JUPITER SEA & AIR SERVICES PVT. LTD, EGMORE – CHENNAI, INDIA.

 

E-MAIL : Robert.sands@jupiterseaair.co.in   Mobile : +91 98407 85202

 

 

Corporate News Letter for  Friday  July  24,  2026

Today’s Exchange Rates

CURRENCY▲	PRICE	CHANGE	%CHANGE	OPEN	PREV.CLOSE
USD/INR	96.57	0.010002	0.010356	96.49	96.58
EUR/USD	1.138	-0.0032	-0.280401	1.1412	1.1412
GBP/INR	129.1219	0.015808	0.012244	129.2472	129.1061
EUR/INR	110.2048	0.070107	0.063655	110.3179	110.1347
USD/JPY	163.786	0.636002	0.389826	163.15	163.15
GBP/USD	1.3313	-0.0062	-0.463548	1.3375	1.3375
JPY/INR	0.5911	-0.0013	-0.219453	0.5923	0.5924

///                   Sea Cargo News            ///

Sea Legend resumes Arctic container service

China’s Sea Legend Shipping will resume its China-Europe Arctic Express (CAX) service this year, once again using the Northern Sea Route (NSR) to connect Ningbo with the UK port of Felixstowe, according to DynaLiners.

The carrier launched the seasonal service in 2025, but only completed a single voyage as operations began late in the Arctic navigation window.

For the 2026 season, Sea Legend plans to operate eight sailings between mid-August and late October, significantly expanding the service.

The route will be served by seven vessels with capacities ranging from 1,500 TEU to 4,900 TEU.

The Northern Sea Route offers a shorter connection between Asia and Northern Europe during the Arctic summer, when ice conditions allow commercial navigation, providing carriers with an alternative to traditional routes through the Suez Canal.

Maersk warns of rail disruptions across Italy

Maersk has warned customers of potential disruptions to intermodal rail services in Italy as major railway infrastructure works are carried out across the national network through the end of September.

The carrier said rail connections linking the Ligurian ports of Vado, Genoa and La Spezia with key inland hubs will remain operational but are expected to face delays, capacity constraints and unplanned cancellations during the construction period.

To reduce disruption, Maersk is implementing alternative rail routings where possible. However, these contingency measures may lead to longer transit times, reduced network flexibility and a lower ability to recover from service delays.

The main infrastructure works affecting operations include:

·        2–16 August: Closure of the Verona–Vicenza railway line, potentially limiting capacity between the Ligurian ports and Padua.

·        17 August–14 September: Closure of the railway line via Ovada, which may reduce capacity for 40HC containers moving from Liguria to inland hubs.

·        24–29 August: Suspension of rail services between Vado and Verona due to a railway line interruption.

Maersk encouraged customers to plan shipments well in advance during the affected periods and said it is working closely with rail operators and infrastructure managers to minimise the impact on cargo flows.

The carrier added that trucking alternatives will remain available throughout the disruption period. However, any additional costs arising from contingency road transport will be borne by customers, as the infrastructure works are outside Maersk’s control.

Dynacom-managed tanker catches fire after projectile strike near Strait of Hormuz

A tanker managed by Dynacom Tankers Management caught fire after an unknown projectile struck the vessel near the Strait of Hormuz, according to maritime security authorities.

The incident occurred about 8 nautical miles northwest of Kumzar, Oman, on 20 July.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) first reported a vessel on fire before reclassifying the incident as an attack. UKMTO said the ship’s Company Security Officer confirmed the vessel had been hit by an unknown projectile.

The crew abandoned the vessel safely and a tug rescued them. The fire remained active, and the tanker was left adrift. UKMTO said there was no reported environmental impact and advised ships transiting the area to remain vigilant while authorities investigate.

British maritime security firm Vanguard identified the vessel as the Malta-flagged tanker Kavomaleas. The company said the fire broke out while the tanker transited the Strait of Hormuz at approximately 1924 UTC. It added that investigators have not yet determined the cause of the fire.

According to Reuters, the Panamax tanker was due to load oil products in the Gulf later this week, citing shipbroking fixtures and a trade source.

