviation experts decreed by Elon Musk’s Department of
Government Efficiency (DOGE).MAX 9 issues also cause headaches for the
regulator
Yet regardless of this latest turmoil, the FAA has been the source of negative
headlines for years. For example, it mandated the certification process for the
Boeing 737 MAX to the plane maker, in this way becoming dependent on the
judgement of Boeing’s own engineers and technicians. No surprise that they
confirmed that the jetliner meets all safety requirements demanded by the
regulatory bodies.
A decision with fatal
consequences, as evidenced by two crashes involving MAX 9 jetliners operated by
the Indonesian budget carrier, Lion Air, and Ethiopian Airlines. Investigations
proved that the crashes were tied to a design flaw involving the Manoeuvring
Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) of the B737 MAX 9 series.
As a result, all MAXs
were grounded and technically updated. It is debatable if the MCAS malfunction
had been discovered by independent FAA experts before Boeing was handed out the
airworthiness certificate for the aircraft.
Questionable
outsourcing practice
Following minor incidents, FAA received the next alarm signal from Alaska
Airlines, after a door plug on one of its B737 MAX 9 jetliners was blown off
during flight, causing the aircraft to descend uncontrollably. Fortunately,
none of the 177 passengers and crew were harmed. The primary cause was the
absence of four bolts that are crucial for securing the door plug.
Investigators
indicated that the bolts were removed during the manufacturing process and not
reinstalled. The plane maker admitted that there were quality control problems
with the MAX 9 production during the manufacturing process at its Renton plant.
Regulator FAA, which
is responsible for ensuring aviation safety but had outsourced the
authorization process to the frame maker, remained silent on the matter.
The black streak in
U.S. aviation reached its negative peak on 29JAN25, when an American Airlines
passenger plane and a “Black Hawk” military helicopter collided near Ronald
Reagan Airport in Washington, causing 67 victims.
Trump loyalty comes
first
In light of these events, thinning out the authority’s workforce and appointing
a man to the agency’s top position who has obviously falsified his own CV,
smacks of obstructionism. Once again, the case shows that when it comes to
filling top positions in authorities, it is not the candidate’s qualifications
that count, but his or her loyalty to Trump.
When asked by POLITICO
about Bedford’s credibility gap, the Department of Transportation (DOT), which
is responsible for the FAA, defended him. “Bryan never misrepresented his
credential; it was an administrative error that was immediately
corrected,” DOT said in a statement. The agency did not respond to
questions about what the “error” was or how its been fixed.
In addition, DOT said
that Bedford has never claimed to be a “commercial airline pilot” but that he
had passed “written and oral exams” needed to be licensed to fly commercially.
This contrasts his bio and assertions maintained until the recent hearing of
the Senate Commerce Committee.
POLITICO emphasizes that records examined by them prove that he never held any
commercial license.
Nor could any evidence
be found in the FAA registry that houses data on pilot’s licenses. In the
meantime, Indianapolis-headquartered Republic Airways has deleted the word
“commercial” in Bedford’s file. Now it reads: [… ] “he holds multi-engine
and instrument pilot ratings.”
Duffy advocates return
to duty-free system in aviation
Over at Paris, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy called for the
reintroduction of duty-free trade in civil aviation during his appearance at
the Paris Air Show. He thus opposed the 10% tariffs imposed by U.S. President
Donald Trump on most imports of aircraft components and parts, vital for Boeing
and other aircraft manufacturers.
In doing so, Duffy
supported demands of the U.S. aviation industry to return to the duty-free
system agreed in1979. The politician pointed out that U.S. companies had an
annual trade surplus of USD 75 billion due to exports of aircraft components.
Reciprocal measures taken by countries affected by the import tariffs could
lead to severe financial disadvantages harming the competitiveness of the U.S.
aviation industry, Duffy hinted in Paris.
Munich is waiting for more freighters…
… and they will come,
assures CEO Jost Lammers in an exclusive interview with CargoForwarder Global.
Most likely in the e-commerce sector on routes from China to the Bavarian
metropolis. So far, however, most consignments are still being transported in the
lower deck compartments of passenger aircraft.
