‘Govt must resolve issue, trade should not get hampered’

Yashpal Sharma, President, Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI) says, “The issue is to convert the CUDCT facilities as Regulated Agent (RA) at various airports by AAICLAS. While the issue has been around for sometime and am sure the timelines were known to everyone but it is imminent that in the interest of hundreds of customers and for no fault of theirs. Someone should have acted in time to find the right way forward. Closing of facilities with no information to customers leaves a very bad impression of Indian Air cargo ecosystem in front of customers in India and overseas. Anyways the current markets are very soft and in domestic the air freight is struggling to keep up with land transport so this will put a hug jolt to the efforts being made by Government and industry to brand Air cargo in front of customers. ACFI had taken up the issue with MOCA and AAICLS immediately on receipt of the notification on 31st Dec 2022 to get immediate attention to resolve the issue and we did get some relief at a few airports on 2nd Jan but many airports are still struggling.” A notification has now been received on an extension for these airports till 31st mar 2023 to convert to RA.