Airfreight industry regroups after tough 2009

After what can only be described as a tough 2009 for the airfreight industry, 2010 is already looking up. This is according to Bryn Woolley, managing director of Airline Cargo Resources, who says volumes were down on all routes and carriers during most of 2009, a year dogged by one of the worst global economic meltdowns of our time. “When there was cargo available, the rate was extremely low. As a GSSA the respective commission structures are extremely important to stay in business and low rates do not pay. 2009 was tough!” A founding member of the Federation of Airline General Sales Agents and a member of both Tiaca and Iata, ACR represents Air Austral, Air Madagascar and Ethiopian Airlines. While a marked improvement is being seen across the board, Woolley is cautiously optimistic. “I think the economy is improving slowly, exports are on the increase and airfreight rates are returning to some normality but it will not be easy and we still have to plan very carefully for the future,” says Woolley. Experts have agreed the recovery will be slow, and it is therefore imperative that companies like ACR play a proactive role for carriers and clients alike. “I believe that our industry needs to show a united global front in tackling the issues that we confront on a daily basis such as low rates, security issues, carbon emissions and the growing paperless world to name a few,” says Woolley. “On a local level training is crucial and as a GSSA we are dealing with the cargo community on a daily basis. We often find the basics lacking with junior staff – which is why training is so important. While our industry needs the youth to carve out a career in airfreight to ensure the industry grows, we must also train them properly.” Woolley says there was a big demand for chartered operations to both Europe and Africa. “This was obviously triggered by the volcanic eruptions that caused huge backlogs globally but especially in Europe.”