Feeder freighters will gain prominence on Asian routes

THE ASIAN air freighter market is still a long
way short of the sophistication levels of the
developed air cargo networks, such as Europe
and the USA, according to Steve Doughty,
vice-president of BAE Systems Regional
Aircraft.
Therefore, he added, regional freighter feed
aircraft are likely to become a major force in
Asian freighter markets.
Speaking at the Air Freight Asia Conference
in Hong Kong recently, Doughty pointed
out that regional freighters were an integral
part of developed cargo networks. “As Asian
economies flourish and consumer demand
grows, so pressure for domestic air freight
feeder networks will increase,” he added.
Doughty argued that – despite having five
of the world’s top ten cargo airports measured
by annual tonnage, and a further seven
airports in the top 25, many with double digit
growth – the Asian airfreight market was still
developing. Air cargo in the region is geared to
centralised industrial production and export,
with feed typically provided through road
transport or on passenger belly holds.