Cargo Breaking News
M Afzal Malbarwala, President, The Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI) shares his views on the current situation at the Chennai Airport export cargo terminal and says, “It is very unfortunate, without any prior information, work stopped at Chennai Air cargo terminal. Tamil Nadu produces 80% of the export from South India but Chennai airport share is very less. It is because of lack of development of infrastructure at Chennai airport. All the shipments are moving through Bangalore and Hyderabad. Government has to seriously work on this and has to make Chennai a world class airport. Airlines who are being handled by Air India will now think 100 times to renew their contract. Perishable booked could not be uplifted, who will take the loss.” ACAAI in every forum in Chennai speaks and request for development of cargo but it is heard and closed. No development is done. Even now BCAS has given temporary extension only. Cargo complex has to be developed as per the world-standard, like Bangalore and Hyderabad. Why no action is taken on this. Requesting GOI to take up this seriously and make Chennai also a major airport in South India. Only with this development foreign airlines will bring in more flights and it can grow. Today, compared to other airports, Chennai does not have much flights.”
C K Govil, Vice President, Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI) and Managing Director of Activair Airfreight India also adds, “Passenger flights and freighters shouldn’t go empty. This will result in huge losses not only for the airlines but also for the exporters/ shippers. Such a decision would also put the industry’s reputation at stake. Customers/ buyers abroad, without knowing the actual reason, would think this as an another excuse of delayed or missed deliveries. They would also question Indian exporters’ efficiency in not being able to ship the goods in time. Also, we should think about the farmers whose produce would have fetched foreign currency to repay the loan taken to grow the produce and due to this restriction, the produce couldn’t be exported. What would be the condition of the farmer whose produce has not been exported. I agree, work should be done in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)/ and United Nations regulations and also the country specific security measures which mandates stringent safety and transportation rules for export of goods from India. But, in India the exporters are small artisans/ craftsman/ who make their handicrafts/ goods and sell to international buyers or farmers who barely afford meals. They can barely manage to export, as some of them operate from their houses. They cannot afford security equipment or cargo scanners. Cargo infrastructure at airports need to be developed. Such speed breakers would not only stop growth of the industry but also won’t help in fulfilling Government’s dream of making India a global cargo hub in the coming years or in achieving 10 million tons of cargo by 2030.”