The attack marks the latest incident affecting commercial shipping since tensions between the United States and Iran escalated earlier this month.

On Monday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said two oil tankers had “exploded” after attempting what it described as an unsafe southern route through the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC also referred to two vessels involved in an “accident” in the same area on Sunday.

Reuters said it was not immediately clear whether the incidents were connected.

Strait of Hormuz seen as key shipping route

The Strait of Hormuz shipping route has emerged as the corridor readers expect to matter most in the coming months. It ranked ahead of the Suez Canal, the Cape of Good Hope and the view that all three routes will carry equal importance.

The result points to a clear hierarchy in current industry sentiment. However, the strong support for the combined option also shows that many readers see the major maritime corridors as closely connected.

Strait of Hormuz shipping route takes the lead

The Strait of Hormuz finished first in the poll.

Readers therefore appear to see it as the route most likely to shape shipping decisions in the near term. Its leading position was clear, although it did not completely overshadow the other options.

The result suggests that attention remains focused on how developments around this corridor could influence shipping activity and wider network planning.

All major routes remain relevant

The option “All equally” ranked second.

This is an important part of the result. A significant share of readers did not select one corridor alone. Instead, they indicated that Hormuz, Suez and the Cape of Good Hope may all influence shipping at the same time.

This view reflects the interconnected nature of maritime routing. Changes affecting one corridor can alter the importance of another.

Suez Canal ranks behind Hormuz

The Suez Canal finished third.

Readers clearly recognise its importance, but they do not currently place it above the Strait of Hormuz. The result suggests that Suez remains a major route to watch, although it is not seen as the leading influence over the coming months.

Cape of Good Hope attracts the least support

The Cape of Good Hope ranked last.

Readers may see it primarily as an alternative route rather than the corridor most likely to drive shipping developments. Its role remains relevant, but the poll indicates that attention is focused more strongly on Hormuz and Suez.

A clear route ranking

The poll produced a consistent order.

The Strait of Hormuz came first, followed by the view that all routes will matter equally. The Suez Canal ranked third, while the Cape of Good Hope finished last.

Overall, readers see Hormuz as the most important route to monitor. At the same time, the result does not point to a single-corridor outlook. Many participants still believe the three routes will collectively shape shipping in the months ahead.

Sinotrans expands China–India network with new CIW2 service

Sinotrans has expanded its network between China and India by taking slots on the CSX/CI8 service operated by Emirates Shipping and Evergreen.

Sinotrans will market the service as CIW2, adding a new connection between key ports in China, Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka and India.

The service is operated by six vessels with an average capacity of around 6,000 TEU.

The port rotation is:

Qingdao – Xiamen – Nansha – Shenzhen (Dachan) – Port Klang – Colombo – Nhava Sheva – Mundra – Port Klang – Qingdao.

The new CIW2 offering strengthens Sinotrans’ coverage of the China–India trade and provides additional access to major regional transshipment hubs.

///                   Air Cargo News            ///

ONE Record takes off – a turning point for digital air cargo

For years, ONE Record has been presented as the future of digital air cargo. It featured in conference presentations, pilot projects and industry roadmaps, but for many airlines and freight forwarders it remained just a vision. This is about to change.

Lufthansa Cargo, together with WiseTech Global and IBS Software, has successfully completed one of the first large-scale production implementations of IATA’s ONE Record standard. Freight forwarders using CargoWise can now seamlessly exchange records with Lufthansa Cargo’s operational systems, and vice versa, via the IBS ONE Record Server.

At first glance, this looks like another IT milestone. In reality, it could mark the beginning of a much bigger transformation.

    Image: Courtesy of Lufthansa cargo / IATA ONE Record Initiative

More than a new data standard

For decades, air cargo has relied on message-based standards such as Cargo-IMP and Cargo-XML. While they enabled digital communication, they were designed for an industry that exchanged information through individual messages rather than through continuously shared data.
Today’s supply chains have become far more complex with shipment data often duplicated across multiple systems, while every stakeholder may be working with a slightly different version of the same software.

ONE Record replaces this fragmented approach with a single, standardized shipment record that can be securely shared via APIs. Instead of exchanging messages between disparate systems, authorized partners work with the same live dataset throughout the transport process.

