Airfreight’s importance “often overlooked” say shippers

Airfreight’s importance in global supply chains and the aviation industry’s efforts to reduce emissions are key points in a new report from the Global Shippers’ Forum (GSF).
The briefing document, The value of air cargo to the global economy, has been published by the GSF, which is holding its Annual Meeting in Toronto this week.
Chris Welsh, GSF secretary general, said: “The importance of air freight to the global economy is often overlooked, with the focus almost exclusively centred on passenger and business travel.
“Aviation is a key enabler of global economic growth and social development, and GSF aims to champion the ‘value’ of airfreight.”
GSF says that air is an essential mode of transport for many industry sectors, including high-end manufacturing, engineering, pharmaceuticals, retailing and the automotive sector.
“It can take a month to take goods from Europe to the Far East by ship – it takes a day by air. There are also time-sensitive goods such as medicines and documents which cannot travel any other way,” says GSF in its briefing document.
It adds: “Aviation is also often presumed to be an environmentally damaging form of transport when, in reality, the industry has been taking extensive action to reduce emissions.”
GSF also examines in its publication how the aviation sector is reducing emissions, including industry targets and the work of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The GSF ‘Green Day’ air cargo session at its annual meeting will include the launch of GSF’s shippers’ best practice case studies to support the Global Air Cargo Advisory Group’s campaign to raise awareness of how shippers and carriers are working together to promote sustainable air cargo.
There will be a round table discussion involving GSF, International Air Transport Association (IATA) and ICAO officials on proposals to cut aviation emissions, including Celine Hourcade, cargo industry affairs manager of IATA, and Sam Brand, environmental officer of ICAO.

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Established in 1983, Air Cargo News is the leading source of news, information, interviews, analyses and reports to the global airfreight industry. Our leading portfolio includes print, digital and events that give businesses in the airfreight industry the ability to connect with decision-makers in this sector.