On Air with Air Cargo Next

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of most brick-and-mortar retail locations in countries around the world, retailers and many other businesses entered the e-commerce space or grew their e-commerce investments to adapt to changes in consumer behavior. The growth in this sector of retail has been a major driver of airfreight strength over the past year, and is leading to investments that will expand logistics footprints for decades to come.

Despite the recent increase in cases in India and some other countries, vaccinations are well underway in several countries and some lockdowns are easing, leading to the reopening of many retail businesses. The higher airfreight rates driven by the current capacity shortage will also eventually return to more normal levels when passenger aviation increases, meaning express carriers may no longer realize the record profits that peak surcharges have helped them achieve during the past year. Airfreight’s place in e-commerce fulfillment beyond the pandemic remains to be seen.

In this episode of “On Logistics with Air Cargo World,” Cathy Morrow Roberson talks to Charles Brewer, chief operating officer for Canada Post, about the e-commerce growth of the past year, the longer-term outlook for e-commerce logistics and whether the pursuit of e-commerce cargo will be a viable strategy for realizing profits beyond the pandemic.

The On Logistics with Air Cargo World podcast segment explores air cargo logistics with analysis from regular Air Cargo World columnist Cathy Roberson of Logistics Trends & Insights. The podcast analyzes major trends affecting global logistics, including topics such as sustainability, e-commerce growth and M&A strategies, and changes in the global express market. On Logistics with Air Cargo World is brought to you by Air Cargo World, the leading air cargo magazine.

The pandemic’s challenges to all modes of transportation have contributed to varied solutions, from passenger freighters to an increase in express ocean freight shipments. The logistics industry is also looking to technology to help mitigate market volatility and smooth processes around capacity booking, airport pickup and drop-off of cargo, and other areas.

California-based startup Airspace has created a technology platform that expedites transportation and improves accuracy and visibility for time-critical shipments across transportation modes. Airspace’s ability to reroute critical shipments has attracted attention due to the disruption from the pandemic, and has helped the startup secure more than $70 million across three funding rounds, the most recent closing in January at $38 million.

For this launch of our new podcast segment “On Logistics with Air Cargo World,” host Cathy Morrow Roberson, founder of Logistics Trends & Insights and a regular Air Cargo World contributor, is joined by Airspace co-founder and CTO Ryan Rusnak. Hear Roberson and Rusnak discuss the niche that Airspace has carved out in time-critical shipments, and the startup’s expansion goals.

The On Logistics with Air Cargo World podcast segment explores air cargo logistics with analysis from regular Air Cargo World columnist Cathy Roberson of Logistics Trends & Insights. The podcast analyzes major trends affecting global logistics, including topics such as sustainability, e-commerce growth and M&A strategies, and changes in the global express market. On Logistics with Air Cargo World is brought to you by Air Cargo World, the leading air cargo magazine.

Joining us today start-up CLIVE Data Services’ Managing Director Niall van de Wouw speaks on his company’s launch of a new analysis dubbed “the dynamic load factor,” which is aimed at measuring cargo-load factors from a volumetric, rather than weight-based, approach.

Zhengzhou Airport (CGO), located in China’s central Henan province, is working to become a Chinese cargo hub with the construction of its Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone (ZAEZ). The airport, which already hosts flights from international carriers such as Cargolux and AirBridgeCargo, has made several moves over the past year to grow its business with the acquisition of fifth freedom rights and signing of agreements with Hungary’s Budapest Airport (BUD) and the Thai government.

Today we hear from Celine Hourcade on her consultancy work with Zhengzhou Airport regarding the Economic Zone’s development. At the end of October, she and ten other experts visited the project to advise on its construction and accreditation processes as the airport seeks to boost volumes through attracting carriers, logistics providers and other business, including fintech and sustainable fuel.

After 50 years in the logistics industry, both in sea and air, Cargo iQ Executive Director Lothar Moehle has seen a lot of change, some good and some bad. Reflecting on his five decades of experience in this sector, Moehle discusses how the air cargo industry has changed, what changes still need to happen and what will never change, in the latest episode of “On Air with Air Cargo Next.”