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Cathay Cargo the latest to add Navi Mumbai freighter flights

Cathay Cargo has become the latest airline to shift its Mumbai freighter flights to the recently opened Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). The Hong Kong carrier said that it would operate three flights to the Indian airport per week using its Boeing 747-400ERF and 747-8F aircraft. The carrier had previously been operating its dedicated cargo flights to Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, but freighter operations are being temporarily suspended at the airport while upgrades are carried out. The carrier's bellyhold cargo operations will remain at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Cathay Pacific regional head of cargo for South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, Rajesh Menon, said: "The move of our Mumbai freighter operations to Navi Mumbai International Airport reinforces our steadfast commitment to the Indian market and its growth trajectory. "By combining Navi Mumbai International Airport's modern infrastructure with our dedicated freighter presence and our 'We Know How' expertise, we are providing reliable connectivity and specialist handling for local enterprises, exporters and SMEs. "This will also further strengthen connectivity between Western India's exporters and key global markets through our Hong Kong hub." In addition to its Navi Mumbai International Airport freighter service, Cathay Cargo continues to operate its dedicated freighter network across India, operating five weekly freighter flights from Delhi and Chennai, respectively. Cathay Cargo utilises additional bellyhold capacity on Cathay Pacific's passenger aircraft across all five of its Indian gateways: Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad with 45 passenger flights per week across these five cities. Earlier this month, Silk Way West announced the start of its cargo operations at the new India airport. Hong Kong Air Cargo is also moving its freighter flights to the airport. NMIA opened its doors back in December, but freighter operations did not get underway until 1 August, when an IndiGo freighter took off from the airport.

DHL Aviation hires two Asia sales directors

DHL Aviation has appointed two new sales directors to help steer growth for the business in fast-growing Asia markets. Julie Zhu has been hired as senior director, China air capacity sales, and Jaspall Singh has been appointed as senior director, Southeast Asia air capacity sales, said Ingrid Raj, chief cargo officer at DHL Aviation. Confirming the appointments in a LinkedIn post today, Raj said that Zhu began her new role on 15 September and Singh will begin his new role on 1 January. Raj stated: "Southeast Asia and China are two of the world's fastest-growing air cargo regions and deserve dedicated leadership. "That's why I'm delighted to welcome Julie Zhu as Senior Director, China Air Capacity Sales, and to congratulate Jaspall Singh on his appointment as Senior Director, Southeast Asia Air Capacity Sales. "Both will report directly to me, and their appointments reflect our commitment to investing where our customers are growing fastest." Zhu joined DHL from Lufthansa Cargo, where she built her career over 22 years, most recently as head of revenue management and pricing for Asia Pacific. Based in Shanghai, she brings deep insight into China's air cargo landscape. Singh has been part of DHL for 16 years, beginning in Aviation Commercial Services (ACS) Finance and most recently serving as director of revenue management for China and Central and North Asia in Hong Kong. He brings strong transformation and leadership experience to the opportunities ahead in Southeast Asia, where he will be based in Singapore.

Maersk mega order and CMA CGM push containership orderbook ratio above 45%

The orderbook-to-current fleet ratio of the global container fleet has hit a new high after last Friday's confirmation by Maersk that it has placed firm orders for 26 new ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs). In addition, last week also saw French carrier CMA CGM place an order for another series of 24,000 teu ULCVs. According to analysts at Linerlytica, "containership orderbook ratio has surged past 45% to a new post-2009 high following confirmation of Maersk's order for 26 ships of 18,600 teu and 12 units of 24,000 teu by CMA CGM. "Total ships on order have reached 1,925 units for 15.6m teu which is more than twice as high compared to the post-COVID peak of 7.6m teu in August 2023," Linerlytica notes today. The last time the orderbook-to-fleet ratio hit the 45% mark was in late 2008. The analyst further warned that that ratio is only likely to further increase due to a continuing shortage of vessels as well as comparatively cheap newbuilding prices. "It sets the stage for a new capacity race as the containership orderbook ratio surges to a post-2009 high of 45% with additional orders still to come as vessel demand remain relentless. "The current vessel shortage is driving freight rates, charter rates and second-hand ship prices to fresh year-to-date highs, which has ironically made current newbuilding prices appear low by comparison," Linerlytica said. The Maersk order has been split between two Chinese shipyards, with Hengli HI set to build 20 units and New Times the remaining six - the overall capacity addition to Maersk's fleet will be 484,000 teu. The carrier currently operates 4.74m teu, according to Alphaliner data. All 26 vessels are to be equipped with dual-fuel engines capable of running on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and are scheduled for delivery between 2029 and 2030. Meanwhile, the CMA CGM order for 12 dual-fuel 24,000 teu vessels has been placed with Jiangsu Yanzijiang yard in China and are also scheduled to hit the water over the course of 2029 and 2030. While Maersk emphasised that the orders were part of its "ongoing fleet renewal programme", the sheer size of the order has meant its own orderbook-to-fleet ratio has jumped to 29%, while CMA CGM's has climbed to 45% on the back of the latest news. By way of comparison, MSC's orderbook-to-fleet ratio is currently 41%, Cosco's is at 52%, Evergreen at 50% and even ONE is now at 35%. It would also appear Maersk's orders signal a shift in thinking in Copenhagen, with Linerlytica describing it as "the first break from its logistics integrator strategy"; while in a recent interview Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc said he wanted the group's shipping division - still its major earner - to be more "assertive" in the market.