From pilot projects to daily operations

What makes this project particularly significant is that it moves ONE Record beyond demonstrations into live production.
Shipment records created within CargoWise are now successfully processed inside Lufthansa Cargo’s operational environment through IBS Software’s ONE Record platform.

It proves that standardized shipment data can flow seamlessly between freight forwarders and airlines in day-to-day operations instead of controlled pilot environments. This is an operational step change because implementation (not technology) has always been ONE Record’s biggest challenge. The standard has existed for several years but industry-wide adoption has been lacking.

The joint announcement from Lufthansa Cargo, WiseTech Global, and IBS Software suggests the industry may finally be reaching the tipping point.

Since Jan2026, IATA’s ONE Record has become the preferred data-sharing standard for air cargo  –  courtesy IATA Cargo  

The industry Is catching up

IATA officially introduced ONE Record as the preferred standard for air cargo data exchange in January 2026 ( https://cargoforwarder.eu/2025/09/21/one-record-building-momentum-for-2026/ ) encouraging airlines, freight forwarders, and technology providers to move away from traditional messaging standards toward API-based data sharing. The association now supports implementation through industry working groups and an expanding network of production projects.

Momentum is clearly building, with more airlines investing in ONE Record connectivity. Technology providers are integrating the standard into their platforms, and freight forwarders are beginning to see practical business benefits beyond regulatory compliance.

The real challenge starts now

Technology alone will not transform air cargo, industry experts hold. ONE Record can only rise to its full potential if airlines, forwarders, handlers, and technology providers adopt common standards and commit to sharing data across organizational boundaries. This requires investment, trust, and a willingness to rethink long-established processes.

Legacy systems will not disappear overnight, and hybrid environments will remain part of the industry for years. But the direction is becoming increasingly clear.

For a long time, the question was whether ONE Record would become the industry’s digital standard. That question is gradually being answered. The more relevant question now is how quickly the rest of the industry will follow. Because digital transformation in air cargo is no longer just about replacing paper. It is about creating a connected data ecosystem capable of supporting the next generation of intelligent logistics.

Can Europe finally standardize digital logistics data?

Fragmented data exchange remains one of the biggest obstacles to digital freight transport. The Open Logistics Foundation believes it can change that. Its new eDeliveryNote project, led by Markant, aims to develop an open-source data model, standardized APIs and interoperable interfaces that enable existing logistics systems to exchange delivery note data using a common open standard. The initiative brings together logistics companies, shippers, consignors and software providers to help shape that standard.

Carina Tüllmann (CCO) from Open Logistics Foundation  –  Photo: Private

Universal Business Language (UBL) and eDeliveryNote are not the same

Open Logistics Foundation will develop an “open, consensus-based data model for the digital delivery note” together with standardized APIs and interoperable interfaces.

The goal of UBL is to ensure that different ERP, procurement, and accounting systems can exchange business documents in a consistent, interoperable format without requiring custom integrations. The Foundation is not claiming UBL is inadequate. Instead, it is addressing a different problem: UBL primarily specifies the document schema. The Open Logistics Foundation aims to provide the implementation framework needed to make those standards easier to adopt across existing logistics systems.

The objective is not to develop another product or platform, but to provide reusable open-source components that integrate with existing systems.

Spain provides a practical example

Dr. David Saive (Legal Product Owner) and Carina Tüllmann (CCO) from Open Logistics Foundation explain the impact of the Spanish regulation and what this means in practice.
From 05OCT2026, Spain will require a digital Documento de Control Administrativo (DCA) for commercial road freight transport. What was meant to have an effect for domestic transports and cabotage control only, will, in practice, also be relevant to much of the transit traffic passing through the country.

A deciding factor is how the DCA is made available during an inspection. The Spanish approach is ‘view-by-request’: no structured interfaces with the authorities, but rather a document-based approach where an unstructured document must be provided on request.

“Spain is actually a prime example of why the argument works the other way around. The regulatory landscape there shifted significantly: what was originally known as the DCA has since been updated and is now referred to as the DeCA. This precisely illustrates the core challenge. National transport compliance requirements can change quickly and with considerable complexity,” Tüllmann adds.

