TIACA calls for solutions to EU migrant crisis
05 / 10 / 2015
The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has called on world leaders to work together to find solutions to the ongoing refugee crisis in Europe.
More than 514,000 people have crossed the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe, with almost 3,000 people perishing on the journey or reported missing.
“We must act together now to stop this human tragedy, and TIACA, which has in-depth expertise on global security issues, is prepared to offer its support in any way it can,” said Doug Brittin, secretary general, TIACA.
“The tremendous influx of refugees in Europe has a terrible human cost and is also impacting our members and our industry.”
The crisis has resulted in increased wait times at border crossings including the Channel Tunnel between Calais, France and Folkestone, UK as well as causing empty positioning and reduced volumes for road hauliers, having a significant financial impact on European air cargo logistics.
The Dutch Association for Transport and Logistics claims that if controls were established across all Schengen borders, the single European zone with borderless travel between 26 states, adding a one-hour delay to crossings, the cost for Dutch carriers alone would be €600m a year.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), roughly 30% of all air cargo comes from or goes to Europe, and therefore these problems have a direct impact on a major part of global air cargo volumes.
“We must act now to find solutions firstly to resolve the humanitarian crisis and then also to ensure the free flow of goods in Europe,” said Brittin.
