Price tops charter priorities

PRICE remains the most important factor in the air cargo charter market, an exclusive customer survey for Air Cargo News has revealed.
The on-line survey found that nearly 55 per cent of respondents chose price as their top priority, with a need for 24 hour operations in second place, closely followed by speed of response.
Asked for comment, Reto Hunziker, group cargo director at broker Chapman Freeborn, said: “Price is always going to be a key factor when it comes to booking air cargo charters – and this tends to favour global providers who can leverage volume buying power and pass the benefit on to the client."
He added: “The other factors shouldn’t be underestimated though – and choosing a specialist charter company with a proven track record is important. 
“Larger contractors in particular often only want to work with charter companies who have every base covered – from 24 hour operations teams to in-house legal and compliance departments who understand the complexities of the contracting process.” 
Respondents also took the view there is more choice of freighter aircraft in the market compared with 12 months ago. Asia was the clear winner (70 per cent) as the market with the greatest growth potential, with Africa in second place, according to the survey.
Africa may be more of a slow burner than some expected but there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about this market, with sectors like project cargo in growth mode. Consumer goods and pharma were the comparable high flying segments for market growth over the same period.
Said Hunziker: “In terms of demand for consumer goods – the peak season definitely felt more positive this year and perhaps there is a mood in the industry that things have turned the corner.The situation with the US west coast ports also boosted demand in recent months."
The economy was seen as the biggest single challenge facing the air cargo industry today by 32 per cent of those surveyed, closely followed by yield at 29 per cent.
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