newstodate.aero
May 19, 2008 (newstodate): A new trend is emerging in the air cargo business, making it increasingly difficult for airlines to keep trace of shipments all along the full chain of transportation.
-In thepast, most air cargo was point-to-point, and shipments' movements were thus fully transparent to the airline companies, says Kay Wichmann, Lufthansa Cargo Nordic general manager.
-Now it is changing as a result of the expansion of the EU, easy border crossing and faster movement of commodities.
-Thus much cargo is lifted into hubs and airports, where it is received by forwarders or conseignees who undertake the ensuing surface transportation themselves to points of final destination.
-Consequently, we as an airline cannot actually follow the full flow of shipments as the AWB information ends with the point of delivery to forwarders or customers and not the actual final destination.
-This renders the flow of shipments less transparent to airlines, says Mr Wichmann.
-In thepast, most air cargo was point-to-point, and shipments' movements were thus fully transparent to the airline companies, says Kay Wichmann, Lufthansa Cargo Nordic general manager.
-Now it is changing as a result of the expansion of the EU, easy border crossing and faster movement of commodities.
-Thus much cargo is lifted into hubs and airports, where it is received by forwarders or conseignees who undertake the ensuing surface transportation themselves to points of final destination.
-Consequently, we as an airline cannot actually follow the full flow of shipments as the AWB information ends with the point of delivery to forwarders or customers and not the actual final destination.
-This renders the flow of shipments less transparent to airlines, says Mr Wichmann.