The International Air Transport Association (Iata) has highlighted four priorities for the future success of the air cargo industry - accelerating the digitisation of the supply chain, enforcing regulations for lithium batteries, more efficient trade facilitation, and developing the next generation of air cargo leaders.
"Air cargo had an exceptional year in 2017 with 9% growth. And we expect a very healthy 4.5% expansion of demand in 2018,” said Glyn Hughes, Iata global head of cargo. There were great opportunities in e-commerce and the movement of time-and temperature-sensitive goods such as pharmaceuticals, he added.
“But we must accelerate the modernisation of processes, enforce regulations for the safe transport of lithium batteries, and improve the efficiency of trade facilitation. Longer term, we also need to inspire the next generation of talent. The air cargo industry has agreed to focus on these key areas and we must follow through," said Hughes.
Speaking at the World Cargo Symposium currently under way in Dallas, Hughes also called for "a strong collective voice against the building headwinds of protectionist measures”.
