Page 10 - STAT Trade Times Novemmber 2024 Magazine for Website

coverstory

Miami International Airport’s upcoming state-of-the-
art Vertically Integrated Cargo Community (VICC)

Exclusive to MIA, American Airlines Cool ACAS Security Filings and requires addi-
Perishables provides on-site pre-cooling tional data elements regarding the actual
and guaranteed cooler space for fresh shipper of the goods to better identify the
shipments. The airline's website states that parties involved in the air cargo supply
this service includes two pre-coolers, con- chain before the cargo is loaded onto a
tainer handling systems, and a simplified US-bound aircraft.
schedule of charges. The report further indicates that these
“Demand for perishables and flower emergency measures will significantly affect
transportation in air freight has evolved shippers in these regions, especially micro,
significantly in recent years due to several small, and medium-sized enterprises (MS-
key factors. Globalisation has opened up in- MEs) that handle lower-volume shipments.
ternational markets for producers, leading to Pineda, Director Marketing & Air Service
increased airfreight demand for fresh flow- MIA is in the early Development Division Miami-Dade Aviation
ers and perishables. Changing preferences stages of developing Department says “MIA is currently helping
for fresh, organic, and locally sourced prod- facilitate Customs and Border Protection’s
ucts have also driven this trend. Advances in its 784,087-square-foot (CBP) plans to construct a new Central Ex-
tracking technology have improved transit amination Station (CES) at the airport. When
management, reducing spoilage,” says Vertically Integrated built, the CES will provide a large, dedicated
United Cargo’s spokesperson. space for CBP to examine and clear cargo
Cargo Community (VICC), – particularly high-volume e-commerce
Regulatory environment and programmed to handle shipments. The facility would allow CBP to
security measures assign additional officers to MIA and maxim-
The regulatory landscape continues to up to 2 million tonnes of ise its overall workforce here.
evolve, with the Federal Aviation Admin- cargo annually. For now, CBP deploys additional staff
istration (FAA) and United States Trans- to meet demand and keep goods flowing
portation Security Administration (TSA) Emir Pineda during busy cargo periods, such as the
implementing new security measures and Miami-Dade Aviation Department winter holidays and flower peaks.”
operational guidelines. According to a re- Despite various challenges including
port published by the British International The Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) infrastructure constraints and regulatory
Freight Association (BIFA), in response programme has become mandatory for complexities, the US air cargo industry
to increased civil aviation threats, the all international shipments entering the continues to demonstrate remarkable
TSA and Transport Canada have recently United States. Additionally, the BIFA report resilience and adaptability. Driven by
enacted new emergency measures, effec- states that the new emergency measures e-commerce growth, increasing perisha-
tive immediately, for all air cargo destined include changes to the US ACAS pro- bles demand, and ongoing supply chain
for or transiting through the United States gramme, introducing “Enhanced ACAS Se- disruptions, the sector is investing heavily
that originates from Europe and the Com- curity Filing.” This must be conducted by in technological innovation and infrastruc-
monwealth of Independent States (CIS). entities responsible for filing the standard ture development. 
8 | NOVEMBER 2024 www.stattimes.com