Sanjay Gupta, Chief Executive Officer, AISATS provides an overview of the concessionaire pact between Air India SATS and Jewar Airport (Noida International Airport) for the cargo hub at Noida airport. The concessionaire pact between Air India SATS Airport Services (AISATS) and Yamuna International Airport (YIAPL) is for 37 years to develop a Multi-Modal Cargo Hub (MMCH) at Noida International Airport (NIA). The MMCH will be spread across 87 acres of land, housing an Integrated Cargo Terminal (ICT) and an Integrated Warehousing Logistics Zone (IWLZ). The ICT will contain separate domestic and international cargo terminal zones, a dedicated courier terminal for express courier and e-commerce shipments, and a Coolport for pharmaceuticals, perishables and temperature-sensitive cargo. The IWLZ will include a BUP facility, a bonded warehouse, consolidation centres, a 3PL warehouse and a trucking center with world-class parking amenities.
The key objective of developing this project is to provide an integrated structure to the Indian air cargo and logistics industry for seamless m ove m e n t o f c a rg o . T h i s infrastructure will be the first of its kind in India where the Cargo Terminal and the Warehousing Zone are inter-linked with each other thereby providing more visibility to the freight forwarders, faster processing times and reduction in the overall cost of operations.
Separate domestic and international cargo terminal zones, a dedicated courier terminal for express courier and e-commerce shipments, and a Coolport for medicines, perishables, and temperature-sensitive cargo will be available at the ICT. The IWLZ will feature a BUP facility, bonded warehouse, consolidation centres, a 3PL warehouse, and a trucking centre with world-class parking.
The primary goal of creating this project is to provide an integrated structure to the Indian air cargo and logistics industry for seamless freight movement. This infrastructure will be the first of its type in India, with the Cargo Terminal and Warehousing Zone interconnected, giving freight forwarders with greater visibility, shorter processing times, and lower overall operating costs.
Benefits to India’s logistics sector
Our cargo processing and transportation grid will connect unserved locations in India’s hinterland to urban cargo centres by integrating worldclass air cargo facilities with the country’s total logistics infrastructure. The AISATS MMCH was created to improve cargo efficiency and connection by coordinating different modes of transportation (air, road, and rail). This improved connection will allow for a more seamless flow of commodities, capital, technologies, and ideas, allowing Indian shippers and consumers to easily reach destinations and markets worldwide.
Specifically, the integration of ICT and IWLZ will shorten cargo processing times, and freight movement inside the same premises will assist cut shipping costs. When compared to other cargo hubs in the country, the AISATS MMCH at Noida International Airport will be the only one with this level of integration. AISATS and YIAPL also plan to construct a BUP facility for freight forwarders, which will provide them with real-time visibility into their cargo shipments as they are processed. In addition, the ICT facility will be near to this processing zone, lowering transportation costs.
Consolidation centres will be an extra benefit to the trade since they will allow the trade to perform all value-added services and transport the cargo to the ICT on time. A bonded warehousing facility, in conjunction with bonded transportation, will be an extra benefit to the industry. AISATS also intends to create dedicated zones for e-commerce enterprises to develop their own processing centres based on their specific needs. This cutting-edge infrastructure will provide end-to-end multi-modal cargo connection to all stakeholders along the value chain.
Challenges to be addressed
Despite operating in a time-sensitive environment where speed-to-market is critical, India’s supply chain and logistics sector continues to face challenges such as a lack of infrastructure, inadequate transparency, and infrastructure bottlenecks.
The AISATS MMCH has been intended to handle these and other concerns in order to provide efficient cargo handling, storage, and processing, as well as smooth international freight transshipment (where Indian legislation permit it). The ICT will provide comprehensive cargo handling services under one roof and act as a single point of contact for our customers, whereas the IWLZ will improve logistics and warehousing efficiencies by providing access to consolidation centres, a bonded warehouse, a dedicated trucking zone, light manufacturing and assembly facilities. We can better serve our clients with faster reaction times, more operational efficiencies, cheaper transportation costs, and lower administrative overheads thanks to direct connectivity between the ICT and IWLZ.
Through digital documentation, real-time cargo tracking, and predictive analytics for cargo delivery schedules, our infrastructure and cutting-edge technology provide greater transparency and visibility to even the most complicated cargo procedures.
Due to warehousing and logistical constraints, traditional air cargo gateways frequently face infrastructural bottlenecks and capacity issues. Our integrated strategy enables us to reduce bottlenecks and optimise cargo flows by leveraging efficient design layouts and innovative technologies. COSYS+, automated material handling systems, autonomous vehicles (for direct link between the ICT and IWLZ), RFID trackers, and Artificial Intelligence/ Machine Learning technologies enable higher freight throughput in less space and with shorter dwell periods at the AISATS MMCH.
Key technological features implemented
We have added numerous crucial features and technologies to improve efficiency and cooperation within the logistics ecosystem. To improve cargo handling speed and accuracy, our MMCH will feature innovative cargo handling equipment such as automated sorting systems, electricpowered forklifts, and advanced cargo handling gear. To allow smooth coordination and efficient operations, the cargo hub will also install sophisticated IT systems such as COSYS+, augment reality, real-time tracking, and data analytics tools. Furthermore, the hub will have specialised cold chain infrastructure to assist the handling and shipping of temperature-sensitive commodities while maintaining their integrity and quality.
Our goal is to make the Indian supply chain internationally competitive and agile, and we are confident our key features will drive that efficiency and deliver immense value to our customers and their end consumers.
Timelines The development of the cargo hub at Noida airport will progress through six phases. While we are currently in the planning and design stage of Phase 1, we expect Phase 1 to reach operational readiness by the third quarter of 2024.
Sustainability
Our energy-efficient infrastructure incorporates energy-saving technology such as electric ground support equipment, LED lighting installation, current IT systems that reduce the need for paper-based operations processing, and so on. Our facility will be built and designed in accordance with green building standards, emphasising energy efficiency, water conservation, and the use of environmentally friendly materials such as bio-degradable plastic sheets and other novel cargo unitization materials. We are also committed to implementing effective waste management systems that adhere to the three ‘R’s of trash management: reduce, reuse, and recycle, as well as using responsible disposal techniques that meet international standards.
Company’s broader strategic vision
Our broader strategic goal is to develop multi-modal air cargo hubs across the country that provide long term value for all our stakeholders, strengthen India’s supply chain and logistics sector, and enrich the economy. We are optimistic that we can deliver seamless, best-in-class cargo handling experiences for all stakeholders, not just at Noida International Airport but across all Indian airports and position AISATS as a key player in transforming India’s logistics and air cargo industries.
The key objective of developing this project is to provide an integrated structure to the Indian air cargo and logistics industry for seamless movement of cargo