Without
the contribution of air freight, many passenger routes would not be profitable,
states Jost Lammer, CEO Munich Airport – credit MUCThe figures are
impressive: 360 intercontinental flights per week are listed in the airport’s
traffic statistics. This allows for a very large number of shipments to be
transported to and from Munich in the lower decks of passenger aircraft. Since
16JUN25, Cathay joins the list, serving Munich (MUC) four times a week with an
A350-900.
This is the airline’s second destination in Germany after Frankfurt. Its ground handling partner is LUG aircargo handling GmbH. CEO Lammers also announced that Vietnam Airlines will increase flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from 4/7 to 5/7, operating B787-800 aircraft.
Leader of the pack
Compared to other German airports, MUC is on the rise in terms of air freight.
From January to May 2025, the volume grew by 8.8%, to a cumulative 130,000
tons. In contrast, the other German airports recorded an overall decline in
shipments of -1%. It is worth mentioning that the Munich statistics only show
the actual freight flown. All shipments contributed by road feeder services are
not included. If also counted, MUC would significantly increase its throughput
statistics – by +250,000 tons per year.
In the interview, CEO
Lammers pointed out that air freight makes a substantial contribution to the
sales generated by passenger flights. Depending on carrier and route, this is
between 10% to 20%. In other words: without a basic contribution from air freight,
some sectors could not operate profitably. Southern Germany, with the
metropolitan areas of Munich, Nuremberg and Ingolstadt, is a huge market with a
large catchment area that includes parts of neighboring Austria, the Czech
Republic and Hungary, he emphasizes.
Attractive location
This economic factor has motivated integrators such as DHL, UPS and FedEx to
integrate Munich into their European and intercontinental network. Based on
growth forecasts, DHL has invested EUR 150 million in the construction of a new
distribution center at the airport. The building has a floor space of 19,000
m², while its previous hall only offered 1,500 m².
The integrator serves MUC twice daily by freighter. This is also spurring on
the competition. FedEx and UPS have knocked on Lammers’ door and expressed
their demand for additional space. “That speaks for the attractiveness
of our location,” says the airport boss.
However, Express does
not lead the ranking of flown freight. According to Head of Cargo, Markus
Heinelt, general cargo is still in pole position. Final question to Mr.
Lammers: Has Trump’s customs confusion left its mark on the air freight players
using MUC? “We are not yet registering any negative effects on U.S.
traffic – neither in terms of passenger numbers nor cargo volumes,” is
his answer.
On the Starting Line: SkyForge
Our air cargo industry
is changing in the midst of this current ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’.
Innovation, digitalization, sustainability, shifting market and skills
requirements are all fuelling a wave of air cargo-focused start-ups. Whether
they are providing technological solutions, introducing new business models,
optimizing processes, enabling operational visibility and transparency through
data, or leveraging the many opportunities that are arising through these
changes, one thing is certain: these start-ups are disrupting the status quo
for the better. And they deserve a platform. That is why CargoForwarder Global
(CFG) is introducing a new, regular feature: “On the Starting Line…”. Each
month, CFG will pass the mic to an industry-relevant start-up and allow them to
introduce themselves in detail.
First up, is SkyForge (SF) – a boutique consultancy founded by Jelle Declerck (JS) and Mathieu Sérafimoff (MS), who both joined the industry more than ten years ago, and over time saw the need for consultancy that bridges the gap between boardroom strategy and operational reality – one “that is grounded in real-life experience, sharp strategy, and hands-on implementation,” as they tell CFG. “In a world where air cargo players are navigating rapid change, SkyForge offers something rare: a fresh perspective with feet firmly on the ground.”
Mathieu Sérafimoff
(left) and Jelle Declerck bring a down-to-earth fresh perspective. Image:
SkyForgeCFG: How did your
start-up come by its name and who are its founders?
SF: SkyForge is co-founded by Jelle Declerck and Mathieu Sérafimoff
– two long-time colleagues with a shared vision of doing consultancy
differently. The name “SkyForge” reflects our mission: to shape, develop and
strengthen the future of air cargo – both in the sky and on the ground. “Forge”
refers to building with intent, to sharpening tools, and to crafting strong
foundations. We wanted a name that signals energy, action, and resilience — not
something passive or abstract.