Rather than developing country-specific solutions, the Open Logistics Foundation aims to build reusable components that can be adapted as regulations evolve across Europe.

Why governments are driving digital transport documents

The answer goes beyond “because the law requires it”. Transport documents establish who is responsible for the goods at each stage of the supply chain, helping to avoid disputes over liability. The systems are designed to give governments visibility into the movement of goods, not business efficiency.
A single shipment may generate related information which is repeated across multiple documents, such as delivery note, customs declaration, invoice or proof of delivery. More importantly, the opportunity is not simply to digitize each document, but to create one trusted source of logistics data.

From document-centric logistics to data-centric logistics

Real innovation isn’t replacing paper with PDFs; it’s about treating documents as different views of the same underlying data. If initiatives like eDeliveryNote succeed, the competitive advantage won’t come from producing digital documents – it will come from maintaining a high-quality, interoperable data model that can satisfy both business operations and regulatory requirements. That is a much broader transformation than digitizing a delivery note.

A common pattern

Several European countries have introduced national digital transport reporting or control systems, although they differ in scope and purpose. Interestingly, most national systems are sector-specific rather than applying to every shipment.
High-value goods most exposed to VAT fraud, together with excise items such as fuel, alcohol, or tobacco and pharmaceuticals, are the primary targets. Today, companies operating across Europe may have to comply with country-specific reporting systems. This fragmentation is the problem that organizations like the Open Logistics Foundation are trying to address.

The real trend

The eFTI Regulation is the EU framework for exchanging legally required freight transport information electronically between businesses and public authorities.

From 09JUL2027, authorities in EU Member States must accept freight information electronically when a business provides it through a certified eFTI platform. Importantly, eFTI primarily obliges public authorities, not companies.

eFTI is not a new consignment note

eFTI is the legal and technical framework through which regulatory transport information is made available to authorities. eFTI could become the common regulatory layer above national systems.

“The point is not to create isolated national solutions, but to position digitally in a way that allows for low-effort, targeted adaptation to local requirements. That is the strategic approach, and it scales,” adds Tüllmann.

 eCMR and eDeliveryNote remain the business layer

The electronic consignment note (eCMR), used in cross-border road freight transport, may contain much of the same information, but it serves a different purpose. The eCMR records the transport contract and the parties’ responsibilities. eFTI regulates how statutory freight information is communicated to authorities.

The strategic question is whether data created for eCMR, eDeliveryNote and national reporting systems such as Spain’s DeCA, Poland’s SENT, Hungary’s EKÁER and Romania’s RO e-Transport can be mapped to the common eFTI dataset instead of being recreated for every regulatory requirement.

If the Open Logistics Foundation’s vision succeeds, companies could create logistics data once and reuse it across business processes and national reporting systems. eFTI would then provide the common regulatory framework for making the required information available to authorities across Europe.

Russia keeps grounding aircraft

Due to the increasing shortages of spare parts nearly 20% of all commercial aircraft registered in Russia are currently grounded. This causes a massive shortage of transport capacity in a country where, due to its vast geographical dimensions, air services are key.

As Moscow-basednewspaper Kommersant reports, of the 673 aircraft that make up the combined fleet of the country’s eleven largest airlines – accounting for more than 90% of passenger traffic – 19.3% (approximately 130 units) are out of service due to the unavailability of Western certified spare parts, tools or technical instruments.

Siberian carrier S7 Airlines has been forced to ground 32% of its 104 jetliners – credit: S7

Is Aeroflot enjoying privileges?

State-owned Aeroflot Group, which includes Aeroflot, Rossiya, and Pobeda, is weathering the crisis best, with just 37 of its 349 aircraft out of service (11%). However, outside the state group the situation is alarming since 93 of the 322 aircraft in service are set aside (29%).

S7 Airlines, Russia’s largest private carrier, has 33 of its 104 jetliners parked (32%), following technical hiccups with the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines on its 32 Airbus A320neos. These require periodic technical services, inspections and overhauls performed abroad that are impossible under the current sanctions. Nordwind Airlines reports 12 of its 27 aircraft grounded (44%), including three of its five Airbus A330s and three of its four Boeing 777 long-haul aircraft.

