TIACA calls for recognition of air cargo industry during COVID-19 crisis

The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has been fully mobilised during the unprecedented crisis that the world is currently facing as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

TIACA has highlighted the decisive role that the air cargo industry has to play in the fight against the virus and has called for the industry’s voice to be heard fully by regulators and governments across the globe.

Steven Polmans, TIACA Chairman, said: “We support IATA’s appeal to have air cargo recognised as vital in the fight against COVID-19 and for action to be taken – in particular, removing all travel restrictions on air cargo operations and taking all necessary measures to allow air cargo to continue to circulate around the world.”

As a result, TIACA has joined the ‘ICAO Technical Group on joint actions related to COVID-19’ – other members include the World Health Organisation (WHO), IATA, Airports Council International (ACI) and the Global Express Association (GEA).

TIACA‘s Secretary General, Vladimir Zubkov, said: “TIACA sees its role in the ICAO Technical Group as using ICAO’s mechanism to reach out to governments and remind them that air cargo is a significant contributor to the global economy and international trade, and that it plays a very important role in preventing and battling the disastrous effect of coronavirus.”

TIACA has outlined its main goal in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic: To draw attention to the fundamental role that the air cargo industry plays and to the need to protect its continued existence and vitality.

In the current crisis, TIACA has highlighted that air freight is essential for the transport of food, basic necessities and health-related products – essentially, everything necessary for people to survive. Additionally, the global economy needs air freight to continue to supply businesses and factories.

In addition to recognising its vitality, the way the industry operates must be clearly understood. In this crisis situation, multiple financial issues are emerging:

• Leasing payments for expensive aircraft
• Salaries, energy supplies and payments to service providers and equipment providers
• Taxation
• Difficulties arising from uncoordinated travel bans, restrictions imposed on crew movements, airport slots and route changes.

Subsequently, several strong steps have already been taken. However, TIACA is committed to continuing to highlight the real issues facing its members and is calling on them to keep it informed of the difficulties they encounter.