Airlines should climb on logistics bandwagon to stem losses

AIRFREIGHT LOGISTICS opens up an opportunity for airlines to offset the dramatic fall in yields by offering specialist products and services. That's the view of David Pierce, Emirates SkyCargo's cargo marketing and business development manager. "Logistics is the new tool on the block," said Pierce, in an overview of the state of the air freight industry delivered to Emirates cargo managers at their recent conference in Dubai. Emirates has pushed wide open the logistics management door with SkyChain, a network of integrated systems enabling the cargo customer to manage all aspects of the supply chain via the internet. While 2001 ranks as one of the most disastrous years ever for airfreight, Pierce sees signs of recovery with growth in tonnages of around 6% per year forecast for 2003 to 2005.