Worst hit is Azur Air, Russia’s largest charter operator: only six of its 23 aircraft have been cleared to fly following inspections by regulator Rosaviatsia over serious engine issues, leaving 74% of its fleet grounded.

Grounded aircraft don’t make money

Under normal circumstances, around 10% of an airline’s fleet undergoes maintenance during the summer flight period, the busiest and most lucrative time of the year for the airlines. Comparatively, the figures cited by Kommersant are dramatic, as they demonstrate the impact that Western sanctions are having on Moscow’s commercial aviation sector.

The vast majority of fleets in Russia survive only because existing aircraft are being cannibalized and used as a storage facility for aircraft parts. Imports of essential components and instruments through third countries such as the Gulf States, Turkey or Azerbaijan add to the supply, as do PMA-components (Parts Manufacturer Approval), a certification that allows approved manufacturers to produce replacement or modification parts for aircraft at lower costs compared to the parts coming from original equipment manufacturers (OEM).  

The situation is likely to become even more dramatic

However, the outlook for 2027 is worrying for Russia’s aviation sector. Analysts warn that aircraft retirements will accelerate as the ageing certified components reach the end of their service life, particularly in the case of Western widebody aircraft.

Adding to this are two other critical challenges for the remainder of 2026: Ukrainian drone attacks forcing repeated airport closures, increasing the instability in aviation fuel supply.

Western Sydney International begins cargo flight trials

Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport has begun cargo precinct trial flights as part of its final operational readiness programme ahead of the formal opening of the hub and the start of commercial services on Sunday, 26 July.

The first freighter, a Qantas A321 freighter, was due to land at WSI on Monday afternoon, marking the start of live operational trials at the airport’s 24-hour cargo hub. WSI chief executive Simon Hickey said the trial flights were part of the final stages of preparing the airport for commercial freight operations.

“Today we’ll welcome a Qantas A321 freighter to WSI as we continue to ramp up operational preparations and really bring this airport to life,” he said.

“These trials are an integral part of ensuring that our systems, infrastructure and staff have been put through their paces in a live and controlled operating environment. Today’s flight will be followed by further trials over the following fortnight as we make our final preparations for commercial freight services.”

When the cargo precinct opens on 26 July, Qantas Freight will operate alongside Menzies Aviation, dnata Cargo and Texel Air at the site. Hickey said WSI and its cargo hub benefit from being Australia’s first greenfield international airport developed in more than 50 years.

“We’ve utilised the latest technology and innovations to deliver a highly efficient, sustainable, and future-proofed Cargo Precinct. Our trials present an excellent opportunity to test these capabilities,” he said. “I also want to acknowledge the huge amount of cooperation and coordination across WSI, together with our colleagues at Airservices Australia and our trusted Cargo Precinct partners to deliver this trial programme.

We look forward to welcoming our first commercial services later this month.” Western Sydney International Airport begins cargo precinct trial flights ahead of its formal opening.

Acting Minister for Transport Kristy McBain welcomed Qantas Freight’s first trial flight to the airport. “This is the largest plane to land at Western Sydney International Airport so far, as we get ready to open for freight services,” she said. “The new airport will connect Western Sydney to the world, allowing us to move produce and goods from every corner of the state to new markets across the globe.”

Qantas Freight executive manager Igor Kwiatkowski said the airport was expected to become one of Australia’s key air freight hubs. “In just a few weeks, this new 24-hour facility will provide greater flexibility for our freight network, helping us meet growing demand for e-commerce and next-day deliveries,” he said.

“The airport will increase Sydney’s air cargo capacity helping us to move time-critical supplies around Australia and overseas in the months ahead.” The cargo precinct is expected to increase Sydney’s air cargo capacity and support the movement of up to 220,000 tonnes of freight each year. It has dedicated access via the recently upgraded Northern Road and is close to freight and logistics hubs in Kemps Creek and industrial sites across the Aerotropolis.

