Consultant IBA sets up freighter arm

Aviation consultant IBA has set up a freighter advisory practice against a backdrop of a surge in freight volumes in the first half of 2017.
It is headed by Moshe Haimovich who joined IBA in 2017, bringing over 30 years of aviation experience in engineering, project management, consulting and marketing with Aldav Engineering and Israel Aerospace Industries.
The conversion specialist has supported major operators, airlines, lessors and investors on the development of supplementary type certificates and the modification of over 100 aircraft.
IBA chief executive, Phil Seymour, said: “According to IATA’s latest June Freight Analysis report, global freight volumes rose by nearly 11% year-on-year in the first half – this is the fastest pace of growth since October 2010” – figures endorsed by IBA.iQ, the practice’s insight and analysis database, he said.
Seymour continued: “With Boeing and Airbus forecasting that the freighter market will require 2,480 and 1,950 additional freighters respectively over the next 20 years, we felt it was the right time to supplement our internal resources with a highly experienced and knowledgeable industry expert.”
Seymour says that airlines based in Europe and Asia Pacific accounted for around two-thirds of the annual increase in freight volumes, with the remainder split almost equally between North American and Middle Eastern carriers. Even the modest positive contribution made by African airlines was the strongest in nearly seven years.
He said: “This can all be measured against improved world trade conditions which have picked up since the middle of last year and business surveys continue to indicate healthy export order books for global manufacturers.
"IBA concurs with IATA in noting that the global airfreight tonne kilometres (FTKs) grew by 12.7% year-on-year in May 2017, up from 8.7% in April 2017.
"Driven by the growth of e-commerce and by industries reliant on the movement of time sensitive and high-value goods such as consumer electronics and perishables, demand for freighter aircraft has significantly increased from 2015.
"IBA is already seeing that the P2F cargo conversion sector rate is stepping up to meet demand, but inevitably there are pitfalls for the unwary even in a buoyant sector.”