The International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (Fiata) has identified the airfreight industry as the supply chain sector most severely affected by the outbreak of Covid-19, with the majority of the world’s governments deciding to impose travel bans and restrictions to contain the spread of the virus.
Fiata director general Stéphane Graber said that although all modes of transport had been affected, none more so than the airfreight industry.
As a result of the restrictions, many companies were now looking for alternative ways to ship their goods, he said.
“With passenger aircraft now denied cross border access, belly hold capacity has significantly declined, rates have become exorbitant, and suppliers, through their international freight forwarder partners, are now seeking to move goods through other logistic chains,” he said. - Bjorn Vorster