The air freight industry as part of numerous relief efforts has proved its worth time and again. For carrying out relief operations, the response and communication between parties must not only be prompt and concise, they must also be accurate. It is crucial for humanitarian organisations and air cargo industry to work in tandem to ensure aid reaches survivors at right place in right time.
The 2017 Atlantic hurricane season will be remembered as one of the worst in the hurricane seasons list in the history. Just as Harvey took a moment after wreaking havoc in Houston, Irma, a record Category 5 storm, set off on a collision course with Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Hurricane Maria soon after left a broken Caribbean, upending the lives of millions. No wonder, the ferocity of the epic trio dominated the news in the second half of 2017 highlighting the vulnerability of humans to natural and manmade disasters.
When such kind of massive calamity strikes, the best of mankind’s traits come to the fore as people from all corners come out to help and contribute with massive aid and relief supplies for the survivors. One of the most challenging roles here is played by the logistics industry, which takes the daunting task of delivering these relief materials to the calamity stuck regions at the earliest. Humanitarian logistics is all about the management of essential commodities like food, water, fuel, which is all consumed rapidly in the affected area just before and after a major event. While it is important to have a logistics and emergency plan already in place for such crisis, one cannot really predict the nature of damages that can occur and therefore actions are taken impromptu and can be challenging.
American Airlines Cargo, which actively got involved in relief operations in Houston, shared its experience. “The biggest challenges came from the sheer size of the disasters, as well as the enormous number of people needing help. Once donations started pouring in, our task became identifying the best ways to transport and distribute relief supplies,” said David Vance, vice president Cargo Operations, American Airlines Cargo.
This story is from the December 2017 edition of The STAT Trade Times.
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This story is from the December 2017 edition of The STAT Trade Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
AVIATION INDUSTRY: FUELING THE FUTURE WITH SUSTAINABILITY
Following rising concerns about climate change and the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the aviation industry is building a well-established strategy for sustainability. Thanks to technological advancements, innovative practices, and a strong commitment to environmental stewardship, sustainable aviation is emerging as the path to a greener future.
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When dealing with fresh produce and other food items intended for human consumption, there is no wiggle room when it comes to freshness and quality. For the food to reach one’s plate, there is a lot that happens along the way – this includes harvesting crops at the right time, maintaining proper temperatures, and of course, on-time delivery from farm to fork. As consumption patterns change, regulations vary, customer expectations rise, industry players are converging to create a seamless supply chain.
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The air freight industry, which has remained traditional in its processes and business models for a very long time has seen a perceptible shift on the back of advances both in operation and information technology in the last few years. For the industry to work more efficiently, the supply chain needs to generate a constant stream of data that can be collected, analysed and used to optimise productivity.
Benelux Building Capacity Through Infrastructure Additions
The Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) region has witnessed infrastructure growth, adding sheen to its traditional image as the main logistics gateway to Europe. Even as global cues suggest a slowdown, the air cargo community in the region remains optimistic of growth.
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Drones are the new frontier in the digital revolution. Drone deliveries are creating a new customer experience in the logistics sector that opens up even more opportunities for sustainable growth and greater economic contribution. The technology is flexible enough in its implementation, to be scaled up or down to fit the required application.
Why Is Everyone Afraid To Share Data? GPLS Finds
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Supplying Flowers With Care
The flowers in your living room may have crossed thousands of miles before reaching the vase and they smell as fresh as just being harvested. The credit goes to the logistics “cold chain” that is ensuring quick and efficient transportation to preserve the freshness of flowers.
