Turn passenger aircrafts to freighters
The lockdown has shut many production facilities and therefore there is not much demand of air cargo space for exports. Bharat J Thakkar, Joint Managing Director, Zeus Air Services and Past President & Member – Adviser Board, The Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI) talks about the challenges being faced by freight forwarders in the wake of COVID-19. Could you please elaborate the challenges currently freight forwarders are dealing with?
We forwarders are the vital link of global economy but still are unsung heroes. In spite of our services being declared essential, our offices could not be opened during early part of lockdown. Forwarders and customs brokers were finding it difficult to convince health and security officials to allow our team to attend office and go to airport for cargo clearances. Even now there are issues with no public transport and extended lockdown, customers are closed, our payments are getting delayed and in addition import shipments are lying at airports attracting detention, including trucking shortages. Our biggest challenge is that we have to make our payments on time without any expectation of getting payment from customers. Due to lockdown, production facility is shut and therefore there is not much demand of air cargo space for exports. Pharmaceuticals, vaccine, life saving drugs and perishable are being flown on freighters of few airlines and on passenger freighters also. Due to pandemic, pharmaceutical industry has no other option but to fly goods as per the requirement at high cost. The airlines who are currently operating passenger freighters explain that their cost of operation has gone up. Hence, increase in transport charges.
The demand for travel will not be even 60 per cent in next nine to 12 months as compared to last year. Airlines must consider converting few of the aircrafts in their fleet into freighters to increase their revenue when fuel prices are under control to offer level playing transportation charges.
What are your requirements from government?
Government must permit airlines, willing to operate passenger freighter, in the same way they are allowed to operate freighter under ‘Open Sky Policy’ until COVID-19 exigency is over. Air India must be allowed to convert few of their fleet into freighters, instead of operating only passenger freighters. This will reduce its cost of operation, expand their network and offer options to country’s export and import, as demand for India pharma and other products will increase and for that transportation cost needs to be feasible. A clear legible pass, which can be recognised by every health security official mandated to maintain law, order and discipline, to allow holders to move for their duties without delays .