WSI said the cargo precinct has been designed for future growth. While stage one will launch in July, the site has capacity for significant expansion in line with future consumer and business demand.

Embraer brings E195-E2 and KC-390 to Farnborough Airshow

Brazilian aerospace giant Embraer has announced it will once again establish a formidable presence at the upcoming Farnborough International Airshow in the United Kingdom. The company is set to highlight its ongoing growth momentum, which continues to be propelled by rising aircraft deliveries, a record-breaking backlog, and a robust expansion across its key global markets.

Taking place from July 20 to 24 at the Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre in Hampshire, England, the prestigious biennial aviation event will serve as a global stage for Embraer.

Attendees will be able to get up close with some of the manufacturer's premier aircraft on static display, including the E195-E2, the world’s most efficient small narrowbody jet, and the KC-390 Millennium multi-mission airlifter and tanker.

 

Reflecting on the company’s trajectory and the importance of the event, Francisco Gomes Neto, president and CEO of Embraer, noted the strategic value of the airshow: “Embraer is set for a sustainable growth, supported by strong demand across our businesses, expanding global presence, and continued investments in efficiency and innovation,” said Francisco Gomes Neto, president and CEO of Embraer.

We see consistent demand across all segments of the business, and Farnborough provides a unique opportunity to engage with customers, strengthen partnerships, and pursue new business opportunities around the world.” This commercial optimism is well-founded. During the first half of 2026, Embraer successfully delivered 109 aircraft, representing an impressive increase of approximately 20% compared to the 91 aircraft delivered during the same period in the previous year.

This performance underscores the steady progress of the company’s production levelling and operational efficiency initiatives. Combined with a record backlog, these delivery figures reinforce Embraer’s robust position in the aerospace sector and offer clear visibility for its future growth.

On the tarmac, the E195-E2 will stand as a testament to Embraer's leadership in efficient and sustainable commercial aviation. As the largest member of the E-Jets E2 family, it is designed with advanced aerodynamics to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, making it a key talking point in ongoing discussions with airlines worldwide.

Besides it, the KC-390 Millennium will showcase the company’s next-generation tactical transport and defence capabilities. Renowned for its versatility, payload capacity, and speed, the KC-390 is rapidly expanding its international footprint, particularly among NATO member countries looking for reliable, modern, and cost-effective multi-mission platforms.

Furthermore, Embraer will highlight its forward-looking vision for urban air mobility through its subsidiary, Eve Air Mobility. Visitors will have the unique opportunity to explore a full-scale mock-up of Eve’s electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and enjoy a simulated flight experience, emphasising the group's dedication to building a sustainable future for urban transport.

Saadia Zahidi to lead IATA as first woman Director General

The International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) board of directors has appointed Saadia Zahidi as the association's next Director General, effective November 1, 2026. Zahidi becomes IATA's ninth Director General and its first woman to hold the role.

Zahidi joins IATA from the World Economic Forum (WEF), where she currently serves as Managing Director and a Member of the Managing Board, a tenure spanning more than two decades. She founded and heads the WEF's Centre for the New Economy and Society, and has previously led the Forum's Global Communications Group and Global Programming Group, alongside its engagement with academics, civil society, and international organisations.

Willie Walsh, IATA's outgoing Director General, concludes his tenure on July 31, 2026. Bridging the gap, the Board has named Sandrine Le Borgne, IATA's Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President for Corporate Services, as interim Director General.

Roberto Alvo, Chair of the IATA Board and CEO of LATAM Airlines Group, welcomed the appointment. "The Board is very pleased to appoint Saadia Zahidi as Director General of IATA," Alvo said, adding her WEF experience would strengthen the association's role as "the voice of the world's airlines."

He pointed to technology and geopolitics as forces set to reshape the industry, noting Zahidi's skillset positions her to articulate the sector's needs as it navigates that shift. Alvo also credited Walsh's leadership for helping IATA emerge from the pandemic years stronger and with broader membership representation.

For her part, Zahidi called the appointment an honour at what she described as a pivotal moment for aviation. "Aviation is critical infrastructure for economic growth, trade, tourism, jobs, investment, and opportunity," she said, emphasising IATA's role in uniting the industry through standards, services, and advocacy.

