Page 6 - STAT Trade Times Novemmber 2024 Magazine for Website

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our aeroplanes. Digitalisation is simplify- hub for both cargo volume and passenger
ing process, and we expect to see some traffic, serving the city of Miami, Florida.
AI advancements in technology. Cold Emir Pineda, Director Marketing & Air
chain logistics are increasingly becom- Service Development Division Miami-
ing more important for our specialty Dade Aviation Department, emphasises
product line. United Airlines has been at the proactive steps Miami International
the forefront of sustainability innovations Airport is taking to address future cargo
and United Cargo customers are eager demands by developing. Pineda says,
to sign up for sustainable fuel initiatives “MIA is in the early stages of develop-
and more.” ing its 784,087-square-foot Vertically
Infrastructure capacity constraints Integrated Cargo Community (VICC),
present another significant hurdle. Despite The US market is programmed to handle up to 2 million
major hubs like Chicago O'Hare and Mem- tonnes of cargo annually when it opens
phis International investing in expansion extremely competitive in approximately five years. The VICC
projects, many airports struggle to keep and has high operating alone will increase MIA’s total cargo ca-
pace with growing cargo volumes. pacity by a massive 50%, creating ample
According to the ‘2023 U.S. Airport Infra- costs. However, it is a opportunities for additional cargo traffic
structure Needs Report’ by Airports Council and helping it keep pace with forecasted
International (ACI), the FAA projects that large and very diverse cargo growth.”
passenger traffic will reach 158% of 2019 market in terms of Rising operational costs present another
levels by 2040, while ACI World expects multifaceted challenge for the US air cargo
cargo traffic to grow to 167% over the same industry verticals and industry, with significant increases in
period. Current US airport infrastructure is labour expenses.
insufficient to support this level of growth. trade lanes. Daniel Randig, Senior Vice President
Both existing and future traffic demand of Air Logistics, US at global logistics
Daniel Randig
that airports maintain and modernise leg- Kuehne + Nagel company Kuehne+Nagel, notes, “The
acy assets while simultaneously expand- US market is extremely competitive and
ing capacity. Airports are ageing rapidly, tal capacity additions to accommodate has high operating costs. However, it is a
with operators depreciating approximately growth in both passenger and cargo large and very diverse market in terms of
$8 billion in airport assets each year. As in- traffic, the report notes. industry verticals and trade lanes. There-
frastructure continues to age, replacement One of the major airports in the US, Mi- fore, there are plenty of opportunities for
becomes essential, along with incremen- ami International Airport (MIA) is a leading those with the ability to serve across the
4 | NOVEMBER 2024 www.stattimes.com