Air freight industry 'not listening to customers'

In order to close the gap between shippers and the air cargo industry the ESC, representing the freight transport interests (by all modes of transport) of business in Europe, created the white paper Airfreight 2020 and beyond.

The white paper informs the air cargo industry on the wishes of the cargo owners by beginning a dialogue on how to improve this transport mode.

In 1995 the ESC also published a similar white paper, entitled ‘Airfreight 2000 and Beyond’. Based on the previous whitepaper, the ESC concludes that not much has changed in the air cargo industry over past 20 years. The new ‘2020’ document aims to reopen discussion on improving air cargo services. According to the ESC, shippers want to see the traditional airfreight industry evolve into a more reliable, transparent and door-to-door seamless logistic solution.Information, for example on the reliability, costs and performances, is key to achieve this goal. The ESC states the industry and the shippers community should work together to achieve a standard goal for airfreight security or more efficient regimes on trade facilitation.

Another key topic for shippers is a paperless chain from consignor to consignee. The ESC emphasises that shippers are ready to participate in pilots that enable paperless trade – something that the air cargo industry still lacks. The ESC wants to inspire business to participate in paperless projects –therefore only an electronic version of ‘Airfreight 2020 and beyond’ will be distributed. The ESC encourages readers not to print this document. According to the ESC, paperless is the future for the air cargo industry.