AfA calls for more investments in cargo operations
Seeks State-backed Air Cargo Support Fund to tackle infrastructural crisis facing the U.S. air cargo industry.
The Airforwarders Association (AfA) and the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) are seeking a state or federal-backed Air Cargo Support Fund to tackle the infrastructural crisis facing the U.S. air cargo industry.
The recommendations form part of a whitepaper following a major national survey of 400 air cargo stakeholders in the public and private sectors undertaken by the organisations, identifying the critical issues and the airports where the challenges are greatest.
Brandon Fried, Executive Director, Airforwarders Association.
"With airports and airlines experiencing substantial revenue shortfalls over the past two years, the situation is becoming critical with potentially severe impacts on the economy and jobs throughout the country," says Brandon Fried, Executive Director, AfA.
"Because of the lagging financials, airports will be allocating the monies of the Infrastructure Act to passengers, security, and safety, leaving insufficient funds to sustain air cargo operations. Additional funding, specifically dedicated to air cargo, is urgently needed."
The whitepaper, called Safeguarding the future of air cargo: its economic importance and critical need for investment, warns that the negative fallout from a lack of investment could include job losses as well as delays to shipping time-sensitive products by air, and higher costs to all elements of the logistics chain from shipper to buyer.
"The findings in the whitepaper demonstrate major concern from both NCBFAA and AfA members," says Donna Mullins, Vice President, Kale Info Solutions, and Air Freight Subcommittee Chair, NCBFAA.
Donna Mullins, Vice President, Kale Info Solutions, and Air Freight Subcommittee Chair, NCBFAA.
"We have worked hard to present clear recommendations but these will come at a cost and it is vital that the $25 billion that airports will receive by way of the Infrastructure Act is allocated across all areas of airport development."
The recommendations include implementing airport community systems, encouraging better recruitment and retention through improved compensation packages, and a new industry-wide training programme.