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Dutch e-Smart Avia plans electric European cargo airline

Netherlands-based e-Smart Avia plans to launch an all-electric cargo airline in the third quarter of 2027 that will operate within Europe. ClearSky Airlines is expected to operate an initial fleet of five 100% electric BETA Technologies ALIA CTOL CX300 aircraft to further the e-Smart Group's decarbonisation ambitions. In November last year, the e-Smart Group placed the order for the aircraft, which can each carry shipments up to 500 kgs over distances of up to 500 km on a direct flight. Additionally, they will produce zero direct CO₂ and NOx emissions and minimum noise, which may allow for night-time operations across Europe, said e-Smart Avia. From its planned main operational base at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, complemented by additional European operating locations across the network, ClearSky Airlines will initially operate scheduled services for strategic logistics partners alongside premium charter flights for customers in the life sciences, healthcare, aerospace, automotive, high-value goods and other time-critical verticals throughout Europe. Strategic partnership with several long-haul air carriers to develop regular air feeder services is also under serious consideration, said e-Smart Avia. Following the recent announcement of a partnership with aerospace leasing specialist SLI, which will provide asset financing for the initial fleet of ClearSky Airlines, e-Smart Avia will now focus on the operational and regulatory foundations required to launch a new airline. This includes progressing its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) application with the objective of obtaining certification during 2027, securing commercial commitments from launch customers, and building up the ClearSky Airlines management team. "The launch of ClearSky Airlines is the pivotal moment not just to introduce electric aviation to the commercial market, but also to launch new air products like 'air-feeder services', which are too harmful for the environment and too expensive for the customers, if operated with conventionally powered airplanes," said Stan Wraight, a co-founder of e-Smart Group. "ClearSky Airlines is the first step in the ambitious plans of the Group to make electric aviation a commercial reality," added Jacques Heeremans, a co-founder of e-Smart Group and e-Smart Avia. "Based on the strategic partnership with SLI, e-Smart Avia is aiming to quickly grow its fleet and operations across mainland Europe using its Dutch-registered ClearSky Airlines, and expand beyond to other regions including the UK, Middle East and North-East Asia."

EC parcel tax bid for 'level playing field' creates bumpy ride for air cargo flows

The EU's introduction of a €3 customs duty on low-value ecommerce imports has triggered significant disruption to air cargo networks, as carriers and shippers adjust to the varying implementation practices across member states. The temporary duty, which came into force on 1 July, replaces the long-standing exemption for consignments valued up to €150. The EC says the measure is designed "to create a level playing field, improve product safety, and modernise customs procedures", ahead of the launch of the EU Customs Data Hub in 2028. However, industry sources say the differing approaches by national customs authorities are already distorting cargo flows. One source told The Loadstar: "The replacement of de minimis customs charges and replacement with a €3 package charge is causing huge disruptions to the air cargo business in Europe. "Some EU countries are requiring Chinese exporters to deposit €1m in advance and then pay as they go. Others are charging as the flight arrives and this is causing some business to shift to the countries with lower thresholds. "Italy seems to be one of the most relaxed EU entry points, and that is causing flights that previously went to Central European airports to shift southwards. This is destabilising eastbound flights, which is impacting our business." The source added that airports in Belgium, Germany and France were likely to be hardest hit. Indeed, Fabrice Pauquet, MD of Vatry Airport, told The Loadstar: "Normally, all EU countries should play the same game, but it seems like some are playing differently on the amount of money to put on the table for the tax." Mr Pauquet noted that Italy "seems to be a little bit more flexible", in that entry to the country doesn't require €1m per flight as a guarantee, adding: "France is still requiring a lot of money before providing customs clearance... So, we are still struggling to get the flights back." And an Aevean analysis indicates that the disruption extends beyond just anecdotal evidence. Maarten Wormer, head of consulting at Aevean, told The Loadstar several countries that introduced national parcel fees before the EU-wide measure had already seen traffic diverted. France's ecommerce imports fell between 30% and 55% year on year from March to May after the country introduced a €2 fee per parcel, while neighbours Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands, all with no fee, recorded growth. Since the EU-wide duty took effect, direct freighter capacity into Europe from Asia-Pacific and the Middle East has fallen for three consecutive weeks. Compared with the final week before implementation, week 29, capacity was down 16%, with Budapest recording the steepest decline (-51%), followed by Luxembourg (-23%), Milan Malpensa (-23%), and Amsterdam (-21%). Paris Charles de Gaulle was the only major hub to post growth (+14%), suggesting the bloc-wide regime has eased some of the competitive disadvantage France previously faced. The EC maintains the €3 charge is imposed on businesses, rather than consumers, and is intended to replace "an outdated exemption that allowed billions of low-value imports to enter the EU duty-free each year". It added that mandatory product identifiers would follow in November to strengthen traceability and safety checks. One stakeholder noted the scale of the measure and told The Loadstar: "It's a hell of a lot of money compared with the fact we were getting nothing before." However, Ahmed El-Alfy, global business development director at GN TEQ, said the measure was "rebalancing away from millions of direct parcels towards consolidated, warehouse-fed flows", rather than a collapse of European imports.

Good news for India's booming air cargo sector as freighters take off at NMIA

Freighter and belly capacity is gathering pace at Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), Adani Group's newest flagship investment in India, which opened to commercial business late last year. Cathay Cargo this month became the first to announce international freighter services out of NMIA from next month, with indications that the Hong Kong-based airline intends to develop the gateway as its Mumbai hub, shifting from the old city airport and its prolonged disruption due to infrastructure upgrades. Adani Airport Holdings had told cargo stakeholders no freighter slots would be available at Mumbai from next month until May 2027. And Cathay is not alone in trying to build a cargo footprint at NMIA. Tata Group-owned Air India began international cargo operations last week via bellyhold shipments to Abu Dhabi on its twice-weekly passenger service. Air India said the Navi Mumbai service launch reflected its "dual airport strategy", claiming the new air cargo infrastructure offered a "seamless cold chain experience" for its first temperature-controlled shipment. "Fresh produce was transported to the airport in refrigerated vehicles, stored in temperature-controlled facilities before loading, and prepared for export in accordance with prescribed handling protocols for perishable cargo," it said. Airlines have suffered perennial capacity issues at Mumbai, so industry sources are betting high on NMIA, which features a large integrated air cargo terminal, with some 36,000sq metres for domestic cargo and some 25,500sq metres for international cargo. Current estimates are that the terminal could handle 800,000 tonnes of cargo in the first phase of operations, scaling up to around 3m tonnes in phases. According to industry sources, its automated 'truck slot management' system is a key air cargo service differentiator at NMIA. The digital platform, integrated within the airport's cargo community system run by Kale Logistics Solutions, enables logistics providers to pre-book specific time slots for truck arrivals, substantially reducing truck turnaround times and alleviating terminal congestion during peak hours. Kale co-founder and director Vineet Malhotra told The Loadstar: "By enabling digital slot bookings, intelligent scheduling and real-time co-ordination between freight forwarders, transporters, ground handlers, and terminal operators, the solution streamlines cargo movement, reduces vehicle dwell times, improves resource utilisation and enhances the overall efficiency of the cargo terminal." With the necessary regulatory permissions in place, bonded trucking services are also set to go live soon at NMIA, sources said. Bonded trucking by customs-accredited over-the-road carriers is an integral part of multimodal operations, as government policymakers and industry stakeholders work to lower logistics costs and shorten cargo wait times at gateway terminals. "More airlines will surely start operations once bonded trucking services are available to connect cargo between the two airports," Mumbai-based industry veteran Joy John told The Loadstar.