CFG. When did the idea
for your start-up emerge and how did you source your team? How big is it and
how do their skills relate to your business?
JD: The idea for SkyForge took root in late 2023, during countless
conversations about the disconnect we often saw between strategy and execution.
Both Mathieu and I had been involved in commercial and operational
transformations at scale, and we felt there was space for a consultancy that
could do more than just advise. For now, we are the core team – with complementary
profiles: I bring the commercial and strategic lens; Mathieu brings deep
operational and regulatory expertise. Around us, we are building a flexible
network of trusted collaborators.
CFG: When did you or
are you planning to launch officially?
MS: We officially launched SkyForge during Air Cargo Europe (ACE)
2025, using the event as a springboard to introduce the brand, meet partners,
and activate our initial projects. It was a deliberate move – to launch not in
silence, but in dialogue with the industry.
CFG: Where are your
headquarters located and what is your international scope?
JD: SkyForge is based in Belgium, but our scope is international.
We are already active in airport and operator projects across Europe, and open
to working globally where our hybrid model of strategic and operational support
can add value.
CFG: What air cargo
industry problem is your start-up trying to solve and why is it important?
MS: We’re tackling the gap between what gets decided in the
boardroom and what happens on the ground. Too often, commercial or operational
strategies falter because there’s no bridge between vision and reality. That’s
where we step in – not just with advice, but with the sleeves rolled up to make
sure transformation actually happens. In an industry facing digitalization,
regulatory shifts, and market realignment, that follow-through is critical.
CFG: Who are your
target customers?
JD: Our clients range from airports, ground handling agents, and
logistics companies, to public and private stakeholders working on
infrastructure, efficiency, or network growth. What they share is a need for
alignment between strategy and execution – and that’s where we bring the most
value. Our model is flexible by design: we tailor our involvement to the
complexity of the challenge and the maturity of the organization.
CFG: What market
research did you use to determine your company’s mission? What did it show?
MS: Our research came from years of lived experience. We’ve seen
where strategies fail, where teams lose alignment, and where external
consultants often fall short.
We also spent months
speaking with industry peers, stakeholders, and decision-makers – all of whom
confirmed the need for consultancy that’s both credible and embedded. The
mission became clear: help the sector evolve, without losing grip on the
realities that drive day-to-day performance.
CFG: Who are your main
competitors and what is your unique value proposition?
JD: We don’t see ourselves as competing directly with traditional
consultancies – in fact, we often complement them. While many firms focus on
high-level strategy or niche expertise, SkyForge excels at connecting the dots
between vision and execution.
We bring industry
insight, operational credibility, and the ability to mobilize action on the
ground. That makes us a valuable partner – whether embedded within a larger
transformation project or supporting clients directly. Our size also works to
our advantage: we’re agile, focused, and fully hands-on.
CFG: What have been
your greatest achievements or challenges so far?
MS: Launching SkyForge at ACE 2025 and immediately securing
international opportunities was a major milestone. The challenge, as with any
start-up, is managing momentum while delivering at a high level from day one.
We’re learning fast, staying flexible, and focusing on building trust with
every assignment.
CFG: What are the next
steps for your company?
JD: We’re finalizing our website and expanding our partner network.
More importantly, we’re actively scaling our client base through high-impact
projects and referrals. As we grow, we want to stay true to our hands-on DNA –
growing smart, not just fast.
CFG: How would you
describe your company culture in just one word?
MS: Committed.
To the work, to the people, and to making a real difference in a sector we know
and love.
CFG: Where can readers
find out more about you?
JD: Our website www.sky-forge.aero will go live soon. In the
meantime, we welcome conversations and connections via LinkedIn or directly by
email. We’re always happy to talk – whether it’s about collaboration or just
sharing ideas over a coffee.Thank you, Jelle Declerck and Mathieu
Sérafimoff, for these insights into your start-up, and CargoForwarder Global
wishes you every success going forward.
