ramanAthan rajamani
Air Cargo revenues will contribute much more to the airline revenue mix
H
ow is the Indian air cargo industry reacting and responding to the global pandemic? The world is going through one of the most challenging times since the great recession, with over 90 per cent of industries suffering losses of some kind. In the aviation industry, we have seen a substantial drop in revenues. The cargo business has been the only activity that has helped airlines and the downline cargo chain globally. The pandemic has in many ways emphasised the importance of the air cargo industry and all the linked logistics networks that play a critical role in the global aviation value chain. This was made abundantly clear with the movement of essential supplies of food items, face masks, and other medical supplies that needed to be distributed worldwide to/from India during this period. A shortage in workforce availability, a liquidity crunch and capacity shrinkage resulting in a sharp increase in airfreight rates have been some of the many challenges faced by the Indian air cargo industry. Most of the service providers were forced to suspend credit and seek temporary exemptions from their contractual commitments with customers to overcome cash flow and service-related issues. Throw light on the measures adopted by AISATS to ensure undisrupted cargo movements during COVID-19 outbreak. AISATS immediately understood the importance of ensuring seamless service in these unprecedented times where the movement of essentials and medical 50 |
July 2020
equipment was critical to the nation and to other countries. COVID-19 affected aviation like never before and while regular commercial passenger operations were suspended, we continued to support our airline customers for a number of approved repatriation flights, MoCA's Lifeline Udan, and general cargo movement, so as to ensure timely, effective and streamlined services to our customers. Our teams were at the forefront ensuring support for the continuous air transport of critical medical equipment and supplies at five of our business units Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mangaluru, and Thir uvant hapuram. While focussing on the efficient transportation of cargo, we also implemented stringent safety measures for our workforce through the rationalised use and distribution of safety and sanitised equipment, especially critical for the handling of cargo to/from countries affected and issuance of the necessary PPE depending on the area of operation. Our on-ground teams continue to diligently follow protective measures in line with guidelines issued by IATA, MoH F W, lo c a l s t at e authorities, airline and airport operators.
The pandemic has in many ways emphasised the importance of the air cargo industry and linked logistics networks that play a critical role in the global aviation value chain. In an exclusive interview, Ramanathan Rajamani, Director and CEO, AISATS informs Ritika Arora Bhola, how the Indian air cargo industry had been reacting and responding to the current market situation, with highlighting the strong measures adopted by the ground handling company to ensure undisrupted cargo movement.
