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+1.33% growth (CYTD August 2022 vs   industries, pilot shortage, a slower rate   On solid footing
          CYTD August 2021). This seems to reflect   of training and licensing, and flight can-  Even as economic uncertainty marred the
          the change in consumer behaviour for   cellations saw many US airlines report-  gains made by the air cargo sector in the
          ease of making purchases online rather   edly cancelling more than 21,000 flights   US, Jimmy Nares struck a positive note as
          than at traditional in-person retail stores.”  or about 2.7 percent of the scheduled   he told the publication, “While geopolitical
            Nares added, “At MIA, strong growth   total flights this summer. Many experts   issues always loom over the success of the
          in freighter routes with Asia, particu-  believe that what may have saved the   cargo industry, and may negatively impact
          larly with China also points to growth in   day for the sector is that several Ameri-  it in the short-term, the long-term cargo
          e-commerce and to a strong upcoming   can airlines had begun recruiting again   trajectory for global airfreight (and for the
          holiday season.  Before the pandemic,   in the middle of 2021. However, with a   USA) seems to be on solid footing. With the
          during the fourth quarter of 2019, MIA   peak holiday season looming, will this   global population continuing to grow, with
          had direct freighter service with 4 Asian   be enough?             increased purchasing power of the growing
          markets served by 6 airlines. Currently,   As per data compiled by the US Depart-  middle classes of many large key markets,
          in the fourth quarter of 2022, MIA has   ment of Transportation, the US airline indus-  with strong job growth in many parts of
          a direct freighter service with 7 Asian   try (passenger and cargo airlines combined)   the world (such as in the USA currently),
          cities served by 7 airlines.  While MIA-  employment increased to 769,106 workers   and with robust growth in demand for e-
          NRT (Tokyo-Narita) freighter service was   in August 2022, 1,334 (0.17%) more work-  commerce purchasing, the global demand
          halted, service with 4 new cities in China   ers than in July 2022 (767,772) and 26,780   for air freight should continue to grow well
          have been added – Shanghai, Shenzhen,   (3.61%) more than in pre-pandemic August   into the future.”
          Wuhan, and Xiamen.”               2019 (742,326). U.S. cargo airlines employed   While Chris Gregg, SVP Global Air-
            However, the usually upbeat e-commerce   274,966 workers in August, which was 36%   freight, SEKO Logistics told the publica-
          market has also shown signs of cooling ow-  of the industry total.  tion, "For certain, demand over the last
          ing to inflation, higher inventories, shifting   Further US cargo airlines employed   several months in the US has declined
          consumer patterns, lower-than-expected e-  246,660 FTEs (Full-Time Equivalents) in   when compared against the same time
          commerce volumes, etc. “The e-commerce   August, down 1,203 FTEs (0.49%) from   period of last year. That said, 2022 will
          segment has been growing a lot over the   July. US cargo airlines have increased FTEs   still be a growth year overall for the
          last few years. Remember that Amazon   by 17,124 (7.46%) since pre-pandemic   market, with an IATA forecasted (released
          has its own operation now. I believe that   August 2019.           in June) 68 million tonnes of global air
          e-commerce is fundamental for a successful   “The shortage of staff is a long-term   cargo.  This includes all the headwinds
          holiday season,” says Fernando Garreton, VP   situation faced worldwide after Covid-19,   the market has faced. Even with a 10%
          Americas at TAM Group.            therefore we don’t see a potential crush   pullback from 2019 to 2020, the overall
                                            during this peak season in particular. Ad-  market from 2019 to the current 2022
          Labour continues to be a          ditionally we believe that considering all   forecast is growing at a CAGR of ~3.5%.
          challenge                         the slowing down in different key coun-  With the unpredictable service levels
          While Europe has experienced one of its   tries and the current level of inflation are   impacting the other modes we feel this
          most chaotic summers in aviation, American   creating a perfect storm, that will create   trend is likely to continue, even with the
          aviation also suffered from severe labour   in the near future a higher level of unem-  current slowdown.  Regardless of the
          shortages, especially in cargo handling.   ployment, balancing the current level of   condition, however, we at SEKO, with our
            A spate of layoffs during the pandem-  workforce demand,” said  Alejandro Inga,   customer and employee-centric focus,
          ic, air cargo workers shifting to other   AVP Americas - TAM group.  expect to outgrow the market." 

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