Current air transport prospects

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Photo: kangshutters [FreeDigitalPhotos.net]“ Lorena Quidiello is Coordinator and Professor of the International MBA Master in Business Administration and Management at Bureau Veritas eLearning.”

Air cargo companies have had some very weak years in recent times. It is time for them to start recovering in order to make up for the huge losses they have suffered in the past. However, some are reporting better results than those obtained before the crisis.


But what have been the main factors that have helped airlines stay afloat? Well, they have managed to do so thanks to the cost reductions they have carried out, the improvement of processes, and innovations that have allowed planes to consume fuel more efficiently. In short, they have restructured and have been able to react and adapt to the new scenario in record time. Speed ​​and efficiency are two aspects that must be complied with when sending cargo to international markets.

It should be noted in this regard that the airport models of line data the Netherlands and the United Kingdom are, according to various experts, the most competitive in Europe.

Some of the sectors that have stood out for their good performance in air cargo have been the following: clothing and textiles, chemical products, pharmaceutical industry, clinical analysis reagents, and the automobile industry. In these cases, stocks are required to be replenished immediately, so this mode of transport is chosen.

But this positive scenario is threatened by the main risk in this sector, which is the evolution of the price of crude oil. The constant increase in fuel prices directly affects the evolution of the air cargo business, which implies increases in the surcharges applied by airlines, higher freight costs and, ultimately, a higher final price of the transported product, which can make it less competitive in other markets.

Due to these factors, the outlook for air transport is currently very slow but positive, meaning that the situation is expected to improve moderately. This is also reflected in one of the objectives of the SESAR Programme , a technological and operational project that the Ministry of Public Works has carried out to modernise air traffic management and create a unique space in Europe.

On the other hand, in some countries, such as Spain, the decrease in internal demand caused by the current crisis has encouraged companies to opt for internationalization in search of new markets where they can sell their products .

At an international level, the results of air cargo can also be described as positive. The great export capacity of various countries such as Germany and the development of the well-known BRICS countries, such as South Africa or China , have favoured air cargo transport.