Swiss WorldCargo fast-tracks Claims
No airline or
forwarding agent likes claims. This is because they are the result of
irregularities in freight transportation, damaged shipments or even total
losses. Often, they are costly and settling them is time consuming, since
usually several parties are involved: airlines, ground handlers, road feeder
companies or their partners, not to mention insurance firms. Yet, claims can
also be a differentiating factor – if they are settled quickly, this can
strengthen customer loyalty. Conversely, the opposite is true. Swiss WorldCargo
has now launched a new online claims submission procedure aimed at speeding up
and enhancing processes.
When asked about the
innovation, the freight carrier first and foremost emphasizes that the new
digital claims procedure is not intended to replace the existing personal,
customer-centric approach, but rather to enhance it by removing friction from
the initial stages of the process. Among other things, this is done via a new
online form that standardizes the submission of claims, thus ensuring a uniform
procedure for customers globally – regardless of station or time zone.
Also, the tool increases transparency since the sender receives an instant confirmation after the claim has been filed, “which builds trust and reduces uncertainties,” stresses the carrier’s Claims department in a response to questions raised by CargoForwarder Global.
Claims can have many
causes and be very different
The carrier’s Claims team further states: “We allow customers to send a
Pre-Claim / Claim without having to previously register an account.” Although
the reasons for claims can be very different, theyare handled centrally by
Claims experts, the carrier assures.
A further benefit of
the new claims tool is internal efficiency improvement since manual e-mail
handling is a thing of the past. This allows the dedicated Cargo Claims team to
focus more on resolution quality and proactive communication, solving cases quickly
and competently. This way, operational costs are minimized and the overall
quality of the air cargo product is enhanced.
The human touch
remains
Despite offering claimants the digital submission of their cases if a shipment
was damaged, got lost or was not flown as booked, Swiss WorldCargo points out
that its team continues to manage each claim personally and that its members
reach out to local stations when needed, therefore ensuring that the human
touch remains central. The new system was launched on Wednesday (18JUN25)
combined with the request to access a dedicated online form for Pre-Claims and
Formal Claims – both providing a more efficient and user-friendly process,
states Swiss WorldCargo.
Guiding customers
These forms “guide our customers in a detailed way through the required
fields to ensure our teams receive all the information they need to process
their claim efficiently,” is stated in a release.
Asked to illustrate
the process by describing a typical claims example or two, Swiss WorldCargo
sent CargoForwarder Global this reply: “We understand the importance of
transparency, but we safeguard our customer’s privacy. Hence, the related
internal processes and customer information are treated as confidential and
cannot be shared externally.” In this respect, CargoForwarder Global
would like to emphasize that it had requested that Swiss WorldCargo anonymize a
given case, i.e. without specifically naming any people or companies involved.
Airbus inks SAF deal with Air France for its travellers
Airbus employees no
longer need to feel guilty about contributing to global warming through their
aircraft’s CO2 emissions on business trips – provided they fly
Air France on clearly defined routes and have booked the new ‘SAF Bundles’
product.
The initiative is
based on an agreement between the aircraft manufacturer and the airline,
enabling Airbus managers to reduce the greenhouse gas footprint of their
journey.
Even if the number of
routes the scheme includes is currently very limited, the initiative is a
starting signal and sets an example for other companies whose managers
frequently need to take to the air for business purposes. The SAF Bundles
product includes avoluntary contribution towards SAF and is directly embedded
in the pax ticket. It is an option and not compulsory, Airbus and Air France
unanimously stress. Precondition for the launch of the program was Airbus’
commitment to purchasing SAF options for its employees’ business trips by
joining Air France-KLM’s “SAF Corporate” program, in this way facilitating the
funding of SAF.
The joint initiative
kicked off by Airbus and Air France might motivate other companies to follow
suit – courtesy: ETSY.com.deWill SAF Bundles
become a trailblazer?
Sébastien Guyot, Executive Vice President Global Sales at Air France-KLM,
stated: “Reducing our CO2 emissions is a priority for
our Group. Sustainable aviation fuel is essential to achieving our ambitions,
and the contribution of our corporate customers, like Airbus, is crucial.”
