Page 29 - AAA NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2012 Online Magazine

FEATURE FREIGHT AIRCRAFT

the significant efficiency and capability been recognised that a well-established automotive, high-tech, leather goods, and
advantages of specialist large freighters airport cargo infrastructure is a must. apparels and textiles, among others.
– such as its 747 and 777 – will represent Work on other private Indian airports
36% of the fleet, compared to 31% Shadows on the hangar wall also continues. recently, the GMr Group’s
today, it says. And though fuel costs are despite the optimism in china and Hong Hyderabad airport received certification
expected to be volatile, they are not likely Kong, other Asian ports are not faring from lufthansa cargo, to become one of
to move significantly higher than current so well. thai Airways, for instance, has the airline’s cargo hubs in south Asia for
levels. Furthermore, shippers of such replaced its boeing 777 freighters on transporting pharmaceutical products.
cargo as perishables and very high value lease from Us carrier southern Air with the potential is there.
commodities, especially the pacific rim two boeing 747-400s it owns. Worse,
countries, will lead all other international the carrier may incur bt100 million in Looking ahead
markets in average annual growth between losses from its cargo business this year some companies, despite the current
2011 and 2031, asserts the company. on slowing demand due to last year’s situation, are confident the slide will not
More potential for optimism comes floods and weakening exports. pichai continue. one of these is Fedex, which has
from china – although analysts say some chunganuwad, Md, cargo and Mail just put its money where its mouth is with a
regions in Asia are experiencing a fall commercial department, estimated that new s$97 million facility, consolidating air,
in business, china is expected to be the this year’s cargo revenue could be 5% short ground and customs clearance operations
fastest growing contiguous market in of the company’s bt30 billion target. under one roof, at the Air cargo express
the world, averaging 8% growth per year. And India, even though air cargo traffic Hub at singapore’s changi Airport. Fedex
Indeed, with the opening of the HK$5.5 is growing slightly, is still only expected to shipments are now transported, cleared
million cathay pacific cargo terminal at move around 2.64 million tonnes this year and sent from aircraft to vehicle through
Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), – the same amount as the new terminal at the single location, reducing internal cargo
the world‘s busiest international cargo just one airport in china (HKIA). Analysts handling time from two hours to 10 minutes.
airport, the signs are good. agree that for India to make any headway, “We have invested in this facility
stanley Hui Hon-chung, HKIA ceo, airport infrastructure needs to improve, because it allows us to be more effective
recently noted that it was very encouraging with more dedicated cargo terminals. in delivering services to our customer,”
to see flight movements reach new current modernisation work on the cargo said Karen reddington, regional Vp, south
heights at HKIA. “We anticipate a steady terminal at delhi International Airport pacific at Fedex express. “It allows us to
growth trend in coming months as travel should enable it to handle one million be more efficient, it takes time off the
usually peaks at the end of the year,” he tonnes annually, by 2013. packing in the facility, and puts time where
said. the new terminal will increase the “It is good that India is looking seriously we want it to be, which is with the couriers
airport’s capacity by 2.5 million tones, at its cargo infrastructure upgrade. India on the road,” she said.
and operators shenzen donghai Airlines, exports pharmaceuticals, for instance, in With forward-looking and positive
silk Way Airlines and sF Airlines are all a big way. lack of facilities will hold up approaches like that, there is no doubt that
starting freighter services in parallel with growth,” warned canan Çelebioğlu tokgöz should the turnaround come sooner or later,
the new facility. Uniquely positioned in the of Çelebi Holding, which is involved in the the smart cargo operators will be the ones
Greater pearl river delta region, HKIA is upgrade project. As India’s second largest placed to benefit most. HKIA and changi
nonetheless facing significant competition airport in terms of cargo traffic, delhi also are not letting grim current figures dull
as a result of the fast development of serves as the gateway to the industrial their vision. Where there’s freight there’s
airports in mainland china and air cargo areas of northern India, which are home business, they say. And the indicators are
growth in the region. As a result, it has to a variety of industries, including that’s likely to be in Asia.

SAfE AS BOxES
Ensuring cargo safety is a major issue, especially in the light of the recent hP
printer bomb found in a shipment from the Middle East. A conference involving
the Singapore Ministry of Transport, Singapore Customs, ICAO and the World
Customs Organisation (WCO) looked at a range of issues. These included
the implementation of a risk-based approach to ensure additional security
measures are applied to high-risk cargo while facilitating the movement of
low-risk consignments with minimal disruption. They will also work to examine
similarities and differences of various security programmes with a view to
reducing the administrative burden for regulators and industry, and to determine
how electronic advance cargo information can be used to support risk.

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