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Inthe world of air transport, logistics is a central issue. As a freight forwarder, it's our core business. That's why, in this article, we've decided to talk to you about the specific challenges that air carriers face on a daily basis, with a focus on AoG (Aircraft on Ground) and Critical, in which we specialize.
Since the early 2000s, the air transport industry has been facing a daily problem of overexploitation of the skies. This leads to capacity constraints, limited airport slots, inflated operating costs in the face of high demand, and so on.
Major airports such as Heathrow, JFK and Charles de Gaulle often reach their maximum capacity, with astronomical quantities constantly being exchanged on these sites.
Take, for example, the world's leading airport in terms of freight traffic: Hong Kong Airport (HKIA). In 2021, HKIA handled 5 million tonnes of freight! A record in the history of airports, still unmatched today.
These periods of congestion can pose major problems for specialized critical freight forwarders, who then face difficulties in finding take-off and landing slots quickly. This is the case, for example, with :
Airport authorities allocate slots to airlines for the take-off and landing of their aircraft. And usually, demand far outstrips supply, creating a race against time to secure precious slots.
Logistics experts have to juggle these restricted time slots to optimize routes and minimize waiting times, so as to ensure smooth, fast and cost-effective logistics operations.
This problem is all the more acute for specialist critical freight forwarders like Stracker, who are often called upon to reserve a seat on a flight at the last minute.
If you've ever flown, you'll know that air transport is subject to a complex set of regulations that vary from country to country, city to city and even airport to airport... but also according to the goods being transported! Indeed, delivering flammable products is different from delivering simple clothing. This adds another layer of complexity to logistics operations.
Aviation regulations are constantly evolving to ensure the safety of passengers, on-board personnel and transported goods. Civil aviation authorities and international bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) are constantly updating and reinforcing the rules in force.
When it comes to regulations, freight forwarders have no choice but to adapt and get on with it! Compliance with aviation regulations is our top priority. Not only does this guarantee the safety of our operations, it is also an essential condition for maintaining the licenses and certifications required for our business.
Finally, carriers need to be able to cope with a variety of difficulties. Loss and theft of goods, delayed planes, human error, etc. Even if every effort is made, it is still possible for another player, such as the airport or the delivery person, to make a mistake and lose the parcel. To mitigate this and other risks, it is important to put in place tracking systems, emergency procedures and rigorous quality controls. Although it's impossible to foresee every eventuality, good preparation goes a long way towards preventing risks.
What solutions are there to ensure rapid delivery as a forwarding agent? At Stracker, our process includes late pick-ups, overnight document preparation, and guaranteed departure on the first flight of the following day. This enables us, for example, to send looks to Los Angeles for Haute-Couture houses in less than 24 hours.
And to make sure we don't charge any extra for emergencies, we've decided to set up a tailor-made monthly subscription service, which allows our partners to benefit from a set number of deliveries, all at the same price: urgent or not.
If you want to know more about the offer of Strackerplease contact us. Our team of experts is at your disposal for any information.