Raphaël Duflos, Vice
President Corporate Services Procurement at Airbus, added: “We are
proud to be pioneers in adopting the new ‘SAF Bundle’ offer following the
rollout of the New Distribution Capability (NDC) with Air France. This
demonstrates the importance of our strategic partnership with Air France on
this key topic of decarbonizing business travel.”
Not all SAFs are the
same
Air France emphasizes that the kind of SAF chosen provides at least a 65%
reduction in CO2 emissions over the fuel’s full lifecycle
compared to fossil fuel. The Group has also implemented a strict procurement
policy, sourcing only SAF that does not compete with food production, does not
contribute to deforestation, and is not derived from palm oil.
However, at least at the start of the program, the choice of flight routes
remains very limited. It concerns connections between Airbus production sites
such as Toulouse-Montreal or Hamburg-Shanghai, each with a transfer in Paris
CDG.
Open Letter – EU
policymakers are asked to secure SAF funding
On the occasion of the 55th Paris Air Show (16-22JUN25),
companies from across the aviation industry and energy value chains have called
on European national governments to commit funding for an e-SAF pilot auction
via a double-sided auction mechanism to kickstart the e-SAF industry in Europe.
The letter is signed by 40 parties – including Airbus, Boeing, Air France KLM,
IAG, and DHL. Coordinator is Germany-based SkyPower, that launched an action
plan to push the decarbonization of the aviation industry up front by scaling
e-SAF production. Hugo Duchemin of Paris-registered agency Comworxx, a member
of SkyPower, submitted the open letter to CargoForwarder Global. Excerpts of
the document are published below:
Honorable
Minister,
The EU has committed e-SAF production (sustainable aviation fuel produced
from clean electricity) as a central lever for a lower emissions future, with
ReFuelEU Aviation mandating increasing e-SAF blending from 2030 onwards. Amid
Europe’s urgent pursuit of energy security, strengthening domestic industry
against rising global competition, and fostering high-value job creation, e-SAF
emerges as a strategic avenue for the EU to advance these objectives while
securing global leadership in clean technology innovation.The 40+ signatories
of this letter call on national governments to jointly commit funding to an
e-SAF pilot tender, using a double-sided auction mechanism which could
kickstart the market in time for the first e-SAF sub-mandate in 2030 and
provide a cogent proof point for the EU. […] Funds committed by national
governments would be disbursed from 2030 onwards, upon delivery of the first
e-SAF volumes. Importantly, the tender can be structured to ensure that funding
governments stand to benefit from accelerated access to e-SAF and from
stimulation of domestic economies.
This call for action
should form part of a more comprehensive EU SAF strategy to deliver the
ambitious ReFuelEU mandate for multiple SAF pathways (advanced biofuels and
e-SAF) and ensure a competitive and sustainable European SAF industry. The
commitment of funds to such a support mechanism would accelerate private sector
action and investment towards scaling e-SAF production capacity to ensure
funding countries can meet the sub mandates, as well as towards supporting
Europe’s cleantech leadership on a global stage. The e-SAF ecosystem stands
ready to grasp this rare opportunity to boost industrial competitiveness,
energy resilience and clean transport […].
I hope you have enjoyed reading the above
news letter.
Robert Sands
Joint Managing Director
Jupiter Sea & Air
Services Pvt Ltd
Casa Blanca, 3rd Floor
11, Casa Major Road,
Egmore
Chennai – 600 008.
India.
GST Number :
33AAACJ2686E1ZS.
Tel : + 91 44 2819 0171
/ 3734 / 4041
Fax : + 91 44 2819 0735
Mobile : + 91 98407
85202
E-mail : robert.sands@jupiterseaair.co.in
Website : www.jupiterseaair.com 1Branches : Chennai, Bangalore,
Mumbai, Coimbatore, Tirupur and Tuticorin.
Associate Offices : New
Delhi, Kolkatta, Cochin & Hyderabad.
Thanks to : Container News, Indian Seatrade, Cargo Forwarder Global & Air Cargo News.
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