BERLIN —\u00a0Air cargo has an image problem.
\nThat was the central message from Peter Gerber, the CEO of Lufthansa Cargo.
\nIn cargo transport, a small percentage of overall volume is carried by air, but that cargo is also a high percentage of value of all cargo transported. Gerber during remarks yesterday at the 2016 World Cargo Symposium said the airfreight industry needs to make it clear to consumers what would happen if air cargo doesn\u2019t happen. As an example, he pointed out that everyone has a smart phone in his or her pocket, and it came by air. However, consumers don\u2019t see the connection between those goods how they got to them.
\nGerber implied that there are negative implications from this lack of understanding. When asked if politicians \u201cget it,\u201d Gerber said it depends.
\n\u201cThere are some who are concerned about the needs of the industry, but there are others who don\u2019t care or understand,\u201d he said.
\nHe said that pressure needs to be put upon politicians in order for them to understand the problem, presumably to improve the global position of air cargo and its regulations.
\nThe environment is a big issue in Germany, as it is in all of Europe, and although aviation is the youngest mode of transport, Gerber said 30 percent of noise and pollution has been cut from the mode.
\nThe slow pace of digitization in the industry was not lost on him. \u201cIt\u2019s not a dream; there\u2019s not an alternative, and it will become a reality sooner or later,\u201d he said. \u201cAir freight is not getting faster.\u201d (Digital innovation will be the central topic at Air Cargo World\u2019s Elevate conference on 10 October 2016 in Miami — see www.elevateaircargo.com.) Referencing Amazon\u2019s decision to acquire 20 freighters for its own deliveries, he said that that sends a strong signal that the industry has to improve and become more digitally adept.
\nDrones and freighters without pilots are a reality, but Gerber sees no real opportunity for Lufthansa to operate large drones. The carrier already operates a fleet of 777Fs, and it will decide on whether or not to order more freighters only when capacity decreases. With the price of fuel so low now, he sees no point in ordering new freighters. Rather, Lufthansa will fly its current aircraft for now.
\nGerber said it was not the rise of belly-loaded cargo that is dampening the carrier\u2019s appetite for freighters. \u201cI don\u2019t see that bellies can take over, because they don\u2019t fly all the lanes we serve,\u201d he AIDS. Lufthansa\u2019s widebody aircraft have a definite market. On major trade lanes Lufthansa is serving, it needs freighters, he said.
\nEurope is still the largest regional economy and he believes Europe will continue to thrive. Gerber said the key is to work with shippers to give them the best value and the best service \u2013 and, essentially, to care more about the shipper. As such, he doesn\u2019t see a modal shift away from air transport for pharmaceuticals, and regarding lithium batteries, he agreed with IATA director general Tony Tyler and Dr. Fang Liu of ICAO, who spoke earlier in the day, that governments need to be more involved in facilitating their smooth air transport.
\n\u201cI would like to see regulations so we know what\u2019s in the shipments, that they come from a reliable source,\u201d he said.
\nAir Cargo World is the Official Media Sponsor of the IATA World Cargo Symposium.
\nSource: aircargoworld<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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