Air Freight Emerging from the Economic Crisis
Despite the difficulties that our industry is facing today, the Chairman of TIACA remains optimistic, he tells to IATA’s Airlines International.
Ulrich Ogiermann, Chairman, the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) explains why he believes air freight has a bright future: “The air cargo industry will emerge stronger than other transport modes”. Towards the end of 2008 and throughout 2009, the air cargo industry saw a dramatic downturn in volume, reflecting reduced spending in the wake of the global recession.
In 2010, the air cargo industry’s first goal must be to stop the bleeding from the wounds incurred in 2009. We may see some growth as the year progresses but it will be 2011 before there is a sustainable improvement, and forecasts predict that not until 2013/14 will we return to the market size we enjoyed in 2007 and early 2008.
The air cargo industry will take time to recover properly and must decide what it will do to make air freight more attractive to customers. I expect to see more volatility over the next 12 months because there are still many unknown factors and bubbles waiting to burst at any moment.
The full story can be read on IATA’s website.