She flagged collaboration with member airlines, governments, and industry partners as a priority, alongside innovation, resilience, and sustainable growth with her immediate focus on working alongside the IATA team to shape the industry's path forward.

Zahidi's record at the WEF includes founding and co-authoring the Future of Jobs Report, the Future of Growth Report, the Global Gender Gap Report, and the Chief Economist Outlook series. Her policy experience extends to the UN Secretary-General's panel for Women's Economic Empowerment and the European Space Agency's High-Level Advisory Group.

She has also authored Fifty Million Rising, a study of working women's advancement across the Muslim world. Zahidi holds a BA in Economics from Smith College, an MPhil in International Economics from the Graduate Institute, and an MPA from Harvard University. She carries Swiss and Pakistani nationalities.

Her appointment marks a leadership transition for IATA as the association confronts a shifting geopolitical and technological landscape, with aviation's trillion-dollar footprint, and its role connecting people and economies, central to the mandate she now inherits.

In March this year, the current IATA Director General, Walsh, was selected by the Board of InterGlobe Aviation Limited, the holding company of IndiGo, to be CEO of India's largest airline, after former CEO Pieter Elbers decided to leave the role with immediate effect.

Walsh is expected to join IndiGo before August 3. Rahul Bhatia, Group Managing Director of InterGlobe Enterprises and promoter of IndiGo, took charge as interim CEO of IndiGo.

LODD starts certification of Hili VTOL cargo aircraft

LODD Autonomous has launched the certification programme for its Hili hybrid cargo aircraft with the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), marking a significant step towards commercial deployment of the autonomous cargo platform.

The programme moves Hili from the development and flight-testing phase into formal civil aviation certification. According to the company, it is the first autonomous cargo aircraft designed and developed in the UAE to enter the country's civil certification process.

Developed in Abu Dhabi, Hili is a hybrid-powered vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft capable of transporting payloads of up to 250 kg over distances of up to 700 km. The aircraft is intended to support cargo operations across healthcare, energy, humanitarian and industrial supply chains by providing long-range, autonomous freight transport.

Rashid Al Manai, CEO of LODD, said, “The launch of the Hili certification programme marks one of the most significant milestones in the evolution of the aircraft and reflects the progress we have made across design, engineering and flight testing.”

The certification process will cover aircraft design approval, airworthiness compliance, ground and flight testing, operational evaluations and safety assessments required for future commercial operations. The programme is being conducted under the supervision of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council, with the GCAA serving as the certifying authority throughout the process.

LODD said the initiative supports its objective of certifying Hili as the first advanced autonomous civilian aircraft to be designed, engineered and certified in the UAE.

The certification effort is supported by Abu Dhabi's aviation ecosystem, including the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility) and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) through its Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) Cluster. Abdulla Hamad AlGhfeli, Acting Director General of the Integrated Transport Centre, said, “The certification of advanced autonomous aviation systems such as Hili represents a significant step in advancing Abu Dhabi's integrated mobility ecosystem.

At the Integrated Transport Centre, we are committed to enabling and supporting the development of innovative transport solutions that enhance efficiency, safety and sustainability across the Emirate.” According to Ali AlHashmi, Head of the Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) Cluster at the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), Hili's entry into the formal certification phase reflects the collaborative efforts of industry, regulators and ecosystem partners in advancing the development, testing and commercial deployment of next-generation aviation technologies.

Meanwhile, Aqeel Al Zarooni, Assistant Director General for Aviation Safety Affairs at the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), said the Hili certification programme reflects the country's commitment to advancing aviation innovation while ensuring high safety standards and supporting the certification of next-generation aircraft technologies.

Once certified, the Hili aircraft is expected to support commercial operations across middle-mile logistics, healthcare supply chains, offshore services, humanitarian missions and regional cargo transportation.

I hope you have enjoyed reading the above news letter.                                                    

Robert Sands

Joint Managing Director

Jupiter Sea & Air Services Pvt Ltd

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Thanks  to  :  Container  News,  Indian Seatrade, Cargo Forwarder Global  &  Air Cargo News.